Nobel Laureate Vargas Llosa Reflects on Pablo Escobar’s Legacy

PARIS, France — Mario Vargas Llosa, the renowned Peruvian author and Nobel Prize winner, passed away on April 13, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of 20 novels and profound insights on various social issues. His death has sparked a resurgence in stories about his remarkable life, including the well-known altercation with fellow author Gabriel García Márquez.

In 2001, rumors circulated that Vargas Llosa intended to write a novel inspired by Pablo Escobar‘s infamous escape from La Catedral prison. Although this project did not materialize, Vargas Llosa later commented on the impact of the Colombian television series “Escobar, el Patrón del Mal” in a column published in 2013.

In an article for El País, Vargas Llosa expressed admiration for the series, stating, “The Colombian television series Escobar, el patrón del mal, has been very successful in its home country and will undoubtedly find audiences everywhere it is shown. It is very well made, written, and directed, and Andrés Parra, the actor who portrays the notorious drug lord Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria, does so with enormous talent.”

Despite acknowledging Escobar’s intelligence, which he felt could have propelled the drug lord to the presidency of Colombia, Vargas Llosa condemned him as a negative figure. He took the opportunity to address the issue of drug legalization, asserting, “The repression of drugs only serves to generate destructive entities like the one created by Pablo Escobar.”

Vargas Llosa noted that while the series effectively portrayed the era of Escobar, the drug trade itself had evolved into a more modern, sophisticated operation that remained prevalent by 2013. “Colombia no longer holds the hegemony it once did,” he remarked.

He concluded his column by attributing the roots of the narcotics trade to corruption, advocating that only through the legalization of drugs and investment in rehabilitation and prevention could society mitigate the consequences and violence stemming from this illicit business. “Prohibiting drugs will only provoke wars,” he stated.

The series “Escobar, el Patrón del Mal,” which premiered in 2012, was adapted from the book “La parábola de Pablo” by Alonso Salazar and is considered one of the most comprehensive investigations into the life of the Medellín cartel leader. The show earned 30 nominations for both national and international awards, winning 15 of them.

Since its debut on Netflix, the series has consistently ranked high on the platform, though only 74 of its 107 episodes are available for streaming. The series has maintained a strong viewership, frequently appearing at the top of the platform’s most-watched lists.

Andrés Parra, who portrayed Escobar, has since distanced himself from the character, stating he does not wish to be remembered solely for this role. “This character carries an inherent responsibility. I say this not to diminish the value of other characters, which are purely fictional and comedic, but this one is different, and it should be treated as such,” he explained on social media.