(11): TV show review: Narcos; The stubbornness of drug and The unwavering strength of Colombia.

Magical realism is a fair and wise method of analogy of Colombia. And I've to give it to Steven Murphy, the evolution of the term that developed significantly to become a wise dimension through which the Colombian society can be understood, gives a deductional edge and advantage for not only the DEA and CIA looking to arrest Pablo Escobar during the 80s and 90s, the American governments of then under the leadership of Reagan and Bush looking to quantify the volume of cocaine been imported to Miami, or even the Colombian poets who believe their country is so beautiful its unfair to the rest of the world, but also TV-show reviewers like myself. Because I perceive the Narcos, the American TV series televised by Netflix that dramatized the historical events of the greatest Drug lord in the history of man, through the lens of magical realism. 

As its a literary style incorporating fantastic mystical elements into otherwise realistic fiction, magical realism secures refuge in the not-so superstitious capital of Bogota, down to the secured-by-the Narcos Medellin - the city where Escobar was born and breed. Among other settlements in Colombia. Making it a place where bizarre shakes hand with the inexplicable on a daily basis. An instance of which were Students reading Karl Marx more than they need, and putting his teachings up into practice way ahead of their own good. And at the time when the legendary Che Guevara (El Che) hadn't totally rotted into the waste of clay, allowing his revolutionary remains available for imitating. The radical activism of Nelson Mandela was also in play, and his personal sacrifices which would later turn out to be a very long walk to freedom was a very hot agenda of the day. Among other end of the century sociopolitical trivialities that enjoy quick adaptations all over the world. Most especially in Colombia. But the most notable point here is; if a movement rate is arithmetic in the rest of the world, its simply geometric in Colombia. 

The M-19 were holding arms, dabbling between the writings of Karl Marx and the actions of El Che, radically bombing and shooting the "Communist Manifesto" and "Das Capital" into practice. The Escobar is crippling the society with drug and drug money, fighting the government believing his path could be the same as Mandela's which would take a very long walk to freedom. Little to his knowledge, it was a short walk to conviction. The way and how, and who gets involved in doing it is what the Americans called The Narcos. 

It all started from the cockroach - the designated survivor who survived the mutilation of anti-drug government policy. And ended over the roof in a neighborhood in Medellin - when a young Colombian sniper puts a bullet through the ribcage of Pablo Escobar. And critically overall, it embodies the effectiveness of magical realism. Young people at the peak of their lives exuberantly interpreting texts, believing every bit of their personal imagination, while doing whatever it takes consequences be damned. Such unstoppable energy when skewed into an inappropriate endeavor would make an intolerable evilness. And that's what happened in Colombia. Its then golden generation succumbed to the ridiculous ideas, and the more pragmatic of them became the Narcos. Fortunately, that's where the undoubtful strength of the country came to its rescue.

By strength, I'm not referring to the impregnable territorial boundaries that surrounds the geographical, physical beauty of the country; ranging from its attractive mountainous structure down to its greenly fertility. Any watcher could attest to the fact that Colombia is so green it pisses grass. Sadly, it also pisses coke plants too. The strength of Colombia in this regard is also beyond its brave law enforcement agencies; both the military and the police which Escobar butchered the same way chicken republic suppliers butcher chickens. It was estimated, Escobar killed at least forty police every month, and more than a thousand in a year. So by the strength in Colombia, this review is referring to the one that lies in its incorruptible technocrats, patriotically conservative political aristocrats and ethically principled individuals who could chase fly out of Colombia with their last breath, if it means the peaceful and progressive foreseeable existence of the country. Anywhere else, Pablo would have risen to a position of political power where he would warrant the untouchability of the Narcos, and the legality of drug as lucrative source of external black money, which surely would have seen to it that Medellin didn't only maintain its position as the world capital of murder, but the entire country itself would have been corrupt with drug-inspired social, political and economic vices. 

