The Narcos series narrates the true stories about the rise and fall of Columbian Drug Lord Pablo Escobar and his Medellín cartel; in addition, it also chronicles the real-life tale of the Cali cartel of Southern Columbia.
In the Spanish language, the term “narco” is an abbreviation of the word “narcotraficante” which means drug trafficker. So, this inspired the name of this series about the drug kings.
This is the first Netflix original series from Colombia, South America.
Although we (me and my team) had watched this series in the past; recently, we rewatched it again for the sake of our readers. And our thoughts on this high-quality crime thriller have not wavered. We loved it then and we love it now. The biographical story of the audacious drug lord Pablo Escobar is addictive. Also, the true tales of the drug empire built by both the Medellín cartel and the Cali cartel depicted in this show are worth watching at least one time.
Now, let’s revisit the historical world of drug lords of South American nations in detail.
Table of Contents
Narcos Series:- details
| Genre | Crime, Drama, Thriller |
| Creators | Carlo Bernard, Chris Brancato, Doug Miro |
| Original languages | Spanish (& English) |
| Age-restrictions | A (18+) |
| Seasons & Episodes | Ten / 10 (Season 1 was released in August 2015) Ten / 10 (Season 2 was released in September 2016) Ten / 10 (Season 3 was released in September 2017) Thirty / 30 = Total number of episodes |
| Cast | Pedro Pascal, Wagner Moura, Boyd Holbrook, Alberto Ammann, Paulina Gaitan, etc. It is the 1st Netflix Original Series to feature Chilean actors in its cast. |
| Taglines | There’s no business like blow business. |
| Awards | Premios Fénix (Fenix Film Awards) – 2017 Winner Premio Fénix – Television: Best Ensemble Premios Fénix (Fenix Film Awards) – 2017 Winner Premio Fénix – Television: Best Drama Series Spanish Actors Union – 2019 Winner Award of the Spanish Actors Union – Best Actor in an International Production (Mejor Actor en Producción Internacional) – Alberto Ammann |
Narcos (Seasons 1 & 2) Series
These take place between 1979 & 1993, and they are about Medellín Cartel.
To cite the Encyclopedia Britannica, “Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria, (born December 1, 1949, Rionegro, Colombia—died December 2, 1993, Medellín), a Colombian criminal who, as head of the Medellín cartel, was arguably the world’s most powerful drug trafficker in the 1980s and early 1990s. According to some reports, he was worth approximately $25 billion in those days.
A larger-than-life figure, Escobar inspired numerous books, movies, and TV projects in the decades after his death.” So, season one and two of the show traces the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar and his Medellín cartel.
Narcos (Seasons 1) Series
Narcos (S1/2015) Series:- poster
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Narcos (S1/2015) Series:- synopsis
As drug lord Pablo Escobar rises, Colombian and U.S. law enforcement find themselves battling an enemy who will do anything to keep his empire.
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Narcos (S1/2015) Series:- trailer
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Narcos (S1/2015) Series:- {Spoilers Free} review
In season one of this series, we (viewers) learnt about the rise of Columbian drug king Escobar (amazingly played by actor Wagner Moura) – both in the illegal drug business and the legal political arena. With a net worth exceeding billions of USD, and political power, Escobar poses threats to everyone who challenges him.
Thus this season marks the start of the intriguing and unbelievable life of Escobar, who dominated the illegal drug business for more than a decade in the American continent. His meteoric rise and fall are worth feasting your eyes on. This show has painstakingly and successfully recreated the bygone era of Pablo Escobar in this smart screenplay. Also, the ensemble cast played their roles perfectly in this great show.
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Narcos (S1/2015) Series:- ratings
| FM’s rating | 4.45/5 |
| IMDb rating as of the date | 8.64/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes ratings as of the date | 78% Tomatometer & 95% Audience Score |
| Critics Consensus/Rotten Tomatoes | This show lacks sympathetic characters but pulls in the viewer with solid acting and a story that’s fast-paced enough to distract from its familiar outline. |
Narcos (Seasons 2) Series
Narcos (S2/2016) Series:- poster
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Narcos (S2/2016) Series:- synopsis
The Escobars cope with the challenges of life on the run. Pablo’s enemies team up against him. The Search Bloc’s tactics become increasingly dubious.
