El Capo

Pedro Pablo León Jaramillo, known as El Capo, is the kingpin whose empire unravels after a botched capture leaves him cornered with loyal lieutenants, his wife and a lover. As authorities close in, he reacts impulsively, declaring war on the state and trying to settle old scores. The series follows the tense days that follow, mixing violent confrontations with quieter, personal moments that reveal how power, fear and betrayal shape every decision. It keeps the focus on survival and control, showing how a criminal's public legend and private life collide without revealing any key twists or the finale.

Released in 2009, the series was created by Gustavo Bolívar and directed by Lilo Vilaplana and Riccardo Gabrielli R. Marlon Moreno leads a strong ensemble that includes Katherine Vélez and Juan Carlos Vargas, and the show drew attention across Latin American TV markets.

While it didn't win major international awards, El Capo built a solid reputation regionally and among genre fans. It received praise in several television circles for its performances and tense storytelling, even if it wasn't widely decorated at global ceremonies.

The show made an imprint on how Latin American crime dramas portrayed antihero leaders, provoking discussion about the representation of narco culture on television. Certain scenes and the central character became familiar reference points in regional pop culture, and the series helped push a trend toward grittier, morally ambiguous protagonists on Spanish-language TV.

Critics and audiences gave mixed to positive reactions, reflected in a user score around 7.66 out of 10 from over a thousand votes. Viewers often highlighted Marlon Moreno's intense turn as a reason to watch, and reviewers noted recurring themes of loyalty, corruption and the personal costs of power. The pacing shifts between action and character work, making it appealing to those who want drama with both conflict and quieter moral stakes.