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El marginal
GenreCrime drama
Created by
Written by
  • Adrián Caetano
  • Guillermo Salmerón
  • Silvina Olschansky
  • Omar Quiroga
  • Nicolás Marina
  • Andrés Pascaner
  • Natalia Torres
  • Gabriel Macias
Directed by
  • Israel Adrián Caetano
  • Luis Ortega
  • Mariano Ardanaz
  • Javier Pérez
  • Alejandro Ciancio
Starring
Various
Opening theme
Country of originArgentina
Original languageSpanish
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes43
Production
Executive producerGustavo Errico
ProducerSebastián Ortega
CinematographySergio Dotta
Running time45–82 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkTelevisión Pública
Release2 June 2016 (2016-06-02) –
27 August 2019 (2019-08-27)
NetworkNetflix
Release19 January (2022-01-19) –
4 May 2022 (2022-05-04)
Related
The Inmate

El marginal is an Argentine crime drama television series created by Sebastián Ortega and Adrián Caetano through Underground Producciones for the channel Televisión Pública. Its first season, consisting of 13 episodes, starred an ensemble cast featuring Juan Minujín, Nicolás Furtado, Claudio Rissi, Gerardo Romano, Martina Gusmán, Carlos Portaluppi, Abel Ayala, Brian Buley, Daniel Pacheco, Marcelo Peralta, Emanuel García, Jorge Lorenzo, Mariano Argento, Gerardo Otero, Adriana Salonia, Maite Lanata, and Aylin Prandi, and was broadcast from 2 June to 8 September 2016, later becoming available on Netflix on 7 October 2016. It received the Golden Martín Fierro award,[1] a Tato award, a Series Mania award, and was also nominated for a Platino Award for Best Miniseries or TV series.

Following the success of the first season, a second season was ordered, with Esteban Lamothe, Nacho Sureda, Roly Serrano, Diego Cremonesi, Verónica Llinás, Rodrigo Noya, and Daniel Fanego joining the cast. A prequel, it premiered on 17 July 2018, consisting of eight episodes and concluding on 4 September; it was released on Netflix on 28 September. An American adaptation, The Inmate, was released later that year on Telemundo.

The eight-episode third season premiered on 9 July 2019 and concluded on 27 August, with Lorenzo Ferro, Alejandro Awada, Osqui Guzmán, Ana María Picchio, Denis Corat, and David Masajnik as new cast members. It was released on Netflix on 27 September 2019. The fourth and fifth seasons were released exclusively on Netflix on 19 January 2022 and 4 May 2022 consisting of eight and six episodes, respectively. Rodolfo Ranni, Luis Luque, and Ariel Staltari joined in the fourth, with María Leal added in the fifth. A female-led spin-off series, En el barro, is currently in production by Netflix.

Series overview

[edit]
SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast releasedNetwork
1132 June 2016 (2016-06-02)8 September 2016 (2016-09-08)Televisión Pública
2817 July 2018 (2018-07-17)4 September 2018 (2018-09-04)
389 July 2019 (2019-07-09)27 August 2019 (2019-08-27)
4819 January 2022 (2022-01-19)Netflix
564 May 2022 (2022-05-04)

In the first season, former cop Miguel Palacios is jailed at San Onofre under a fake name and a fake judicial case. His mission is to infiltrate a criminal gang of prisoners and prison guards and gather information about the daughter of a judge kidnapped by said gang.

The second season is a prequel that takes place three years before Miguel Palacios infiltrated San Onofre. Mario Borges and Juan Pablo "Diosito" Borges are sent to San Onofre where they plan to overthrow the leader of the prison, "El Sapo" Quiroga. To achieve that, they ally themselves with the "Sub-21" gang and with Patricio Salgado, a doctor with a mysterious past.

In the third season, the Borges brothers are tasked with taking care of Cristian Pardo, the son of an important businessman, who killed his friend while drunk in a car accident. While Diosito is tasked with the boy's care, the "Sub-21" joins with "Pantera" and Bruni to take down the Borges.

Cast and characters

[edit]

Main cast

[edit]