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Narcos (S2/2016) Series:- trailer
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Narcos (S2/2016) Series:- {Spoilers Free} review
Pablo Escobar escapes from the prison, runs away and hides from his enemies. Meanwhile, the Columbian police (Search Bloc), Los Pepes and Cali cartels wage a small-scale war against the Medellín cartel while searching for the elusive Escobar. The proverbial cat and mouse continue in South American nation. Meanwhile, the drug business continues to thrive. Led by Wagner Moura (Pablo Escobar) and Pedro Pascal (DEA agent) – its ensemble cast continues to deliver engrossing performances.
Season two of this show is our favourite among its three seasons.
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Narcos (S2/2016) Series:- ratings
| FM’s rating | 4.50/5 |
| IMDb rating as of the date | 8.76/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes ratings as of the date | 93% Tomatometer & 96% Audience Score |
| Critics Consensus/Rotten Tomatoes | This series’ sophomore season manages to elevate the stakes to a gut-wrenching degree in what continues to be a magnificent account of Pablo Escobar’s life. |
Narcos (Season 3) Series
It takes place in 1994 and it's about the Cali Cartel.
To quote the Encyclopedia Britannica, “The Cali cartel had a more subtle style and sophisticated approach than the Medellín cartel. The members of the Cali cartel quickly reinvested their drug profits into legitimate businesses. They deliberately undermined the Medellín cartel as it became increasingly unpopular and violent. The Cali cartel went so far as to help Colombian police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) track down Escobar.”
Thus, Season 3 of this show chronicles the rise and fall of the Cali cartel.
Narcos (Seasons 3) Series
Narcos (S3/2017) Series:- poster
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Narcos (S3/2017) Series:- synopsis
The rules changed in the aftermath of the bloody hunt for Escobar as the DEA turned its attention to his successors: the Cali Cartel.
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Narcos (S3/2017) Series:- trailer
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Narcos (S3/2017) Series:- {Spoilers Free} review
Although, the Cali cartel did not really get the limelight and publicity that the Medellín cartel led by Pablo Escobar received. Maybe it was because of the fact that the Gentlemen of the Cali cartels did not wish to be seen as the enemy of the common people and the government of Columbia. Season three of this show explores the sly, quiet, shrewd and business-like approach of low-profile bosses of the Cali cartel.
After eliminating Escobar, the government agencies of the USA and Columbia started focusing on wiping out Cali chiefs and their lucrative drug businesses. Alberto Ammann (a drug lord) and Pedro Pascal (a DEA agent) led the ensemble cast to tell another absorbing tale from South America. I must confess, that this series was a fascinating and spellbinding journey for me and my team members at Focus magazine.
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Narcos (S3/2017) Series:- ratings
| FM’s rating | 4.40/5 |
| IMDb rating as of the date | 8.60/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes ratings as of the date | 97% Tomatometer & 93% Audience Score |
| Critics Consensus/Rotten Tomatoes | This show continues to evolve in its third season, drawing on historical details to take viewers on a thoroughly gripping — and unsettlingly timely — journey into darkness. |
Focus:- we love its theme music & Spanish lyrics
The opening/theme song of this show is sung in Spanish by a Brazilian musician, Rodrigo Amarante. The lyrics of the theme song in the Spanish language along with its English language translation goes like this.
Soy el fuego que arde tu piel Soy el agua que mata tu sed El castillo, la torre yo soy La espada que guarda el caudal Tu el aire que respiro yo Y la luz de la luna en el mar La garganta que ansio mojar Que temo ahogar de amor ¿Y cuales deseos me vas a dar? Dices tu: Mi tesoro basta con mirarlo Tuyo será, Y tuyo será
I am the fire that burns your skin I am the water that quenches your thirst The castle, the tower I am The sword that guards the flow You the air that I breathe And the moonlight on the sea The throat that I long to wet I fear drowning in love And which desires will you give me? You say: My treasure, just look at it Yours it will be and yours will be
Enjoy!!
Featured & Other Images: Narcos | Netflix.