Saw this by chance at a mates house and was hooked. I have watched 32 episodes of the first season so far I don't know why it says there is only 19 episodes on here when I googled it. I read 60 episodes. Right from the first episode it catches you. I have been binge watching it. If you like Narco and El Chapo you will like this.
16 Reviews
Outstanding follow up to Narcos
GrandoFernando27 May 2018
Gripping from start to finish. The story of how Escobars right man gets put in prison at the very worst possible time and has to survive against every other cartel and all their soldiers + guards + dodgy prison wardens + a headstrong mrs + her mother in law + everyone looking for his money. I can only recommend this in every shape and form and let you become addicted to yet another superb series.
So far so good
GrandoFernando27 May 2018
My first review would be "do not miss" " bingeworthy" That kind of still stands. BUT. Yes unfortunately after 30 episodes I am finding serious fault. The plot is pretty good but its becoming "prison break vs Narcos" rolled into one. My absolute main issue here is the fight scenes, stabbings, shootings, Covert attacks. Quite simply they are absolutely awful
Pathetic Unreal Lame. I love this show but looks like they have a good script but seriously lacking in realism. (Sopranos, Narcos) I don't know of it was down to budget or serious gaps in authenticity department but either way, it leaves a sad gaping hole for me and I am beginning to lose my mojo for this otherwise wonderful box set. Ps. I have left my original comment in if you read on, sadly my fears are being realised. . Excellent so far at 12 but just noticed Episodes 1 series goes into the 60's? I do hope they are not going to make this into a prison break or "lost" Hollywood dumpster
Wow! What a fantastic series
spongerbobmail21 August 2017
No spoilers. I just finished all 60 episodes, about a 2-3 week commitment. I was so hooked after the first episode I became fanatical dedication all my spare time. First, I don't speak a word of Spanish, but the subtitles were well done. The story was captivating as the author so artfully explored the complex human being, who was a brutal psychopathic killer, yet still somehow likable and respectable. I don't know who any of the actors are, and a Google search was sparse with answers and Bio's, but the acting, directing and cinematography was top of the line.
Maybe the best series
kiko-820777 October 2017
I started watching this series in October and quickly watched all 60 episodes. The characters and their way of acting and interacting make you want this show to last forever. It's still not as famous as Narcos but the whole story is very well written and guided. I had extremely fun watching it the whole time and after 60 episodes all one wants is 60 more
Wonderful Seris
theodorecharlesmorrison19 October 2017
I have seen many of the Latin American series that I refer to as "Narco Dramas" and this is one of the very best. The show is fast-paced and riveting. Juan Pablo Urrego nails his performance as Popeye and, even though he plays a ruthless assassin, you can't help but root for him. Nicole Santamaria plays his love interest and if beautiful women are your thing then you are in for a breathless binge. She is also a fantastic actress. The series follows the characters in both the fictional "Central Jail" (modeled after the Carcel Modelo in Bogota) and in the streets of Bogota and Medellin. Cinematography is top notch and views well in HD. I read and speak Spanish and can attest that the subtitles are accurate and that this series was professionally translated. I also highly recommend "Pablo Escobar, el Patron del Mal" and "En la Boca del Lobo". Enjoy!
Hoping desperately for a second season
lorena-avilagomez29 April 2018
I started watching this by chance and I was hooked immediately. I watched all the 60 episodes in 4 days! lol. The actor Urrego is excellent and I truly believed this cold blooded and cynical killer, but the weird thing is that one starts liking him lol. Absolutely recommended!
Ridiculously good
big_kmc8 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Foreign shows are so much different than american shows. They allow for so much complexity in character development and human expression. This show is like game of thrones in the sense you never know who is going to stick around. But it's also an up and down roller coaster around the central character. You sometimes root for JJ and sometimes hate him. The characters are so well developed and this show is so freaking good. The actors are amazing!! Great job Colombia!! Keep up the good productions.