Bold Lead characters

Actor Character El marginal En el Barro
Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Season 1
2016 2018 2019 2022 2022 2025
Juan Minujín   Miguel Palacios aka Osvaldo "Pastor" Peña Main Does not appear Guest Main Guest
Martina Gusmán   Licensed Emma Molinari Main Does not appear
Gerardo Romano   Principal Sergio Antín Main Recurring
Claudio Rissi   Mario Borges Main Does not appear
Carlos Portaluppi   "Morcilla" † Main Does not appear
Nicolás Furtado   Juan Pablo "Diosito" Borges Main Does not appear
Gerardo Otero   Fernando Palacios † Main Does not appear
Adriana Salonia   Lucrecia Main Does not appear
Mariano Argento   Judge Cayetano Lunati † Main Does not appear Recurring Does not appear
Abel Ayala   César Pérez Main Does not appear
Maite Lanata   Luna Lunati Main Does not appear Recurring Does not appear Main Recurring
Enrique Liporace   "Verruga" † Main Does not appear
Mercedes Scápola   Betina Espósito † Main Does not appear
Cristina Banegas   Élida Garibaldi Main Does not appear
Eugenia Alonso   Terapeuta Main Does not appear
Adrián Navarro   Gastón Belardo Main Does not appear Guest Does not appear
Julieta Zylberberg   Silvia † Main Does not appear Main Does not appear
Chang Sung Kim   Jun "Soja" Sung † Main Does not appear
Esteban Lamothe   Patricio "Doc" Salgado Does not appear Main Does not appear
Roly Serrano   "Sapo" Quiroga † Does not appear Main Recurring Does not appear
Verónica Llinás   Rita † Does not appear Main Does not appear
Daniel Fanego   Garófalo † Does not appear Main Does not appear
Lorenzo Ferro   Cristian "Moco" Pardo Does not appear Main Does not appear
Ana María Picchio   Estela Morales Does not appear Main Does not appear
Alejandro Awada   Oliverio Bruni † Does not appear Main Does not appear
Ariel Staltari   José "Bardo" Muriazo † Does not appear Main Does not appear
Daniel Pacheco   James "Colombia" † Recurring Main Does not appear
Ana Garibaldi   Gladys Guerra Recurring Main
Rodolfo Ranni   Principal Benito Galván † Does not appear Main Does not appear
Luis Luque   "Coco" † Does not appear Main Does not appear
María Leal   Judge María Virginia Piñeiro Does not appear Main Does not appear
  = Inmates of San Onofre/Puente Viejo
  = Pastor's family
  = San Onofre/Puente Viejo staff
  = Lunati's family
  = Borges's family

Distribution

[edit]

The series was initially aired on the Televisión Pública channel. It was acquired by Netflix after the end of the original run, becoming available for Latin America, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal. El Marginal and Estocolmo were the first Argentine television series acquired by Netflix in 2016.[2]

A second season was confirmed in 2017.[3] It debuted on Argentine television on 17 July 2018 to high ratings.[4] The third season was confirmed in September 2018,[5] and premiered on 9 July 2019.[6]

The fourth and fifth seasons were released exclusively on Netflix on 19 January and 4 May 2022, respectively.

Awards

[edit]

The program received eight nominations for the Martín Fierro Awards, and won for best miniseries and best writers. One of the producers thanked for the award, but criticized the organization of the nominations, as they sometimes include television programs from very disparate genres.[1] Actor Gerardo Romano used his brief time to ask people to vote for Cristina Fernández de Kirchner at the 2017 legislative elections.[7] At the end of the ceremony, the program received the Golden Martín Fierro Award.[1]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
is an Argentine crime drama television series created by Sebastián Ortega and Adrián Caetano through Underground Producciones, which premiered on on May 17, 2016, and concluded after five seasons in 2022. The series stars Juan Minujín as Miguel Palacios, a former coerced into infiltrating the notorious San Onofre prison under the alias Pastor Peña to locate and rescue the kidnapped daughter of a powerful judge. Set against the brutal backdrop of Argentine prison life, El Marginal depicts the protagonist's struggle for amid violent rivalries, , and moral compromises, drawing from real-world elements of penal institutions without romanticizing criminality. The show has garnered international acclaim, achieving an 8.1/10 rating on from over 5,300 user reviews and 95% approval on for its first season, praised for its raw authenticity and tense narrative. Among its notable achievements, El Marginal won the Grand Prix at the 2016 Series Mania Festival in Paris and secured multiple Martín Fierro Awards, including for Best Miniseries in 2017, reflecting its strong domestic and critical reception in . It also received Platino Award nominations and wins, such as for Best Miniseries or TV Series in 2020, underscoring its production quality and appeal beyond local audiences via distribution on platforms like .

Premise and Themes

Core Plot Premise

El Marginal revolves around Miguel Palacios, a disgraced former police officer who enters the San Onofre penitentiary undercover as the convict Pastor Peña. Tasked by Federal Judge Priscilla Carrizo, Palacios's objective is to infiltrate the prison's inmate hierarchy to locate and facilitate the of the judge's kidnapped teenage , Romina, whose abduction is linked to powerful criminal elements inside the facility, including the dominant led by brothers Jimi and Chicho. This assignment stems from Palacios's prior professional favors owed to the judge, thrusting him into a volatile environment where demands suppressing his instincts and adopting the of a marginal criminal. The premise establishes the penitentiary as a microcosm of societal undercurrents, characterized by rigid pavillon-based factions, rampant , and brutal power struggles that mirror broader issues of institutional decay and in Argentina's correctional system. Palacios must forge alliances, endure physical and psychological torments, and extract from guarded inmates while evading detection by corrupt guards and perceptive prisoners, all under the pressure of a ticking deadline for the hostage's safety. The narrative underscores the causal perils of immersion in such a setting, where moral compromises and improvised tactics blur the lines between infiltrator and inhabitant.

