Netflix’s 3-Part Crime Thriller Is Sicario Meets House Of Cards

Netflix has a stellar track record when it comes to crime and drama shows, but there is one incredible series that has yet to get the attention it deserves. While Netflix is dominating the true crime space with an endless stream of documentaries, biographical crime dramas, and dramatizations based on true events, they also excel at depicting largely fictional crime narratives.

However, with the sheer volume of new releases coming to the platform, there are a handful of hidden gems that end up flying under the radar. With one such iconic series being a spin-off from the incredibly popular Narcos series, Narcos: Mexico. While the original series is set in Colombia and depicts the dealings of drug lord Pablo Escobar, Narcos: Mexico shifts the story to Mexico, exploring the frontlines of the drug trade as it crosses the border into the US.

Narcos: Mexico Is Wildly Underrated Compared To The Original Series

Narcos quickly rose to become one of the most celebrated and beloved crime dramas on Netflix in 2015, and the show went on to have a dedicated following for much of its three-season run. Then, in the years since the series ended, new fans have discovered the series and joined the fanbase, thus contributing to the longevity of the show. However, not everyone is aware that the show even had a spin-off.

In 2018, the year after Narcos came to its explosive conclusion, Narcos: Mexico expanded the story by going slightly further back in time in a brand-new setting. The series continued for a total of three seasons, just like its predecessor, and eventually overlapped with the timeline of the original series. Unfortunately, as a spin-off, the show didn’t get as much attention as Narcos, and ultimately ended up being an underappreciated part of the saga.

That being said, Narcos: Mexico works both as a standalone story, due to the earlier timeline and new setting, and as an addition to Narcos, which makes it an ideal series for both fans and newcomers to jump on board. It’s thrilling, tense, and incredibly cerebral with fascinating dialogue between well-developed characters who bring the narrative to life.

Narcos: Mexico Delivers Both Crime & Political Thrills To A Single Series

Like Narcos, Narcos: Mexico is loosely based on real characters and events, while adding a significant amount of embellishment to make the story more consumable for a TV format. With the focus on drugs, smuggling, and other criminal acts, Narcos: Mexico offers plenty of crime drama that keeps fans of the genre on their toes, while also exploring a more thought-provoking political thriller side to the narrative.

In this way, the show combines the most compelling aspects of shows like Sicario, where law enforcement butts heads with the drug cartel, and House of Cards, as corrupt politicians and governments aid the drug trade and create a corrupt and broken system that ultimately endangers average citizens while propping up the most morally questionable and indefensible members of society. This is also what sets it apart from Narcos.

While the earlier show dives deep into its exploration of the drug cartel and embodies the best aspects of a crime thriller, the powers that be are not official leaders who have a responsibility to govern and support the people around them. In Narcos: Mexico, the lines get blurred, and the story absolutely benefits from these shades of grey that break up the black and white moral structure.

As much as Narcos was a standout series, and it launched the career of some incredible talents such as Wagner Moura and Pedro Pascal, Narcos: Mexico brought in more experienced talent, refined a stunning and captivating story, and delivered something that builds on the success of Narcos while enhancing many of the other elements, leading to a series that deserves so much more recognition.

Release Date

2018 – 2021-00-00

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Carlo Bernard

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