Queen of the South

Queen of the South is a USA Network production about a drug cartel run by a fictional woman named Teresa Mendoza played by Alice Braga. Teresa flees Mexico after her boyfriend is murdered and she settles in Dallas and builds her empire to become the biggest drug smuggler to the states. The first few seasons start out strong with Teresa having to fight for her life against Vargas family and takes over the territory. She eventually ends up controlling the southeast corner of the country. The later seasons were less for certain and very well over the top. The cast members over the years included Peter Gadiot, Hemky Madera, Joseph Campos, Joaquin de Almeida, David Andrews, Ryan O'Nan, and Brett Cullen. Overall it was a very entertaining series and unlike most cartel movies, this series does not end on a bad note. God series, good cast, definitely check it out.

The lead female characters of the series are definitely embodying Pallas Athene archetypes, that is interesting for Mexican culture, as I understand the women are still behind in the social roles they can aspire to there. In this series Alice Braga, (Brazilian not Mexican) and actual niece of Sonia Braga is given low level crud errands and kept hostage in the cartel of the Number one drug lord in Mexico, only it is his wife's division of the cartel. His wife wants to go solo and run the drug empire her way or the highway and severe rivalry develops with this husband and wife. I guess the series illustrates the severity of the narco drug trafficking culture, shades of Breaking Bad maybe, but coming from the Mexican angle of things. Worth watching, Alice Braga does a good job, characters not bad, and plot keeps you interested to where this will all lead.

I really enjoy this show. It's harsh, violent, realistic and suspenseful. Interesting perspective to have have a female drug smuggler fight her way to the "top". Also interesting to see a multi faceted person, a good person doing bad things. A drug lord with a heart. The acting is good and the story lines are also very strong. I also appreciate that the writers seem to know when the story becomes monotonous, so they change it up with new characters and locations. I would agree with some of the other reviewers that think Camilla has run her course as I I'm ready for her to go. This show has some some very interesting and sinister villains, El Santo, the sex trafficker, Deven, and she has been around the longest, yet she's my least favorite. Despite Camilla, I'm really surprised that this is not rated higher on IMDb. One of the best shows on cable.

A show that runs at its own pace. Edits out all the in-between and just gets on with the story.

Pretty solid performance from Alice Braga throughout the entire series. Her transition from Money Changer to the Queen is a long, sad, story.

With enough supporting characters all around, an endless array of storytelling. Keeps you guessing.

I wish it didn't end, but all good things must. A solid 8/10 on the entertainment scale.

Queen of the South is an incredible action and suspense thriller about the rise of a Cartel Queen. It's not a true story so they can do anything they go anywhere they want with the story and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you captivated. This show is so much better than I thought it would be and has only gotten better throughout the seasons!