Recurring Themes and Realism

The series recurrently explores institutional corruption within Argentina's penal system, depicting prison guards and administrators as complicit in , drug trafficking, and favoritism toward powerful , mirroring documented failures in facilities like ' overcrowded prisons where oversight breakdowns enable such abuses. Personal betrayal and fragile loyalties among form another core motif, as alliances shift amid rivalries, with characters navigating codes of honor that prioritize over , evident in plotlines involving double-crosses during power struggles. Family bonds drive several narratives, particularly the protagonist's undercover mission to a judge's kidnapped , underscoring how external familial obligations intersect with internal dynamics, often leading to moral compromises. Survival in a brutal hierarchy recurs through portrayals of violence, including ritualistic assaults and improvised weaponry, highlighting how weaker inmates must align with dominant factions for protection, a pattern repeated across seasons as new entrants face initiation rites and escalating turf wars. Themes of redemption and moral ambiguity persist, with antiheroes exhibiting fleeting compassion amid greed and psychopathy, as seen in inmates' backstories revealing cycles of crime rooted in socioeconomic desperation rather than inherent evil. These elements collectively emphasize causal chains of consequence, where individual choices propagate wider institutional decay without romanticizing criminality. In terms of realism, El Marginal draws from actual Argentine prison conditions by filming on the dilapidated remnants of Cárcel de Caseros, a former facility shuttered in after decades of documented overcrowding, riots, and human rights violations, lending authenticity to its decaying sets and atmospheric grit. The portrayal captures verifiable aspects of prison life, such as pervasive corruption enabling inmate-led economies and guard-inmate collusion, akin to reports from Argentina's Servicio Penitenciario Federal on contraband flows and internal governance by clans. However, critics and observers note dramatization for tension, with dialogue and interactions amplified for hostility—real inmates often exhibit more pragmatic negotiation than the show's frequent brutality—prioritizing narrative suspense over strict documentary fidelity, as in comparisons to U.S. series like Oz but grounded in local context. This approach yields "fantastical plausibility," blending empirical decay with heightened stakes to underscore systemic failures without fabricating events wholesale.

Production History

Development and Creators

El Marginal was created by Argentine producer, writer, and director Sebastián Ortega through his company Underground Producciones, which he established in 2006 following successful projects like Historia de un clan (2015). Co-created with Uruguayan-Argentine director and screenwriter Israel Adrián Caetano, the series drew on their combined expertise in crime and social dramas, with Caetano contributing direction for multiple episodes and co-writing scripts alongside Ortega and others such as Guillermo Salmerón. Ortega handled overall story development and executive production, emphasizing raw depictions of prison dynamics informed by consultations with former inmates and law enforcement for authenticity. Developed as an original commission for Argentina's public broadcaster , the project originated in 2015 under 's vision to explore infiltration narratives within the penal system, leading to a co-production between Underground Producciones and the channel. The first season, consisting of eight 50-minute episodes, premiered on June 2, 2016, marking an early high-profile scripted series for public television amid declining viewership for traditional formats. Initial development focused on building a realistic and set, with Underground securing distribution deals that facilitated international expansion, including acquiring streaming rights shortly after launch as one of the platform's first Argentine acquisitions. Subsequent seasons were greenlit based on strong domestic ratings, with and retaining creative oversight across all five, adapting the core premise while introducing new arcs.

Filming and Technical Aspects

'El Marginal' was primarily filmed in , , with the former Caseros Prison in Parque Patricios serving as the main location for interior scenes depicting the fictional San Onofre penitentiary. This facility, built in 1979 and closed in 2001, provided an authentic, claustrophobic atmosphere due to its H-shaped design and limited natural light, enhancing the series' realistic portrayal of incarceration until filming there ceased in March 2021 owing to structural instability. For later seasons, production shifted to an abandoned 1950s metalworks facility in the Boedo neighborhood, extensively modified to replicate prison environments such as Puente Viejo; this included constructing sets with concrete blocks and over , inspired by real Latin American correctional facilities and designed by Julia Freid. Exterior shots incorporated locations like , a in Retiro, to convey urban marginality. Seasons 4 and 5 utilized 33 real-world sites, including courts and hospitals, alongside 18 built sets, with filming spanning seven months and involving 2,926 extras. Technical specifications include a 16:9 aspect ratio, color filming, and stereo sound mixing, supporting episodes averaging . Production emphasized realism through aesthetic choices, such as aging costumes with aerosols, patches, and dyes—sourcing over 400 wardrobe variations from vintage markets while restricting bright colors—and makeup techniques simulating wounds and temporary tattoos to differentiate factions. Distinct color palettes in attire (e.g., bold hues for Sub-21 versus neutrals for the Borges ) and frequent styling reinforced character and group identities. Music production featured 80 incidental tracks for seasons 4 and 5, incorporating collaborations with artists like , , and Pablo Lescano to evoke prison ambiance, alongside genre-specific background scores. Challenges included remote directing adaptations during production hurdles and a nine-month phase engaging 1,100 personnel, with daily use of over 100 extras drawn from a pool exceeding 7,000 applicants to populate scenes authentically.

