Netflix original series Narcos stands out among crime dramas by being widely recognized for its cultural sensitivity and accurate depictions of Colombian society. The…
Netflix original series Narcos stands out among crime dramas by being widely recognized for its cultural sensitivity and accurate depictions of Colombian society. The use of Spanish (with subtitles), filming scenes on location in Colombia rather than just distant jungles has been seen as proof that Narcos producers understand their depiction accurately.
This show tells the tale of cocaine’s meteoric rise from an illicit substance only known by name to an industry worth billions, as well as how Colombian and American law enforcement organizations attempted to combat Pablo Escobar’s rise as cocaine kingpin.
Narcos is an impressive and compelling piece of television about the War on Drugs. Unfortunately, as with any portrayal of real events, Narcos suffers from limitations that prevent it from being fully nuanced; chief among these being its use of white DEA Agent Steve Murphy to narrate the story and its subsequent inability to challenge some myths associated with its subject matter and participants.
Narcos’ limits can be seen in its depictions of drug trafficking and violence that accompanies it. While acknowledging the tremendous carnage caused by drug trafficking, Narcos doesn’t dwell on this aspect like other crime dramas like Goodfellas do; violence instead tends to be shown more subtly through montages with mood-setting soundtracks.
Although the show occasionally attempts to counter this view by emphasizing how Central and South American nations aren’t lawless playgrounds for crooks or by noting how America’s drug policies contributed to these problems, such moments remain few and far between; rather, the narrator continually reinforces his view that drugs in Latin America can only be solved by taking down drug lords.
One major shortcoming of the show is its portrayal of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar as an irredeemable villain, an effect achieved through both stereotyping and self-recognition of stereotypes about Colombian families and populism that help mitigate some stereotypes about him.
As much as it would be nice, it is difficult to overlook that Narcos consistently portrays Escobar as an unscrupulous criminal who terrorized an entire country for years – which can prove problematic for a show seeking to provide more nuanced portrayals of this figure that many have come to despise. Although its creators admit they cannot deny Escobar was responsible for murdering thousands and wrecking havoc across an entire nation, their intention may still be achieved while remaining critical in their depiction of drug kingpins and the War on Drugs itself.