Is Narcos Mexico Real? How Much of the Plot Is Inspired From Reality?

The famous biography drama- Narcos Mexico did not fail to enthrall the fans with
its astounding cinematography and captivating storyline. It is extracted from
the real-life experience of Mexico’s first drug kingpin, Miguel Ángel Félix
Gallardo (Diego Luna). The spin-off series of Narcos; Narcos: Mexico has 3
seasons with a total of 30 episodes depicting the topsy-turvy world of drugs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhZBDO0CKJo

“It could go forever”, says Eric Newsman in an interview
[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/narcos-mexico-boss-season-2-finale-season-3-1279045/].
This emphasizes the fact that the show does not center around a particular lead
or cartel but around the system of corruption and smuggling, which will go on as
long as legal systems are standing.

Starting from the creation of the drug empire in Guadalajara by Gallardo in the
chaotic drug-driven world to its downfall, the first season of Narcos: Mexico
experienced massive success with the same critical acclaim Narcos enjoyed.
Netflix greeted the audience with a magnificent second season with a total of 10
episodes going back and forth about the Mexican drug war of the 1980s. The war
and the season ended with Gallardo’s arrest.

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

As the series progressed into its final stages in the third season, the viewers
see a bunch of new and recurring characters competing to fill up the empty spot
left due to Gallardo’s arrest. The series ended with Amado’s alleged death.
While it could go on further, showrunners decided to end it.


NARCOS MEXICO: REALITY VS FICTION

Each episode of Narcos: Mexico [https://www.netflix.com/title/80997085] begins
with the following message:

“This dramatization is based on true events. However certain scenes, characters,
names, businesses, incidents, locations, and events have been fictionalized for
dramatic purposes.”

So, what exactly does “certain” insinuate?


CHARACTERS:

The essence of Narcos: Mexico lies in its characters. Some of them are based on
real-life people who had a massive influence on the world of drugs.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Sex Education Season 3 BLOOPERS – Official Video Released by
Netflix
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netfix-news-watch-sex-education-season-3-bloopers-official-video-released-by-netflix/]

The real-life Gallardo was known as El Padrino. He was the man responsible for
changing the entire imagery of the Mexican drug system. The man turned the
individual plazas into a unit of organized crime what we know as the Guadalajara
cartel. Among other people that inspired characters in the Netflix Original
[https://netflixjunkie.com/category/originals/] are Caro Quintero, Kiki and Mika
Camarena, Pablo Acosta, and of course, Amado Fuentes.

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

While it isn’t quite important in the grand scheme of things, Clavel and Palma’s
rivalry deserves a special mention. While fans expect their real-life conflict
to be rather timid, it was in fact much more gruesome than the series depicts.
Palma seduced Clavel’s wife and forced her to withdraw $7 million from her bank
account.

Later, he decapitated her and sent her head to Palma in a very Joffrey Baratheon
and Ned Stark style. All this was followed by throwing Palma’s children off a
bridge. Palma then killed three of Clavel’s children and planned his murder
extensively. That certainly was dramatic.


EVENTS:

While the blatant corruption of the 1988 Mexican Election in the Netflix
[https://netflixjunkie.com/category/news/] series might seem fictional, it,
unfortunately, isn’t. Former Mexican President Miguel de la Madrid mentioned in
his autobiography that events right from the PRI declaring themselves winners
before the vote count to burning of the ballot papers to erase evidence are
true.

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

Also worth mentioning is the downfall of Gallardo. While it would have been
quite a scene if all bosses had walked out on him together, Felix’s downfall was
much more gradual and all the more painful. Palma was the first one to leave the
cartel and following his arrest, his empire crumbled magnificently.

ALSO READ: “He Could Be the Most Powerful Trafficker This Country’s Ever Seen”:
Narcos Mexico Season 3
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-he-could-be-the-most-powerful-trafficker-this-countrys-ever-seen-narcos-mexico-season-3/]

Safia Khanam

Comment

Is Narcos Mexico Real? How Much of the Plot Is Inspired From Reality? - Netflix Junkie

Home

Netflix News

Netflix Junkie

https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/nj_bg_transparent-1.png

A writer at Netflix Junkie, Safia Khanam is a Business Administration student with a passion for writing. Having been an avid reader and cinephile all her life, she enjoys sharing analysis and insights. The Intern, Dead Poets Society, and Anne With An E are her top preferences. When she’s not watching or reading anything, she likes to traverse the fields of calligraphy and other liberal arts. With an appreciation for culture and linguistics, she wishes to travel extensively and experience art and architecture firsthand.

https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-is-narcos-mexico-real-how-much-of-the-plot-is-inspired-from-reality

Is Narcos Mexico Real? How Much of the Plot Is Inspired From Reality? - netflix-junkie

Kevin Hart’s New Netflix Comedy Is One Long Bachelor Party Gone Wrong

7 Reasons Netflix’s British Crime Drama ‘Legends’ Should Be Your Next Binge

‘The Roast of Kevin Hart’ Writers Reveal the Jokes That Never Made the Final Cut

'The Bus: A French Football Mutiny' on Netflix: Release Date, Plot, Cast, and
All You Need to Know

Where to Stream Netflix Is a Joke Fest 2026 and Watch the Biggest Comedy
Specials

Kevin Hart and Teyana Taylor’s Upcoming Movie '72 Hours' on Netflix Know all

What Happened Between Kevin Hart and Eniko Hart? Inside the Controversy That
Shook Their Marriage

‘Dutton Ranch’ Timeline Explained: Where the Series Fits in the ‘Yellowstone’
Universe

