Common Sense Media Review
Drug Drama has violence and language; it's not for kids.
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Why Age 15+?
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Pablo Escobar: The Drug Lord
What's the Story?
PABLO ESCOBAR: THE DRUG LORD is the story of the leader of the extinct Medellín cartel. It also sets the political landscape of Colombia in the 80s and early 90s. It narrates some events of Pablo Escobar's childhood and youth that shape him as a criminal, but the story focuses on his career as a drug trafficker. It tells how the capo opened the way for drug distribution in the U.S. and how his actions and murders marked the political and daily history of Colombia. The series was created by two relatives of drug trafficking victims: Camilo Cano, son of murdered journalist Guillermo Cano, and Juana Uribe, daughter of kidnapped former minister Maruja Pachón and niece of murdered presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán. It is a fictional series, but it is based on the book La parábola de Pablo, by journalist and former mayor of Medellín, Alonso Salazar, and was documented with archival material from the press, testimonies of victims and videos of the real events.
Is It Any Good?
Intriguing, entertaining and painful, the series presents a credible portrait of the leader of the now-defunct Medellín cartel. The script not only follows Pablo Escobar, and the criminal gang he led, but also shows his network of drug trafficking operations. Pablo Escobar, el patrón del mal narrates how this character - wanted by the DEA and included among the richest people on the Forbes list for seven consecutive years - gained popularity among the poor, became a congressional representative and challenged presidents, judges and journalists.
Shot entirely on location, the ambitious production featured an original soundtrack, more than two years of documentary research, interviews and location scouting to achieve a credible portrayal of Colombia's political and daily life in the 1980s and early 1990s. It was broadcast in that country in 2012 and distributed in the U.S. in 2021. Although it was created by relatives of narco victims and emphasizes the victims' stories, the story depicts the complexity of Escobar, who ranged from supportive and affectionate with his family to cruel and ruthless with his adversaries. The cast features notable performances. Andres Parra's portrayal of Escobar, who bears a strong physical resemblance and accurately mimics the kingpin's speech and mannerisms, is thrilling. Definitely for adults.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Pablo Escobar becomes a drug kingpin. Did you know the cruelty behind drug trafficking? Do you think his ambitions justify taking this path outside the law?
Pablo Escobar: The Drug Lord includes real-life news clips and footage of actual speeches. Does that add to the reality of the production? Does it make the series more believable?
Families can also talk about the time period in which the story takes place. Did you know about the Medellin cartel? Did you know about the number of murders and bombings that were organized by Escobar?
Given the nature of the drug trade, why do you think people find movies and TV shows centered on drug cartels entertaining?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 2, 2021
- Cast : Andrés Parra , Cecilia Navia , Angie Cepeda , Christian Tappan
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : July 25, 2025
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