DonRocks Posted October 23, 2015 Posted October 23, 2015 How to read this index: * The pictures are my own selections of a single image that represents the episode (you can scroll through them all by clicking "Next" on the top-right of the photo). * The links in the episodes go to the New York Times, which has a paywall, but allows ten free articles per month - the short reviews are good and worth reading. * All names referenced for the first time are linked, either to Wikipedia or IMDB (if there's no Wikipedia entry). * All names referenced subsequent times have a running number of episodes that they've been involved with next to their name. - 1.1 - "Descenso" ("Drop") - Directed by José Padilha, Written by Chris Brancato, Carlo Bernard, and Doug Miro - 1.2 - "The Sword of Simón Bolívar" - Directed by José Padilha (2), Written by Chris Brancato (2) - 1.3 - "The Men of Always" - Directed by Guillermo Navarro, Written by Dana Calvo - 1.4 - "The Palace in Flames" - Directed by Guillermo Navarro (2), Written by Chris Brancato (3) - 1.5 - "There Will Be a Future" - Directed by Andi Baiz, Written by Dana Ledoux Miller - 1.6 - "Explosivos" ("Explosives") - Directed by Andi Baiz (2), Written by Andy Black - 1.7 - "You Will Cry Tears of Blood" - Directed by Fernando Coimbra, Written by Zach Calig - 1.8 - "La Gran Mentira" ("The Great Lie") - Directed by Fernando Coimbra (2), Written by Allison Abner - 1.9 - "La Catedral" ("The Cathedral") - Directed by Andi Baiz (3), Written by Nick Schenk and Chris Brancato (4) - 1.10 - "Despegue" ("Takeoff") - Directed by Andi Baiz (4), Written by Nick Schenk (2) and Chris Brancato (5) (Note: I put the above index in on Nov 2, 2015, with each screen shot one I chose that I feel best represents the episode. I wrote the entire index after having finished Season One; my original Oct 22, 2015 post is below.) --- This series, which debuted on Aug 28, 2015, is a collaboration between NetFlix and Telemundo. It portrays the DEA in their attempt to hunt Pablo Escobar, and was renewed for a second season this autumn. I haven't even started watching yet, but I'm going to give the first episode a go.
Al Dente Posted October 23, 2015 Posted October 23, 2015 It's a pretty good series. I didn't know Telemundo was involved. That would explain my only criticism-- most of the dialogue is in Spanish. I realize Escobar wasn't walking around speaking English, but it seemed strange that 75% of the show is subtitled for what I thought was an American audience.
DonRocks Posted October 23, 2015 Author Posted October 23, 2015 It's a pretty good series. I didn't know Telemundo was involved. That would explain my only criticism-- most of the dialogue is in Spanish. I realize Escobar wasn't walking around speaking English, but it seemed strange that 75% of the show is subtitled for what I thought was an American audience. This show was clearly influenced by Goodfellas - for example, the character who narrates (Steve Murphy, played by Boyd Holbrook) sounds just like Ray Liotta.
will_5198 Posted October 23, 2015 Posted October 23, 2015 That would explain my only criticism-- most of the dialogue is in Spanish. I realize Escobar wasn't walking around speaking English, but it seemed strange that 75% of the show is subtitled for what I thought was an American audience. Netflix steps up production to lure Latin American subscribers US subscribers love Netflix's new Spanish-language shows The show itself was entertaining. Pablo is an easy character to be invested in and root against.
