TV Show Review: Narcos
I watched the first two episodes of Narcos literally crouching behind a pillow shield between me and my laptop. The show does not hold back on graphic violence, nudity or profanity. That being said, I was so hooked that I binge-watched the entire two seasons in two weeks.
I absolutely loved that a mainstream American TV Show was over ninety percent in Spanish. It added precious authenticity to the show that could not have been achieved had it been in English. Viewers did not mind watching a show in a language they didn’t understand because of the impeccable quality of content. This is endorsed by its sheer popularity.
After finishing the show, I watched a documentary on Pablo Escobar and drug trafficking in Colombia to research authenticity of the show’s storyline and I was mighty impressed. The writers of the show have put in humungous effort to get their story and plot just right. While certain incidents and characters are picked or omitted to keep the plot clear and engaging for the viewer, each plot point, character and location resonates with actual events. The creative liberties were strictly minimal and only enhanced the storytelling. The makers have gone to great lengths to get minute details right. From Gustavo’s moustache and glasses, to the hairstyle of each of Pablo’s sicarios or the colour of his t-shirt when he was finally gunned down, they have it all down.
I personally feel that it is harder to write for a TV series than for a movie as it comes with the challenge of engaging your viewer over a much longer period with long intervals in between. With Narcos, they knew how to pace their storyline so well that not only did I yearn for more after each episode, I also clearly remembered the sequence of events from the very beginning, and this when it was not in a language I understood. That is the signature of really good storytelling.
The cinematography of the show is so good that there were moments I found myself holding my breath, only to realise that it was a TV show and not real life that I was witnessing. The extreme close-ups for tense shots and hand held camera work for dramatic sequences added so much to the organic and gritty feel of the show. The mark of good cinematography is when the viewer believes they’re part of the scene. They definitely delivered on that.
The editing was extremely clever. Interspersing the show with real footage added another dimension and after a couple of episodes, the line between reality and theatre blurred. It added so much to the authenticity of the show.
Having Murphy narrate the story added texture to it. Pena and Murphy make a very likeable team and they have you rooting for them. Its almost endearing how badly they want Escobar and that rubs off on you.
A review on this show is incomplete without a mention of Wagner Moura, the actor who played Escobar. He played the varying shades of power, anger, arrogance, despair and helplessness with ingenuity. His work is so riveting that he may very well be mistaken for the real Pablo Escobar.
I’m eagerly waiting for the next season to see the evolution of the Narco trade with the Cali cartel at its head. I’m definitely going to miss Pablo, Tata and their sicarios though.