Outstanding! Found this by accident. Hopelessly binged through it.
lauripernu-6013123 October 2017
Totally addicting. As others have said, be prepared to get nothing accomplished for about 2 weeks. Watched way into the night because I could not turn it off. Would spend the work day anxious to see what new torment was awaiting JJ around the next corner. Dying for Season 2! The writing is superb, the acting is seamless. Loved watching the decade's fashion and technology progress. Appreciate the fact that for such a gritty, tense show, they refrained from gratuitous sex and violence. They allowed events to titillate and progress through the masterful storytelling. I miss you, JJ. Hurry back! A+
Excellent Series!! Season 1 major success!!
pilardaniela5 November 2017
I am huge fan of this show!! First episode I was immediately hooked! I've watched all 60 episodes in less than a month. The story line gets better and better to the end! At one point, my heart was racing due to the thrill of certain episodes. It's weird to say but although knowing how much the people of Colombia hated this man, somehow (to me) turned into a very likable character in the series. Actors have done a phenomenal job!! You know they've succeeded when you begin to dislike certain characters on the show because they played their role so well! SEASON 2??? PLEASE! It cannot end here! <3
Not great, but not terrible either.
joshjohnson-358023 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I watched Narcos, and El Chapo and loved them. Went on the hunt to find similar shows and came across Alias JJ. Without knowing anything about the show, i just dove right in. I have to say I enjoyed the first 20 episodes but after that it just started getting weird.. the use of voodoo rituals, come on. Opening restaurants in jail, haha get real. The fact that 39 episodes in, JJ is still in prison? I guess this is the premise of the show, I just wasn't really expecting it.
There is so much recycled footage in this show its amazing. The acting is pretty poor. There can be obvious signs of life when people have died (sometimes fluttering eyelids, other times chest rising and falling).. yet I can't stop watching. I guess it could be due to my stubbornness to give everything I start a worthy shot. Its not entirely bad after all. Alliances and hostilities switch places so quickly its uncanny, betrayals are very common, the show has dramatic and thrilling qualities. The story line is interesting. And there has been a ton of people killed so far.. I dunno, its something to pass the time.. maybe too much time since its 60 episodes. As someone else said, much of the fluff could have been done away with to condense this series to 40 episodes or less.. I wouldn't have been upset.
If your'e looking for something similar to Narcos and El Chapo like I was, this isn't it.. although you may find this a decent watch on its own.
There is so much recycled footage in this show its amazing. The acting is pretty poor. There can be obvious signs of life when people have died (sometimes fluttering eyelids, other times chest rising and falling).. yet I can't stop watching. I guess it could be due to my stubbornness to give everything I start a worthy shot. Its not entirely bad after all. Alliances and hostilities switch places so quickly its uncanny, betrayals are very common, the show has dramatic and thrilling qualities. The story line is interesting. And there has been a ton of people killed so far.. I dunno, its something to pass the time.. maybe too much time since its 60 episodes. As someone else said, much of the fluff could have been done away with to condense this series to 40 episodes or less.. I wouldn't have been upset.
If your'e looking for something similar to Narcos and El Chapo like I was, this isn't it.. although you may find this a decent watch on its own.
In the end... I was nostalgic
forbes12313 May 2021
I was casually rewatching Narcos when I stumble upon this on Netflix, and at first I was like 'meh, i don't know about this'. But I'm one that watched at least 3 episodes before I quit, and I DID. And I thank God I did, this series has entered my top 10. The plot twists, the characters development, the actors, the scenary, the set... Oh my... Every episode you except something and then they blow us out with an unexcepcted event. This was one of the most shockingly good series I have ever watched, because I did not except it at all. The actors are so amazing, I have to salut every single one of them, but for me, JJ was portrayed so very well by the main actor. And I fell in love with characters like Alexandra so fast.
I mean, apart from all of this, It is indeed a series that is on my top 10 next to the likes of Sons of Anarchy, Lost, Prison Break, GoT, etc. And when I say this im not comparing them, the only thing that I can compare it to are all the feelings I get on the last seconds of the last episode: goosebumps, a void, you're sad that it's over you know?
I will rewatch this one day and It's sad that this series hasn't gotten the hype that is should! It was 'UNA COSA DE LOCOS, LA POSITIVA!' ... Ahhh.
