Netflix's series "Narcos" delves into the life of Pablo Escobar, showcasing his rise to fame, success, and notoriety. The series has been praised for its detailed research and portrayal by Brazilian filmmaker José Padilha. However, it has faced criticism for glossing over certain aspects of Escobar's life and the political intricacies involved. The show initially intended as a film, expanded into a series to cover the extensive evidence and stories discovered about Escobar's past and the DEA agents' experiences. Controversies include the portrayal of the M-19 guerrilla group, Escobar's family's reaction to the series, and the true nature of his criminal activities. The series also explores the influence of Carlos Lehder on Escobar's empire and hints at the possibility that Escobar committed suicide. Wagner Moura's portrayal of Escobar has been widely acclaimed, although his personal stance on drug legalization mirrors a controversial aspect of Escobar's legacy.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Netflix was created in 1997.
2. Pablo Escobar was a fan of the media and kept records of events, including videotaping what happened on his haciendas.
3. The recordings of Escobar helped the creators of Narcos to create a faithful construction of the conversations and activities in the daily life of Escobar and the people around him.
4. Agents Steve Murphy and Javier Peña were involved in the investigation of Pablo Escobar.
5. Pablo Escobar was the first narco terrorist, according to agent Steve Murphy.
6. Escobar was known for his cruelty and ordered the killing of many people, including the architects who built his houses.
7. The M-19 guerrilla group was a large and powerful organization in Colombia, but was portrayed inaccurately in the series Narcos.
8. Ivan Marino Ospina, also known as Ivan the Terrible, was an experienced guerrilla leader who was not accurately portrayed in the series.
9. Carlos Lehder was a key figure in the cocaine trade and was involved in the transportation of the drug to the United States.
10. Pablo Escobar's family, including his brother and son, believed that he committed suicide rather than being killed by the police.
11. Escobar's son, Juan Pablo, claimed that his father told him to commit suicide if he was ever captured to avoid torture.
12. Pablo Escobar's bodyguard, Lemon, was murdered during the raid that led to Escobar's death.
13. A gunshot wound was found in Escobar's head, in the right ear, which some believed was evidence of suicide.
14. Wagner Moura, the actor who played Pablo Escobar in Narcos, believed that cocaine should be legalized.
15. Pablo Escobar was known for his charitable works, including helping poor people, but was also responsible for many murders.
16. Roberto Escobar, Pablo's brother, was not amused by the portrayal of him in the series and asked for a billion-dollar compensation from Netflix.
17. The series Narcos was not entirely accurate, and some family members of Pablo Escobar disputed the portrayal of him and his family.
18. Pablo Escobar's son, Juan Pablo, was 16 years old when his father died and had a different account of his father's death than what was portrayed in the series.