29 January 2024 , 12:17
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A new series has just dropped on Netflix, which shows the life of drugs lord Griselda Blanco before her assassination.
Griselda, portrayed by Sofia Vergara, established a major drug empire in America and earned herself the nickname 'Cocaine Godmother'. The series' six hour-long episodes provide insight into Griselda's life, including how she got into the business to provide for her family, as well as her brutality which led to several murders.
The series concludes with Griselda in prison, where Miami Police Department detective June Hawkins informs her that three of her children have been murdered, months before her release. Following her compassionate discharge from confinement, Griselda was deported from the US to Medellin, Colombia.
READ MORE: Griselda's shocking death count as Sofia Vergara portrays 'cocaine grandmother'
Griselda Blanco was a Columbian drugs lord (Orange County Sherriff)
She was assassinated after her release from prison (Florida Department of Corrections)Eight years after her release, Griselda was killed while leaving a butcher shop alongside her pregnant daughter-in-law, reminiscent of the notorious drive-by shootings she arranged. Netflix does not depict her death within the series but summarises it in text at the end.
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Instead, the final scene of the series shows Griselda alone on a beach, still in her prison clothes, looking at the sea and thinking back to when she saw her kids playing there. Eric Newman, who helped make the show, said this ending is "the greatest tragedy of all" and makes the story "unique".
He explained to The Wrap: "When you see a male trafficker, as they always are with the exception of Griselda Blanco, they die in a blaze of glory or maybe they go to jail. Along the way, maybe they lose a son.
Sofia Vergara stars in the new Netflix show (2022 Netflix, Inc.)"It's not the same for a mother, who sets out at the beginning of our story with the most relatable motive of all - which is to protect her children, provide for her children - and in doing so, she loses them." Newman also said Griselda is "the only woman who ever achieved this level of respect, power, fear and success".
Actress Sofia Vergara shared her thoughts on her character Griselda, saying: "At the end, I felt like she lost all of that. It was all about herself and competing with these men in this horrible business, and she needed to be punished. You cannot give a character like that a really happy ending."
Director Andres Baiz also said he found this finale "much more tragic". He explained: "She's now alone in prison, but emotionally, she's devastated. Her sons are not there anymore. We thought that was much more tragic and that we could design something that was much more, I would say, poetic or different."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]