This is a soap opera strange to the western world: characters going through everyday trauma within the violent milieu of "los narcos." While the titular character is based on a famous Mexican Narco who reportedly died while undergoing plastic surgery in the 90s, the characters themselves are fairly stock, the dialogue acceptable but often predictable, episodes ending in a melodramatic manner. What makes this series different - and realistic - is the viciousness and violence of the characters: Aurelio Casillas, and those he works with, and/or against. Casillas is treacherous; he kills and tortures at will. This is one of the series's strengths: these are not nice people; portraying them otherwise would be dishonest. Casillas does have feelings for his mother (Lisa Owens), his wife and children, but few others. Those trying to bring him to justice, such as super-cops Marco Mejias and Leonor, are sympathetic in battling not only criminals but corrupt politicians. Apart from the viciousness, there are several attractive females in leading roles, along with a small army of leggy strippers and call-girls whom the narcos have at their beck and call. This series could be considered something beyond entertainment: a sociological phenomenon that reveals a fascination with a parallel power structure that most people would really be better off viewing that participating in.
