From Cali with coke

It’s probably safe to say you’ve had plenty of time to catch up or binge on season 3 of Netflix’s Narcos. There will be a few spoilers here and there so be warned. Then again, these types of shows are based on real-life characters in historical events. In other words, you’re not really getting spoiled.The statementThe gravitas brought by the Brazilian actor Wagner Moura, who played the drug lord Pablo Escobar, is completely missing from the latest season of Netflix’s Narcos. However, the story itself and the characters balance out Escobar’s absence on the show. This post-Medellin, life after Pablo era, also known as The Gentlemen of Cali era, brings in for a thrilling transition.PerformancesAs mentioned before, it doesn’t seem any other actor could bring the same kind of weight into the new season like Moura. But kudos to the showrunners and casting crew who put together the main team of the Cali Cartel: Damián Alcázar as Gilberto Orejuela, Francisco Denis as Miguel Rodriguez, Alberto Ammann as Pacho Herrera and Pepe Rapazote as José ‘Don Chepe’ Santacruz Londono. This is just another example of glorifying and entertaining the audience with the acts of very dangerous antagonists. While the Cali Cartel becomes the largest distributors of cocaine, DEA agent Javier Peña is brought back into bringing down the new kings of the drug trade. This is a season where Pedro Pascal absolutely shines. Being the main protagonist, Pascal’s portrayal of Agent Peña had to have been a vital one. In real-life, the agent had left soon after Escobar’s death, along with Steve Murphy (played by Boyd Holbrook). Understandably, for dramatic purposes, Agent Peña is brought back into the fold. With a few fictional additions, Pedro Pascal does a solid job of being the flagship of change, portraying a super-agent-type character. He does just enough to play the leading man in a series successfully. Another role to highlight is the Swedish actor Matias Varela who plays the honourable Jorge Salcedo. Out of all the characters on the show, both past and present, Salcedo is the one the audience will relate to most. Well, apart from working for the cartel of course. But hey, there’s always the witness protection program that Salcedo eventually finds himself in with this family.ProductionDirection, cinematography, and on-location captures keep the rich and realistic Columbian backdrop of the early 90s on point. Let’s not forget the alluring side of Panama and the gritty hustle and bustle of New York City. Overall, the direction for each episode was as expected. It kept within the mind frame and guidelines of the first two seasons. It’s actually a good thing they didn’t steer too far off from what was already working. “Don’t fix what ain’t broke,” as the saying goes. Ultimately, it’s the actual story that drives the entire vehicle. While there’s plenty of inaccuracies, it will absolutely not take away from the factual outcomes. Narcos continues to be a must-watch television show with big screen, cinematic elements. And from what we’ve seen in the end of the season, looks as if Pedro Pascal might be along for another ride, possibly taking on his relentless fight against the narcotraficante to the Mexican cartel of Juárez.