The beloved actress Sofia Vergara has once again captured attention with her latest Netflix series, Griselda. Portraying the Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco, the show unfolds the story of her journey in establishing one of history’s most lucrative cartels. The six-episode series premiered earlier this week on Netflix and has garnered positive reviews from both critics and viewers alike.
Despite delving into the drug lord’s life, the series does not cover her tragic final years. In a recent interview with Variety, Vergara and co-creator Eric Newman shared insight on the reasons behind this creative decision.
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The Netflix Series Does Not Cover Griselda Blanco’s Demise
Sofia Vergara’s latest Netflix series explores the story of Griselda Blanco, who earned a reputation as the ‘Cocaine Godmother’ in Colombia and the narrative unfolds her enduring reign over nearly five decades. The series, however, doesn’t explore the later years of Blanco’s life, including her tragic death.
The finale depicts a pivotal moment where Detective June Hawkins informs Griselda Blanco that her three older sons have been murdered, and Michael is her only surviving son. It is followed by a simple epilogue mentioning her release from prison and assassination in 2012 at the age of 69.
However, the show does not explore the later years after her release. Following her release from prison, Griselda Blanco reportedly married for a fourth time and lived near her son Michael and his wife. It is also claimed that she was with her pregnant daughter-in-law when she was assassinated.
Sofia Vergara, who masterfully portrayed Griselda Blanco in the series and the show’s co-creator provided insights in a recent interview into why the narrative chose not to include details about her fourth marriage and the circumstances surrounding her tragic demise.
Sofia Vergara Explains the Absence of Griselda Blanco’s Post-Prison Life
Starring Sofia Vergara, the Netflix series followed Griselda Blanco’s evolution from a resourceful mother to a titan of the drug trade. Talking about the unexplored chapter of Griselda Blanco’s life in the Netflix series, Vergara pointed out the limitation of having only six episodes, saying, “We only had six episodes!”
The co-creator and executive producer Eric Newman further explained that the foundational relationship between the drug lord and her sons was a prominent reason they decided to cut her story short. He explained in an interview with Variety
“We had to show this is someone who cared about her children. So for us, I think the real loss is not her death many years later. It is the loss of the very thing she was trying to protect. Or that she thought she was trying to protect.”
Newman also emphasizes the challenge of humanizing characters who engage in inhumane actions. “But that is where the loss really hurts,” he said, underscoring that the show depicts the true loss for Griselda Blanco in losing the very thing she dedicated herself to protect.
Griselda is available to stream on Netflix.
