Santo
Santo
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Santo

5.6
Yr 2022
Rt 50m
Status Ended
Crime Drama
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

Two cops must learn to work together to catch the world's most-wanted drug dealer, whose face has never been revealed.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 58 /100

Santo received a mixed and divisive reception from critics, who recognized the Spanish crime thriller as an ambitious and well-made production that ultimately falters under a convoluted structure. Reviewers highlighted the intriguing premise of two transatlantic cops pursuing a shadowy drug lord fascinated with occult rituals, but many found the execution bogged down by narrative choices.

The show's timeline and pacing were key areas of criticism. Multiple reviews pointed out that misplaced timelines and a complicated storytelling style made the narrative confusing and exhausting to follow, even while acknowledging its solid pacing and action-thriller elements.

Critiques also heavily emphasized the show's intense violence and grim tone. Reviewers consistently warned that the series is brutal, horrific, and deeply sadistic right from the start, making it a polarizing watch suited primarily for viewers with a strong tolerance for gruesome violence.

“Santo is both exhausting and well-made. It's unafraid and ready for a divisive response.”

“A complicated crime drama with a confusing narrative”

“If you are not one for horrific and gruesome scenes, you probably should not watch this show”

“It's brutal right off the bat, so be ready for that.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Netflix
US • CA • UK
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US • CA • UK
Why fans love it

The hunt for an invisible enemy drives this crime drama across international lines. Because the central antagonist operates through fear and anonymity, the tension relies on the desperate alliance between law enforcement officers who have very different ways of getting results. It turns a standard police procedural into a cold, methodical pursuit where the target remains a ghost until the final act.

Raúl Arévalo grounds the shifting narrative as the investigation spans multiple borders. The show avoids the usual glamour associated with high-stakes trafficking, choosing instead to focus on the psychological toll of tracking a man who has no identifiable features. It forces the audience to navigate the same paranoia as the investigators, highlighting the friction between international police forces forced to cooperate under extreme pressure. There is no clear path to victory when the person being hunted could be hiding in plain sight.

Production Board

Crew

Creator
Carlos López
Second Assistant Director
João Londres
First Assistant Director
Marina Watson-Wood
Keyword Cloud

Keywords

drug dealer police international crime
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
September 16, 2022
Status
Ended
Episode Runtime
50 minutes
Origin
ES
TMDB Votes
36