Let me say something right off the bat: Every year comes an avalanche of police series, and I’ve lost count of them. From Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Bosch, to Shades of Blue and FBI and FBI International, these series have covered just about every branch of law enforcement. But Netflix’s Mexican series Los Gringo Hunters (The Gringo Hunters), introduces news twists to old Hollywood stereotypes.

Inspired by The Washington Post’s 2022 story, A U.S. Murder Suspect Fled to Mexico. The Gringo Hunters Were Waiting by Kevin Sieff, the series follows an elite Mexican police unit that, since 2002, has apprehended more than 1,550 U.S. fugitives, ranging from millionaire parole violators to the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted.” “This group of cops exists, and their mission is clear: to capture gringos with criminal records and return them to the United States,” explains producer Rafael Ley (Ruido, Celda 211) a Mundiario.

Co-directed by the talented Alonso Alvarez (The Lincoln Lawyer), Adrian Grünberg (Atrapen al Gringo), Jimena Montemayor (Mujeres del Alba), and Natalia Beristáin (Familia de Medianoche), Los Gringo Hunters is an informed and revealing look at Mexico’s special police squads, cross-border dynamics and binational cooperation. With a mix of action, drama, suspense, humor, and a subtle homage to 80s action movies, Netflix’s latest offering invites us to enjoy and maybe yell at the screen a little.

Escape to Mexico? Unlikely

Set on the U.S.-Mexico border, Los Gringo Hunters centers on the Tijuana International Liaison Unit, dedicated to investigating, tracking and capturing foreign fugitives, mostly Americans, who cross the border, hoping to hide and escape their country’s legal system.

The head of this specialized unit is Nico Bernal (Harold Torres), a tough, impulsive, and dedicated cop who hides his suspicions about a far-reaching conspiracy from his colleagues. Joining him is Gloria Carbajal (Mayra Hermosillo), a veteran known for her strategic acumen and determination to close cases. Then there are agents Beto (Manuel Masalva), Crisanto Navarro (Hector Kotsifakis), and former informant-turned-officer Archi (Andrew Leland Rogers). The squad is rounded out by Camila (Regina Nava), a new recruit on the autism spectrum who has a bit of a cyber-detective streak. One of the most satisfying things about the show is that it manages to deftly balance its procedural elements with the evolution of its eclectic team, exploring their personal lives, relationships, and moral dilemmas.

The ambitious twelve-episode season depicts the intricate workings of the border scene, from the team’s investigative processes to the fugitives’ gritty realities to how the team apprehends and delivers their suspects to the U.S. Marshals Service. Episode after episode, Los Gringo Hunters chase drug traffickers, murderers, sex offenders, and kidnappers, preventing criminals from evading justice. As in any great police series, things often get difficult and dangerous often, with change being the only constant.

For its part, the screenwriting team, led by Jorge Dorantes (Aquí en la Tierra), moves away from the clichés of Mexican police stories and instead emphasizes international cooperation, the complexities of the U.S.-Mexico border, and the personal cost of police work. All of this, of course, without losing the Mexican characters’ warmth, humor, and personality.

Los Gringo Hunters Is Different

Sometimes, it seems that the only stories Hollywood wants to tell are the ones we already know. Los Gringo Hunters does something different.

Unlike the numerous crime dramas that show U.S. authorities heroically pursuing criminals in Mexico, this Netflix show inverts the narrative, showing the effectiveness of Mexican authorities as they neutralize threats from the States in their territory. The series pulls no punches when it comes to challenging certain stereotypical notions, or as producer Stacy Perskie (Pedro Páramo, Bardo) told Milenio, “Mexico has long been portrayed as a lawless land, a place where you can go and hide without consequences and it’s very interesting to show the opposite.”

Another aspect that distinguishes Los Gringo Hunters is that it insightfully addresses the urban atmosphere and distinctive nuances of the city of Tijuana, emphasizing its function as a border city. “We feel that Tijuana has not been represented as much in film and television in recent years. It has an impressive richness, and it’s also very interesting what happens there because of the border situation and the cultural exchange,” Perskie explained to El País.

So, Should I Watch It?

Procedurial lovers, Los Gringo Hunters is a breath of fresh air for you. While it’s true that it takes several episodes for this Netflix offering to take off, when it does, it hits just the right spots. With its charismatic characters, fast-paced chases, social commentary, and emotional depth, Los Gringo Hunters is a production that truly deserves your viewing time.