In the chaotic streets of 1970s and 1980s Miami, where disco beats mixed with the crackle of gunfire, one woman ruled the cocaine trade: Griselda Blanco, known as La Madrina, the Godmother. A Colombian immigrant, she rose from extreme poverty to control a multibillion-dollar drug empire. Netflix’s 2024 miniseries Griselda, starring Sofía Vergara, brings her electrifying story to life, blending intense drama with moments of heartbreak. Directed by Andrés Baiz and created by the Narcos team, the six-episode series immerses viewers in Blanco’s world, showing that power comes at a devastating price. Even Pablo Escobar reportedly feared her, and the series captures why.
Blanco’s story begins in Medellín, Colombia. Escaping a dangerous past with her three young sons and a kilo of cocaine, she lands in Miami. Starting small as a motel clerk and single mother, her intelligence and determination quickly propel her into Miami’s cocaine boom. She revolutionized smuggling, using women couriers to hide drugs in clothing, and grew a massive network. As her empire expands, so does the violence. Rivals like Amilcar and German Panesso challenge her, leading to brutal confrontations, including the chilling Dadeland Mall shooting in 1979.
Each episode of Griselda is a thrilling ride. The first, Lady Comes to Town, introduces a desperate Griselda navigating Miami’s dangerous streets. By Rich White People, she has built a loyal team, including the cold assassin Rivi and devoted enforcer Chucho. Mutiny exposes cracks in her inner circle, while Middle Management shows her struggle as a mother balancing family and empire. Paradise Lost explores her growing paranoia and addiction, and the finale, Adios Miami, delivers a tense climax as enemies and law enforcement close in, leaving her empire in ruins.
The series captures Miami during the Cocaine Cowboys era, when the city became the center of the U.S. drug crisis. Blanco controlled an estimated seventy percent of the cocaine market and earned millions monthly. Griselda shows the adrenaline of high stakes deals, the betrayal-filled whispers in smoky clubs, and sudden violence in quiet neighborhoods. But her personal struggles hit hardest. Her addiction strains her relationships with her sons Dixon, Uber, and Ozzy, and her husband Dario Sepúlveda. One poignant scene shows her dreaming of a peaceful beach day with her family, a fleeting fantasy crushed by her brutal reality.
Sofía Vergara delivers a career-defining performance. She uses prosthetics to transform her appearance, capturing Blanco’s charm, intelligence, and menace. Vergara’s bilingual delivery in Spanish and English adds authenticity, and her piercing gaze shows Blanco’s unyielding resolve. Critics praised her performance, particularly an emotional scene in episode five. The supporting cast shines as well: Juliana Aidén Martinez as detective June Hawkins, Alberto Guerra as Dario, and Martín Rodríguez as Rivi. Pop star Karol G makes her acting debut as Carla, adding depth and tragic innocence to the story.
The production team creates a visually stunning series. Director Baiz uses dynamic camera work for chaotic chases and sweeping shots for Blanco’s lavish life. Cinematographer Marcelo Montaña captures the era’s bright neon and muted hideouts, while costume designer Kim Wilcox uses bold prints and sharp suits to reflect Blanco’s personality. Carlos Rafael Rivera’s music, blending Latin percussion and eerie synths, keeps viewers on edge. The series was filmed in Los Angeles, doubling as Miami, with input from real-life figures for authenticity.
Griselda premiered on Netflix on January 25, 2024, topping charts in ninety countries with over twenty million views in three days. It reached 114 million hours viewed in its second week. Critics gave it high marks for Vergara’s performance and gripping storytelling, though some questioned historical accuracy. Vergara received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, and the show earned NAACP Image Award nods for its ensemble.
The real Griselda Blanco’s life was darker than the series shows. Born in 1943 in Cartagena, Colombia, she endured a harsh childhood, turned to crime early, and allegedly committed her first murder at fourteen. Her marriages brought her into the drug trade, and by the time she arrived in Miami in 1978, she was already a cartel leader. She reportedly ordered over 200 murders and was arrested in 1985 by the DEA, serving fifteen years in prison before being deported to Colombia in 2004. She was assassinated in 2012 at the age of sixty-nine.
While the series takes creative liberties, it explores Blanco’s emotional truth. It raises questions about what shaped her: poverty, abuse, and a world that underestimated her. Vergara’s portrayal captures both the mother and the monster, showing an empire built on ambition and blood. In a genre dominated by male kingpins, Griselda gives audiences a bold, complex female antihero, leaving viewers questioning the line between villain and visionary.
