The captivating series focuses on an international drug war in which U.S. and Colombian law enforcement battle the infamous Medellín drug cartel. (The real-life cartel was active from the 1970s to the 1990s.) Over the course of the 10-episode first season, the cartel, led by “The King of Cocaine” Pablo Escobar (played by Wagner Moura), gives D.E.A. agents Steve Murphy (Body Holbrook) and Javier Peña (Pedro Pascal) a run for their money as they wage war on drugs.
Narcos’ official Twitter account shared the news, tweeting out a video of a suitcase being X-rayed to reveal the words “Season 2” inside.
Coming soon. #Narcos https://t.co/elFgwjvsnj
— Narcos (@NarcosNetflix) September 3, 2015
With its talented cast and creative team, Narcos seemed poised to be a hit from the beginning, but even so, the speed of its renewal is surprising. At least it should be. Netflix is beginning to make a habit of committing to additional seasons of its shows when they’ve only just premiered. BoJack Horseman, for example, was renewed for its third season just over a week-and-a-half after its second season premiered on the streaming service. Netflix’s renewal turnarounds are far shorter than those of traditional TV studios, who often take months to announce a decision.
For Netflix, entire seasons can be released at once, so information about viewership is gained much more quickly. On top of that, there’s freedom in not relying on ad revenue. Ratings don’t really matter. If the company likes a show and sees that it’s getting a positive response from fans and the press, a renewal can come almost immediately. It’s just another way Netflix gives viewers near-instant gratification.
