Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami

Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami is a fascinating 2021 release under the banner of the renowned over-the-top content platform and production company, Netflix. This gripping True Crime docuseries plunges viewers into the notorious drug trafficking era of the 70s, 80s, and early 90s in Miami. The series, helmed by director Billy Corben, narrates the infamous reign of two long-time friends turned drug lords, Salvador "Sal" Magluta and Augusto "Willy" Falcon, who became symbolic faces of the cocaine trade in Miami's history.

The series spans six compelling episodes, each deep-diving into the macabre world of drug trafficking that paints a dramatically different image of the glitzy Miami known today. More than two decades of the duo's life is unearthly unraveled, unmasking the underworld operations that enriched them with immense power, wealth, and influence.

In Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami, Corben skilfully combines interviews, footage from local news archives, and reenactments to reconstruct the audacious rise and fall of Sal and Willy. The series affords a ring-side view of their unchecked life that oscillated amid luxury yachts, sleek powerboats, glammed-up socialites, kilos of cocaine, and sacks full of cash. However, it also spares no detail in showing the brutal consequences of their actions that reverberated throughout the city, the nation, and even in political circles in the United States.

One of the key factors that elevate this docuseries apart from other offerings in the same genre is its detailed exploration into the protagonists’ life. It delves into their humble beginnings, the ties of friendship that bound them, their dizzying ascent into power, and the eventual downfall. Courtesy of Corben's deft storytelling, viewers get a personal perspective on this duo, offering a human touch to the otherwise feared figures.

Staying true to its genre, Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami is rife with unexpected twists and eye-opening revelations, introducing an ensemble of characters ranging from tenacious federal agents hell-bent on bringing down the drug lords, to cunning lawyers capable of manipulating the legal system, to a mysterious woman emblematic of the decadence that the drug-fueled lifestyle brought along. These intriguing characters further enrich the narrative, adding layers to the already complex story plot.

While the series does not shy away from the explosive and violent side of drug trafficking, it does well to balance it with a detailed insight into the systemic failures and societal factors that allowed such a massive drug operation to thrive. There's a heavy exploration of law enforcement's plight, courtroom manipulations, and the widespread corruption that facilitated the flourishing of such disreputable operations.

Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami is a must-watch for those interested in True Crime. It provides a panoramic view of a historical period marked by questionable moral compasses, excess, and raw ambition powered by a vice that left an indelible mark on Miami’s visage. The series skillfully intertwines eyewitness testimony, archival footage, and dramatic reenactments to provide a vivid and uncompromising recounting of events that significantly shaped Miami's history.

It's not just a tale of two friends who build an empire on illicit cocaine trade, but also an account of a city coming of age, on the brinks of an economic boom, grappling with the seedy underbelly that emerged with it. Although it harbors a heavy tone throughout, sprinklings of Miami's flamboyant lifestyle, populated with adrenaline-rushing powerboat races, and high-stakes law enforcement operations add the much-needed dash of thrill to the concoction.

In short, Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami is a realistic and indulgent deep dive into a past filled with ambitious dreams, excess, corruption, and violence set on the backdrop of sun-kissed Miami. By the end of the series, viewers are left with a profound understanding of not only the protagonists’ lives but also the repercussions of their actions on the city and its people. It's a bold reflection of the dark side of the 80s, a time when coke was king, and its rulers were seemingly untouchable.