Narcos

The series became an instant favorite of mine. What makes me like it so much is how different it is from the standard. The creators managed to create an excellent, powerful atmosphere right from the first episode. They also did an excellent job regarding action and suspense. If it hadn't been for four somewhat awkward episodes in the second half of the second season, I would have practically nothing to complain about. And I can't even say those episodes were bad, I just got too spoiled by the perfection that precedes them. I really enjoyed Agent Murphy's commentary and the use of real footage, which gave the whole series more depth. I really enjoyed this show. (08/02/2018)

Character-driven, elaborate, personal, authentic, raw. A spectacular drug saga charting the 1980s and 90s in countries that were drug havens. A brilliant mix of semi-documentary and fiction. A little loose at times, of course, due to the number of episodes, but still dwarfing most of the competition in terms of content. (06/11/2019)

The first episode has immediately sucked me in with how informative and documentary-like Pablo Escobar’s story felt. The documentary style of editing gets slower and slower with following episodes, but I didn’t even mind. You’ll be watching every minute and wait for the writers to hit you with another fun fact that will once again assure you that you aren’t watching fiction. Quite the contrary, you’re watching an incredibly cruel reality of Columbia at the time. At times, it’s even hard to believe that all of this could happen. However, exactly this incredulity is the core of the premise that is so strong that not even 5 stars feel enough. It was an absolute blast. Netflix really outdid themselves. (16/05/2018)

An amazingly gripping introduction. Pablo’s rise is compelling and Miami in the 80s always brings back memories of Scarface and the days I used to cruise around Vice City. The semi-documentary style and the narrator’s idiosyncratic style perfectly illustrate the atmosphere of success and horrific destruction that the white snow brought to Florida with it, but the money... Season 2: the first half is unbelievably high-speed. Carillo’s return and farewell are some of the high points of the series. Moura is excellent the whole time. Even though the second half (of the second half) is slower overall, it’s that much more methodical... conspiratorial. Introspective. Hard to say if it was a good idea to prolong the series with two more seasons. Of course, it has potential, but I hope that it won’t be a mere dilution and that the creators will continue to keep their feet firmly on the ground. Coma Mierda. (06/10/2015)

Could this be the most meticulously crafted series I’ve ever seen? Quite possibly. The first season of Narcos grips you like few things have before. I’ve never paid much attention to television productions, as they often don’t have the highest budgets, but Narcos defies those preconceived notions with every minute. It approaches the level of a blockbuster, and that’s an undeniable fact. The casting was spot-on. For the role of Escobar, a Latin American actor was a must, and with Wagner Moura on hand, who has the talent and a striking resemblance to the criminal, hesitation was not an option. Moura gave his all, and it showed. Even his gaze was deadly, reflecting the intense preparation he undertook for the role. The supporting roles were also excellently cast; you won’t find anyone who feels out of place. As a probe into the operations of drug lords and the underworld, it functions superbly. The atmosphere is palpable, everything is depicted with no restraints and boundaries, and it is simply authentic. At times, it felt like I was watching a documentary (though there was real, albeit quite dramatic, footage, it helped understand daily life in Colombia). The action scenes were also perfectly handled. I have nothing to criticize. I’m looking forward to the next season; a series about such a notorious criminal hasn’t been seen in a long time, and likely won’t be again soon. It’s definitely worth savoring. I’m giving it 96%. (04/08/2019)