Cast and Characters

Principal Characters

Miguel Palacios, also known as Pastor Peña, is the central protagonist, depicted as a disgraced former who enters the San Onofre undercover to rescue the kidnapped teenage daughter of federal judge Gerardo Antín in exchange for leniency on his own legal troubles. Portrayed by Juan Minujín, Palacios assumes the fabricated identity of a convicted murderer to navigate the prison's hierarchical gangs while concealing his true mission from inmates and guards alike. His spans multiple seasons, evolving from reluctant infiltrator to a hardened survivor entangled in the facility's power struggles. Juan Pablo Borges, nicknamed Diosito, is a cunning and volatile young inmate affiliated with the Borges family faction, often serving as a key and rival to Palacios within the prison's and territorial disputes. Played by Nicolás Furtado, Diosito embodies impulsive aggression and loyalty to his kin, contributing to the series' depiction of intergenerational criminal dynamics. Mario Borges, portrayed by Claudio Rissi, leads the Borges clan's operations inside San Onofre as a calculating enforcing control through intimidation and alliances, frequently clashing with external authorities and rival groups. His character represents entrenched familial power structures in the , with his decisions driving much of the across seasons. Emma Molinari, played by , is Mario Borges' wife and a pivotal outside influence, managing family interests and engaging in manipulative efforts to protect her relatives from both threats and . Her role highlights the external networks sustaining -based crime, blending maternal instincts with ruthless . Gerardo Antín, enacted by Gerardo Romano, serves as the corrupt federal judge whose personal stakes propel the initial plot, leveraging his to orchestrate Palacios' infiltration while pursuing his own agenda amid institutional pressures. Antín's portrayal underscores themes of judicial in resolution tactics.

Supporting and Recurring Roles

Mario Borges, portrayed by Claudio Rissi, is a central as the authoritative leader of a powerful inmate faction within San Onofre prison, exerting control through a mix of , familial , and calculated brutality across all five seasons in 43 episodes. Borges maintains dominance by navigating alliances and rivalries, often acting as a surrogate father to younger inmates while safeguarding his brother Diosito. Juan Pablo "Diosito" Borges, played by , recurs as Mario's devoted younger brother and a key ally to Miguel Palacios, featuring in 43 episodes and taking a lead role in season 3's narrative focused on power struggles. Diosito's arc emphasizes instincts and shifting loyalties amid escalating conflicts, evolving from subordinate to pivotal figure in escape plots and faction wars. Sergio Antín, enacted by Gerardo Romano, serves as the pragmatic federal police commissioner directing the undercover operation, appearing in 41 episodes primarily in seasons 1 and 4, where he coordinates external intelligence and extraction efforts while grappling with operational risks. Emma Molinari, portrayed by , recurs as Miguel Palacios' partner and mother to his children, involved in 43 episodes that span family dynamics, external kidnappings, and post-prison entanglements, often bridging the civilian world with prison intrigues. James, played by Daniel Pacheco Bautista, is a recurring mid-level inmate aligned with the Borges faction, contributing to prison governance and conflicts in multiple seasons, notably aiding in territorial defenses and internal purges. Other notable recurring figures include Patricio "Doc" (Esteban Lamothe), a prison medic entangled in medical black market schemes from season 2 onward, and César (Abel Ayala), a rival gang enforcer whose antagonism drives subplot escalations in later installments.

Seasons and Episodes

Season 1 (2016)

The first season of El Marginal, consisting of 13 episodes, premiered on June 2, 2016, on Argentina's public broadcaster Televisión Pública. It centers on Miguel Palacios, a former police officer who adopts the alias "Pastor" (played by Juan Minujín) and enters San Onofre prison undercover as a convict to investigate the kidnapping of judge Cayetano Lunati's daughter, suspected to involve a criminal network operating inside the facility. Palacios must conceal his true identity amid violent inmate factions, including the Sub-21 gang controlled by the Borges brothers—Mario and Román—and other influential prisoners like Diosito, while contending with corrupt guards and internal power struggles. The narrative unfolds across weekly Thursday airings, depicting Palacios's immersion in prison life, where survival demands navigating alliances, betrayals, and brutal hierarchies enforced through , trafficking, and ritualistic . Key episodes highlight escalating tensions, such as Diosito's growing suspicions of Pastor's motives and conflicts between the Borges faction and younger inmates, culminating in high-stakes confrontations that test loyalties and expose systemic corruption blending inmates and authorities. The season's structure builds from Pastor's initial infiltration and adaptation—marked by physical initiations and psychological strain—to broader revelations about the kidnapping's ties to prison operations, emphasizing raw depictions of confinement's dehumanizing effects without romanticizing criminality. Produced by Underground for public television, the season drew from real Argentine penal conditions, incorporating authentic slang and routines observed in facilities like Buenos Aires' prisons, though dramatized for tension. It achieved strong viewership, averaging over 1 million viewers per in its initial run, reflecting in unflinching portrayals of institutional failures. Critical reception praised its gritty realism and Minujín's performance, though some noted formulaic elements in undercover tropes.