DonRocks Posted October 26, 2015 Author Posted October 26, 2015 It's a pretty good series. I didn't know Telemundo was involved. That would explain my only criticism-- most of the dialogue is in Spanish. I realize Escobar wasn't walking around speaking English, but it seemed strange that 75% of the show is subtitled for what I thought was an American audience. The show itself was entertaining. Pablo is an easy character to be invested in and root against. I'm on episode 5 (it's a 10-episode season, each being about 45 minutes with the commercials removed). I'm loving this series, and I hope that others have watched it and can share some insights (no spoilers for me yet, as I'm not even halfway through!) I sort of know the basic story, of course, but not all that much - I love "based on real life" shows, since I feel like I'm educating myself as well as entertaining myself - with Narcos, you need to visit some websites (like this one, for example) that separate out fact from fiction. There are loads of artistic liberties taken in this series (The Cockroach, for example, didn't exist in real life), but it's still factual enough that the viewer has a very real opportunity to learn an important part of recent history, both national and international. In that respect alone, it's worth watching because it's done so well that it's an absolute pleasure - why wasn't school this much fun? Luis Carlos Galí¡n. Kiki Camarena. Virgilio Bargo Varcas. I had never heard of these people before, and now they're part of my life going forward, thanks to this intelligent, well-done series. Camarena in particular is one person all American citizens should be familiar with, and I love the way the series refers to him as Jesus Christ, because in many ways, that's what he was - being killed by slow torture so others may live - Camarena is an American hero.
DonRocks Posted October 31, 2015 Author Posted October 31, 2015 "What 'Narcos' Gets Wrong About the War on Drugs" by Stephen Cohen on newrepublic.com "The show distorts history and misrepresents the conflict," according to Cohen, who is something of a well-informed grump. (The "plata o promo" typo is very funny.)
DonRocks Posted November 2, 2015 Author Posted November 2, 2015 I finished Season One, and put in an index for all the shows in the first post of this thread so people will be able to find it more easily. I hope the photos jog your memory as to which episodes contain which plots, and that it will be a reference point for future discussion. Cheers, Rocks
DIShGo Posted December 18, 2015 Posted December 18, 2015 I just finished watching the fourth episode. I'm enjoying the series.
DIShGo Posted January 23, 2016 Posted January 23, 2016 I saw an ad the other day promoting Season Two of Narcos, and I got excited! Then the announcer said, returning next summer. Sigh.
DonRocks Posted February 19, 2016 Author Posted February 19, 2016 I've never had premium cable (but I have Netflix) ... Just wondering what shows merit my attention after I finish watching bloodsuckers. Narcos is a good one to watch. It's a 10 part series on Pablo Escobar who was making something like $60 million dollars A DAY in the height of his business. I binge-watched Narcos, and thought it was terrific. It's one of the few shows where I actually looked forward to the opening music.
DonRocks Posted September 6, 2016 Author Posted September 6, 2016 On 2/18/2016 at 10:42 PM, DonRocks said: I binge-watched Narcos, and thought it was terrific. It's one of the few shows where I actually looked forward to the opening music. The second season is out on Netflix. I feel *so sorry* for Chris Brancato: No one will ever know who he is. 1
DonRocks Posted September 18, 2016 Author Posted September 18, 2016 Season Two (Sep 2, 2016) - 2.1 - "Free at Last" - Directed by Gerardo Naranjo, Written by Adam Fiero - 2.2 - "Cambalache" (1 "a swap" 2 "a junk shop" 3 "chaos") - Directed by Gerardo Naranjo (2), Written by Zachary Reiter - 2.3 - "Our Man in Madrid" - Directed by Andrés (Andi) Baiz (5), Written by Zachary Reiter (2) and Steve Lightfoot - 2.4 - "The Good, the Bad, and the Dead" - Directed by Andrés Baiz (6), Written by: Teleplay, Zachary Reiter (3), Carlo Bernard (2), and Doug Miro (2) - Story: T.J. Brady, Rasheed Newson, and Steve Lightfoot (2) - 2.5 - "The Enemies of My Enemy" - Directed by Josef Wladyka, Written by: Teleplay, T.J. Brady (2), Rasheed Newson (2), Carlo Bernard (3), and Doug Miro (3) - Story: T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson - 2.6 - "Los Pepes" - Directed by Josef Wladyka (2), Written by Julie Siege - 2.7 - "Deutschland 93" - Directed by Josef Wladyka (3), Written by Carlo Bernard (4) and Doug Miro (4) - 2.8 - "Exit El Patrón" - Directed by Gerardo Naranjo (3), Written by: Teleplay, Gideon Yago and Curtis Gwinn - Story: Gideon Yago - 2.9 - "Nuestra Finca" ("Our Farm") - Directed by Andrés Baiz (7), Written by Julie Siege (2) and Clayton Trussell - 2.10 - "Al Fin Cayó!" ("Finally, He Fell") - Directed by Andrés Baiz (8), Written by Carlo Bernard (5) and Doug Miro (5)
