All three series of Narcos, widely praised as one of the finest TV programmes ever produced, are now available to stream on Netflix. The gritty crime drama, ideal for fans of hard-hitting gangster shows like The Sopranos or The Wire, first aired in 2015 and immediately captivated audiences.
The Story of Pablo Escobar
The series chronicles the tale of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, who headed the Medellin cartel and ranked among the world's most notorious narcoterrorists. He amassed a billion-pound fortune through his production and global distribution before being shot dead by police in a gunfight while attempting to arrest him in 1993. He was just 44.
Season One examines Escobar's interactions with drug lords and authorities throughout the 1970s, when he first embarked on the criminal path that would transform him into one of the planet's most feared figures. Despite his capture, the first series concludes with his prison escape, reports Wales Online. Series Two chronicles his final years, and Series Three explores what becomes of his cartel and vast drug empire after his death.
Critical and Fan Acclaim
Starring Wagner Moura as Escobar himself, with Hollywood icon Pedro Pascal in one of his early roles as DEA agent Javier Pena, Narcos received nominations for several prestigious awards, including Golden Globes and BAFTAs. The fourth series was rebranded Narcos: Mexico and concentrated on the Mexican cartels of the 1980s.
Both audiences and reviewers were captivated by the original Narcos, with numerous people proclaiming it a television masterpiece. It maintains an impressive 93 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 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." A third posted: "This remains a slick, stylish delight -- a romp that is the best kind of addictive."
Audience Reactions
Audiences also heaped acclaim on the hard-hitting programme. One fan 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. Also, it showed that even having that much money did not change Escobar's hart, he loved his family more than everything he was ready to sacrifice everything for them. He burned a lot of money to make sure that his daughter does not freeze. I liked this series a lot, and till now, I am continuously watching the new seasons depside the fact that Escobar does not play there."
Another wrote: "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. This is not to be mistaken with praising the crimes committed by Pablo Escobar, it's just a matter of explaining what makes the show more entertaining to watch, and strictly that."
Narcos is streaming now on Netflix.
