Narcos

For me, probably the fifth failure in the field of universally acclaimed drama series. One is almost inclined to wonder whether the fault really lies with the works themselves, but those who know me know that it simply couldn’t be any other way. At the very least, Narcos surprised me at how all ten episodes manage to consistently feel like the prologue to something that never comes. Time jumps, disconnected scenes, the constant introduction of new characters that more than once we meet and bit farewell to within ten minutes of a single episode, stingy one-take sequences, and a terrible, unbelievably awful voice over from one of the protagonists. The latter is itself part of what is clearly the most unbearable aspect of the series, namely the storyline involving the American police officers (whose real-life inspirations were actively involved in the making of the series – aha). This pair of hard-boiled cops with their ironic smirks, six fingers of American whiskey in coffee mugs, porn, and tough guy comments in comically badass American accents come across as the work of an eight-year-old Clint Eastwood fan and reliably bury any scene, especially when compared to Wagner Moura's focused and charismatic performance as their antagonist. Beyond that, I still couldn't get past the form, which most of all resembles a dramatized documentary; some scenes are downright sloppy (the urban exteriors often feel like the unacknowledged result of guerrilla filmmaking), and the series never comes close to a sequence as well-constructed as the opening bar shootout during the first season. If this is the 3rd highest rated series here, that takes a lot of wind out of my sails. (18/05/2018)

I've been putting off the series for maybe half a year, but thanks to the current film shortage I've gone full steam ahead and I don't regret a second of the time I spent on it. Pablo Escobar is a someone who has earned my respect and it's definitely good to know how things worked in Colombia at the time. Highlights: the detailed instructions on how to make cocaine, the presidential election, and his own prison. Very good, interesting, engaging and decently gritty. 95% (08/09/2017)

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 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)

The third season about the Cali Cartel is a bit weaker than the first and second, focusing on the life of Pablo Escobar and his capture. But as a whole, it works very well. The smooth interlacing of the plot with documentary footage contributes to the quality of the series. This gave me the feeling that the filmed story did not deviate too much from reality. This comprehensive work is of considerable value, especially in that the viewer unfamiliar with the conditions in Colombia learns what atrocities certain egotistical individuals committed in the interests of power, influence, and wealth. From all that the filmmakers served us on a golden platter, a rather frightening thought has taken root in my head about how easy it is to corrupt perhaps every political system... (05/05/2020)