LONDON: It’s no great surprise that, after 11 years and 250 episodes in her role as “Modern Family” stalwart Gloria Pritchett, Sofía Vergara wanted to take on a more dramatic role – and they don’t come much more dramatic than Griselda Blanco, the infamous Colombian drug lord who carved out an empire in 1970s Miami and played a central role in the violent drug wars that would dog the city for decades.
What’s more surprising, however, is that Vergara has been developing this project – “Griselda” – for almost a decade, such is her passion for the character and her desire to tell a story that’s about more than just violence and drug deals. There is a lot of violence and drug deals, though, throughout “Griselda,” but the six-episode limited series does give Vergara a chance to play Blanco as a more nuanced character than her bloody reputation might initially suggest.
Key to striking that balance are Vergara’s co-producers – many of whom make up the directing, writing and producing team behind Netflix hit “Narcos” and its spin off. Those steady hands are evident here, ensuring that “Griselda” is a slick, well-produced and good-looking show.
The show leans heavily on Vergara – after all, there are few scenes she’s not in, such is Blanco’s prominence in this bloody, violent story. By her own admission, the actor found it challenging and, on occasion, some of her character’s monologues tend towards melodrama and the plot beats – particularly those dealing with Blanco’s growing paranoia – lean a little too heavily on established drama tropes. But none of that should detract from what an achievement this show is. “Griselda” is a tight, taut story with a charismatic lead pouring everything she has into a role she’s clearly passionate about. Does it skim over some elements of Blanco’s story? Sure. But what series doesn’t when squeezing decades of material into a few hours? More importantly, “Griselda” showcases a driven actor at the top of her game and the show is all the better for it.
