Queen of the South is an incredible action and suspense thriller about the rise of a Cartel Queen. It's not a true story so they can do anything they go anywhere they want with the story and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you captivated. It's a violent, fun drama with great performances by the cast. It's one of the rare drug cartels shows based of a strong female lead. It's a familiar story that's told in a fresh way and will keep you entertained throughout the entire series. It's a show where you shouldn't underestimate anyone and where anything can happen so it will keep you at the edge of your seat. I have to say that this show is so much better than I thought it would be and has only gotten better throughout the seasons.
437 Reviews
Better Than the Rating Suggests
msva430 June 2016
I am honestly very surprised at the low rating for this show. I consider myself a movie and TV snob who completely dislikes the same old same junk from CBS, NBC, and Fox, etc. I love Breaking Bad, Fargo, True Detective, Happy Valley, Sherlock and other quality shows that are similar. This show is no Breaking Bad, but it is enjoyable! For the first 2 episodes I have been pleasantly surprised. Give it a shot! The episodes move quickly and so far, I'm blue at the end that I have to wait another week to see what happens next. The acting is solid, the script is good so far, and if they can keep it up this will be a great show for the long run! I hope it stays around!
Incredible thriller about the rise of a Cartel Queen!
Supermanfan-1321 December 2020
Queen of the South is an incredible action and suspense thriller about the rise of a Cartel Queen. It's not a true story so they can do anything they go anywhere they want with the story and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you captivated. This show is so much better than I thought it would be and has only gotten better throughout the seasons!
I love this show !!!
laurenmartinez-627617 June 2018
I can't believe the Low ratings !! This show was awesome packed with lots of drama, action killing & drugs my Kinda show !! If you don't like mafia type movies this show isn't for you ! I Would definitely recommend watching it !! Every episode gets better & better in my opinion specially season 2! Can't wait for season 3 to finish so I can bidge watch it !!
Fantastic
loversofmovies25 January 2020
La Reina del Sur (2011)
jft-3353120 May 2017
I found "Queen of the South" (2016) to be very similar to "La Reina del Sur" (2011) with both portraying Teresa Mendoza's life story surrounded by corrupted cops, politicians, drug traffickers and dealers wrestling for power and control of Colombia's cocaine import business to Mexico and the United States but the story line and events ave very different. I enjoyed them both very much but am partial to the earlier version which is more colorful and authentic in my opinion even though it is in Spanish with subtitles. Both are currently available on Netflix.
This show just keeps getting better and better
mjsimmons48730 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The more I watch this show, the more I love it. Up to season 4 now waiting week to week for the new episode to be released. I have to admit, I'm enjoying it more without the actress that plays Camila Vargas, sorry if I offend. So excited to hear there will be a season 5.
As a fan of the novel & the telenovela, I love it
cirose-9019424 June 2016
I greatly enjoyed the original story, the book La Reina del Sur by Arturo Pérez-Reverte. I listened to the English translation on audiobook and was drawn in to Teresa's story.
The telenovela, starring the amazing Kate del Castillo, was a wild and intense ride. It greatly expanded the 'world' of Teresa and we got to spend more time actually with her and seeing her experiences rather than in the book where it was mostly told from outsider POV.
What I like about this new show is that it seems to be walking a nice line between the more serious and down to Earth aspects of the novel while injecting the adrenaline pounding flash as well as first person focus on Teresa that the telenovela did.
The changes are enough that you kind of know what's going to come next, but not really so you are still tense with anticipation and worry.
The writing, acting and directing really feel on point and I'm super excited to see where the next 12 (and hopefully more) episodes go.
The telenovela, starring the amazing Kate del Castillo, was a wild and intense ride. It greatly expanded the 'world' of Teresa and we got to spend more time actually with her and seeing her experiences rather than in the book where it was mostly told from outsider POV.
What I like about this new show is that it seems to be walking a nice line between the more serious and down to Earth aspects of the novel while injecting the adrenaline pounding flash as well as first person focus on Teresa that the telenovela did.
