Bandidos series focuses on a group of misfits involved in the hidden treasure hunt. Notably, Bandidos means the Mexican bandits, esp., as represented in films and popular culture.
Therefore the series is about a bunch of criminals hunting for historical Mayan treasure in Mexico. Moreover, this series has many references to the ancient Mayan civilization of Mesoamerica, and it seems that quite a few are based on historical facts. But, before we share their details, let us check out other key facets of the series.
“Bandidos” Is A Fun Filled Swashbuckling Treasure Hunt Undertaken By A Team Of So-Called Bandits
Trailer: Bandidos (S1/2024) Spanish Series
Synopsis: Bandidos (S1/2024) Spanish Series
A gang of skilled misfits ventures to uncover a long-hidden Mayan treasure. Their strategy? Hazy. Their dynamic? Off. Luckily, they’re pretty ingenious.
Spoiler Free Review: Bandidos (S1/2024) Spanish Series
This fictional tale focuses on real Mayan history
Despite containing historical references to many real aspects of Mayan culture, the series features a fictional character named Luis Fernández de Montejo. However, his ancestor Francisco de Montejo, a Spanish conquistador, and the cartographer Juan de la Cosa were actual historical figures from the 15th and 16th centuries.
The treasure’s origins are also grounded in reality, with the city of Calakmul in Campeche, Mexico, serving as a genuine archaeological site where Miguel and his team seek gold. So, this ancient city of Calakmul, previously known as the Snake Kingdom, was governed by the influential Kaan dynasty, also referred to as the Snake dynasty, during the Mayan civilization.
In the first episode, Luis mentions a Snake King named Aj Took as the ultimate ruler of Calakmul. However, the authenticity of his reign and the potential presence of concealed treasures, reminiscent of those depicted in Bandidos, remain topics of conjecture.
The basic storyline/plotline
Upon stumbling upon an ancient Snake King’s treasure map, a group of bandits – Miguel (Alfonso Dosal), Lilí (Ester Expósito), Wilson ((Juan Pablo Medina), Lucas (Juan Pablo Fuentes), Octavio (Nicolás Furtado), Citlalí (Andrea Chaparro) and others set off on a dangerous adventure in the Mexican Caribbean in search of a long-lost treasure. Can they accomplish their goal with a wacky plan and a sprinkle of good luck?
What did we like about it?
We liked the story of this lively Spanish show. The series has been shot primarily in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Besides, they also filmed in other places in Mexico, viz., Mérida, Playa del Carmen, Veracruz, Morelos, and Mexico City. We loved that they maintained the authenticity of its story by using the original Spanish language. It used humourous Spanish dialogues to keep us entertained. Mind you, it is not a serious crime tale. It mixes the fun and action elements, to make it playful and easy to consume.
We have earlier seen the lead actor Alfonso Dosal (Miguel) in the “Narcos: Mexico” series and the lead actress Ester Expósito (Lilí) in the “Elite” series. However, both play the small-time con artists quite well in this series. We liked their unusual pairing, as they look good and goofy together. Among the rest of the ensemble cast, the performances of Mabel Cadena (Inés), Andrés Baida (Ariel Tavitiun), and Fermín Martínez (Canché) are good.
The conclusion
The good people (Bandidos) managed to win, so the first season ended positively. For us, it was an uplifting and satisfactory finale. On the other hand, it also opened itself for a possible second season. However, so far Netflix has not announced it officially. Meanwhile, it is worth noting, that this light-hearted Spanish action-adventure series is filled with romance, comical scenes and the fight sequences. Thus, it incorporates different ingredients to make it a good series to pass one’s time without taxing too many brain cells. So, go ahead and enjoy.
Rating:
| FM Rating | 3.50/5 |
Poster:
Key Details:
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller |
| Original language | Spanish |
| Season | One (1) Season |
| Episodes | Seven (7) Episodes |
| Writer & Showrunner | Pablo Tébar |
| Director | Adrian Grunberg & Javier Ruiz Caldera |
| Cast | Alfonso Dosal (Miguel), Ester Expósito (Lilí), Juan Pablo Medina (Wilson), Mabel Cadena (Inés), Juan Pablo Fuentes Acevedo (Lucas), Andrea Chaparro (Citlali), Andres Baida (Ariel), Bruno Bichir (Juan Morales), Adrian Ladron (Burnt Face), Fermín Martínez (Conche), Jose Luis Rodriguez (Ramiro), etc. |
| Network | Netflix |
Spoilers Alert: Summary of the 7 Episodes of the Series
Bonus info. – the key characters (& actors/actresses) of the series
Summary of the Seven (7) Episodes of the First (1st) Season
The Map (S1, E1) | 42 minutes
Miguel stumbles into an old flame at the hotel, then meets a guest with a peculiar last name — and even a stranger tattoo — who ignites his dreams of gold.
The Sacred Place (S1, E2) | 46 minutes
As their plan goes awry, the gang pivots to help Miguel. With the cops hot on their trail, Miguel and Wilson enlist a new member and dash to the cenote.
The Stone (S1, E3) | 51 minutes
With Miguel facing a dismaying fate, Lucas’s gadgets come in handy, as does Lilí’s idea — still, they’re bound for an explosive confrontation.
The Legend of the Three Keys (S1, E4) | 47 minutes
After Lilí saves the day, the gang considers splitting, but a dire threat binds them back together. Juan offers a cryptic, yet monumental clue.
The Exchange (S1, E5) | 45 minutes
The bandits hit their next target: Churches. With time running out, they decide to divide and conquer… but outsmarting their pursuers won’t be easy.
The Traitor (S1, E6) | 42 minutes
After their stunt is stalled, the group must figure out if there’s a traitor among them. Soon, more than one revelation comes to light.
The Treasure | 47 minutes
As doubt looms over Miguel, Wilson encourages him to continue the adventure. But is discovering the treasure truly written in the stars?
Poster & Featured Image of the Bandidos (S1/2024) Spanish Series are courtesy of Netflix.