'Narcos: Mexico' Season 3: Top players to look out for include El Chapo, Amado and Enedina
Almost two weeks after it dropped on Netflix, ‘Narcos: Mexico’ Season 2 is still a topic of much contention and intrigue. That’s a tremendous feat in an age when binge-watching and discarding content is the norm.
The question one has to ask about this ridiculously well-made dramatization of the drug cartel wars in Mexico in the ‘80s and early-’90s is where does the story take us next?
At the end of season 2, DEA agent Walt Breslin (Scoot McNairy), who wreaked havoc on the cartel, visits Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo (Diego Luna), the El Padrino of the Mexican cartel, in prison. There, Félix tells Breslin, “Amado Carrillo Fuentes. Learn that name, gringo. He will be the most powerful trafficker the world has seen. Unless someone more powerful comes in.” This, of course, gives us a big hint.
One of the most underrated characters in both seasons of ‘Narcos: Mexico’ is Amado. Played by José María Yazpik, Amado became known as “El Señor de Los Cielos” -- The Lord of the Skies -- because of the large fleet of jets he used to transport drugs. In real life, after Pablo Acosta, the head of the Juarez plaza was Rafael Aguilar Guajardo. But Amado killed Guajardo to become the Juarez boss.
And we know that Amado died on July 4, 1997, following a complicated plastic surgery -- he wanted to change his appearance because the US and Mexican authorities were tracking him. So, in all likeliness, he will be one of the main characters, should the hit show return for a season 3.
Another character we can be sure of returning is Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán. Even though there already exists a Spanish-language Netflix series chronicling the life of El Chapo, any story on the cartels of Mexico will not be complete without telling the story of El Chapo to a completion. Played by Alejandro Edda, El Chapo was introduced in season 1, rose to prominence in season 2, and will definitely reach his staggering height (no pun intended) in season 3.
In the aftermath of Félix’s incarceration, El Chapo established the Sinaloa Cartel. Chapo would go on to become one of the most famous drug kingpins of the world until his final arrest and incarceration in 2016.
According to a report on The Hollywood Reporter, a number of new roles had been confirmed for the third season of ‘Narcos: Mexico’. Among the casting calls sent out for the new characters, was that of Ismael. The description for the character that was provided said, “Ismael is an independent trafficker who gets caught up in the growing cartel wars. Humble and practical, Ismael cares more for his family than he does about riches. His deep intelligence is hidden by his simplicity, but his masterful manipulation will show he played his hand best.”
One can, however, surmise that this Ismael may, in fact, be Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, who headed the Sinaloa Cartel in partnership with El Chapo, until the latter’s 2016 capture. Ismael, it is assumed, has now taken full command of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Another character to look forward to, as per the casting call is Vicente, the heavyset younger brother of Amado. Per the description, “Vicente is hired as Amado’s chief of security and a top hitman. Not as smart as what he thinks he is, he makes up for it with loyalty and ambition. A trouble maker, he’s protected by Amado’s position in the cartel.”
Another powerful player to look forward to is Juan García Abrego. Played by Flavio Medina, his character was introduced in season 2 as part of the Gulf Cartel, along with his uncle, the veteran smuggler Juan Nepomuceno Guerra. In an interview with TV Guide, ‘Narcos: Mexico’ showrunner Eric Newman said, “We also have met the Gulf Cartel, Juan Abrego, who was also a pretty enormous player in the '90s and into the early 2000s.”
Juan Abrego was placed on the “FBI Top Ten Most Wanted List of 1995”, becoming the first drug trafficker to ever receive such a quote-unquote honor. He was arrested on a ranch outside of Monterrey on January 14, 1996.
Enedina Arellano Felix, played by Mayra Hermosillo, was introduced in season 2. The sister of Arellano Felix brothers of Tijuana, she teamed up with Isabella Bautista (Teresa Ruiz) to set up their on Colombian backchannel. According to a Time magazine story from 2015, Enedina was suspected to be running the remnants of the Tijuana Cartel. One should hope that we see her rise in the seasons to come.
Last but not the least, one hopes that Scoot McNairy reprises his role as Walt Breslin and the show’s narrator. After all, what is ‘Narcos: Mexico’ without his voice guiding viewers through the complicated story of power and riches?