Where Was 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' Filmed? Shooting Locations Revealed

The famous biography drama- Narcos Mexico did not fail to enthrall the fans with its astounding cinematography and captivating storyline. It is extracted from the real-life experience of Mexico’s first drug kingpin, Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo (Diego Luna). The spin-off series of Narcos; Narcos: Mexico has 3 seasons with a total of 30 episodes depicting the topsy-turvy world of drugs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhZBDO0CKJo
&#8220;It could go forever”, says Eric Newsman in an <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/narcos-mexico-boss-season-2-finale-season-3-1279045/">interview</a>. This emphasizes the fact that the show does not center around a particular lead or cartel but around the system of corruption and smuggling, which will go on as long as legal systems are standing.
Starting from the creation of the drug empire in Guadalajara by Gallardo in the chaotic drug-driven world to its downfall, the first season of Narcos: Mexico experienced massive success with the same critical acclaim Narcos enjoyed. Netflix greeted the audience with a magnificent second season with a total of 10 episodes going back and forth about the Mexican drug war of the 1980s. The war and the season ended with Gallardo&#8217;s arrest.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10205 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/narcos-mexico-season-3-1630851913.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/narcos-mexico-season-3-1630851913.jpg 1280w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/narcos-mexico-season-3-1630851913-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/narcos-mexico-season-3-1630851913-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/narcos-mexico-season-3-1630851913-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" />
As the series progressed into its final stages in the third season, the viewers see a bunch of new and recurring characters competing to fill up the empty spot left due to Gallardo’s arrest. The series ended with Amado’s alleged death. While it could go on further, showrunners decided to end it.
<h2>Narcos Mexico: Reality vs Fiction</h2>
Each episode of <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80997085">Narcos: Mexico</a> begins with the following message:
“This dramatization is based on true events. However certain scenes, characters, names, businesses, incidents, locations, and events have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes.”
So, what exactly does &#8220;certain&#8221; insinuate?
<h3>Characters:</h3>
The essence of Narcos: Mexico lies in its characters. Some of them are based on real-life people who had a massive influence on the world of drugs.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netfix-news-watch-sex-education-season-3-bloopers-official-video-released-by-netflix/">WATCH: Sex Education Season 3 BLOOPERS – Official Video Released by Netflix</a>
The real-life Gallardo was known as El Padrino. He was the man responsible for changing the entire imagery of the Mexican drug system. The man turned the individual plazas into a unit of organized crime what we know as the Guadalajara cartel. Among other people that inspired characters in the <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/category/originals/">Netflix Original</a> are Caro Quintero, Kiki and Mika Camarena, Pablo Acosta, and of course, Amado Fuentes.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10206 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/narcos-mexico-season-3-977.jpg" alt="" width="1141" height="641" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/narcos-mexico-season-3-977.jpg 1141w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/narcos-mexico-season-3-977-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/narcos-mexico-season-3-977-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/narcos-mexico-season-3-977-768x431.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1141px) 100vw, 1141px" />
While it isn&#8217;t quite important in the grand scheme of things, Clavel and Palma&#8217;s rivalry deserves a special mention. While fans expect their real-life conflict to be rather timid, it was in fact much more gruesome than the series depicts. Palma seduced Clavel&#8217;s wife and forced her to withdraw $7 million from her bank account.
Later, he decapitated her and sent her head to Palma in a very Joffrey Baratheon and Ned Stark style. All this was followed by throwing Palma&#8217;s children off a bridge. Palma then killed three of Clavel&#8217;s children and planned his murder extensively. That certainly was dramatic.
<h3>Events:</h3>
While the blatant corruption of the 1988 Mexican Election in the <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/category/news/">Netflix</a> series might seem fictional, it, unfortunately, isn&#8217;t. Former Mexican President Miguel de la Madrid mentioned in his autobiography that events right from the PRI declaring themselves winners before the vote count to burning of the ballot papers to erase evidence are true.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10359 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/narcos-mexico-mcnairy.png" alt="" width="1000" height="563" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/narcos-mexico-mcnairy.png 1000w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/narcos-mexico-mcnairy-300x169.png 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/narcos-mexico-mcnairy-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />
Also worth mentioning is the downfall of Gallardo. While it would have been quite a scene if all bosses had walked out on him together, Felix&#8217;s downfall was much more gradual and all the more painful. Palma was the first one to leave the cartel and following his arrest, his empire crumbled magnificently.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-he-could-be-the-most-powerful-trafficker-this-countrys-ever-seen-narcos-mexico-season-3/">“He Could Be the Most Powerful Trafficker This Country’s Ever Seen”: Narcos Mexico Season 3</a>

WATCH: Sex Education Season 3 BLOOPERS – Official Video Released by Netflix

“He Could Be the Most Powerful Trafficker This Country’s Ever Seen”: Narcos
Mexico Season 3

Narcos-Mexico-Season-3-Cast-Details

https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/netflixjunkie-logo-2.jpg

https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Narcos-Mexico-Season-3-Cast-Details.jpg

With the release of its final season, fans around the world are watching events unfold in 1990s Mexico but how much of Narcos Mexico is real?

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3daae4ab2879e2fdb4a57738fdc5b175?s=96&d=mm&r=g

description

https://www.netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-is-narcos-mexico-real-how-much-of-the-plot-is-inspired-from-reality/

Is Narcos Mexico Real? How Much of the Plot Is Inspired From Reality?

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

EDITORS' PICK

The World of NJ

Connect With Us

General

Legal