The changes are enough that you kind of know what's going to come next, but not really so you are still tense with anticipation and worry.
The writing, acting and directing really feel on point and I'm super excited to see where the next 12 (and hopefully more) episodes go.
Surprisingly Good
martymoves12 August 2022
A show that runs at its own pace. Edits out all the in-between and just gets on with the story.
Pretty solid performance from Alice Braga throughout the entire series. Her transition from Money Changer to the Queen is a long, sad, story.
With enough supporting characters all around, an endless array of storytelling. Keeps you guessing.
I wish it didn't end, but all good things must. A solid 8/10 on the entertainment scale.
Pretty solid performance from Alice Braga throughout the entire series. Her transition from Money Changer to the Queen is a long, sad, story.
With enough supporting characters all around, an endless array of storytelling. Keeps you guessing.
I wish it didn't end, but all good things must. A solid 8/10 on the entertainment scale.
Great performance, solid action/directing, OK writing
davidatom119 August 2016
Alice Braga brings the right mix of grit/grace to the role, but the supporting cast have holes. Not action dominated, acceptable level of production (too sloppy for a movie but OK for TV), mediocre camera angles, solid lighting. As others have said, if you enjoy gritty drug dramas it does the job.
However, the dialogues are predictable and often repetitive, obvious plot holes drag this drama down. The writing makes this feel like a Latin day time drama put in the body of a gritty crime movie.
TLDR; average TV drama with incoherent plot/writing, that Alice Braga is working hard to carry.
However, the dialogues are predictable and often repetitive, obvious plot holes drag this drama down. The writing makes this feel like a Latin day time drama put in the body of a gritty crime movie.
TLDR; average TV drama with incoherent plot/writing, that Alice Braga is working hard to carry.
Well Done. Exciting & Eventful
rogercg14 April 2021
Ok. Now, for the bad part. Every performance except for one is exceptional. Unfortunately, the one-dimensional performance by Veronica Falcon diminishes the whole series because she is the co-star. She plays Camila, head of her own cartel. The hype says she's on of Latin America's best actresses. Hell no! She has no depth of character whatsoever. Zero personality with every line delivered it the same way. Can't blame it all on her. Didn't the Director and producers sit down with her and get her to commit to a more rounded villain. God, she's just terrible. I have seldom disliked the performance of a leading character in a series I liked. When she's off screen, the series is a 10.
Narco drug trafficking culture with Pallas Athene women taking the reins
antiflakflak29 June 2017
The lead female characters of the series are definitely embodying Pallas Athene archetypes, that is interesting for Mexican culture, as I understand the women are still behind in the social roles they can aspire to there. In this series Alice Braga, (Brazilian not Mexican) and actual niece of Sonia Braga is given low level crud errands and kept hostage in the cartel of the Number one drug lord in Mexico, only it is his wife's division of the cartel. His wife wants to go solo and run the drug empire her way or the highway and severe rivalry develops with this husband and wife. I guess the series illustrates the severity of the narco drug trafficking culture, shades of Breaking Bad maybe, but coming from the Mexican angle of things. Worth watching, Alice Braga does a good job, characters not bad, and plot keeps you interested to where this will all lead.
Running out of Breath
PuckerFactor6 August 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This series started out well but by the time it got to episode 7 it ran out of breath. It's stalling. I find a lot of US shows tend to pad the series out if they think they're onto a good thing.
We know from the opening scene in the very first episode that the main character Teresa is going to eventually run a drug cartel. We then follow her back-story journey that will eventually lead us to that point in the very first scene. By the end of episode 7 nothing seemed to have moved the story forward from the previous 2 episodes. This is a bad sign of things to come as we know certain events need to happen to drive Teresa forward toward her destiny.
We're trundling along now as the studio pads this out.
We know from the opening scene in the very first episode that the main character Teresa is going to eventually run a drug cartel. We then follow her back-story journey that will eventually lead us to that point in the very first scene. By the end of episode 7 nothing seemed to have moved the story forward from the previous 2 episodes. This is a bad sign of things to come as we know certain events need to happen to drive Teresa forward toward her destiny.
