Clear your schedule.
Drugs, violence, cartels, money, prison breaks, political corruption and a TV production that was cloaked in secrecy.
Welcome to the world of Joaquin Archivaldo Guzmán, better known as ‘El Chapo,’ one of Mexico’s most notorious drug lords and the leader of the Sinaloa cartel.
In real life, the 60-year-old is set to stand trial in April after for allegedly smuggling billions of dollars worth of narcotics to American users.
This Friday, Netflix will tell his story as they launch a gripping drama series that’s certain to fill the Narcos-shaped hole in your viewing schedule.
The series explores the life story of one of the world’s most notorious criminals, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, over a span of three decades – from 1985 when he was a low-level member of the Guadalajara Cartel, his rise to power, and his ultimate downfall.
Not to give too much away, but the show opens in 1985 and follows its titular character through his humble beginnings as an underling in the Guadalajara Cartel. Desperate to earn the respect he’s constantly denied, he begins to make some ambitious moves, including the completion of his first tunnel at the U.S. border. Things quickly escalate from there.
In fact, Netflix and Univision were so happy with the first series that they’ve already renewed the show for a second season to be released in September 2017.
The series mixes real news footage of Guzman’s arrests and escapes along with a dramatization of events. The New York Daily News have also stated that the stories are “based on meetings with reporters who covered the drug trade, acquaintances, DEA reports and psychological profiles of Guzman drawn up in prison.”
We’re certain that it’s going to be a hit.
If you’re looking for something else though, a new boxing documentary also caught our eye.
Counterpunch
This feature documentary follows three promising amateur boxers as they pursue success in a sport that has experienced a steady decline in popularity. CounterPunch brings to light the true stories of a number of young boxers determined not only to turn around the fate of the industry, but to also make sure their names end up in the firmament alongside the most remembered and revered champions.
Through discipline, sweat, heartbreak and triumph, the new generations depicted in the documentary reveal just how unrelenting the journey is to get there.
