Summary
Netflix series Unauthorized Living is a drama-filled thrill seeker that does precisely what it says on the tin.
Storming onto the Netflix international scene quietly, and created by Aitor Gabilondo, is Spanish series Unauthorized Living, known in its native language as Vivir sin permiso. February 8th is unusually quiet for the platform, but a tale about a Drug Lord losing his power in unexpected ways may take your interest. I am getting familiar with the often random series’ popping up in the newly released section. Some are hit and miss, but this firmly feels like a hit.
Netflix series Unauthorized Living follows Drug Lord Nemo Bandeira (Jose Coronado). He has based his entire wealth out in the ocean, opening up a large company called Open Sea, and based on his descriptions mainly imports fish, with a healthy package of Class-A drugs for good measure. Like many real-life stories of Drug Lords using legitimate businesses to mask illegal activities, Nemo is proud of his achievements, claiming improvements to the community and helping others in a Godfather-type party, where various members attend; family, friends, and acquaintances.
The entire conundrum of the Spanish series is that Nemo has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and with none of his close ones aware, his task is to pick a successor of the company. Unauthorized Living demonstrates that life catches up to you eventually, no matter how much you get away with, and that stigma is attached to Nemo immediately
Unauthorized Living plants potential enemies against Nemo as he adjusts to handing over the family business. He has an unspoken adopted son who is irked that he is not considered for ownership of the company, a sister that is terrified of her father and irritated that he’s using her art business to gain new clients, and a half-daughter who has been shifted to one side, left to deal with lawyers while her mother is brain dead and plugged into a machine. Unauthorized Living throws plenty of dice at Nemo, and the audience is left to rattle them.
The Netflix series does not encourage the story with slow progression. If anything, Unauthorized Living dives into the subject intentionally, giving you the real side to Nemo, who at the start of the opening episode appears to be a heartwarming, vulnerable man, but it becomes clear rather quickly that his dark side balances it out. He speaks words of venom and is quick to act violently.
Unauthorized Living is possibly an excellent choice for February 8th, on what is a busy but not an exciting Netflix day.
