Narcos, the gritty crime drama hailed as one of the best TV shows ever made, is now streaming on Netflix with all three series available. Perfect for fans of gangster dramas like The Sopranos or The Wire, the show first captivated viewers in 2015 and holds an impressive 93 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Story of Pablo Escobar
The series tells the story of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, leader of the Medellin cartel and one of the most feared narcoterrorists in the world. He became a billionaire through his production and distribution across the globe before being killed by police in a gunfight while they tried to arrest him in 1993, aged just 44.
Season One deals with Escobar's dealings with drug lords and authorities throughout the 1970s, when he first began his life of crime. Despite his arrest, the first series ends with his escape from prison. Series Two marks his later life, and Series Three tackles what happens to his cartel and drug empire following his death.
Cast and Awards
Wagner Moura stars as Escobar, with Hollywood icon Pedro Pascal in one of his early roles as DEA agent Javier Pena. The show was nominated for several high-profile awards, including Golden Globes and BAFTAs. Following the third and final series about Escobar in 2017, the creators re-focused their efforts, rebranding the fourth series as Narcos: Mexico, which focused on Mexican cartels of the 1980s.
Critical and Fan Praise
Critics and fans alike have praised the show. One critic said: "The acting, as usual, is exceptional here, though Escobar's fall from grace, and the accompanying bodycount, makes for season so violent that it tends to numb, and drag, at times." Another added: "The performances by Moura, Pascal and everyone else are still some of the best seen on television right now with Moura taking the cake again in the last three episodes."
Fans also shared their views. One said: "This season was unique because it showed the death of Pablo Escobar. The whole season was based on the fact that how can a powerful and strong person like Pablo Escobar can be killed." Another added: "Season 2 managed to be even better than Season 1 because we got to a critical point in Pablo Escobar's life. We were shown in full display of what a monster can do when he feels desperate and out of options."
Narcos is streaming now on Netflix.