I mean, apart from all of this, It is indeed a series that is on my top 10 next to the likes of Sons of Anarchy, Lost, Prison Break, GoT, etc. And when I say this im not comparing them, the only thing that I can compare it to are all the feelings I get on the last seconds of the last episode: goosebumps, a void, you're sad that it's over you know?
I will rewatch this one day and It's sad that this series hasn't gotten the hype that is should! It was 'UNA COSA DE LOCOS, LA POSITIVA!' ... Ahhh.
Slow-moving, amateurish, overly long series
bruceh-1282110 August 2017
Clearly, the production values of this series are well below average, and will only meet the lowest of most viewer's expectations. While the story-line of the series is interesting, the presentation is disjointed, and amateurish. The characters are not believable in their parts, and the acting is second rate, at best. Juan Pablo Urrego, as JJ, is completely miscast as Pablo Escobar's hit-man. Most of the others are just as bad. Nicole Santamaria, as JJ's wife, Alexandra, has by far the most interesting and well-acted role. Her character, in my opinion, is the only one that makes this series worth watching. The underlying plot of this series could have made a very interesting story if presented more professionally, and with better crafted scripting. Sadly, that is not the case. The sets are terrible and have the look of a very low-budget production. The story plods along at a snails pace and should have been condensed to about 1/3 their total length. This is a Columbian production, and the dialogue is entirely in Spanish, with English subtitles. The subtitle translations seem to have been done by someone not overly familiar with American English and in many cases are just laughable. So far, I have watched 19 of these episodes, only because my wife, for some unknown reason, seems fascinated with the series. The anticipation of seeing how Alexandra's character continues to develop is the only thing that keeps me watching. In summary, only watch this if you have low expectations and uncommon patience for a very slow moving plot. Otherwise, skip it. Not worth the investment of your valuable time.
Poor production values, but great show
timsaunders239 June 2018
A clown on here has rated this show a 2, saying the plot is slow. It is anything but slow. Why someone who hates the show but has spent over a dozen hours watching it is beyond me, however that just illustrates how addictive it is.
Some of the acting is laughably bad, yes. The sets are cheap, the effects are relatively cheap, but overall it's well worth watching.
They really should've hired American actors to play the American characters. I doubt the Miami police walk around the office speaking Spanish to each other. That's a relatively minor gripe, but it did take me out of the story. Either way, you'll probably know by the end of the first or second episodes if this is a show for you or not.
Some of the acting is laughably bad, yes. The sets are cheap, the effects are relatively cheap, but overall it's well worth watching.
They really should've hired American actors to play the American characters. I doubt the Miami police walk around the office speaking Spanish to each other. That's a relatively minor gripe, but it did take me out of the story. Either way, you'll probably know by the end of the first or second episodes if this is a show for you or not.
Great Series
gilidomany16 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Could not stop watching. Always something happening in prison. pablos Hitman, John Jario gets into jail, where he has Enemies from another drug cartel who has a Boss that wonts power and to kill him.This boss is one of the leaders of the Northen Valley Cartel who where rivals of the Medelin drug Cartel.
Abel Mahencha is the leader of the Paramilitary in prison.Galeno is the leader of the Revolutionary armed forces of colombia.So this three leaders Control the prison and bribe guards all the time. When the Boss of the Valley cartel comes to kill John, John tells him that he has secret information about his cartel and that if he dies this information will go public. And that he has a hearing tommorow and he will talk about corruption but not about the Cartel.This is how he saved his life...
John gets Abel angry , because he tells abels wife that Abel is cheating on her, because abel lied, So abel beats him hard with two of his man, John gets saved by a guard...cause abel has alot of power in the prison..
After some time John helps Abel thanks to his Street intelgens , and he leaves him alone.
Its funny how the Drug cartel people make deals with abel or Galeno in order that they will kill some one for them and when Abel wonts John killed he goes to the boss of the Cartel.
So alot of power struggles, Head of prison who many times does not protect Prisoners whos life r in danger.
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