Narconovelas and Current Trends (by Josie Wartnick, posted by Dr. A)

In our class last Wednesday we discussed the types of telenovelas and the spectrum that ranges from a “traditional” telenovela rosa to a more “modern” realist take on a telenovela. We then began discussing the different plot types of novelas which led us to our section on narconovelas. The sheer popularity and endurance of the narconovela in recent years seems to suggest a trend towards more realistic plotlines and a move farther from “traditional” plots. However, narconovelas still include a romance aspect, although the romance tends to take a more background role or come from an already established relationship.

This would seem to suggest that telenovelas are moving increasingly towards crime/mystery related plotlines. The question I kept thinking was why. Especially during the pandemic you would think the public would want the escapism and fantasy of a “traditional” novela, but the narconovelas persisted. Why is it that the public loves them so much? I think part of it has to do with the subversion of the “protective” or “possessive” romance trope. Even though the romance sometimes takes a backseat in a narconovela, the main male protagonist remains a strong man who fights for his heroine. Making the male protagonist a powerful drug dealer adds a layer to his appeal as a “protector” and also adds a layer of danger to any relationship he is in. In this way different types of relationships like marriages,where the protagonists have already fallen in love, can be explored because there are so many potential obstacles to their relationship that aren’t about them being with other people.

I also remember when we talked about La Reina del Sur and its immense popularity. That caught my interest because it displays the female protagonist in a much different way than most novelas. Even in more modern/realist novelas the focus on the female protagonist tends to be more about her love story than her career. However, in La Reina del Sur the female protagonist is a powerful drug dealer with her own empire. This is such a different take on women’s role in novelas and the popularity of La Reina del Sur makes me wonder if the novela audience is ready for a shift in how the industry views women. Even more “realist” takes on telenovelas tend to follow similar plot patterns to those of the “traditional” but perhaps the audience is looking for a more modern take on gender roles along with their realism.