We're trundling along now as the studio pads this out.
Traumatizing
r-08335-3044116 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
It was good for a while, but I got to 2nd season and I find it traumatizingly bad.
Here is a particular scene of a DEA agent calling Teresa on her mobile:
Honestly this is terrible.
The acting also gets terrible, not all of it, but Camilla Vargas feels asperger, she always speaks in the same tone. Teresa's constant tight-lipped expression is also irritating.
And the music, it just goes on and goes on all the time. It feels like there are maybe 5 or 6 background tracks, each assigned to a different mood (suspense, anxiety, nostalgia, chill-out, etc) and they keep re-using them all the time.
Basically it's like going to an eat-as-much-as-you-can buffet which only offers McDonalds fries with maybe ketchup or some sauce. It's only nice for a while.
Here is a particular scene of a DEA agent calling Teresa on her mobile:
- Teresa picks up the call
- DEA caller tells Teresa something she might be interested into
- Teresa says "what do you want"
- We see DEA trying to trace the call to find her position. One of the coworker tells the caller to "keep her talking" so that they can trace her.
- Caller tells Teresa "let's keep talking"
- Teresa realizes that she is being traced and hangs up.
Honestly this is terrible.
The acting also gets terrible, not all of it, but Camilla Vargas feels asperger, she always speaks in the same tone. Teresa's constant tight-lipped expression is also irritating.
And the music, it just goes on and goes on all the time. It feels like there are maybe 5 or 6 background tracks, each assigned to a different mood (suspense, anxiety, nostalgia, chill-out, etc) and they keep re-using them all the time.
Basically it's like going to an eat-as-much-as-you-can buffet which only offers McDonalds fries with maybe ketchup or some sauce. It's only nice for a while.
Queen of the south
cmcgoo22 July 2016
Just watched the first 5 episodes in a row and that's the a first for me.This show is great ,fast paced and lots of interesting characters.This is also a first writing a review about any shows I've seen including game of throne and other good TV series's. recommended highly by me and i gave it top marks,watch and enjoy.
The story is of drugs and cartels and the intrigues within the cartels, and of the one woman who finds herself being drawn into this murky world of drugs ,killing and the people working for the drug barons.The main characters are interesting and you find yourself wondering how they will get to where they are obviously going to get to.Cant wait for the next episode.
The story is of drugs and cartels and the intrigues within the cartels, and of the one woman who finds herself being drawn into this murky world of drugs ,killing and the people working for the drug barons.The main characters are interesting and you find yourself wondering how they will get to where they are obviously going to get to.Cant wait for the next episode.
Great Show
arod_855 April 2021
I really enjoy this show. It's harsh, violent, realistic and suspenseful. Interesting perspective to have have a female drug smuggler fight her way to the "top". Also interesting to see a multi faceted person, a good person doing bad things. A drug lord with a heart. The acting is good and the story lines are also very strong. I also appreciate that the writers seem to know when the story becomes monotonous, so they change it up with new characters and locations. I would agree with some of the other reviewers that think Camilla has run her course as I I'm ready for her to go. This show has some some very interesting and sinister villains, El Santo, the sex trafficker, Deven, and she has been around the longest, yet she's my least favorite. Despite Camilla, I'm really surprised that this is not rated higher on IMDb. One of the best shows on cable.
Enjoyable
lakings9724 May 2022
Queen of the South is a USA Network production about a drug cartel run by a fictional woman named Teresa Mendoza played by Alice Braga. Teresa flees Mexico after her boyfriend is murdered and she settles in Dallas and builds her empire to become the biggest drug smuggler to the states. The first few seasons start out strong with Teresa having to fight for her life against Vargas family and takes over the territory. She eventually ends up controlling the southeast corner of the country. The later seasons were less for certain and very well over the top. The cast members over the years included Peter Gadiot, Hemky Madera, Joseph Campos, Joaquin de Almeida, David Andrews, Ryan O'Nan, and Brett Cullen. Overall it was a very entertaining series and unlike most cartel movies, this series does not end on a bad note. God series, good cast, definitely check it out.
