"Narcos: Mexico": A World of Money, Murder and Marijuana

Let me tell you why Narcos Mexico had my eyes locked onto my screen and phone set on amp8220Do Not Disturbamp8221amp160 This series and others like it Narcos El Chapo kind of bank on how relatable the main characters seem to the vieweramp160 Yes these are objectively amp8220bad hombresamp8221 but thereamp8217s usually some redeeming quality they have when depicted in entertainment that makes it hard to completely condemn them amp160In the case of Felix Gallardo this isnamp8217t much differentamp160 Itamp8217s his vision and foresight that allow him to dream the unthinkable dream of turning a bunch of independent dealers and growers into an organization and itamp8217s his resolve and ability to adapt that help him pull it all offLunaamp8217s performance paints a picture of a man who isnamp8217t just a man of the people heamp8217s a provider amp160People need him and unlike a Tony Montanatype who would only really care about what they wanted Gallardo has people he canamp8217t let down which is why heamp8217s always a step ahead even when it seems heamp8217s a step behindSpeaking of amp8220a step behindamp8221 the DEA unit in Guadalajara just canamp8217t seem to catch a break at least not until Kiki shows up See his new fellow agents have a policy that pretty much boils down to amp8220donamp8217t make wavesamp8221 and on top of not having any real authority in Mexico they also make the constant mistake of assuming the various drug dealers are too unruly to ever work in concert amp160What Michael Peamp241a does is deliver a layered and believable Agent Camarena one whoamp8217s just ambitious intelligent and headstrong enough that he may truly accomplish some goodBoth Gallardo and Camarena while on opposite sides of the law yearn for the same things respect for themselves safety for their families and success in their careers amp160Unfortunately neither of them can have those things while the other doesMaybe itamp8217s the picture I already have of seedy underworld Mexico in my mindamp8217s eye thanks to mainstream cinema or maybe I just watch too much TV but something about the overall tone of the show seems inherently entropic amp160At any given moment whether you can see it or not the world feels as though itamp8217s slipping further and further into disorder and that implied predictably unpredictable danger can be felt in damn near every sceneThe drug of focus being marijuana also breathed some extra life into this iteration of the Narcos series amp160Colombia may have had the market cornered when it came to cocaine but that sticky green was the name of the game in Guadalajara amp160I could go on all day about how this whole operation worked but thatamp8217s only because the realistic nature of the series makes it semieducational amp160I mean I wonamp8217t be starting any cartels any time soon but learning how these people did what they did was half the fun when watching the showCasting also played a major role in the showamp8217s appeal amp160I feel like in order for something amp8220based on a true storyamp8221 to hook someone like me Iamp8217ve got to believe it amp160Iamp8217m not saying that when I watch Michael Peamp241a put his character in a dangerous situation that I forget heamp8217s an actor and fear for Peamp241aamp8217s life Iamp8217m saying that when I see Peamp241a playing Kiki Camarena I donamp8217t see him pretending amp160I see Kiki slightly more intrigued by a clue then he is scared by the danger and Iamp8217m able to suspend my disbelief just long enough to be a little scared for the funny guy from AntManAlyssa Diaz who plays Kikiamp8217s wife Mika and Matt Letscher who plays Kikiamp8217s superior James Kuykendall are both excellentamp160 amp160James comes across as an authentically good guy whoamp8217s just trying to make a difference the best way he knows how amp160Mika is supportive as hell and obviously has Kikiamp8217s back but sheamp8217s also no nonsense when it comes to putting her foot down amp160Mika and Kikiamp8217s dynamic is a relatable and endearing one and played a huge part in any concern I felt for Kiki throughout the series amp160Without the sincerity that Diaz and Letscher lent to their characters I seriously doubt Narcos Mexico wouldamp8217ve felt the sameAdd to this a moody and ambient score classic Mexican musicamp160and special effects that more than rival the other shows in this genre and Netflix has got yet another bingeworthy packageRead my review of El Chapo Season 1Read my review of its El Chapo Season 2amp160Click the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writersamp160

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"Narcos: Mexico": A World of Money, Murder and Marijuana

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Ainsley Andrade

FEMA and the Ad Council Encourage AANHPI Communities to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in New PSAs - Ad Council InSites

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"Narcos: Mexico": A World of Money, Murder and Marijuana

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Ainsley Andrade

FEMA and the Ad Council Encourage AANHPI Communities to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in New PSAs - Ad Council InSites

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