Not only that, Colombia admitted to the need for help without disgracing its national honor and pride as a country. The Colombian people's western exposure and love for their fatherland triggered their commitment towards nailing the Narcos to the ground, but along the line, ensuring they didn't sell their soul to the devil - The United States of America. President Reagan's lamentations, and Bush's threats signified nothing, and was too empty a point to consider for a country hunting an individual who was bold enough to assassinate a president, a Justice Minister, bomb a plane and hire terrorists to invade and set the country's entire department of justice ablaze. President Gaviria would never be forgotten in the history of Colombia. The calm, patient, committed and decisive president held the country together during the most critical period in history. Though the extradition Law rang a bell, but Pablo knew where he'll be going if the law prevailed. Forcing out the notion: "Better a grave in Colombia than a cell in United States". Truly, Pablo Escobar was a national threat. And he had cost Colombia a thing or two. 

Between the two events of the Cockroach whose seeds kick-started the rise of Narcos, and the young soldier that killed Pablo Escobar,  was a father who shied away and ran from a family pressure to look after his farm. An unethical mother who believed it was alright  for her little child to be entitled to what she can't afford so badly that she could steal what he didn't have for him. And an over-supportive wife who could back her husband fully and encourage him even when she knew he was going to bomb innocents for his personal greed. As justifiable and relative the activities of that circle is, it can't be disputed that its an absolutely broken family. And the consequences of those broken pieces almost sink Colombia from the global existence. Surely all the rains fall from the sky.  Just as almost every societal problem emanates from the breaking down of institution of family. The Escobar Sr. Senôra Hermilda Escobar. Senôra Tata Escobar. All have blood in their hands. If they had conducted themselves differently, perhaps Colombia would not have suffered that great deal. The only person who could tell Escobar the truth was Gustavo Gaviria. Sadly, he was a Narco too, an unapologetic one. 

In the end, as inspiring of loyalty as Pablo Escobar was, he got the loyalty he deserved only from the little kid he sponsored to school and built house for - Limón. Gustavo Gaviria, Poison, Cheetah, Moncada and the rest all got murdered early. Blackie sold La Quica. And La Quica sold Pablo. Only Limón stayed, hid, fought and died with Escobar. A lesson for the evil spirited hustlers that their black money could come back positive for them if they invest it in a right place, even though it won't prevent justice from nailing them in the end. Agent Peña didn't get the honor of finishing Escobar, thanks to his bad intentions. DEA agent Steven Murphy on the other hand did, thanks to his passionate and good intention for both the Colombia and America. Colonel Carrillo died horrible death, despite his unwavering patriotism to Colombia. However, he crossed the line by executing a teenager who wasn't old enough to face the wrath of justice. For the only difference between revenge taken by the criminals, and justice delivered by the judiciary, is a fair process and legal conduct. Carrillo’s actions was more of a revenge rather than justice delivery. And so he reaped what he sowed.

Thinking of it with a fair sense of observation, equating Pablo Escobar with Juan El-chapo Guzman recently by the BBC was more of a blunt speech than actual meaningful report. Pablo Escobar has no mate, and would have no one until BBC could report someone who bombed an airplane, built his own prison as agreement of his surrender and buried Benjamin Franklin's face carrying papers that people love to call US dollars, like some bags of illegitimate rotten potato. And the apology written in the book: Pablo Escobar; My father, by Pablo Escobar's son, Juan Pablo Escobar, was more of a massage to an immeasurable fatherly love  than an actual apology.  Or perhaps its another showcasing of Colombia's magical realism. Pablo's crimes are unforgivable and unforgettable. Though it has to be felt for the man, for no one gets to choose his own roots.

Narcos is an American crime drama web television series created and produced by Chris Brancato , Carlo Bernard, and Doug Miro. It started airing in 2015 by Netflix, and it run 30 episodes that were spread across 3 seasons. The biographical crime drama is faultless from the angle of cinematography. And almost perfect in its rendition and delivery. For that reason, I give it a whopping 9/10 rating.

Reviewed by:

MA Iliasu 

Kano state, 

Nigeria.