Ruaraidh Gilmour | Editing Team
The introduction of Netflix into the mainstream public in recent years has given a platform to many shows that many people in the UK would otherwise not have watched, myself included.
Netflix original shows have brought us critically acclaimed TV sagas such as Daredevil, Orange Is The New Black, Breaking Bad and now Narcos. It is not uncommon for Netflix shows such as the ones aforementioned to kick up quite the storm on social media, often thanks to their teeth-gritting storylines, and the diverse and immersive characters that have become icons such as Walter White and Jessie Pinkman.
Merchandise, memes, GIFs, Vines, tweets, posts are promoted throughout social media platforms by the general public, showing their love for their favourite character, from their favourite show. I find it absolutely crucial to a TV series, especially now that we live in such a media based society, for shows to be promoted by its core viewers and fans. Lets be honest, programmes like ‘Better Call Saul’, a series based around a failing lawyer, would not be doing so well if it wasn’t for the loyal fans of the ‘Breaking Bad’ series showing so much interest for it over social media.
The power of social media is undoubtably very strong; but this allows for something rather sinister to creep into the mindset of the young people that have been raised on sites such as Twitter and Facebook. The programme ‘Breaking Bad,’ which came to end in 2013, was majorly promoted over social media. This resulted in quite a worrying trend; teenagers as young as 13 showing their love for the crystal meth drug lord Heisenberg or Walter White, who not only produce one of the most addictive and home-wrecking drugs available, but also poisons children and mercilessly kills. Young people are idolising a tyrant, some even sharing images of crystal meth.
2015 saw the introduction of the new Netflix show ‘Narcos,’ which depicts the period when Pablo Escobar ruled the drugs trade, following him and Medellin Cartel through a number of years. It shows Escobar as the drug lord of South America and illustrates very vividly how he goes about his dealings with rival cartel members, police, and government officials.
The series has been critically acclaimed as the ‘new Breaking Bad’ and has seen a recent influx of posts on social media. People having been expressing their love and admiration for Pablo Escobar, but as much as the television show is riveting, love and admiration is the last thing that should be felt for Escobar. He commanded the cocaine drug smuggling trade, was kicked from Colombian congress, was a terrorist, terrorist sympathiser, drug lord, murderer, and let’s not forget, the owner of Colombia’s most corrupt football team.
Social media has a powerful presence in all of our lives. It can mould and adapt culture in ways nothing has since the invention of the television. As we learn to consume new entertainment from the internet, society has a duty to protect those who cannot quite grasp the complexities of characters like Walter White and Pablo Escobar.
Does Netflix glorify? Most would argue it tells stories. However, through marketing and new forms of sociable media, this is very much what appears to be happening.
