Highlights
Prison Cell 211 (Celda 211) dropped on Netflix on February 5. The makers decided to release all six episodes of the gripping tale in one go. The plot is inspired by the real-life 2023 prison riot in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
During the 2023 incident, gang members decided to launch an armed attack on the Cereso number 3 state prison, leading to a challenging situation full of chaos, fatalities, and mass escapes. Has Prison Cell 211 done justice to its genre? Let’s find out.
Prison Cell 211 releases on Netflix: Plot
Is Prison Cell 211 a regular prison drama? Let’s understand the plot first before addressing this question. This six-episode drama on Netflix narrates the chaotic journey of a human rights attorney, Juan (Diego Calva Hernández) as a prison riot breaks out.
The trailer for Prison Cell 211 hints at the frightening tension. The attorney enters Juárez’s Cereso No. 38 prison for a task, only to face life-threatening decisions. The clip also represents Juan’s partner as pregnant and his promise to be back soon.
Calancho (Noé Hernández), the kingpin of the prison in Mexico, is scripting a riot in order to nab a high-profile inmate, Baldor. For a long time, he has been sort of a toy of three important people: 25, Gandara and Ramirez. But he hasn’t got anything for his efforts.
Prison Cell 211: Calancho’s predicament and Juan’s identity
Prison Cell 211 also has a considerable focus on subhuman conditions at the Cereso No. 38 prison. Inmates are making demands for adequate spaces, among other things. Calancho’s gang’s enmity against Mostros is also a big thing to focus on in the drama.
Calancho is adamant about holding Baldor hostage to change things in the prison. Is he going to succeed though? You need to stream the drama to catch on to all the details. I’m not going to drop spoilers here.
One of the major scenes in Prison Cell 211 happens in the early part itself as Juan, the attorney, accidentally gets stuck in the jail during the deadly riot. The significance of gangs here is huge and Juan doesn’t feel good about it. He masquerades as an inmate to stay safe.
Prison Cell 211: Stream it or skip it?
Let’s address the elephant in the room. To be honest, not all six episodes of Prison Cell 211 are impactful. The first and the last couple of episodes are good. But the remaining three could pay more attention to the storyline and character arc.
The introduction to human rights attorney Juan’s chaotic ordeal is quite interesting. The first episode also introduces us to the politics that control the Cereso No. 38 prison in Juárez. The situation both inside and outside could be enhanced to offer more distinction.
On top of it, after the establishing episode, the pace of the next three episodes sort of dissipates. The threat posed by Calancho, the kingpin of the prison, and 25, the boss of the Northern Division cartel, no longer stays impactful.
Prison Cell 211: Getting to the meaty stuff and character arc
The last couple of episodes do their part. The plot finally finds its pace. In a nutshell, Prison Cell 211 couldn’t keep its pace right throughout the drama. The plot could be made more impactful. But the actors did a fabulous job.
Diego, playing the character Juan, has put his heart and soul into his performance. The attorney’s journey from a meek little guy to a sharp inmate (pretending) amidst a prison full of criminals is outstanding.
Noé Hernández, playing Calancho, does a great job at inducing both excitement and fear. His character is frightening but, at the same time, has a zeal for freedom. Gerardo Taracena, famous for his role in Man on Fire (2004), is also great.
Ana Sofia Gatica’s role in Prison Cell 211 is impactful. Her screentime is not substantial, but strong. Karina Gidi’s character, on the other hand, needs a better storyline as the current plot doesn’t offer her important role the recognition it demands.
Prison Cell 211: My take on the prison drama
Prison dramas are a big ‘Yes’ for me. The anxiety and adrenaline rush these projects induce is strong. Did Prison Cell 211, starring Diego Cala Hernández and Noé Hernández, does its job? To some extent – essentially, not to the fullest.
Stream Prison Cell 211 to catch on to all the excitement. Just as mentioned earlier, the plot doesn’t maintain the required pace throughout the drama. The first and the final 2 episodes carry the main meaty stuff. But that doesn’t mean the other 3 are skippable.
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