Queen of the South (TV series)

Did You Know?

• One real-life figure who inspired the novel is Sandra Ávila Beltrán, known as the 'Queen of the Pacific', one of the first female drug traffickers to reach the level of 'boss' in Mexican cartels.
• The series is available on Netflix, which owns First Run rights to the show.

Plotline

The show follows Teresa Mendoza, a woman from a poor neighborhood in Culiacán, Mexico. After falling for a cartel member, she seeks a better life. Told her boyfriend is dead, she escapes to the United States. There, she joins the criminal network run by the wife of the cartel boss hunting her. Teresa brings a fresh approach to drug trafficking, and her natural leadership draws followers to build her own empire. Her rising power, however, leads to greater dangers, personal losses, and the notice of secret government agents.

Cast and characters

Alice Braga portrays Teresa Mendoza, a poor woman from Sinaloa, Mexico, who becomes wealthy by building a vast drug empire. Peter Gadiot plays James Valdez (seasons 1–3, 5; guest season 4), Camila's right-hand man and Teresa's mentor, friend, partner, and lover. Veronica Falcón appears as Doña Camila Vargas (seasons 1–3), Don Epifanio's estranged wife and head of the North American branch of the Vargas Cartel in Dallas, Texas. Hemky Madera plays Pote Galvez, a former Vargas Cartel lieutenant who becomes one of Teresa's strongest allies and Kelly Anne's boyfriend. Joaquim de Almeida portrays Don Epifanio Vargas (seasons 1–2, guest season 3), Camila Vargas's husband, head of the Vargas Cartel, and a candidate for governor of Sinaloa. Justina Machado plays Brenda Parra (season 1, guest season 4), the wife of a high-ranking transporter for the Vargas Cartel and Teresa's best friend at the series' start. Molly Burnett appears as Kelly Anne Van Awken (season 5; recurring seasons 2–4), a Dallas socialite who becomes Teresa's lawyer and part of her inner circle, and Pote's girlfriend. Gerardo Taracena plays Cesar "Batman" Guemes (seasons 1–2), Don Epifanio Vargas's right-hand man. Jon-Michael Ecker portrays Raymundo "Güero" Dávila (season 2, recurring season 1, guest seasons 3–4), Teresa's first boyfriend and a drug dealer. Nick Sagar plays DEA agent Alonzo Loya (seasons 2–3). Yancey Arias appears as Alberto Cortez, a corrupt army Colonel (season 3; recurring season 2). Alfonso Herrera plays Javier Jiménez (season 4, recurring season 3), Boaz's cousin, a member of the Jiménez cartel and a mercenary. David Andrews portrays Judge Cecil Lafayette (season 4, recurring season 5), a corrupt judge. Joseph T. Campos plays Boaz Jiménez, a former cartel leader and Javier's cousin. Ryan O'Nan appears as King George (seasons 2–5), a smuggler. Idalia Valles plays Isabela Vargas (seasons 1–3), daughter of Camila and Epifanio Vargas. Jamie Hector portrays Devon Finch (seasons 2–3, 5), a CIA contractor posing as a drug dealer. Snow Tha Product appears as Little T (seasons 2–3), a gang member who later becomes a trusted member of Teresa's inner circle. Iba Thiam plays Bilal (seasons 2–3), King George's right-hand man. Mark Consuelos portrays Teo Aljarafe (seasons 1–2), the first lawyer Camila Vargas employs.

Reception

The first season of Queen of the South received mixed to positive feedback from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a score of 68% based on 19 reviews, with an average rating of 6.18/10. The site's consensus states that the series enlivens an overdone premise with action and narrative vigor. On Metacritic, the first season scored 59 out of 100 based on 16 critics, indicating mixed or average reviews.