Actors: Wagner Moura, Boyd Holbrook, Pedro Pascal, Luis Guzmán, Bruno Bichir
Directors: Andrés Baiz, Fernando Coimbra, Guillermo Navarro, José Padilha
Number of discs: 3
Rating: TV-MA
Studio: LIONSGATE
DVD Release Date: August 23, 2016
Run Time: 352 minutes
Season: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars
I have Netflix but I never checked out this Pablo Escobar drug cartel drama. I received this Blu-ray and figure out I give it a chance and I am glad I did. The show is extremely engaging and locks you in from the very first episode. Wagner Moura (“Elysium”) really nails the role of the legendary Escoba. As does the supporting cast, Boyd Holbrook (Gone Girl), Pedro Pascal (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”), Luis Guzmán (TV’s “Code Black”), Bruno Bichir (TV’s “The Bridge”), and Ana de la Reguera (TV’s “Jane The Virgin”). I am now looking forward to the second season on Netflix.
Official Premise: Narcos: Season One, produced by Gaumont Television, stars Wagner Moura (Elysium) in a Golden Globe-nominated performance as the legendary Escobar, following him as he attempts to evade the two DEA agents that brought the famed Medellín Cartel to its knees. With electrifying performances and action sequences charged with heart-pounding suspense, this Golden Globe-nominated series follows the true-life story of the rise of international cocaine cartels — and the battle waged by law enforcement to stop them. At the center of the conflict are Pablo Escobar (Moura), the notorious Colombian drug kingpin, and the two DEA agents sent to take him down: Steve Murphy (Holbrook) and Javier Peña (Pascal).
“Narcos: Season One” packs an impressive Blu-ray presentation. The 1080p transfer in 1.78:1 showcases the episodes extremely well. From the tropical rain forests to the cocaine processing labs, the locations are beautifully showcased and look amazing. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 also delivers a nice punch for each episode and sounds great. Pedro Bromfman’s score wasn’t my favorite of the year but is works great with the show and sounds amazing with its surround materials.
There is one audio commentary on each of the three discs. The first is on the episode “Descenso with Actor Wagner Moura and Executive Producer/Director Jose Padilha. The second is on “Explosivos” with Executive Producer Chris Brancato. The last one is on “Despegue” with Executive Producer Eric Newman and Director Andi Baiz. There are a few interesting featurettes included also. The first is “Establishing the Route” which focuses on the start of this series. “The Colombian Connection” dicusses shooting in Colombia. “The Language Barrier” focuses on challenges with making a bilingual show. Lastly there are some Deleted Scenes included.