Summary
- Griselda Blanco's rise in the drug world is marked by brutal deaths, showcasing her ruthless nature to eliminate anyone in her way.
- The deaths of characters in the series reflect real-world events, highlighting the violence and betrayals common in Griselda's world.
- Griselda's story depicts a complex and relentless crime lord willing to sacrifice even family to maintain power and control.
Netflix's Griselda tells the story of the infamous Griselda Blanco, and nearly every episode features a death caused by the notoriously brutal queenpin. The miniseries picks up with Griselda's move from Colombia to Miami, where she became a prominent figure in the drug wars of the 1970s and 1980s. Of course, to stand out in this male-dominated world, the "Godmother" had to prove herself to be a vicious and blood-thirty adversary. The result of this was an astounding amount of bloodshed and the deaths of Griselda's enemies, allies, and even her children.
Sofía Vergara's character in Griselda, the titular Griselda Blanco, is believed to have been just as dangerous in real life as she was depicted in the Netflix series. Showrunners Eric Newman and Andrés Baiz aimed to bring the queenpin's story to the screen as authentically as possible, sifting through various accounts of Griselda's career and crimes over the years from those who witnessed the brutal details. This means that episode by episode, Griselda sees the deaths of characters who are intended to represent the real-world victims of the woman's career—with a few differences.
Griselda Blanco True Story: Netflix's Drug Lord Show Accuracy & Changes
Netflix's Griselda depicts the life of the real-world Colombian criminal, and like any adaptation, the series has changed some of the facts.
12 Alberto Bravo Is Shot & Killed By Griselda
Episode 1, “Lady Comes to Town”
The first episode of Griselda reveals that the Godmother had murdered her husband before fleeing Colombia. In the Netflix series of events, Alberto forced Griselda to sleep with his brother, Fernando, to wipe away his debts. When he accused his wife of enjoying it, a fight broke out between the pair that ended with Griselda shooting Alberto down. Though the reason that Griselda killed Alberto isn't known, the queenpin indeed murdered her husband in Colombia.
Alberto's death sets the tone for Griselda's rise in the drug world, showcasing her ruthlessness and willingness to eliminate anyone who stands in her way, even family. This pivotal moment also underscores her transformation from a victimized wife to a dominant and feared crime lord. It is a stark reminder that Griselda Blanco will not hesitate to act with deadly force to maintain control and secure her position in the male-dominated underworld.
11 Eddie "The Bird" Rancon & His Men Are Killed By Amilcar’s Men
Episode 1, “Lady Come to Town”
Perhaps the most minor death of Griselda was Eddie "The Bird" Rancon in episode 1. The man was a rival of Amilcar and, therefore, one of the few people who would buy Griselda's cocaine after the drug lord had her blacklisted. Just after Griselda was handed her sizeable envelope of cash, Amilcar's men entered the club and shot down Eddie and his men. This drug lord seems to be one of the few Griselda characters with seemingly no ties to any real-world figures in Griselda's life.
His death reinforces the message that alliances are fragile and enemies are ruthless.
Eddie's swift demise illustrates the unforgiving and violent nature of the drug trade in Griselda. His death reinforces the message that alliances are fragile and enemies are ruthless. For Griselda, it serves as a stark warning about the precariousness of her position in this dangerous world, highlighting the delicate balance of power and the importance of staying one step ahead of rival factions. Despite Eddie’s minor role, his death sets a precedent for the cutthroat environment Griselda must navigate to rise to the top.
10 Fernando Bravo Is Shot & Killed By Dario
Episode 2, “Rich White People”
In Griselda episode 2, "Rich White People," Alberto's brother, Fernando, manages to hunt Griselda down at her hotel in Miami. There, he attempted to rape and murder his sister-in-law to seek revenge for Alberto's death. However, when Fernando ordered Dario Sepulveda to kill Griselda's son, the assassin turned his gun on his boss instead. Though it is rumored that Dario met Griselda when he was hired to kill her, there is no available information about who had ordered this hit. So, it's unclear if any of this ever resulted in the death of a man named Fernando Bravo.
Fernando's death by Dario's hand illustrates the shifting allegiances and unpredictable betrayals common in the world of Griselda. It establishes Dario as a ruthless yet loyal figure who will ultimately side with Griselda when the stakes are high. This moment solidifies Dario's loyalty to Griselda, marking the beginning of their complex relationship. It also emphasizes how betrayal and violence permeate even familial bonds in the brutal underworld, where no one is truly safe from treachery.
9 A Murder Witness & His Wife Are Killed By Dario & Chucho
Episode 3, “Mutiny”
After everything that had gone wrong between them, Griselda wanted to ally with Amilcar, which required further murders. A man had witnessed Amilcar committing murder, so Griselda offered to handle the man's death herself. However, when Dario and Chucho find the witness, he is with his wife and infant son. Griselda ordered the murders carried out anyway, only sparing the baby. These tragic deaths are meant to represent the sort of horrible crimes Griselda ordered during her career, and this witness and his wife aren't based on any specific figures.
The deaths of the witness and his wife highlight Griselda's cold-blooded pragmatism and willingness to eliminate any perceived threat, regardless of the collateral damage. Her decision to spare the infant son emphasizes her warped sense of mercy, underscoring her complex and ruthless nature. This moment serves to cement the loyalty of Dario and Chucho to Griselda, showing that they are willing to carry out even the most morally questionable orders without hesitation. It also reinforces the brutality of Griselda's rule and the grim reality of those who dared to cross her path.
8 German Panesso Is Killed By Dario & Others
Episode 4, “Middle Management”
After Griselda's partner, German Panesso betrayed her to join the Ochoa brothers in Griselda, the Godmother ordered a devastating hit to take the man and his bodyguards down. Dario and the Marielitos shot up the Dadeland Mall, riddling Panesso and his men with holes. Netflix provided a reasonably accurate recreation of Panesso's death in the famous Dadeland Mall Massacre, an event that is believed to have been ordered by Griselda. However, since there was no definitive proof of this, the Godmother never faced charges for the massacre.
The violent attack at the Dadeland Mall exemplifies Griselda's willingness to use extreme measures to eliminate perceived threats. Panesso's death not only serves as a brutal warning to those who betray her but also marks a significant escalation in the drug war violence depicted in Griselda. The massacre solidifies Dario's unwavering loyalty and cements the Marielitos as a fearsome force under Griselda's command. It also demonstrates how Griselda's ruthless strategy involved leveraging shock and awe to maintain her grip on power, even as law enforcement closed in on her operation.
7 Isa, Carla, & The Marielito Are Decapitated By Papo Meija
Episode 4, “Middle Management”
In episode 4 of Griselda, the titular queenpin not only ordered Dario to shoot up the Dadeland Mall, but she also sent Chucho and the other Marielitos to bomb the home of Papo Meija. However, she didn't realize until it was too late that her rival had survived. To get even, Papo sent men to Griselda's second residence, where her friends, drug couriers Isa and Carla, were with a single Merielito bodyguard. The assassin decapitated all three and left their bodies on the property.
The gruesome beheadings emphasize the brutal retaliation that characterized Griselda's world. This shocking act of revenge by Papo Meija demonstrates how rivalries in the drug trade often lead to violent and horrific consequences for those involved. It also serves as a reminder that even Griselda's closest allies weren't safe from retribution, revealing the fragility of loyalty in her dangerous circle. The scene underscores Griselda's vulnerability and how even her inner circle wasn't immune to the bloodshed she unleashed. Isa and Carla were fictional additions to Griselda, but that crime might have been based on some truth.