La Chasse aux gringos

We have watched many Narcos like series and this seemed like a good one. Ron Howard doesn't have many, or any misses. I don't know if there will be parts of the series that are back in the US, where English is spoken but the English voice over dubbing is so bad, we had to stop watching. It's too much strain to read the entire series in English if we don't using the dub over. Surely, this isn't a surprise to the film makers. We think the acting is pretty good but can't tell because the English is so distracting. We were enjoying the plot. Too bad.

As Episode 1 of "The Gringo Hunters" (2025 release from Mexico; 12 episodes ranging from 44 to 53 min each) opens, we are informed this is "Inspired by True Events". We get to know a group of Mexican cops in Tijuana who are chasing down an American guy who fled from the US to avoid arrest. After a long chase, the American is promptly turned over to US Marshalls at the border. In a parallel story, the (billionaire) Mayor if Tijuana in interviewed at a town hall about the upcoming referendum to make Tijuana into another Las Vegas. At this point we are 15 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this "inspired by true events" refers to the International Liaison Unit of the Baja California State Police, which for decades have been working, in close coordination with the FBI and other forces to track down people (mostly Americans) who have fled to Mexico to avoid punishment for crimes they have committed. But note: the series is not just about that. In fact, multiple other parallel story lines are developed over the course of the series, making this a surprisingly strong and gritty Mexican crime series that, for once, doesn't mainly focus on the Mexican drug cartels. I've now seen the first 6 episodes (halfway through the series), and I'm looking forward to watching the remainder 6 episodes.

"The Gringo Hunters" recently started airing on Netflix. I was unaware of the series, but happened to see a positive writeup about it in the UK-based weekly The Economist. That was enough for me to check it out. So glad I did. If you are in the mood for s surprisingly strong and gritty Mexican crime drama , I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

Very entertaining series portraying the interesting and dangerous work of a Mexican police unit dedicated to capturing US criminals who have fled to their country.

The actors playing the squad team, led by the brilliant Harold Torres, all play their roles really well and are very believable as a tight-knit bunch of colleagues who have each others' backs. The banter and the care they have for each other is totally believable.

With different cases each episode - along with one big case that features throughout the whole series, it's fun, exciting and thoroughly enjoyable.

If you love Mexican Narco world, series like Narcos or Narcos Mexico even movies like El Infierno this one is for you. The cast is superb, the script is acceptable and acting is enough convincing for a Netflix production.

First, the cast is amazing (Manuel Masalva from Narcos Mexico), for instance and several more very well know faces from similar shows or movies like El Infierno (a masterpiece).

Second, the script is too soft. Compared to Narcos or similar movies like Sicario for instance, the series is more into a soap opera level. Didn't like it. But still enjoyable.

Last, acting is not as good as other productions because of the predictable script and the most superficial characters. On the other hand, it doesn't look cheap or it does not use too much CGI, as other Netflix productions.

Anyway nothing is perfect and there is a great road of improvement just with a more twisted and risky script. The cast is there, locations are perfect. Hopefully they will do it.

After Narcos, it had been a long time since I watched a Mexican series that truly captivated me like this. Gringo Hunters is absolutely exceptional. The storytelling is sharp and intense, and every single performance is nothing short of impressive. Each actor fully embodies their character, creating a gripping atmosphere that keeps you on the edge of your seat from the very first episode to the last.

It's rare to find a show where the writing, direction, and acting all align so perfectly, but this one delivers on all fronts. Every detail feels deliberate, the tension is masterfully built, and the emotional depth of the characters makes it impossible to look away.

Five stars feel like too little for what this series achieves. I sincerely hope they continue with more seasons, because this is a story and a cast that deserve to go even further. Truly one of the best shows I've seen in years, highly, highly recommended.