Narcos: Mexico

A new destination, completely new actors, a new subtitle. The newest addition to the Narcos family has garnered a lot of attention, and I noticed that many critics initially assumed it wouldn't live up to its older, successful siblings (by which I mean the first three seasons), and that it would simply lack that pinch of perfection. I somewhat understand what they meant, but all in all, Narcos: Mexico is a first-class creation with only a few cosmetic flaws. The most important attribute was undoubtedly finding a charismatic actor who could carry the entire series and ensure viewers would thoroughly enjoy his on-screen presence. Initially, I had some doubts about Diego Luna and his character, and skepticism was only a small step away, but as time went on, I came to understand his personality. He might not reach the level of Pablo, but then again, who else can? I was a bit surprised that the story started at a rather slow pace, but by the end, it picked up considerable momentum, with no shortage of shootouts and plot twists. A great soundtrack, excellent buildup, and anticipation for the second season are definitely present. Now you might be asking: "So why did this ignoramus only give it four stars?" It was lacking a better and more developed character on the other side of the barricade, as Agent Peña's character completely overshadowed "Kiki." I give it 84%. (12/28/2018)

The second season of Narcos, focusing on Mexican cartels, continues in the spirit of the first series, primarily centering on the character of Felix Gallardo. Most viewers will probably agree that this is Diego Luna’s biggest role to date. While it may not reach the top level of Moura’s portrayal of Pablo Escobar, this actor still displays undeniable artistic talent. I was pleased to see that the DEA doesn’t just play a secondary role here but gets a fair share of screen time (Scoot McNairy is quite charming). There isn’t a lot of action, but when it does appear, it’s intense and brutal (which is to be expected given the gang conflicts depicted), and it has excellent sound design. I especially enjoyed the dialogues; the dense atmosphere was quite compelling. The final episode hinted at the direction the third installment of this saga will take. I’m looking forward to it. Very much so. 8/10 (08/23/2021)

I was secretly expecting something different from the third and final season. The end of the previous season promised a major cartel war (Sinaloa, Juarez, Tijuana), but unfortunately, that didn’t happen. I didn’t mind too much, but I can imagine quite a few people will be grumbling about it. I barely noticed the absence of Felix Gallardo; the rest of the cast replaced him quite well. The new characters were a nice addition, especially Victor Tapia from Juarez, who brings a breath of fresh air to the series. His storyline is the most successful of the secondary ones (though his story is all the more tragic!). There isn’t much action, but the few shootouts are incredibly well done (for instance, the club scene with Depeche Mode’s music is an absolute highlight of the third season—the buildup, lighting, brutality…fantastic!). The ending is once again pushed to the extreme. Personally, I’m disappointed that there wasn’t more focus on El Chapo. This character deserves more attention due to his history (hopefully, we’ll see more in the future). For me, it’s another solid 8/10. (11/14/2021)