Season 2 (2017)

Season 2 of El Marginal comprises eight episodes and serves as a set approximately three years before the events of the first season, shifting focus from the Miguel Palacios to the internal power dynamics of San Onofre during its peak era of corruption and brutality. The narrative centers on the arrival and ascent of brothers and Diosito Borges, who enter the facility as inmates and begin challenging the dominant leadership of El Sapo, the entrenched boss overseeing a marked by unchecked , drug trafficking, and institutional complicity. This season elucidates the origins of the Sub-21 , illustrating how the Borges siblings recruit allies, navigate alliances with younger inmates, and exploit weaknesses in the existing to seize control, all while exposing the prison's systemic rot including guard corruption and inmate exploitation. The episodes aired weekly on Tuesdays starting July 17, 2018, on Argentina's public broadcaster , concluding on September 4, 2018, with each installment running approximately 60 minutes. Key plot developments include the Borges brothers' initial subjugation under El Sapo's rule, their strategic formation of a faction to counter adult-dominated gangs, and escalating conflicts involving betrayals, riots, and power grabs that culminate in a . The season emphasizes raw depictions of life, including ritualistic and survival tactics, without introducing or extraneous elements, grounding its realism in the causal interplay of inmate ambitions and institutional failures.
EpisodeAir DateKey Focus
1July 17, 2018Introduction of Borges brothers' arrival and initial prison integration.
2July 24, 2018Early recruitment efforts and tensions with established inmates.
3July 31, 2018Deepening alliances and first overt challenges to authority.
4August 7, 2018Escalation of internal conflicts and guard involvement.
5August 14, 2018Sub-21 consolidation amid betrayals.
6August 21, 2018Heightened violence and power maneuvers.
7August 28, 2018Climactic confrontations leading to instability.
8September 4, 2018Resolution of leadership shift and gang origins.

Season 3 (2018)

The third season of El Marginal comprises eight episodes and explores events set two years after the Borges brothers overthrow "El Sapo" in season 2, focusing on their incarceration in Puente Viejo prison alongside a reunion with Pastor (Miguel's alias). The narrative centers on Mario and Diosito Borges scheming to secure funds for potential release by orchestrating the kidnapping of Luna Lunati, the daughter of Judge Lunati, which establishes the inciting incident for season 1. Filming commenced on December 3, 2018, at the former Caseros Prison, maintaining the series' gritty realism derived from real prison environments. The season delves into internal prison dynamics, including drug trafficking influxes, alliances among inmates like the young "Sub 21" Fiorito who disrupts operations by stealing from a lab, and tensions exacerbated by Luna's visits to her imprisoned associate under a false identity. Diosito's suspicions toward Pastor's motives intensify, while broader subplots involve depression among inmates and demands for family reunions, heightening the stakes of the Borges' ransom plot. New characters, including a wealthy businessman's son imprisoned for and portrayed by actors such as Lorenzo Ferro and , introduce conflicts over loyalty and external pressures on the protagonists. Aired weekly on Tuesdays at 10:00 PM on TV Pública starting July 9, 2019, the premiere episode drew a record 13.5 average rating points for the state channel, peaking at 14 points and outperforming competitors on private networks like and . Subsequent episodes sustained strong viewership, with the season concluding on August 27, 2019, before later availability on platforms like Cont.ar and in September 2019. While praised for technical fidelity to life, some critiques noted a perceived dip in narrative tension compared to prior seasons, attributing it to repetitive inmate power struggles amid the prequel-like timeline bridging earlier events.