Al Dente Posted September 19, 2016 Posted September 19, 2016 Article on NPR about Pablo's son. One crazy life. "Renouncing Pablo Escobar's Sins, His Son Trafficks in Motivational Talks" by John Otis on npr.org
DonRocks Posted September 20, 2016 Author Posted September 20, 2016 3 hours ago, Al Dente said: Article on NPR about Pablo's son. One crazy life. "Renouncing Pablo Escobar's Sins, His Son Trafficks in Motivational Talks" by John Otis on npr.org If Pablo was as loving of a father as he was portrayed to be in the series, there's no way his children wouldn't adore him, and by extension, stick up for him. I only have the series to go on, but he was a *great* parent (a better father than a husband, because he cheated on his wife, even though he loved her *immensely*, and when the end grew near, he returned to her with all his heart). This said, I remember seeing a headline within the past few days of something like "27 factual errors in Season 2," written by his son - I didn't read the article, but it's out there. Look at the picture I chose to represent episode 2.6 - I was *very* careful to choose pictures that told "the story of the story."
DonRocks Posted September 4, 2017 Author Posted September 4, 2017 Season Three (Sep 1, 2017) - 3.1 - "The Kingpin Strategy" - Directed by Andi Baiz (9), Written by Carlo Bernard (6), Doug Miro (6), and Eric Newman [Commit the above four kingpins - Gilberto, Miguel, Pacho, and Chepe - to memory ASAP to save yourself some grief.] - 3.2 - "The Cali KGB" - Directed by Andi Baiz (10), Written by Carlo Bernard (7), Doug Miro (7), and Eric Newman (2) [One thing I don't understand: If David (the son who botched things) was merely trying to empty the cannisters, then why did he dump them in a creek instead of burying them on the cartel's private land (which, I think, was supposed to be the plan)? He wasn't trying to poison anyone; he had no knowledge of the poisonings when he discarded the cannisters.] - 3.3 - "Follow the Money" - Directed by Gabriel Ripstein, Written by David Matthews - 3.4 - "Checkmate" - Directed by Gabriel Ripstein (2), Written by Andy Black (2) ["Checkmate" is, by far, the best episode of season three thus far. Since The New York Times is opting out of reviewing each episode this season, I needed to find another publication to link the episodes to, and for lack of a better option, I reluctantly chose vulture.com because it was about the only one I could find; however, after their reviewer has given "Checkmate" only 2 out of 5 stars, I'm nixing this vehicle, and hoping another, better source of reviews comes along - vulture's have all seemed like they're being written by twenty-somethings without much critical or writing experience. For now, it looks like AV Club - at least their reviewer recognized how good this episode was.] - 3.5 - "MRO" - Directed by Josef Wladyka (4), Written by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson - 3.6 - "Best Laid Plans" - Directed by Josef Wladyka (5), Written by Jason George - 3.7 - "Sin Salida" - Directed by Fernando Coimbra (3), Written by Santa Sierra and Clayton Trussell (2) - 3.8 - "Convivir" - Directed by Fernando Coimbra (4), Written by Andy Black (3) - 3.9 - "Todos Los Hombres del Presidente" - Directed by Andi Baiz (11), Written by Jason George (2), Carlo Bernard (8), and Doug Miro (8) [Note the translation of the title, "All the President's Men."] - 3.10 - "Going back to Cali" - Directed by Andi Baiz (12), Written by Carlo Bernard (8) and Doug Miro (9)
DonRocks Posted September 14, 2017 Author Posted September 14, 2017 Even though Season 3 didn't have a strong, central antagonist like Escobar, it was good historical semi-fiction, and really quite well-done for television. If you're the least bit interested in the history of the Cali Cartel - its rise and fall - 7-8 hours invested in Season 3 of "Narcos" would be a great use of your time. If anyone wants to discuss any individual episodes, let's have at it.
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