Catering to Underserved Global Perspectives: Narcos and America's Drug War on Netflix

ABSTRACT

This article investigates the commissioning process and the functionality of a flagship narco‐drama original on Netflix, Narcos (2015–2021). The analysis draws upon the textual features of the show, the wider social context, and interviews with creators and executives. The paper argues that the show deviates from established notions about America's drug war and provides thematic meanings that condemn the interventionist policies that target the supply chain abroad. The results suggest that wider sociocultural developments that are shaping perspectives about existing drug policies, coupled with Netflix's transnational institutional aims, inform the commissioning procedures and the employment of a show that condemns America's war on drugs initiatives abroad. The examination foregrounds that these meanings are presented to supplement the streamer's offerings and build value proposition around its libraries, distinguishing the utilization of individual shows to serve Netflix's multimarket priorities and audience preferences.