Season 4 (2019)

The season consists of eight episodes, premiering on July 9, 2019, on TV Pública Argentina and concluding on August 27, 2019. Set two years after the "motín de las palomas" events of the prior season, it depicts the Borges brothers, Mario (Claudio Rissi) and Diosito (Nicolás Furtado), as dominant figures in San Onofre 's criminal hierarchy, enforcing control over drug trafficking and internal alliances. They are tasked with safeguarding newcomer Cristian Pardo (Lorenzo Ferro), son of influential businessman Eduardo Pardo (), amid rising tensions in Pavilion 20 under "" and "El Místico," and Pavilion Sub-21's independent dynamics. The narrative explores their expansion into a broader drug distribution network via a pact with supplier Malcolm (Alejandro Awada), highlighting betrayals, power struggles, and the infiltration of external influences like Antín's (Gerardo Romano) legal maneuvers. Key developments include the Borges' strategic protection of to secure leverage against rivals, escalating violence from rival factions, and Diosito's volatile leadership clashing with Mario's calculated restraint, foreshadowing fractures in their alliance. The season integrates recurring elements like guard and family ties outside, with Emma () navigating external threats tied to the brothers' operations. New cast additions, including Osqui Guzmán and Ana María Picchio in supporting roles, deepen depictions of hierarchies and external family pressures. Production maintained the series' raw aesthetic, filmed primarily in Argentine sets to emphasize causal chains of loyalty, retribution, and economic incentives driving behavior. Episode structure builds chronologically: early installments establish the Borges' dominance and Pardo's arrival, mid-season arcs intensify drug deal negotiations and conflicts, and the finale resolves immediate power bids while setting up future incursions, achieving peak viewership ratings of 13.5 points on premiere night. No major cast departures occurred, preserving continuity from prior seasons, though the focus shifts toward dynamics over the original Miguel's arc.

Season 5 (2022)

The fifth and final season of El Marginal premiered exclusively on Netflix on May 4, 2022, consisting of six episodes released simultaneously. Set three years after the failed escape from San Onofre prison in the prior season, the narrative shifts to Puente Viejo penitentiary, where Miguel "Pastor" Palacios (Juan Minujín) is recommitted following recapture. The storyline intertwines Miguel's internal struggles for redemption and family reconnection with Diosito's (Nicolás Furtado) precarious existence outside prison walls, highlighting persistent themes of institutional corruption, gang rivalries, and survival instincts within Argentina's penitentiary system. Power struggles intensify between Mario Borges' (Claudio Rissi) declining faction and the rising Sub-21 group, exacerbated by external investigations and betrayals, culminating in violent confrontations that test loyalties and expose systemic failures in prisoner oversight and rehabilitation. Miguel, leveraging his experiences to author a as a mechanism, navigates custody battles for his son Lucas with assistance from Luna, while protecting vulnerable like amid escalating threats. Diosito, attempting reintegration through petty scams and relationships, confronts shocking family secrets, including paternity revelations, drawing him back into the orbit of -related vendettas. Figures like Colombian James and Gladys introduce pivotal secrets and alliances, fueling quarrels that underscore the causal links between unchecked autonomy and recurrent violence, as evidenced by murders and riots triggered by internal betrayals such as Bardo's defection. Piñeiro's probe into Puente Viejo operations reveals entrenched guard complicity, mirroring real-world critiques of Argentine governance where administrative inertia perpetuates inmate hierarchies over . The season's episodes build progressively:
  • Episode 1: Miguel resumes incarceration and turns to writing for solace; Diosito resorts to for livelihood.
  • Episode 2: An unforeseen visitor aids Miguel's custody claim for Lucas; nears ; Diosito seeks aid from Mopey.
  • Episode 3: A ignites conflict among Mario, Miguel, and Sub-21; James discloses a secret to Luna; Diosito uncovers a truth about Kari.
  • Episode 4: Judge Piñeiro initiates scrutiny of Puente Viejo, dismaying Antín; Gladys informs Diosito of Mario's .
  • Episode 5: A returned ex-inmate disrupts dynamics; Luna facilitates a Lucas-Miguel visit; Bardo-Medina hostilities peak.
  • Episode 6: Climactic resolutions unfold amid rioting, betrayals, and escapes, sealing fates for major characters like Diosito and Borges while affirming Miguel's path toward potential privileges through demonstrated restraint and heroism.
Recurring motifs emphasize empirical realities of prison life, such as the inefficacy of isolation in curbing and the role of personal agency in navigating corrupt structures, without romanticizing criminality.

Broadcast and Distribution

Original Airing in

El Marginal originally aired on , 's public network. The first season, comprising 13 episodes, premiered on Thursday, June 2, 2016, with weekly broadcasts thereafter. Viewership ratings for this season ranged from 2.2 to 6.2 points. The second season, titled El Marginal 2: La Precuela and featuring 8 episodes, debuted on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 10 p.m., airing weekly on the same network. It built on the prior season's momentum, sparking considerable pre-airing buzz on social media. Season 3 premiered on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, also at 10 p.m. on , attaining a rating of 13.5 points and leading its time slot ahead of competitors and . These three seasons constituted the series' initial over-the-air transmission in before subsequent installments moved to digital platforms.