Brilliant
moss131028 December 2018
I dont know the Mexican version, and I had never heard of the show until recently when it was recommended to me on Netflix. I'm completely hooked. I had to buy season 3 because it wasn't available on Netflix yet. The actors are amazing. The characters riveting. It follows a soap
Ike leave you on th edge of your seat until next episode format, but it works like a charm here. Everyone needs to watch this show! Who new drug cartels could be so interesting?
Great Watch
ashwinkumarkgp27 April 2022
Great Show but No Cigar
lindamc-4367916 May 2022
Its an awesome show don't get me wrong. It Should have been given its own name. It really doesn't compare to the original with Kate Del Castillo. Its like when you try a new recipe if you do things your own way you will change it and most of the time ends up being disappointed. I give it an 8 for Effort. I truly did enjoy watching it.
As a current cartel kingpin, imo the writing could've been so much better.
Top_Dawg_Critic11 October 2021
The 62 episodes over the 5 seasons were really dragged out with too much filler and Telemundo soap opera writing. There were also many plot and technical issues that could've easily been avoided, as some were just that obvious and easily fixable. Many of the timeline flashbacks and some relationships were unnecessary. Most of the intimate scenes were dragged out and cheesy. Although there were some crazy gore scenes, they were too few and far in between. More action was needed. Where there was tension and suspense, it was actually good. The casting was great, but not all performances were. My favorite characters (in order) that I actually cared about and performed exceptional were the beautiful and charismatic Molly Burnett as Kelly Anne, Ryan O'Nan as King George, Joseph T. Campos as Boaz, and Hemky Madera as Pote. Unfortunately I was not impressed with Alice Braga as Teresa Mendoza. She lacked energy, was too monotonic and straight faced to the point she looked bored playing her role. Even newb young actress Idalia Valles as Isabela Vargas was more animated and convincing in her role and performance than Braga. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable, but I felt it could've been so much better had the writing been tighter and less melodramatic, and the series shorter. It's a well deserved 7/10 from me.
Fab TV series
cat-miller-433376 July 2020
What happened this season?.
bkzzz27 May 2019
Queen of the awful
aleeward15 June 2020
It amazes me how some shows are revived for 2 seasons, let alone make it to a 5th.
There are more plot holes in this show than there are bullet holes in the number of dead bodies. (Spoiler alert.....there are A LOT of dead bodies)
Just a few plot holes for example: Characters seem to have mastered the art of time travel by getting from Dallas to South Mexico by road in less than a few hours. Trained soldiers are unable to hit a target less than 10 yards away with automatic machine guns and car chases seem to be given up when the chasee makes a left turn.
I would not recommend wasting your time as there are so many better cartel based shows out there. The core plot is the same from season to season, just different one dimensional characters and you'd be glad to see any of them die.
I feel that the rumours of a lot of IMDb ratings being fake in order to get people to watch shows is true. Not that I haven't watched and loved the odd crappy show, but how people can rate this a 10 is beyond me.
There are more plot holes in this show than there are bullet holes in the number of dead bodies. (Spoiler alert.....there are A LOT of dead bodies)
Just a few plot holes for example: Characters seem to have mastered the art of time travel by getting from Dallas to South Mexico by road in less than a few hours. Trained soldiers are unable to hit a target less than 10 yards away with automatic machine guns and car chases seem to be given up when the chasee makes a left turn.
I would not recommend wasting your time as there are so many better cartel based shows out there. The core plot is the same from season to season, just different one dimensional characters and you'd be glad to see any of them die.
I feel that the rumours of a lot of IMDb ratings being fake in order to get people to watch shows is true. Not that I haven't watched and loved the odd crappy show, but how people can rate this a 10 is beyond me.
Alice Braga Is a robot
cecilywhistler21 May 2022
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