Somos.

Crime drama fans, get ready for a gripping new look inside Mexico’s cartel violence with Somos., the limited Netflix series now streaming. Somos chronicles the lead-up to a shocking massacre in Allende, Coahuila carried out by Los Zetas cartel in 2011. Featuring an ensemble Mexican cast, Somos provides a ground-level view of the horrors and moral compromises afflicting communities dominated by narco culture. Read on to learn why you need to watch Somos online.

Somos spans the interconnected lives of several Allende families in the days preceding a deadly Zetas raid that killed hundreds. The series follows both cartel hitmen and their innocent victims tied together by money, threats, and circumstance. Somos moves elliptically through time dramatizing the intimate choices that seal characters’ tragic fates. Sinister atmosphere and looming dread permeate the miniseries’ six episodes.

Skilled directors like James Watkins use tight close-ups and expressive performances to develop empathy and humanity within the brutal world of organized crime. While some romanticize the power, Somos focuses on vulnerable figures robbed of agency by sheer proximity to the cartels. Stylish editing interweaves perspectives into a gripping mosaic bound by visceral violence.

Beyond tense setpieces, Somos conveys poignant themes about the cyclical nature of corruption through flawed yet relatable characters. Even the clash between an idealistic politician and cynical cartel assassin gains nuance exposing why judgment remains difficult. The series sensitively explores how ordinary families end up decimated by malevolent forces beyond most individuals’ control.

Somos stands apart by immersing viewers within one harrowing real-world atrocity rather than sensationalizing the Mexican drug war. Come for stark action reminiscent of Sicario, but stay for the moving character study exposing systemic injustice. Don’t miss your chance to watch Somos online on Netflix and experience one community’s resonant tragedy.

• Somos