Narcos: Mexico | Consistently Cinematic - 44/365

Plot****

Cinematography*****

Score/Soundtrack****

Character Development*****

Timelessness****

Originality****

The Pitch

One of the few times a spinoff out did the original show, Narcos: Mexico learned from its predecessor the way the Cali Cartel learned from Pablo. What it produced was a vibrant transition from the Kingpins of Colombia to the reign of the notorious El Chapo.

The Gist

Ecobar and El Chapo are the two most infamous names in relation to cocaine. But like Jordan and Lebron, there are way more players in such a competitive field and the best of them came out of Mexico. Longer reigns, increased efficiency and less violence, it quickly becomes apparent that the men and women that controlled the drug trade in Mexico liked be unknowns, or simply hiding in plain sight. Over 3 seasons, the ripple effect from the cocaine wave that started in Colombia and ended in Miami is told through a lens that’s on par with most blockbuster films. Brighter colors, bigger landscapes with the same A+ acting and writing, Narcos: Mexico is the better of the two shows for sure.

The Breakdown

Maybe it was because we’re more familiar with the story of Pablo Escobar, but this one felt fresher from end to end. Instead of an abrupt drop off into the violent world of cocaine-laced Colombia, we’re given a Michael Corleone-like transformation to follow as a Mexican cop turns into a cut throat kingpin. With the same style of narration, we’re shown how Miguel ángel Félix Gallardo(Diego Luna) ceased the fall of Colombia and violently united the cartels of the Mexico. Then after his inevitable demise, we’re shown the chaos that ensued from the power grab through a saturated and subjective lens.