Creators: Doug Miro, Eric Newman, Carlo Bernard and Ingrid Escajeda
Country: United States of America
Distribution: Sofia Vergara, Alberto Ammann, Alberto Guerra, Martin Rodriguez
Duration: 55 minutes approx. (6 episodes)
Year: 2024
Genre: crime drama
Premiere: January 25, 2024 (Netflix)
★★★
Griselda Blanco, a woman born into modest circumstances, rises to become a formidable force in the cocaine trade. Set against the backdrop of the 1970s and 1980s in what feels like a parallel Miami, her notoriety sparks fascination. The character has appeared in various media over the years, reflecting shifting cultural lenses on power, wealth, and risk. The Netflix miniseries revisits her story with a contemporary swagger, tracing how a single person could destabilize a male‑dominated underworld while navigating the pressures of migration, fame, and family loyalty.
The project centers on Sofía Vergara, a renowned performer who has long shepherded the series from concept to screen. Vergara’s involvement signals a bold, high‑drama approach to the Griselda tale, one that leans into both vulnerability and ruthless ambition. Her portrayal of the central figure embodies a nuanced blend of strength and vulnerability, presenting a lead who challenges stereotypes about criminal figures and female agency. Vergara’s creative influence also extends behind the camera, shaping how the narrative unfolds and how the world around Griselda is visually rendered.
From the outset, the narrative follows Griselda as she relocates from Medellín to a new life in Miami with her children after a tense breakup with a former partner who also acts as a mentor in the drug business. An ally, Carmen, runs a travel agency at first glance but becomes a pivotal strategist in a carefully plotted shift to control the cocaine market in the new city. Griselda leverages an unconventional network, drawing together a group of women who had previously worked in less glamorous roles and turning them into an indispensable asset in her expansion. This pivot highlights how appearances can mask strategic thinking and how alliances—fragile as they may be—drive massive change in a dangerous business landscape.
The storytelling frequently shifts between present action and flashbacks, illuminating the energy, resilience, and sharp instincts that enable Griselda to navigate a predominantly male milieu. While the character is not framed as a traditional hero, the series makes room for moments of audacious triumph that thrill viewers as Griselda pushes back against expectations and demands that she confine herself to conventional womanhood. Parallel to her story is Inspector Hawkins, a relentless investigator who becomes obsessed with Griselda’s case. She faces institutional misogyny as colleagues expect her to stay in the shadows, rarely granting her the recognition she deserves. The tension between the two protagonists—one driven by ambition, the other by pursuit of truth—creates a tension-filled narrative rhythm reminiscent of classic crime cinema, where power and consequence weigh heavily on every decision.
The show’s visual and tonal choices draw clear influences from legendary crime dramas, but it remains distinctly its own. Visual choices, including close quarters and carefully choreographed sequences in Griselda’s world, underscore the meticulous planning behind each move. The director’s hand, grounded in a cinematic lineage that fans of Scorsese and high‑stakes crime storytelling will recognize, emphasizes how abundance and excess lead to inevitable consequences. The result is a narrative that treats crime as a moral barometer as much as a source of adrenaline, inviting viewers to reflect on the costs of wealth pursued at any price.
With a strong creative team at the helm, Griselda offers more than a sensational biographical sketch. The project doubles as a subversion of expectations, presenting a central figure who commands attention through clever strategy, emotional depth, and an unflinching willingness to confront danger. The production design and makeup work enhance the sense of transformation and resilience, allowing Vergara to inhabit a character who is at once charismatic, formidable, and deeply human. In this portrayal, Griselda becomes a mother, a leader, and a force in a world where power is measured in dollars and the cost is paid in blood.
The series benefits from the collaboration of a seasoned creative team, including Doug Miro, who has helped shape acclaimed crime dramas, and Ingrid Escajeda, known for writing compelling, character-driven stories. The series also draws on the experience of Colombian director Andrés Baiz, whose recent work on Narcos and Narcos: México informs the show’s intense, ground-level look at crime networks. The result is a compelling fusion of documentary realism and stylized storytelling, where every frame serves to illuminate the grit and complexity of Griselda’s ascent and the price she pays along the way.