Netflix's 3-Part True Crime Series Is One Of Its Best

Published Mar 6, 2026, 3:30 PM EST

The True Story Behind Narcos

The show might not be an exact representation of the events it covers, but all true crime drama fans should watch Narcos, as it is more faithful to its real-life story than many other true-crime shows. Narcos covers the cocaine cartel activity from the 1970s through to the 1990s, with seasons 1 and 2 focusing on the rise of Pablo Escobar.

The Colombian drug lord was known as "The King of Cocaine," and monopolized the cocaine trade by engaging in narco-terrorism and ordering thousands of murders, including high-profile politicians as well as civilians. That said, he was surprisingly popular in some parts of Colombia, providing care for the poor with schools and hospitals, giving him a "Robin Hood" reputation at times.

Narcos made some changes to Escobar's story, and those of the other drug kingpins it portrays. This includes names, timelines, and smaller details, like the fact that Escobar did not reunite with his father before his death, as the show depicted. While many of the details were accurate, thanks to the expert input, Pedro Pascal's character was not involved in the Cali cartel hunt.

How Narcos Was Received Locally

As with any TV show or adaptation that addresses real-life events and people, Narcos was never going to be popular with everyone. Escobar was a fascinating person, and the show represented his multifaceted nature well, with Wagner Moura giving a career-best performance. Even the real Murphy and Peña enjoyed the show, telling The Hollywood Reporter that they binge-watched season 2.

That said, not everyone was pleased with the depiction of the events and characters. Narcos received mixed reactions in Colombia, with specific criticism leveled at the accents. Sibylla Brodzinsky of The Guardian reported that "audiences have been bemused by the stars' ropey accents, irritated by its portrayal of the country's recent history, and – in some cases – simply bored by yet another narco-drama."

Narcos: Mexico Is Also Worth Binging

With Escobar dead and the Cali cartel leaving the drug business, Narcos season 4 change was the right decision for the show, as it shifted focus to a new location. The change could have been jarring if it had been presented as part of the original Narcos series, but allowing it to become a new show gave it more of a chance to stand out.

While Narcos: Mexico did not polarize audiences and critics, there was a clear difference in the show's reception by both groups. On the whole, critics felt that Narcos: Mexico surpassed the original series, while audiences did not feel as strongly, giving the show a 67% positive Rotten Tomatoes score, which, while solid, does not come close to Narcos' 95% audience rating.

Netflix has some fantastic, gripping true-crime dramatizations, including new wild thrillers like Queen of the South and Cocaine Air, which has been compared to a Narcos spin-off. Even with so many exciting crime shows to choose from, both Narcos and Narcos: Mexico are well worth binge-watching as the shows share their themes, tones, and even some of their best characters.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter, The Guardian