By Connor Kropschot
Staff Writer
Set in the dark and violent era of 1970’s Columbia, Netflix’s 2nd season of “Narcos” is more action packed and suspenseful compared to the first season.
Although this season features believable characters who are easy for the viewer to build an emotional connection with, the plot seems rushed and features an overabundance violent scenes.
“Narcos” is a dramatic Netflix Original that follows two American Drug Enforcement Agency agents Javier Peña (Pedro Pascal) and Steve Murphy (Boyd Holbrook) on their mission to locate and kill the Columbian drug lord, Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura).
The second season of “Narcos” further explores Escobar’s dangerous life while also successfully giving the viewer insight into his personal life. The show’s approach to addressing controversial issues including murder, drug trafficking and gangs keeps the viewer engaged throughout its entirety.
For the Thrillist’s review of “Narcos” season two visit here.
This suspenseful show is unlike other dramas due to the plot of “Narcos”, is based on a true story. The show is also unique because it not only follows Escobar, but also the people working to take him down. The addition of new angles keeps the viewer captivated as it switches between characters.
“Narcos” Season 2 immediately throws the viewer back into the action, following Agent Pena as he sides with Los Pepes, another cartel who wants Escobar off the map. The season simultaneously follows Escobar after his escape from his self-designed prison, La Catedral.
The premiere episode, “Free at Last,” features new characters, who add significantly to the plot while also successfully continuing to develop characters from the previous season. Escobar’s family is introduced on a more personal level and backstories are given for other characters, allowing viewers to connect with the characters.
The portrayal of Escobar as an utterly brute and ruthless murderer successfully conveys his power to the viewer. Many characters are introduced who are then quickly blown up or killed by Escobar, showing how unforgiving he is. This makes viewers understand how Escobar can be such a hated man, while still giving insight into his mind and thought process.
Although Escobar is portrayed mostly as an awful man in “Narcos,” he almost comes off two faced due to scenes that show him interacting with his wife and family. The series shows Escobar’s criminal side as well as his husband/father side, and the two become very conflicting, leaving the viewer unsure how to feel about Escobar’s character.
The short amount of Escobar’s life that Season 2 covers comes off very rushed. While the first season is spread out, showing about fifteen years of his life, the second season only shows his last few months alive. The plot quickly skips between events leading up to Escobar’s death, not giving the viewer much time to understand what is happening.
For a breakdown of what happens in each episode of Narcos visit the Hollwood reporter site here.
The fast moving plot of “Narcos” offers multiple points of view, creating a complete story of the drug lord’s life, seems disjointed due to the overabundance of violent scenes and lack of developed plot. These disturbingly graphic scenes draw attention away from the storyline and make episodes difficult to watch at times.
Both seasons of “Narcos” are currently available on Netflix Instant Streaming and are rated TV-MA. Season 2 was released on September 2.
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