Review: Netflix’s Narcos

Pablo Escobar’s childhood dream was to be a millionaire by the time he was 22.  It is unclear if he met that specific goal, but at the height of his wealth, Escobar was worth $30 billion, money he earned as a Colombian drug lord. 

In its new series, Narcos, Netflix shows Escobar’s rise to power as a drug kingpin.  Although written as a fictional drama, Narcos has a documentary-like feel. Viewers see real video clips from the lives of Escobar and other members of the Medellín Cartel.   It is narrated by DEA Agent Steve Murphy—played by Boyd Holbrook—and  exposes viewers to the cocaine industry’s emergence and growth.  The real Steve Murphy, who is a consultant for the show, recently said that he was “shocked that anyone would even want to watch a show about some two-decade-old case where the villain is dead now.”  Narcos may be a show of the past, but the themes unveil many realities that are still prevalent today. 

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