La Reina del Sur

Teresa Mendoza starts out with almost nothing, and over the course of the series she carves out a place at the top of an unforgiving criminal world. The show tracks her choices, alliances and losses as she builds influence, manages dangerous rivals and protects what matters to her. It keeps the focus on Teresa's resourcefulness and moral compromises without revealing later plot turns, showing how a woman from humble origins uses wit, stamina and occasional ruthlessness to survive in a male-dominated underworld. Along the way personal loyalties and betrayals complicate her path, and the series balances tense action with quieter scenes that show how power reshapes identity. The tone mixes grit with moments of tenderness, keeping the stakes high throughout.

Released in 2011, the series was created by Roberto Stopello, Lina Uribe and Darío Villegas, and it stars Kate del Castillo as Teresa Mendoza with Andrés Echavarría in a key supporting role. It blended serialized drama with crime thriller elements.

Across its run the show received attention from television awards bodies in the Spanish-speaking world, helping raise the profiles of its cast and creative team. Several performances were singled out in regional nominations. That recognition included acting and production nods at regional festivals and industry ceremonies, helping secure international distribution.

It became a cultural touchstone for Spanish-language crime drama, boosting international interest in Latin American stories and inspiring an English-language adaptation that broadened its audience. Kate del Castillo's turn as Teresa became widely recognized, and the character has been referenced across TV and social conversation.

On user ratings the series averages 7.838/10 from 1,934 votes, reflecting solid fan interest. Critics often noted the lead performance and the show's focus on power, loyalty, survival and the human cost of rising in the criminal world. Viewers praised its pacing and the moral ambiguity of its lead character.