The violent battle that was Narcos, between Colombia’s drug cartels and the law enforcement officers trying to get them bang to rights, was a show that tested the limits of binge-watching.
Partly because if you didn’t pay attention, you got lost in a barrage of rapid-fire subtitles, but also because characters were brutally kidnapped, tortured and killed from one scene to the next.
The latest crime drama addition to Channel 4, Marbella, has drawn comparisons to Netflix’s DEA hit, so Narcos fans, listen up.
The Spanish city of Marbella might be best known as a partygoer’s paradise or the host of Selling Sunset-style property show Making It in Marbella over on Netflix.
But the picture postcard holiday destination has also been dubbed ‘the United Nations of the organised crime world’, according to a detective quoted by journalist Nacho Carretero, whose reporting the drama is based on.
That’s the Marbella that’s now free to stream in six episodes on Channel 4, teased as: ‘Marbella’s a Garden of Eden for organised crime, with 100 apples – and 200 snakes.’
The slick Spanish crime drama first aired in 2024 and focuses on wheeler-dealer, morality-devoid lawyer César (Hugo Silva).
He’s something of a fixer, middleman and jack-of-all-trades for the various characters in the Spanish cartels tussling for control of Marbella. Think Better Call Saul meets Narcos.
All of that turns awry when César makes enemies of the powerful people he thought were on his side. So will he be able to outrun the dodgy types when he doesn’t know who he can trust anymore?
There are two seasons of Marbella so far, but only the first all-bets-off instalment is available on Channel 4, through the platform’s Walter Presents channel. But just know there are an additional six episodes.
Over on IMDb, the show has a score of 6.5 out of 10 and reviews that also make that Narcos comparison.
Daniel admitted that there are some cliches in there, but praised the ‘entertaining’ final product, writing: ‘If you love similar series, you’re going to enjoy this one.
‘Overall if you’re up for an entertaining six episodes Narco-Spaniard-Marbella world, this is for you. Put your expectations on the right place and enjoy.’
Is Marbella one to add to your watch list?
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Definitely
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Not my cup of tea
Marbella is available to stream on Channel 4.
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