Bandidos Series Review: Netflix Series with High Pace and The Right Amount of Irony
Cast: Alfonso Dosal, Ester Expósito, Juan Pablo Medina, Andres Baida, Mabel Cadena, Nicolás Furtado
Director: Adrian Grunberg
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 3.5/5 (three and a half stars)
Bandidos is available on Netflix from March 13, 2024. This is a Mexican TV series starring Ester Expósito, Mabel Cadena, Alfonso Dosal, and Juan Pablo Medina. What happens in the finale between Miguel and Lilì? They make up the protagonist couple of the series, played respectively by Expósito and Dosal. The plot follows the story of these two professional bandits and treasure hunters. They steal for a living and one day discover a clue linked to a mysterious map. This allows you to get to the place where the legendary Mayan-era treasure is located. What would Ocean’s Eleven have done if, instead of Las Vegas, they had found themselves acting in the dangerous chaos of the Yucatan in search of a missing treasure? They certainly would have been more organized, but they would not have avoided running into the same inconveniences faced by Miguel and his closest gang.
And, above all, they would have tried to resolve them with the same sense of irony and recklessness. With these perspectives and, above all, taking steps from very specific inspirations linked to American cinema, Bandidos, the new Mexican series from Netflix, is preparing to climb the classic top ten of the platform. To its advantage, it has a constant pace, a young and light-hearted approach, and a series of twists aimed at constantly intricating the plot. Of course, the ending is obvious, as are some scenographic and narrative choices, but what matters is the “journey” and, above all, the “companions” with whom it takes place. And, in this sense, Bandidos, directed by Adrian Grunberg and starring Alfonso Dosal with Ester Expósito, does not disappoint expectations. Indeed, it often significantly surpasses them.
Bandidos Series Review: The Story Plot
Miguel is used to living without too many rules and often challenging fate. In particular, it was his father who taught him this attitude with his archaeological research characterized by danger and risk. Since he was a child he has been used to driving on rough roads, handling a gun and, above all, escaping from less-than-reassuring people. Too bad, however, that he was unable to gain his father’s attention, despite everything. What makes him less visible is the absence of a real archaeological qualification which places him among the adventurers. Then, when his father began to show obvious signs of Alzheimer’s, life became a little more complicated for him. To cover the expenses of the retirement home where he is confined, he has agreed to work in one of the most exclusive hotels in the area. A task that he carries out with his usual lightness and cheerfulness. If only for the fact that the structure is frequented by the beautiful Lily. The girl is a love never forgotten but, above all, an adventuress always looking for rich men to rob through deception.
Another fundamental figure in Miguel’s life is his uncle Wilson. Organizer of tours aimed at extracting money from tourists, he is always ready to rush to his nephew’s aid when he gets into trouble with the local police. The boy organized a second potentially very profitable but illegal activity: selling ancient artifacts to tourists. Fake. The fourth element of a group as improbable as it is effective is the young Ariel. Little more than a teenager, he is the son of the hotel’s wealthy owners. Despite his young and inexperienced appearance, however, he has a great knowledge of computers and ways to hack the internal systems of various environments. In addition, of course, to a clear economic availability which never hurts.
Each of them, therefore, becomes an essential member of Miguel’s gang, whose aim is to discover the ancient treasure buried by Francisco De Mantero and never found. As? Simply by following the directions of a map tattooed on the body of a mysterious tourist who, moreover, is found dead and with a piece of skin missing. Precisely the one relating to the tattoo. A clear sign that others are on the trail of the treasure and could be potentially dangerous. But for Miguel and the others, the stakes are too high to give up. Indeed, they are joined by Inés, a young thief with an aptitude for diving, and Octavio, in perfect combat gear. All to take possession of the three jade stones, the moon, the earth, and the sun, which together have the aim of finding the missing treasure. Will the boys be able to make it? More than the final result itself, the journey taken to get there is important.
Bandidos Series Review and Analysis
From the first images of Bandidos, the refined aesthetic is clear but, above all, the cinematography must have caught the eye of director Adrian Grunberg. The first episode opens with the presentation of the band that will be formed in perfect Ocean’s Eleven style, complete with captivating background music and slow motion. In essence, therefore, American genre cinema sets a precedent and, in this project, borrows rhythm, a sense of irony, and, above all, the relationship between the different protagonists. All this recreates an effect that smacks of homage but which, at the same time, is not disturbing or dangerously heading towards sterile reproduction. In Bandidos, the quote is inserted in a deliberate and evident way as a game of references between what happens on the screen and the spectators. A clear example of this, in particular, is a moment in which Miguel “dresses” the role of Indiana Jones complete with a fedora and an ethical attitude towards a mysterious discovery that can easily be found. All in favor of two unaware tourists eager to live their adventure.
The narrative and aesthetic references, however, certainly do not stop at the cinema. The nerd element of the gang, as unprepared for adventure as they are experts in computers and operating systems, is the fundamental hook for using the aesthetics of video games in reproducing a chase. The inspiration, however, does not come from the most advanced graphics but rather from the slightly older ones. A choice, however, which is not only aesthetic but above all functional to the description of the character. In this way, the young Ariel pretends to be in a video game to face a gang of contending psychopaths to track down and save Miguel. On the other hand, in the virtual world the game over is never definitive, and, above all, it does not coincide with a premature death.
The seven episodes into which the series is divided are characterized by some common elements that can be included among the narrative strengths and naiveties. The former includes, without any doubt, the characterization of the characters, particularly those of the gang. Added to this is also the definition of their relationships, which changes and evolves as the research progresses. Another aspect that defines the narrative, then, is the humor that is duly used within the screenplay to help keep the pace of the story high, also building a story capable of never taking itself too seriously. Among all these positive elements, however, from time to time a certain naivety stands out which involves some aesthetic and scenographic renderings, admittedly fake but, above all, some solutions that happen too quickly. Defects which, however, do not affect the ultimate purpose of this project: fun.
Bandidos Series Review: The Last Words
The new Netflix series is preparing to climb the top ten of the most watched on Netflix. What works in its favor is a fresh narrative, with a high pace and the right amount of irony. Added to this are also some very specific cinematic references which, however, do not weigh down the whole thing but lend themselves easily to the game. Overall, “Bandidos” seems like an entertaining adventure series with a charming cast and a unique story. If you’re looking for something action-packed, it might not be the perfect fit, but for those who enjoy character-driven adventures, it sounds promising. “Bandidos” is a fun heist adventure with a lighthearted feel. If you enjoy character-driven stories and a unique treasure hunt concept, you’ll likely enjoy it. However, if you crave an action-packed thrill ride, it might not deliver the intensity you seek.
Bandidos Series Review: Netflix Series with High Pace and The Right Amount of Irony - Filmyhype
Director: Adrian Grunberg
Date Created: 2024-03-14 18:13
3.5
Pros
- Characters: The show boasts a charismatic cast with good chemistry, with some praising Ester Expósito's performance in particular
- Unique Premise: The blend of a heist film with a treasure hunt inspired by Indiana Jones is intriguing
- Visuals: High production quality creates a visually-appealing experience
Cons
- Pacing: While some enjoy the lighter tone, others find the treasure hunt lacks the expected thrills and suspense at times
- Predictability: The story might feel familiar, borrowing elements from heist and treasure hunt movies you might have seen before
