I am one of the over 3 million people worldwide that watches and enjoys the Netflix hit, Narcos. What makes me different, however, is that I am Colombian. Born in Bogota and raised in Miami, I have never forgotten my roots and where I come from. The fact that I am Colombian and a part of the Narcos fandom is rare to say the least.
While I cannot speak for the country as a whole, I do know that many Colombians do not support the Netflix adaptation of one of the many, many stories our beautiful country has to tell. Simply speaking, Narcos is not historically accurate. At the start of every episode, a disclaimer reads, “This television series is inspired by true events. Some of the characters, names, business, incidents and several locations and events have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes. Any similarity to the name, character, or history of any person is entirely coincidental and unintentional.” The show never claims to be the exact retelling of the story of Pablo Escobar and the Colombian drug cartels. However, the use of real names and incidents, although just inspiring the show, give viewers the impression of the such being a historical documentary of sorts.
Narcos is incredibly Pro-American, over-emphasizing the role the United States had on bringing down Pablo Escobar and subsequently the Cali Cartel. Presenting the story from an American point of view, slowly erases the feelings and opinions of Colombians. I will not deny that Pablo Escobar was a form of terrorist and the destruction that he and the cartels caused in my country are incredibly devastating, but it is not that simple. Nothing is ever black and white, yet Narcos presents it as such.
The problem with Narcos and other Escobar centered shows, even El Patron del Mal, is that they intentionally, or unintentionally, stereotype Colombians. Globally, Colombia continues to be associated with drugs and violence, and to this day, I encounter too many cocaine jokes to count. My country isn’t perfect, it never was. We continue to struggle with the repercussions of a war on drugs, as well as military conflicts, but we are so much more than just drugs and cocaine.
Shows like Narcos tell one single aspect of Colombian history. They focus on one of our darkest times. Colombia is a beautiful country that has contributed so many wonderful things to our world that are constantly overlooked. The story of Pablo Escobar, Medellin and the Cali Cartel is interesting no doubt, it’s tragic, chockful of action, and incredibly multifaceted, but it is not the only one we have to offer.
Lets talk about Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the creator of Magical Realism, a Nobel Prize winner. Lets talk about our beautiful landscapes, mountains, rain forests, flora, fauna. Let’s talk about the fact we mine and produce the greatest amount of emeralds in the world. Let’s talk about cumbia and vallenato, the beautiful, lively music that serves as the soundtrack to the romance and adventure nation-wide. Let’s talk about Fernando Botero, a huge influence in modern art. Let’s talk about the International Soccer comeback of dreams at the 2014 FIFA World Cup (#fuegoldeyepes). Colombia is so much more than the drug cartels we encountered decades ago.
We are a country of resilience, ambition and determination. We continue to grow economically and culturally. I will never forget what happened in the 80s and 90s and the tragedies that Colombians endured, but I also will not let it be the only thing people remember when they think about Colombia.
However, I watch Narcos as if it were a form of science fiction. I watch Narcos knowing that it is not the full truth. I watch it because the acting and cinematography is incredible. (Also Miguel Angel Silvestre is the love of my life and I wish I would’ve seen more of him in Season 3). If the show weren’t surrounded by the controversy that comes with being associated with such a negative aspect of Colombian history, it would have a lot more fans. If you choose to continue to, or start to, watch Narcos, do so because of the acting and storytelling. Do not watch Narcos because you want a quick history lesson. That would be like watching Disney’s Pocahontas because you want to learn about the history of Thanksgiving.
