ZeroZeroZero is an eight-part series about drug trafficking on Amazon Prime, based on a book written by Roberto Saviano. It’s stressful throughout, heartbreaking at times, and bleak from beginning to end. The violence is brutal and unrelenting, to the point of becoming numb to it by its poignant conclusion. Despite all of that, it’s also beautiful storytelling and even though it may be a hard watch, it’s absolutely riveting.
You can think of the series as a blend of Narcos and the 2000 acclaimed film Traffic. It blends intersecting storylines seamlessly across three continents, following a cocaine deal from a Mexican cartel, to the Italian mafia, being transported by an American shipping company. All three phases of the deal could stand on their own which adds to the anticipation and eventual payoff anytime they cross paths.
The story picks up with a narration by Gabriel Byrne (Hereditary) that continues through the episode, but ultimately leads to Stefano (Giuseppe De Domenico, #Goldfish) meeting with his Grandfather, Don Minu (Adriano Chiaramida, The Young Montalbano) the head of the Ndrangheta crime syndicate who has long been in hiding, but has now gathered the head families. He tells them he has purchased five thousand kilos of cocaine, in order to make them all rich again and earn back their trust. That order sets everything in motion, but there is a complicated past between Stefano and Don Minu, and he has his own plans.
The Leyra drug cartel in Monterrey, Mexico, is set to supply the cocaine, but the army is close to bringing them down, if not for soldiers including Sergeant Manuel (Harold Torres, El Chapo), working as informants. Manuel gradually shows more ambition as the story goes on and becomes a unique blend of a man who seemingly can kill without hesitation, and one that is quietly reflective, feeling he is part of God’s plan.
Connecting the cartel and the mafia is the Lynwood family, comprised of Edward (Gabriel Byrne), his daughter Emma (Andrea Riseborough, The Battle of the Sexes), and his son Chris (Dane DeHaan, The Amazing Spider-Man 2), who run a shipping business out of New Orleans. Up until this deal Chris has been kept out of certain aspects of the family business, but circumstances unfold that force his involvement, as he accompanies the ill-fated shipment by cargo ship across the Atlantic.
Everything about this series is top-notch, from the cinematography with contrasting views of beautiful Italian scenery to unforgiving landscapes of the desert, to the somber and at times harrowing musical score, and the exceptional storytelling adapted for the screen by its creators and directors. Sometimes the nonlinear timeline can be a gimmick, confusing its audience and detracting from a story that could have been just as impactfully told traditionally, but it works here by keeping your mind sharp as the audience considers how the characters found themselves at a particular point in time.
All of that can still be spoiled though, if you don’t believe the performances on screen. Truthfully, the entire cast delivers, giving the series the level of authenticity that the story deserves. The power struggle within the Ndrangheta, its traditions, and the code that exists within it is riveting, and Domenico shows range with Stefano, first a man in control, and then as one of desperation.
Torres is chilling as Manuel who goes by his code name of Vampire. The intensity with which he contemplates his options before acting with certainty, is stirring. He is a man clearly seeking a connection to something or someone and has become disillusioned. Torres’ ability to seamlessly transition from sensitive moments to utter brutality make him someone you’ll likely seek out in other streaming options.
Just as the Lynwood family brings the deal together, they also connect with the other central characters most often. Riseborough portrays Emma as one of the strongest characters of the series, with a confidence inherited by her father. Even when events are grossly altered, she maintains control of her emotions and appears to always be in control even when others don’t show her the respect she clearly deserves.
If a single performance stands out amongst the incredibly talented cast, it’s that of DeHaan. Through some well contrived exposition, Chris is the most fleshed out character, struggling not only with being thrust into an unfamiliar business with incredibly high stakes, but also battling Huntington’s disease inherited by his late mother. His constant battle to keep his symptoms in check while also just trying to stay alive and make his family proud plays out brilliantly. While everyone is given dramatic moments on screen, he has a few that play out with enough raw emotion to blow you away.
ZeroZeroZero is a series that does not shy away from violence, pain, or any of the viciousness that you would expect to accompany the drug trade. There are no “good guys” in this story, at least none at the forefront, and yet you can find some connection to each of these characters, enough to care about what happens to them. What it does well is tell a story, and it does that with the same level of purity that lends its name to the title.
