Would you like to learn about the life of the most notorious drug trafficker in America? One of the most powerful and feared women in the past century. Love, suspense, drama, and romance, all in one place. Ready to dive into the world of Griselda?
The truth is, I had been putting off watching this series for months.
The reason: Narco series are not to my liking; I believe that since they are television, none portray the reality of the complex characters they depict with fidelity.
What made me change my mind?
My partner is from the other side of the world. When she found out about the premiere of this series, she wanted to watch it because it tells the story of a female drug lord. In her part of the world, this is unthinkable, so curiosity was high.
I had already managed to delay it for quite a while.
I didn’t have high expectations for the series; still, I gave it a chance—who knows, it might surprise me...
It could have been better, it could have been worse.
The series is based on the real life of Griselda Blanco, the most famous female drug trafficker in America and probably in history.
An ambitious woman who, with great cunning, managed to create one of the most profitable and well-known drug distribution systems in history.
Griselda was not only famous for this but also for the cruelty behind her orders. She was initially nicknamed "The Godmother" due to her compassion and maternal attitude towards her subordinates.
According to other sources, this nickname was earned after Pablo Escobar rose to the elite of drug trafficking (another topic that was overlooked by Netflix in this series).
As the series progresses, her nickname changes to "The Black Widow". If you don’t know why, you’ll discover it in the series.
With a single season of 6 episodes, each approximately an hour long, we have the story of a Colombian woman who flees her country to settle in Miami.
In the United States, she would build an empire based on drug distribution; merchandise that entered the country through innovative methods for the time (conceived by her).
The series shows the rapid rise and even faster fall of "The Godmother".
A peculiar woman who does not hesitate to eliminate her enemies, betray her allies, and manipulate her lovers to get her way and dominate the underworld of Miami.
The series portrays the conflicts faced by "The Black Widow," who was never free from threats and problems. This woman has to deal with the consequences of her actions, which will lead her to her end as the queen and owner of Miami.
If you’ve already watched the series, I would appreciate your opinion in the comments.
My Review
You’ve only seen me speak well of Griselda, and that’s my problem with this series.
From Netflix, they wanted to portray this monstrous woman as someone who rises against all odds from a corrupted Colombia to dominate the drug world in Miami.
I have no doubt that there are viewers who may empathize with the character. (And why not?) We have a Griselda: humble, from an underprivileged neighborhood in Colombia, who came to lead her own army, empowered, doing what is necessary to "protect" her family or to fight against patriarchy in her business.
They somewhat sidelined the true monster that Griselda Blanco was.
Accused of more than 25 murders (suspected of ordering over 200 murders). With a criminal career that began at the age of 11, the series seems to forget all of this (I suppose that wouldn’t sell well).
If you intend to watch this series to learn the real story of this woman, I’m sorry to say it falls far short of that. You’re better off watching one of the many videos on YouTube to understand the true terror that Griselda Blanco was.
I don’t think the script is among the best; at times, it oversimplifies real events and adds a touch of fiction (normal for Netflix).
An example of the modifications is what happened with her second husband (her third and last is not mentioned in the series)
They glamorize and simplify Griselda’s life, omitting and softening some of her most atrocious crimes (but this is partly obvious, given that Netflix is the producer behind it).
Another mistake in the script and the series in general was focusing on the love story between Griselda and Darío. At times, they can be seen as the new Bonnie and Clyde, only to end up like cats and dogs.
I think they stopped discussing other characters and plots that could have been interesting, like Rivi (a particular character both in the series and in reality).
Not everything can be bad; we have to talk about the good...
"Acceptable" direction (as expected, given the producers behind the famous series: Narcos).
The cinematography and costumes transport us back to the 70s and 80s, where we see both the beauty and the danger of Miami during those years.
The music, with more Latin rhythms like salsa, merengue, and cumbia, combined with instrumental music, adds flavor and energy to the series. Anyone who lived in that era might feel nostalgic.
All crowned by Sofia Vergara’s outstanding performance.
I say excellent because I didn’t expect much. In my mind, I had her character from the American sitcom: Modern Family and her characteristic accent.
Vergara surprised me a lot; her version of Griselda has received much praise, and I won’t contradict that, especially because I agree with the opinions. What do you think?
The Colombian shines and manages to capture the essence of Griselda (at least the Griselda they show us)
An intelligent, ambitious, seductive, and ruthless woman. The actress goes from crying to laughing, from hatred to passion, from tenderness to violence, all with a naturalness that is frightening.
Sofía Vergara is undoubtedly the best part of the series.
Not even the prosthetics used by Vergara could hide the differences between the actress and the real Griselda Blanco (very hard to compare both).
Despite the great role played by the Barranquilla native, it has not been well received by certain sectors in her native Colombia. An example of this has been the criticism she has received from the government and other figures in her country.
Vergara performs so well that many people might forget that the real Griselda Blanco was the devil on earth, hence the criticism she has received.
Personally, I also liked the performance of Martín Rodriguez (Rivi). The Argentine gives a notable and somewhat funny performance.
A fun and daring man who executes his missions with a certain degree of ingenuity and humor (go straight to the last episode); I think they could have delved deeper into this character. In reality, he was quite complex and could warrant a series of his own.
Did I like the series? I still have my conflicts. I watched it until the end.
I think it’s something different and risky on Netflix’s part. After finishing Narcos, they hadn’t tackled the topic of drug trafficking so closely again.
Still, it has too MANY episodes.
The romantic story bored me, mainly. It strayed from reality or made it too cinematic, but it’s understandable, given that Netflix is producing it and has to comply with distribution laws in so many countries.
At this point, I want you to take away that the series is an entertaining proposal; for when you have nothing to watch and want an action marathon, but it is not a faithful portrayal of this woman’s life, and I doubt it can be classified as a docuseries.
If you expect to learn the story of "The Black Widow" from this series, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it won’t be that way.
Griselda may appeal more to a Latino audience, who are more accustomed to this type of series and themes, perhaps to some action lovers and suspense enthusiasts.
If you like the theme of drug traffickers, then you should watch it.
Although it is a work of fiction, do not watch it with a minor, and if you do, it’s at your own risk because there are very suggestive scenes that are not appropriate for minors.
Final reflection
Griselda made me question the consequences of our actions.
This woman reached the pinnacle of her world, but at the same time, she destroyed her family and her own life, decision after decision. I wonder, is it worth sacrificing an entire life for money, power, and respect? What do you think?
It made me think about the consequences of my actions and the responsibilities that come with them. Sometimes, we are not aware, but our actions have a significant impact on the world around us, and this carries great responsibility; at times, we don’t even realize it or prefer to overlook it.
I want you to reflect and tell me... Where do you find yourself? Are you aware of your actions? Or do you need to improve in this area?
If you haven’t seen the series, I would appreciate it if you decide to watch it, come back here and tell me what you thought and if the summary was helpful.
This helps me improve my content (and maybe I can reward you somehow if you choose to do so)
If there’s anything I may have forgotten or if you’d like to share your opinion, don’t hesitate to do so in the comments.
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