International Release and Availability

El marginal was distributed internationally primarily through , which acquired the streaming rights following its initial Argentine broadcast on . The platform released the first season globally starting in mid-2016, with a noted U.S. availability date of October 7, 2016. Subsequent seasons followed on : the second on September 28, 2018; the third on September 27, 2019; and the fourth on January 19, 2022. As of 2025, all five seasons remain available for streaming exclusively on in regions including the , much of , and parts of , with no free ad-supported options reported. No major alternative international broadcasters or platforms have been identified, positioning as the primary avenue for global access to the series. Availability may vary by country due to licensing, but the service supports in English and other languages for non-Spanish audiences.

Reception and Analysis

Critical Reviews

Critics have praised El Marginal for its unflinching portrayal of and , often comparing it to international prison dramas while highlighting its Argentine specificity in depicting institutional decay. The series received an 8.1/10 average rating on from over 5,300 user votes, with reviewers commending the raw authenticity of the Buenos Aires prison setting and the compelling character arcs amid brutality. Professional outlets like The Skinny described it as "dark, brutal and highly intelligent," noting the development of diabolical yet relatable inmates that evoke empathy through moral ambiguity. The debut season garnered a 95% approval rating on from six aggregated critic reviews, emphasizing its gripping narrative of an undercover cop's infiltration and the ensuing survival struggles. Spanish-language critics, such as those on , lauded the first season's intense pacing and magnetic twists, with director Sebastián Ortega credited for unexpected resolutions that maintain tension without resorting to clichés. Micropsia highlighted the second season's potent critique of prison hierarchies, calling it "impactante por lo violenta" and effective in satirizing real-world penal failures through visceral scenes of power struggles. Performances, particularly Nicolás Furtado's as the protagonist Miguel Pauls, drew consistent acclaim for conveying vulnerability amid machismo-driven conflicts. The Times Literary Supplement noted the series' blend of plausibility and fantasy in dynamics, making familiar tropes feel fresh through cultural nuances like pavillon-based factions. Later seasons sustained this momentum, with SensaCine praising the script's balance of violence, humor, and procedural updates that keep episodes "atrapante." Minor critiques included occasional soapy in interpersonal plots, though these were overshadowed by strengths in atmospheric tension and on marginalization. Overall, the series is regarded as a benchmark for Latin American crime television, elevating Underground Producciones' output through evidence-based realism drawn from Argentine reports and consultations.

Audience and Cultural Response

El Marginal achieved substantial viewership during its original airings on Televisión Pública Argentina, marking a rare success for public broadcasting in a competitive market dominated by private channels. The Season 1 premiere on June 21, 2016, drew a rating of 11.3 points, settling to an average of 9.6 points for the season, figures that outperformed expectations for state television. Later seasons sustained this momentum; Season 2 debuted with peaks of 11.5 points and an average of 9.6, while Season 3's July 9, 2019, premiere reached 13.5 points, surpassing programs on Telefe and El Trece, including Marcelo Tinelli's ShowMatch at 12.8 points. These ratings reflected broad appeal among Argentine viewers, particularly for its unflinching portrayal of prison dynamics. The series elicited a polarized cultural response in , praised for mirroring societal issues like mass incarceration, corruption, and marginalization while critiqued for sensationalizing violence and reinforcing stereotypes of criminality. It permeated public discourse, with characters and phrases entering everyday , establishing it as a cultural that elevated Argentine fiction's profile. Academic discussions highlighted its depictions of youth masculinities and prison hierarchies as constructs of "" that homogenized perceptions of inmate solidarity and systemic failures. Director Alejandro Ciancio defended the work against accusations of glorifying brutality, emphasizing its fictional nature amid broader critiques of institutional corruption. Internationally, El Marginal's migration to amplified its audience, fostering global appreciation for its raw realism and contributing to spin-offs like En el barro (), which extended its thematic universe to female incarceration and sustained cultural relevance. Viewer metrics on platforms indicated sustained demand, with the series logging millions of hours watched, underscoring its role in exporting Argentine narratives on .

Accolades and Recognitions

El Marginal won the Grand Prix at the Series Mania television festival in , , on April 25, 2016, recognizing it as the top international series. At the 2017 Awards, held on June 18, 2017, the series received eight nominations and secured three wins, including Best Miniseries and the prestigious de Oro for overall excellence. Individual cast members also earned recognition: Roly Serrano won the Martín Fierro for Best Supporting Actor in 2019 for his role. Gerardo Romano received the Platino Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Series in 2020. The series was nominated for the Platino Award for Best Miniseries or TV Series in 2020 and 2019.

