Common Sense Media Review
By Gonzalo Jimenez
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent drama about drug trafficking has language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
La Reina del Sur
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In LA REINA DEL SUR, Teresa Mendoza (Kate del Castillo) flees Mexico after the murder of her boyfriend. She takes refuge in Spain, where she finds a new love with whom she smuggles drugs. She's arrested and goes to prison, where she establishes relationships with people for whom, once free, she decides to traffic drugs. Her intelligence and skill with numbers lead her to become the head of this criminal organization. But the past knocks on her door, and she decides to settle accounts with those who disgraced her life in Mexico. In later seasons, Teresa will live incognito in Europe, fleeing from her past.
Is It Any Good?
Like all telenovelas, this show has a very dramatic plot, full of unforeseen twists and extreme evil. The most interesting thing about La Reina del Sur is its protagonist Teresa Mendoza, played by Kate del Castillo throughout 183 episodes, with seasons that have been aired many years apart: the first premiered in 2011, and the third part debuted in 2022. Originally broadcast on free-to-air TV, the telenovela is less graphic in its violence and language than one might think. The characters don't seem to feel remorse for engaging in drug trafficking or other illegal activities. Teresa's character is at first an innocent woman but soon succumbs to the temptation of ill-gotten money. Perhaps her only interesting trait is her ability to overcome obstacles and dangers, rising to become a self-possessed woman and head of a cartel, thanks to her intelligence and number-crunching skills. La Reina del Sur is yet another program that makes heroes out of figures who are a bad influence on society.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how La Reina del Sur makes a hero out of a character who's involved in drug trafficking. Do their hardships in life justify taking this path outside the law?
Why do you think telenovelas are so popular? Why do these over-the-top dramas captivate audiences?
Families can talk about movies and TV shows that center on drugs and drug cartels. Given the nature of the drug trade, why do people find it entertaining? Is it that the shows and movies glamorize drug use or drug trafficking? Or is it something else?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 14, 2011
- Cast : Kate del Castillo , Eric Roberts , Juan Pablo Raba
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters
- TV rating :
- Last updated : May 22, 2023
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