As the weather starts to get colder, it becomes harder to get out of bed and venture into the world. While being able to stay in bed is a novelty during the school year, these rare moments occur, especially with the holidays approaching. Next time you get a day off, there is no better way to spend time than inside, bundled up with Netflix! Nothing sounds better than grabbing some snacks, a cup of hot chocolate or tea, and firing up your laptop. Now before you start rewatching Grey’s Anatomy or catch up on the new season of Arrow, you should try something a little different. I’d say the best show to start watching on Netflix right now is Narcos, a Netflix Original series that follows the real life trials and tribulations of Pablo Escobar, as he organized and operated one of the most successful drug cartels in history.
Although the timeline is admittedly fluid, Narcos transports its viewers right into the heart of Columbia, at a time when large scale cocaine production was on the rise. Based on true events, the show follows Pablo’s rise to becoming one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in Columbia. It also depicts the lives of the individuals who made it their job to take him down, from both from the Colombian police force and then United States Drug Enforcement Agency. The show has received stunning reviews from critics and viewers alike. The first season is only 10 episodes long, but luckily it has already been renewed for a second season starting in August 2016.
Since I've finished, I’ve recommended Narcos to everyone I know and every single person who has watched it only has good things to say. It’s seems to have all the necessary components to hook an audience.
The story line is fast paced and intriguing. Because it is a crime drama, you’re always waiting to see what will happen next. Intricate plans are developed, and it’s exciting to see how these things play out. As the plot thickens, it’s impossible to stop the next episode from automatically playing.
It’s authentic. Even people who have lived in Columbia during this song say that Narcos is on the whole very realistic. The timeline may be manipulated and there may be extra characters that did not exist in real life, but the essence of this time period is indisputably captured. The characters speak in the native language (meaning subtitles are frequent and very important), albeit sometimes a bit elementary. It has also been pointed out that the director took painstaking efforts to make even the smallest details of the setting accurate.
It provides an interesting view of history. Many people know the story of Pablo Escobar and the Medellin Drug Cartel, but Narcos provides an intimate look into his personal and family life. It adds another element to story that most people don't know. Pablo is portrayed as just a man, rather than this larger than life super villain that many picture him to be. Narcos also puts a lot of focus on the members of the DEA and the enormous efforts to stop the drug trafficking and domestic terrorism.
The best part is that Narcos has given me a vastly different perspective on a situation that I admittedly was very ignorant to. While the show takes certain liberties in changing history, it has opened the door for me to be more interested in this subject. Since finishing the season, I have found myself researching this dark time in Colombian History. Rather than romanticizing the situation, I believe it presents the events in a fair and honest way, which also makes for great TV.
If you’re not convinced yet, do yourself a favor and watch one episode. I can almost guarantee you’ll get addicted to this cocaine-centric original series.
