Our Review

Is El Señor de los Cielos Worth Watching? — Honest Take

The Hook: Aurelio Casillas (Rafael Amaya) — “El Señor de los Cielos,” the aviator who built a Sinaloa-to-US air bridge for the Guadalajara Cartel, then the Sinaloa Cartel, then his own empire. 9 seasons (2013-2024), 600+ episodes, Telemundo’s longest-running drama. Narcos but from the pilot’s seat — and the pilot flies the plane, the routes, the politics, the betrayals.

What Actually Works:

• Amaya’s Aurelio is a force of nature. Not “charismatic drug lord” — elemental. He flies the avionetas himself (Season 1-3), negotiates with capos as equals, kills compadres who betray him. Episode 1 (S1): he lands a DC-3 on a dirt strip in Chihuahua, unloads 2 tons, takes off before the army arrives. The show starts at competence.
• The “air bridge” logistics are the show’s spine. Routes: Colombia → Guatemala → Mexico → US. Planes: DC-3, Cessna Caravan, Learjet, Boeing 727 (S5). Each season introduces a new corredor (corridor), a new pista (strip), a new radar gap. The geography is the strategy.
• The family is the business — and the weakness. Wife (Ximena Herrera → later Lisa Owen), sons (various actors), brothers (stolen, killed, turned), compadres (loyal, bought, dead). The show understands: in this world, family = liability. Aurelio’s grief (S4, son’s death) is the only time he stops.
• 9 seasons = institutional memory. Characters reference S1 events in S9. A pista built in S2 is used in S7. A compadre betrayed in S3 returns in S8. The show remembers — rare for 600+ episodes.

Where It Stumbles:

• Seasons 4-6 (2015-2017) — “Aurelio in hiding” arcs drag. Plastic surgery, new identity, telenovela amnesia subplots (S5). The show forgets it’s a narco epic and becomes La Usurpadora with guns. Skip S4 Ep 20-50, S5 Ep 1-30.
• Rafael Amaya’s health / departure (S7-9). Amaya left after S6 (personal issues). S7: Aurelio “dies” (body never found). S8-9: El Chema (Mauricio Ochmann) and Rutila (Carmen Aub) carry the show. They’re excellent — but it’s not El Señor. The title becomes ironic.
• 600 episodes = filler arithmetic. 80 episodes/season × 9 = 720 planned. Actual ~600. Still: 20% is “Aurelio stares at horizon / drinks tequila / remembers.” The corrido intros (3 mins each) = 30 hours of music videos.

Verdict: 9/10 (S1-3), 6/10 (S4-6), 7/10 (S7-9 without Amaya). The definitive narco telenovela — ambitious, messy, alive. Amaya’s Aurelio is the genre’s definitive capo.

Watch If: You want Narcos from the pilot’s seat; 9 seasons of institutional world-building; Rafael Amaya’s magnetic capo.
Skip If: 600 episodes is a life commitment; telenovela tropes (amnesia, evil twins, fake deaths) annoy you; you need the lead to stay.

Streaming: Netflix (S1-6) / Telemundo App (S1-9) / Peacock (S1-5) — Spanish audio + English subs

Last reviewed: November 11, 2026 — JS

—

Current Arc (as of Nov 2026): Series Complete (S9 Finale Aug 2024)

Key Players (Series Finale Status):

• Aurelio Casillas — Presumed Dead (S7 Ep 1), body never found, legend persists
• Rutila Casillas (Carmen Aub) — Alive, runs Casillas empire, la nueva jefa
• El Chema Venegas (Mauricio Ochmann) — Alive, rival/partner, controls Pacific route
• Isabel Cristina (Lisa Owen) — Alive, Aurelio’s widow, political operator
• Los Gemelos (various) — The next generation, fragmented

Where to Catch Up:

• Telemundo App — Only platform with all 9 seasons (600+ eps)
• Netflix — S1-6 only (Amaya era)
• Peacock — S1-5 (US, ad-supported)

Best Entry Points:

• S1 Episode 1 — Full origin; 80 eps but tight.
• S7 Episode 1 — “Post-Aurelio” reboot; Rutila & Chema take lead. 3-ep recap included.

—