Controversies and Criticisms

Depictions of Violence and Prison Life

The series depicts through intense, close-up scenes of physical confrontations, including attacks, group beatings, and ritualistic punishments enforced by inmate hierarchies, often without explicit gore but emphasizing psychological terror and immediate consequences. Season 2 escalates this with the highest concentration of such sequences, portraying escalating turf wars among factions like the Borges clan that culminate in fatalities and power shifts. These elements underscore a causal chain where individual betrayals trigger collective reprisals, reflecting the inmate-driven governance that supplants formal authority. Prison life is rendered as a microcosm of unchecked predation, with routines dominated by rackets, narcotics distribution, coerced labor, and sexual exploitation amid dilapidated facilities symbolizing institutional . Guards are shown as complicit or predatory, engaging in brutality and graft that erode any semblance of order, thereby enabling inmate-led economies and alliances based on fear rather than rehabilitation. This portrayal draws loose inspiration from historical incidents, such as the 1984 Villa Devoto involving structural breaches and demands for basic dignities, though the series fictionalizes San Onofre as a composite of Argentine penal realities. Criticisms have centered on the potential glorification of such violence, with Season 3's release in July 2019 prompting Argentine press and online debates about whether the narrative's focus on charismatic antiheroes and visceral conflicts romanticizes criminality over its human costs. Detractors argue this risks desensitizing viewers to real-world penal brutality, prioritizing dramatic escalation—such as intra-gang vendettas—for entertainment value, though the show's creators maintain it aims to expose systemic failures in incarceration. Empirical assessments of realism vary; while the power dynamics and align with documented Argentine conditions, inmate interactions are critiqued as hyper-hostile, amplifying constant antagonism beyond typical observed hierarchies to heighten tension. These debates highlight tensions between and fidelity, with the series' intensity substantiated by its basis in observable patterns of gang control in facilities like those overseen by Argentina's Servicio Penitenciario Federal, yet amplified for narrative causality.

Structural and Narrative Critiques

Critics have faulted El marginal for prioritizing sensationalistic depictions of over substantive narrative depth, with academic Eugenia Cozzi arguing that the series engages in a "pornografía de la " by emphasizing graphic, irrational conflicts—such as those between rival factions—that reinforce of chaos and marginality without meaningfully addressing causal factors like socioeconomic exclusion. This approach, evident from the second season onward, structures episodes around escalating brutality, potentially overshadowing interpersonal dynamics and power relations that could provide a more nuanced exploration of social hierarchies. In season 5, released in , viewer analyses highlighted structural shortcomings in pacing and resolution, describing the finale as abrupt and capricious, driven by fortuitous events rather than coherent buildup. The guion was criticized for incorporating filler content and repetitive scenes, which diluted tension and rendered key plot points—like character revelations—more contrived than emotive. Nonsensical twists and inconsistencies further undermined plot consistency, with actions straining and contributing to a rushed, forced arc. Character development faced similar scrutiny, as protagonists exhibited sudden, unmotivated shifts—such as unprovoked cruelty—that deviated from established traits without adequate justification, weakening overall arcs in the season's confined setting of Puente Viejo. These elements collectively pointed to a formulaic reliance on shock over innovative , though such critiques were not universal and often contrasted with praise for the series' raw authenticity elsewhere.

Legacy and Extensions

Cultural and Industry Impact

El Marginal significantly influenced Argentine through its unflinching depiction of life at the fictional San Onofre facility, embedding characters and motifs into everyday discourse and media references. The series' brutal realism and exploration of power dynamics, , and survival provoked widespread public on systemic issues within the justice and penal systems, fostering a feverish national response upon its 2016 debut. Its gritty portrayal resonated deeply, achieving record viewership on and later amplifying cultural discussions via distribution. In the television industry, El Marginal catalyzed a pivotal shift by bridging state-funded with global streaming platforms, demonstrating the viability of high-caliber local for international audiences. Initial seasons on drew unprecedented ratings, while releases positioned it among the world's most-watched series, with the final season outperforming juggernauts like and Part 5 in . This success, rooted in Underground Producciones' production model and initial public financing, underscored the role of targeted state investment in nurturing exportable content amid a landscape dominated by live programming and rising production costs. The series' legacy extends through spin-offs that expanded its universe, such as En el Barro (2025), which shifts focus to a and delves into criminality and familial impacts, produced in collaboration with and . These extensions not only sustained the franchise's momentum but also elevated Argentine drama's profile, encouraging co-productions and genre innovations in prison narratives while highlighting the platform's role in scaling local stories globally. A female-led spin-off titled En el barro (In the Mud), set in the women's "La Quebrada" within the same fictional universe, premiered on on August 14, 2025. Created by Sebastián Ortega, the original co-creator of El Marginal, the eight-episode series follows a group of women navigating hierarchies and regime hostility, incorporating returning characters such as those played by Juan Minujín, Maite Lanata, and Gerardo Romano. Production began in July 2024 in collaboration with Underground Producciones and Studios. An American adaptation, , aired on starting September 2018, reworking the core premise of an undercover agent infiltrating a to a kidnapped individual amid internal threats. No further direct sequels or franchise expansions beyond En el barro have been announced as of October 2025.

References

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