This fascinating independent crime drama follows a plethora of intriguing and complicated characters on both sides of the US/Mexican border. Alejandro Cardona (Gabriel Agüero), the young and now-disgraced tech magnate, becomes the new boss of his late father’s crime family. He tries to run the gang differently, desperate to both protect and provide for his family as well as his father’s legacy. Carlos Ortega (Rey Cantu) runs one of the few remaining farms in his locale and becomes a target of the cartel for his role in identifying the elder Cardona before his assassination. Desperate to find safety for his infant grandson and wife of nearly 30 years, he decides to pack up and run for the border.
Cindy Swanson (Elyse Mirto) works administration for US immigration enforcement and receives a special assignment to analyze the situation at the border. She seems married to her job, though she seeks to remedy that situation. Narrating is Frank Harper (Dennis O'Neill), a successful beat detective on semi-permanent leave after the opioid death of his daughter and divorce. These and too many other characters to describe in this short review all play into a complicated web of events that unfolds expertly through 5 episodes that will leave crime drama fans asking for more.
Never before have I seen a series that was so effectively bilingual. Both English and Spanish are used interchangeably both spoken and in the subtitles, characters occasionally slipping into full-blown Spanglish. This, surprisingly, makes Surviving the Cartel an excellent choice for anyone seeking to improve their Spanish or English speaking and listening skills.
Occasionally the low budget rears its head in the form of bad costumes or reused sets and there are many scenes and minor characters that are weakened by amateurish acting. However, good staging, camerawork, excellent writing, and interesting pacing show that the money spent developing Surviving the Cartel was well spent. The performances of the main characters are especially well done, and the majority of secondary characters were well cast and put on an excellent show.
Like a modern-day Game of Thrones, everyone has some ambition that gets in the way of someone else’s. You will find a plethora of characters to love, hate, and love to hate. Surviving the Cartel is a must-see for crime drama fans and this excellent show is highly recommended for library shelves.
What kind of film collection would this title be suitable for?
Crime drama, independent media, and bilingual collections would benefit greatly from the addition of Surviving the Cartel.