El Chapo tells the story of Joaquín Guzmán, a man who rose through Mexico’s drug trade to become one of the world’s most wanted criminals. The Netflix series covers his rise, his capture, his escape, and his eventual return to prison. It is a sprawling, star-studded production that leans heavily on spectacle and drama over nuance. The result is a compelling, often thrilling watch, though it struggles to keep pace with its own ambition.
The Capture That Opens the Story
The series opens with the 2014 capture of Guzmán in Tijuana, Mexico. The scene sets the tone: a tense standoff, a helicopter, and the moment that made him a global headline. From there, the narrative flashes back to his early days in Sinaloa, where he built his first drug operation with his father’s guidance.
The pacing is brisk, and the show wastes no time establishing the stakes. It moves quickly from the young Guzmán’s first shipments to the expansion of his cartel across the border. The series also spends time on his relationship with his wife, Emma Coronel, played by Dulcie Ayala. Their scenes offer a humanizing contrast to the violence and corruption that define his career.
The capture scene itself is the show’s first major set piece. The tension is palpable as the authorities close in, and the payoff comes when Guzmán is finally apprehended. It is a moment that feels earned, even if the historical details have been exaggerated for dramatic effect.
The Escape and Its Aftermath
The second season picks up after Guzmán’s escape from a maximum-security prison. The show dramatizes the tunnel used to break him out, complete with workers digging underground for months. The scale is impressive, and the tension is palpable as the authorities close in.
The escape sequence is the series’ high point. It is meticulously staged, with close-ups of dirt being shoveled and the sound of machinery echoing through the tunnels. The episode builds to a climax that feels earned, even if the historical details have been exaggerated for dramatic effect.
The aftermath of the escape is where the show starts to lose focus. The series spends too much time on the logistics of hiding Guzmán and less on the political forces working against him. The pacing suffers in the middle stretch, and some episodes feel padded. The show also leans on a few too many flashbacks, which dilute the present-day tension. By the final stretch, the show is rushing to wrap up threads that could have been explored more deeply.
The Cast Carries the Weight
The performances anchor the show. Demian Bichir plays Guzmán with a quiet intensity that keeps him sympathetic even as he orders hits and bribes officials. The supporting cast is equally strong, with Michael Peña as a corrupt official and Kate del Castillo as Emma Coronel.
Peña’s character is particularly sharp. He navigates a system where loyalty is bought and sold, and his scenes with Bichir crackle with tension. Del Castillo brings warmth to her role, making Emma feel like more than just a trophy wife. Her scenes with Bichir are some of the best in the series, showing the strain of living with a man who is both a loving husband and a criminal kingpin.
“It’s not about the money. It’s about the power.”
That line, spoken by a character who understands the game better than anyone else, captures the show’s central tension. Power, not wealth, drives the action forward.
The Weak Link: The Second Season
The second season is where the show falters. The escape is a great set piece, but the aftermath drags. The show spends too much time on the logistics of hiding Guzmán and less on the political forces working against him.
The pacing suffers in the middle stretch, and some episodes feel padded. The series also leans on a few too many flashbacks, which dilute the present-day tension. By the final stretch, the show is rushing to wrap up threads that could have been explored more deeply.
The show’s weakest moments come in its handling of Guzmán’s family life. Some scenes feel forced, as if the writers are trying to make the audience care about a man who has done terrible things. The show’s moral ambiguity can be frustrating, but it also makes Guzmán a far more interesting character than a simple villain.
| Element | Season 1 | Season 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Rise and capture | Escape and aftermath |
| Pacing | Tight and focused | Slower, more episodic |
| Best moment | Capture scene | Escape tunnel |
| Weakest moment | None | Midseason lull |
The Look and Sound of El Chapo
The production values are top-notch. The show is shot with a cinematic eye, with wide shots of Mexican landscapes and tight close-ups of faces twisted with fear or greed. The music is atmospheric, mixing traditional Mexican instruments with electronic beats.
The attention to detail extends to the costumes and sets. Guzmán’s wardrobe changes from modest peasant clothes to designer suits, and the show tracks his ascent through the quality of his surroundings. The visual style is consistent across both seasons, giving the series a unified look that holds together despite the uneven writing.
The Verdict on El Chapo
El Chapo is a gripping, visually stunning series that captures the rise of one of the world’s most notorious criminals. It is at its best when it focuses on the characters and the relationships between them, and at its worst when it gets bogged down in bureaucratic detail.
The show’s score reflects its strengths and weaknesses. It is a worthy entry in the true-crime genre, but it is not without flaws. The uneven pacing and the overly dramatic escape sequence are hard to ignore, even as the performances carry the weight of the story.
The series is a mixed bag, but it is a bag worth opening. It is a solid, entertaining watch that rewards attention while occasionally frustrating it.
El Chapo is a 7.5 of 10.
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