Narcos is a thrilling crime drama on Netflix that tells the story of Pablo Escobar and the rise of his powerful Medellín cartel. The series is known for its strong performances, especially from Wagner Moura as Escobar, alongside Pedro Pascal, Boyd Holbrook, and Luis Guzmán. Both viewers and critics loved the show, and it even earned praise from a famous actor.
George Clooney is a big fan of Narcos, calling it his favorite show and even comparing it to the classic film The Godfather. The Netflix series stands out because it makes a serious topic engaging, thanks to the talented cast and the involvement of Steve Murphy and Javier Peña – the real DEA agents portrayed in the show who pursued Pablo Escobar.
The True Story Behind Narcos
Image via MovieStillsDB.com
Look, as a total true crime junkie, I have to say you need to check out Narcos. A lot of these shows take huge liberties with the facts, but Narcos actually sticks pretty close to what really happened. It follows the story of the cocaine cartels from the ’70s to the ’90s, and the first two seasons are all about how Pablo Escobar came to power – it’s seriously gripping stuff.
This Colombian drug lord, nicknamed “The King of Cocaine,” completely controlled the cocaine trade through violence and intimidation, and was responsible for thousands of deaths, including those of prominent political figures and ordinary citizens. Despite his crimes, he gained some popularity in parts of Colombia by funding schools and hospitals for the poor, leading some to see him as a sort of “Robin Hood” figure.
The series Narcos took some creative liberties with the true stories of Pablo Escobar and other drug lords. This meant altering names, dates, and minor details – for example, the show portrayed Escobar having a final meeting with his father, which didn’t actually happen. Though the show benefited from knowledgeable sources and got many things right, Pedro Pascal’s character wasn’t part of the investigation into the Cali cartel in real life.
How Narcos Was Received Locally
Like any show based on true events, Narcos wasn’t going to please everyone. The series did a good job of portraying Pablo Escobar as a complex figure, and Wagner Moura’s performance was particularly strong. In fact, the real-life DEA agents, Murphy and Peña, were fans – they even told The Hollywood Reporter they enjoyed binge-watching the second season.
While many enjoyed the show, Narcos wasn’t universally praised in Colombia. Some viewers took issue with the actors’ accents and felt the series misrepresented the country’s history, while others found the storyline itself unoriginal. According to Sibylla Brodzinsky of The Guardian, audiences were often confused by the accents, annoyed by the historical portrayal, and generally tired of another drug-related crime drama.
Narcos: Mexico Is Also Worth Binging
After Pablo Escobar’s death and the Cali cartel’s exit from the drug trade, the decision to change the focus of Narcos in season 4 was a smart move. While a shift in location could have felt disruptive as part of the original series, spinning it off into a new show allowed it to develop its own identity and succeed on its own merits.
Although Narcos: Mexico didn’t cause strong disagreement, critics and viewers had noticeably different reactions. Critics generally thought it was better than the first Narcos series, but viewers were less enthusiastic. It received a respectable 67% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but that’s significantly lower than the 95% audience score of the original Narcos.
| Narcos and Narcos: Mexico Rotten Tomatoes Ratings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Seasons | Years | Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Rating | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating |
| Narcos | 3 | 2015 – 2017 | 89% | 95% |
| Narcos: Mexico | 3 | 2018 – 2021 | 90% | 67% |
Netflix offers a lot of compelling true-crime dramas, with recent additions like Queen of the South and Cocaine Air – the latter of which feels like a continuation of the Narcos story. While there are plenty of options, Narcos and Narcos: Mexico remain excellent choices, as they share similar storylines, a comparable atmosphere, and feature familiar characters.
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2026-03-07 00:49