Netflix’s gritty crime dramaNarcoswas originally meant to have four seasons, but this plan was changed, resulting in a spiritual successor set in Mexico. The originalNarcostells the story of Colombia’s cocaine trade under the drug lord Pablo Escobar, and its success sparked a new wave ofdrug lord shows likeNarcos.Narcosran for three seasons, with the first two focusing on Escobar’s rise to power, and the third on the aftermath when Escobar is killed. WhileNarcosmade some changes to the real story, the show was critically acclaimed and ended with people wanting more.
With Escobar dead and the Cali cartel leaving the drug business, it appeared thatNarcoshad come to a natural end. However, Escobar was not the only drug lord operating in the 1980s and 90s, whenNarcoswas set. Rather than continue the story in Colombia, theNarcosteam turned their attention to Mexico and thereal-life drug lord Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo. ThoughNarcos: Mexicois not a direct sequel, the decision to tell a different person’s story in a new setting kept theNarcosseries compelling and was ultimately the right decision.
Narcos: Mexico Worked Better As Its Own Thing Than As Narcos Season 4
Pablo Escobar Cameo Confirmed That Narcos And Narcos: Mexico Exist In The Same Universe
Narcos: Mexicobegan when the drug trade in Mexico was mostly small independent businesses. Gallardo is slightly less well-known than Escobar, so explaining the wide range of characters and affiliations necessary to tell his story was a large undertaking. While the shows are set in the same universe,Narcos: Mexicowas complex enough to feel like a standalone seriesrather than a continuation ofNarcos.The intricate story and new setting meant thatNarcos: Mexicoworked better on its own in lieu ofNarcosseason 4. However,Narcos: Mexicokept the spirit of the original series while allowing the occasional crossover.
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ThoughNarcosandNarcos: Mexicoare distinctly different stories, they exist within the same timeline, which was confirmed when someNarcoscharacters made cameo appearances inNarcos: Mexico.Thisincluded the legendary Pablo Escobar himself. Escobar, played by Wagner Moura, appears in a short scene that involves Escobar using his pet hippos to threaten Gallardo. The scene may not have been strictly true to life, but it has been considered one of the best scenes inNarcos: Mexico. Confirming that the two shows were connected makes it likely thatfutureNarcosshowsmay include more cameos.
Why Narcos Season 3 Was The Right Time To End The Pablo Escobar Show
The Narcos Team Are Now Telling Another Drug Lord’s Story
Narcosseason 2 ended with Pablo Escobar being shot dead, and season 3 dealt with the aftermath. Dedicating season 3 to the fates of the main characters allowedNarcosto wrap up the central story while highlighting other centralNarcoscharacters. This focus on other characters like DEA agent Javier Peña, played by Pedro Pascal, also allowed for more realism, as the real Peña worked as a consultant for the show.Pedro Pascal leftNarcosafter season 3as planned, becausewith Escobar dead, hisNarcosstory had concluded, and there were other drug lords with stories to tell.
Netflix’s New Crime Drama Is The Perfect Narcos Replacement, 3 Years After Hit Spinoff
The Sofía Vergara-led Netflix series Griselda shares many thematic similarities with the celebrated Narcos but still makes sure to tell its own story.
TheNarcoscreators' new show centers on another drug lord. Sofia Vergara stars inGriselda, which focuses on the story of the formidableGriselda Blanco, who Pablo Escobar described as “the only man I was ever afraid of.“TheNarcosandGriseldashowrunner, Eric Newman, decided not to connect the two shows so that he could tell Blanco’s unique story without forcing a link to the previousNarcosshows, which new viewers may not have seen. WhilePablo Escobar does not appear inGriselda, the show serves as a spiritual successor toNarcos, and returns to the same dangerous industry.
