While the Colombian drug war is a frequently discussed topic in crime films and series, it is often framed as a nuance-less and mysterious devil. Although Hollywood productions have made it easy to stereotype Colombian criminals as simple villains, the reality is that the country underwent tremendous political, economic, and cultural changes in the 1970s, attracting the attention of foreign governments. Despite efforts to provide more information through documentary films about this crisis, Netflix's drama series Narcos presents the Colombian drug war on a global scale by showcasing the complex conflict among local government, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and various cartel leaders, proving to be one of the first original series that demonstrated Netflix could produce prestigious television. It has managed to remain one of the best productions on the platform.

Narcos is certainly not a reference source for those seeking a completely accurate history lesson, but it maintains a general outline of the different power players involved in the drug war that began in Medellin. While various powerful drug barons of the era gained international notoriety, none were as powerful as Pablo Escobar. Escobar is portrayed in Narcos by Wagner Moura, who delivers an award-worthy performance; Moura would later become an Academy Award nominee with the film The Secret Agent.

The role of the DEA is similarly complicated; it has often caused more harm than good, but Narcos focuses on the careers of agents Steve Murphy (Boyd Holbrook) and Javier Peña (Pedro Pascal). These agents have tried to cut through the noise and do something to improve the lives of affected communities. While it is easy to watch Narcos hoping for a pulpy crime action, the series can be surprising with its thoughtful examination showing the weakening of a besieged country.

Any series that looks at loaded topics like the drug war and the CIA's role in international situations carries the risk of delivering a poor political message and may feel like a distorted version of history. What sets Narcos apart is its focus on the perspective of individuals rather than institutions. Murphy is a successful protagonist in the first season because he is an outsider; he operates alongside his family and gradually realizes he is taking on a more dangerous mission. While Murphy has strong feelings about imprisoning those profiting from drug trafficking and death, he has little hope for the CIA to invade a country that needs to find its own path to development. Holbrook is a very charismatic actor who brings star power to the series, yet he shows surprising depth in his performance.

As good as Holbrook is, Moura's performance has made Narcos a must-watch series because he is responsible for grounding such a notoriously infamous figure as Escobar in realism. While there are many fictional portrayals, satirical parodies, and documentaries about Escobar, Moura prefers to depict him as an ambitious family man who uses his connections to revolutionize the country's economy but causes significant collateral damage in return. The series does not attempt to soften his edges in any way; Moura can be utterly horrifying while showcasing the threat techniques and violence Escobar employed. However, this portrayal is handled in a more balanced manner; especially concerning the operations of other cartels during the same period.