‘Narcos’ Recap: “The Sword Of Simón Bolívar”

“The problem was no longer demand, it was supply.” — Steve Murphy

Episode Two of new Netflix crime drama Narcos figuratively held no prisoners when it comes to showing Pablo Escobar’s truly tactical colors — but it literally held two women hostage. In addition to the gratuitous violence “The Sword of Simón Bolívar” had in store for us, there was also plenty more blow and tons of butts. (We were even graced with a naked Pedro Pascal.) Take it from someone who streamed this at her desk in the middle of Decider Headquarters: this hour is especially NSFW, unless you want your colleagues to eye your screen and judge you accordingly.

Last time, we recapped the pilot in terms of who’s warring with who because, in addition to the overarching war on drugs — stamped into effect during the Reagan Administration — Escobar’s influence created multiple mini wars that fed into a larger system of dubious and dangerous corruption that affected the population across two continents. Being that Medellín Cartel is such a twisted web, we’re going to continue breaking down the series in terms of mini-wars as part of a larger system so you can easily refer back when Escobar’s influence grows even more complicated. Here are the wars that occurred this episode: some continued, some new, and others won or lost — but this time around, all took place in Bogotá, Colombia. Of course, you can expect spoilers ahead.

Steve and Connie Murphy vs. Bogotá 

The pilot, “Descenso,” gave us a taste of how much control Escobar (Wagner Moura) has over Colombia. Upon the Murphys’ (Boyd Holbrook and Joanna Christie) arrival in Bogotá, however, it’s immediately clear that Escobar has expanded his power far beyond law enforcement and has bought control of the local airport to monitor who is coming in and leaving the country. The Murphys and their innocent cat, Puff, go through unnecessary rigamarole (they blame the cat’s vaccination papers) in order to enter the country. After detaining them for hours, the head of the airport lets the Murphys and Puff go, but, alas, it’s all a ploy to put Steve on the narcos’ radar. Puff, unfortunately, is a casualty later in the episode in order to send the Murphys a message they aren’t welcome in Colombia whatsoever.

Pablo Escobar vs. The Public Image and Valeria Velez

In an effort to turn the world’s eyes away from his shady operations, Escobar takes aim at “wealthy Colombians who made their fortunes by exploiting the poor” in a televised interview with Valeria Velez (Stephanie Sigman), who Steve insinuates via voiceover is much, much more than a pretty face or Escobar’s mistress. If you aren’t totally brushed up on your knowledge of Colombian history, Velez is based on journalist Virginia Vallejo, who was essential in the eventual takedown of the Medellín Cartel, and she does a damn good job of seducing us just as she does Escobar. In a hot and heavy moment, however, Velez asks the kingpin if his “wife does it standing up,” which results in him choking her and seething, “Don’t ever disrespect Tata.” It can’t be argued that the man has a soft side…although I’m not sure if having sex with a woman who isn’t your wife is very respectful, either.

The M-19 vs. “Death to Kidnappers”

Again, if you’re not an expert in Colombian history, Murphy briefs us on the country’s short-lived but fairly famous libertarian group M-19, a gaggle of Marx-worshipping college professors turned vigilante-justice seekers. When we meet them, M-19 is led by Ivan “The Terrible” Torres (not to be confused with the ugly guy who ruled Russia for awhile), who decides to kidnap one of the Ochoa girls, Marta, in order to send a message to the narcos. The Ochoas work directly with Escobar, which inspires Pablo to use Marta’s tragedy as a way to establish himself as leader of the narcos. Before they were the Medellín Cartel, however, they were the “Death to Kidnappers,” which I suppose is rather self-explanatory, but is still a terrible name. Anyone else reminded of that scene in School of Rock when the little groupie wants to name the band The Polar Bears or Pig Rectum? Those travesties never happened because Jack Black was there to say no. But no one in their right mind said no to Pablo Escobar. In fact, they all agreed to make him leader with absolutely no strings attached other than to help fund his operation.

Oh yeah, back to M-19. Before we get to know them personally, they robbed a bunch of museums and were able to snag the sword of Simón Bolívar (you remember that guy who freed most of South America from Spanish rule?). After Escobar flexes his muscle later in the episode and creepily takes pictures of dead M-19 members hanging from park trees, Ivan “The Terrible” Torres surrenders himself and offers the kingpin the priceless sword, which ends up not just keeping him from getting killed, but lands him a new gig as a member of Death to Kidnappers. Escobar then secures himself as leader by getting Ivan to release Marta unharmed.

Steve Murphy vs. Javier Peña

Episode Two is where we really get our Pedro Pascal fix and get to know him as smooth operator Javier Peña. The first time we see him, he’s in the buff, getting it on with prostitute/informant Helena, who’s helping him get closer to Escobar’s inner circle in exchange for a U.S. passport. From his bachelor lifestyle and his no-nonsense demeanor (seriously, whatever preconceived notions you have from his days as Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones, forget ’em), we see Peña’s the bad cop to Steve Murphy’s poster-boy image within the DEA. The two are teamed as partners, and their first task is to document a meeting and after party of Escobar’s people (the same meeting where they come up with that ridiculous name). Peña sends Helena, who is hoping this job will secure her her freedom, into the thick of it. Like clockwork, she hooks up with José Gacha. All Murphy gets to do though is snap some pictures and is told to hang back, even when things go sour. In a mano y mano moment, however, Murphy reminds Peña why he packed up and moved to Bogotá in the first place and to include him in everything from here on out. Whether this will actually happen, it’s still too early to tell.

Murphy and Peña vs. “Death to Kidnappers”

After Helena makes it inside Gacha’s hotel room, she blows her cover as an informant a little too soon, which results in her being tied up and passed around between Gacha’s comrades. Already in the second episode, we’re forced to sit through another televised rape, but in all fairness to Narcos, it was framed in a way that didn’t necessarily exploit Helena’s character. After Peña and his team (minus Murphy) storm Gacha’s pad (who’s inexplicably absent) and rescue Helena, I was left with the feeling that Narcos showrunners and director José Padilha used the grim moment as a way to show that these men are quickly becoming everything they claim not to be: they associate themselves with “Death to Kidnappers,” but here they are, holding a woman a against her will.

Field notes:

1. On a lighter note, there was plenty of consensual sex this episode. That is all.

 

 

 

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Photos: Netflix/Everett Collection