For those that don't care about seeing it in Standard Definition, this highly entertaining show has a lot to offer. As of now, to see it at its best, which it absolutely deserves, just stream it.
“In his quest to build a drug empire in the 1980s, Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo (Diego Luna) takes the helm of the Guadalajara Cartel, unifying traffickers. Meanwhile, DEA Agent Kiki Camarena (Michael Peña) moves his wife and young son from California to Guadalajara to take on a new post. As Camarena gathers intelligence on Félix and becomes more entangled in his mission, a tragic chain of events unfolds, affecting the drug trade – and the war against it – for years to come.”
Originally meant to be the fourth season of Narcos, this show was ultimately given a stand-alone series, taking place in Mexico in the 1980s, focusing on the drug trade. While I wasn’t able to totally get hooked by the original series of the show, Narcos: Mexico was able to do that straight away, thanks in part to some fantastic acting and an engaging story.
The two main characters, Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo played by Diego Luna and Kiki Camarena played by Michael Peña, are at two opposite ends of the spectrum. Both men are smart, dedicated to their ambitions, except that one wants to build a drug empire and the other wants to tear them down. It’s interesting that the series that plays these two sides against each other, yet as the viewer you want both to succeed in their ambitions, knowing full well that can never happen. We know these two sides will collide at some point, and stay fully engaged at the plot of the story that unfolds before us. Michael Peña has more than proven how versatile an actor he is with his wide body of work, and continues that trend in this show. His frustration with the bureaucracy of his role in a country where everyone is on the take can really be felt as the story progresses, and his taking more and more risks in trying to actually accomplish something in Guadalajara. Diego Luna has also really impressed me in this show with his ability to carry so much weight in his scenes where he is just starting out as this leader figure who has united his people for the first time in a common goal, only to find out not everything is as it seems.
Here’s a breakdown of the series:
- Camelot – When the army pillages Sinaloa, an ambitious pot farmer pitches a plan to build a drug empire in Guadalajara. A young DEA agent transfers to Mexico.
- The Plaza System – Félix tries to unite all of the plazas while Rafa searches for water for his seedless weed. Police corruption and the DEA’s complacency frustrate Kiki.
- El Padrino – Kiki flies solo on a risky undercover operation. Félix turns to his mentor for advice as conflict between the cops and the traffickers escalates.
- Rafa, Rafa, Rafa! – After months of frustration, Kiki seizes an opportunity. Rafa runs afoul of powerful government officials, putting Félix in a difficult position.
- The Columbian Connection – A threat leaves Mika shaken. Félix envisions a different kind of future for the Guadalajara cartel.
- La Última Frontera – A violent power struggle erupts between Falcón and Rafa. As Félix finds a footing in the cocaine business, the DEA tries to lure him into the U.S.
- Jefe de Jefes – María implores Félix to move back to Sinaloa. Kiki gathers evidence of the Guadalajara cartel’s pot fields. Neto mourns.
- Just Say No – After the DEA closes in on Rafa’s enormous pot field, Félix tries to stop his associates from retaliating. Kiki and Jaime meet with investigators.
- 881 Lope de Vega – A desperate Jaime is stymied by bureaucratic paperwork. Mika worries about her husband. Félix urges Rafa to disappear.
- Leyenda – As pressure mounts, Félix returns to Sinaloa. An enraged Jaime and Mika seek justice and answers.
The Narcos series on Netflix has a pretty big following, with this incarnation spawning a second season already released earlier this year on the streaming app. As popular as it may be, however, Netflix will not give it the decency of a High Definition release. Whether or not it is the production cost, or trying to get people to stay subscribed to their service, I can’t say for sure, but I do know that streaming you can watch this series in Dolby Vision versus the DVD set that they have released. How many backward generations of formats is that exactly? Not everyone may be as cognizant of High Definition vs. Standard as I am, but for me seeing it in Standard Definition when I can be watching it in Dolby Vision takes the enjoyment out of the series. Narcos: Mexico is a show worth checking out, but not on DVD. Stream it. Hope that someday we may be graced with a HD version that we can own.
