An Unknown Enemy

Did You Know?

• The series premiered on October 2, 2018, commemorating 50 years of the depicted events.
• Season 1 comprises eight episodes, all aired exclusively on Amazon Prime.
• Season 2 premiered on September 28, 2022, and is loosely based on the Corpus Christi Massacre.
• The series received mixed reviews, with some critics calling it 'ultimately PRI propaganda' for distorting how the events unfolded.

Premise

Set during the Cold War and the youth counterculture of the 1960s, the series follows Fernando Barrientos, the chief of the NSD secret police, as he struggles to hold onto political power. The social unrest he tries to control is partly stirred up by his own agency, all while Mexico prepares for the 1968 Olympics and the 1970 general election. The second season picks up after the movement, covering el halconazo, guerrilla factions, and Barrientos's return to authority.

Cast and crew

The series is produced by filmmaker Gabriel Ripstein, who also serves as an executive producer and writer. Award-winning actor Daniel Giménez Cacho stars as Fernando Barrientos. The cast includes Antonio de la Vega as Interior Minister Luis Echeverría, Fernando Becerril as Mexico City Mayor Alfonso Corona del Rosal, Hernán Del Riego as President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Karina Gidi as Mrs. Esperanza Barrientos, Kristyan Ferrer as shady student leader Beto, Andrés Delgado as activist leader David (loosely based on journalist Luis González de Alba), and Irene Azuela as Elena, Barrientos's assistant, right hand, and secret lover.