My New Favorite Drama-Filled Thriller Is on Netflix—and It Has 183 Wild Episodes

As a fan of action, mystery, thrills and suspense, I’ve always got my eyes peeled for the latest and greatest thrillers on streaming. 

Take, for instance, The Little Things, currently on Netflix and starring the incomparable Denzel Washington, which my colleague called, “a must-see” and “like a cross between Se7en and Insomnia.” Then, of course, I couldn’t get enough of the buzziest thriller of 2024 (also on Netflix), 3 Body Problem. In my honest review, I wrote, “3 Body Problem is complex, fun and a true mystery, with a constant flow of clues, reveals and twists.”

And now, I’ve got a new favorite thriller series that’s packed to the gills with drama and intrigue. And while international fans and critics have been raving about the show for years (its second season won an International Emmy Award), I’ve only just started dipping my toe into the 183-episode series, La Reina del Sur—and, you guys, it’s a really fun watch.

The three season Spanish-language telenovela follows the rise of drug lord Teresa Mendoza, played brilliantly by Kate del Castillo (who I immediately recognized as the cold-hearted Pilar from Weeds season five). Teresa initially starts as a humble woman, but quickly grows into a woman who will do whatever it takes to survive—and thrive. The show originally appeared on Telemundo and is now raking in the views on Netflix as well. (It was even such a mega-hit that it inspired an English-language version on the USA Network, Queen of the South.)

What do I love about the show? Because it’s a telenovela, it has all the tropes of a soap opera (anyone else grow up obsessed with One Life to Live?) only with way more action and more fast-paced plot points and twists. The story is interesting (I’d say more so than Sofía Vergara’s Griselda) and our lead character, Teresa, is a force to be reckoned with.

For those, like myself, who start La Reina del Sur at the beginning, keep in mind that season one (clearly) had a much lower budget. The filming style—and film quality—feels a bit dated. Don’t let that prevent you from sticking around for the stellar storytelling. And this minor flaw is remedied by season two when the entire series appears to have gotten a facelift.

With 183 episodes (each roughly 45 minutes), there is clearly a lot of ground to cover (I’ve personally only started to make a dent). But the buzz around season three is more than enough to keep me plowing ahead (as if the cliffhangers and solid acting from Kate del Castillo weren’t motivation enough).

All three seasons of La Reina del Sur are available to binge now on Netflix.

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