15 fan-favorite Netflix Original characters, ranked

9. Pablo Escobar — Narcos

When the character first appeared: Pablo was part of Narcos‘ very first episode, as the lead villain.

A little about the character: Pablo is not a character you’re supposed to like. This is where the writing comes into play, making him a fan-favorite Netflix character. He’s the leader of the Medellin Cartel in Colombia and has all the character traits you would expect from a cartel leader.

Why the character is a fan-favorite: Pavlo is as bad as they come. As the head of the cartel, you were never supposed to like this character. All credit goes to the writing and Wagner Moura’s portayal that helped make him into the fan-favorite character. Without him, Narcos was never the same.

Despite all the bad he did, there was some sense of loyalty to him. He would do whatever it took to protect his family, something that even the evillest of bad guys will do. Sure, he engages in terrorism and crime, but he will also take action against those who do it to him.

Pablo’s story is dark and twisted, something that Narcos focused on. This wasn’t just about vilifying him but giving him the tale he had to get him to where he was. We saw him deal with a father who would berate him, fall in love with a woman he could only communicate with through radio, and watch as his empire crumbled around him.

There was a sympathetic storyline that you couldn’t help get behind. It was important to pinch yourself and remind yourself of who he really was.