The plot and actors of the series "Queen of the South"

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Queen of the South (La Reina del Sur) is a crime drama series that premiered on USA Network in 2016. Its plot is based on the novel of the same name by the writer Arturo Pérez-Reverte. The book tells the story of the life of a Mexican woman named Teresa Mendoza, who became a powerful underworld boss. The first film adaptation of this novel is the 2011 Spanish-language television novel Queen of the South. It has become one of the most successful projects of Telemundo. In 2016, the American cable television channel USA Network decided to turn the popular novel, designed for a Spanish-speaking audience, into an English-language series. The broadcast of the second season has now ended.

Queen of the South plot

The story of a modest woman's ascent to the heights of power and might in the international drug business begins in Mexico. Guero, the main character's boyfriend, works for a major crime syndicate. He pilots planes smuggling drugs into the United States. Guero makes a mistake for which he is killed on the orders of the leadercriminal organization. Fleeing from death, Teresa Mendoza leaves Mexico and goes to Spain. Having settled in the southern part of this country, she is trying to start a new life. Teresa soon becomes involved in the world of international drug trafficking for the second time. On the way to success, arrests, prisons, a bloody struggle with rivals and cooperation with the Russian mafia await her. Teresa eventually becomes the most powerful drug dealer in southern Spain.

Main characters

The author of the novel claims that the story described in his book is based on real events. However, the main character does not have an exact prototype. The life story of Teresa Mendoza vaguely resembles the biography of Sandra Beltran, who is considered by the United States authorities to be one of the main coordinators of the notorious Mexican drug cartel Sinaloa. Her involvement in cocaine smuggling earned her the nickname "Queen of the Pacific". In 2007, Beltran was arrested by Mexican police and subsequently extradited to the United States.

It should be noted that there are some differences between the character lists of the 2011 TV novel "Queen of the South" and the later series. The most dangerous opponent of the main character in both adaptations is the leader of the criminal syndicate, Epifanio Vargas, who ordered the murder of her boyfriend Guero. The drug lord sends killers to Teresa in order to get rid of a witness who knows too much about his criminal cases. She, in turn, seeksdestroy the political career of Vargas, who plans to get into the Mexican parliament, and avenge him for the death of his beloved.

Sub-characters

According to the script of the television novel, Teresa, while in prison, meets Pati, a girl from a we althy family and an adventurer. Together they orchestrate the first major cocaine deal. Oleg Yazykov, one of the leaders of the Russian mafia, becomes a permanent business partner and reliable friend of the main character. Teresa develops a love relationship with her lawyer Theo Aljarafe, who ends up betraying her.

Pati and Oleg Yazykov are missing from the list of characters and actors of the series "Queen of the South". The 2016 film adaptation introduces new supporting characters: Camila, Vargas' wife who runs the American branch of her husband's crime syndicate, and Brenda Parra, Teresa's best friend.

Queen of the South cast

In the 2011 television novella, the main character was played by Mexican Kate del Castillo. This Latin American soap opera actress attracted the attention of law enforcement agencies by communicating with drug lord Joaquin Guzman, who escaped from prison. Del Castillo wanted to arrange an interview with the leader of the crime syndicate and make a biopic about him.

Among the actors of the series "Queen of the South", which premiered in 2016, the brightest star is the performerThe main role is played by Brazilian Alice Braga, who is successfully making a career in both Hollywood and Latin American cinema.

The image of the drug lord Vargas was embodied on the screen by the Portuguese Joaquim de Almeida. He is known for his work in European cinema as well as several roles in Hollywood films. Surprisingly, the leading actors of the series "Queen of the South" are not Mexicans or representatives of other Spanish-speaking countries.

Reviews

The drug-dealing soap opera received positive to lukewarm reviews from critics. Most viewers believe that the writers, directors and actors managed to create an exciting story about the world of crime families, corrupt cops and corrupt politicians. The series has unexpected twists and turns of events and interesting characters.