Here we are again. 12 months on since the global pandemic kicked off in earnest, weโre still defaulting to the โSo what are you watching at the moment?โ conversation starter in yet another lockdown. But fear not, if youโre a sucker for a transnational crime thriller โ think Narcos meets The Night Manager โ weโve got just the TV show to spice up that small talk on Zoom. Itโs called ZeroZeroZero, and itโs one of the best television series weโve watched this year.
The premise is dead simple: ZeroZeroZero follows the buyers, the sellers, and the brokers behind a massive consignment of cocaine as itโs shipped from Mexico to Italy. The series derives its name from the purest type of flour (000), which is the nickname among narcotraffickers for the purest cocaine on the market.
On the European end of the deal, insurrection within the Italian Mafia throws a spanner in the works that derails the American shipping companyโs efforts to fulfil the delivery across the Atlantic. Meanwhile, a band of corrupt Mexican special forces soldiers will do anything to ensure the shipment is delivered.
RELATED: If You Liked โLine Of Dutyโ, Youโre Going To Love โVigilโ
The eight-part series is based on the book of the same name by Roberto Saviano and is spearheaded by Italian cult director Stefano Sollima (Sicario: Day Of The Soldado, Without Remorse). And for those of you who are hesitant to dip a toe in for any reason relating to either film, rest assured, old made Sollima does some of his best work within the TV format. Perhaps it has something to do with the freedom of more screentime and less involvement of a studio, although letโs be honest โ there was no way anyone was topping Denis Villeneuveโs original Sicario.
The showโs occasional diversion from a linear storyline keeps the audience guessing (without meddling with their heads too much), and helps to draw out this magnetic build-up of suspense thatโll have you addicted from the get-go.
ZeroZeroZero is an international co-produced series that airs on Sky Atlantic in Europe, Amazon Prime Video in North America, and for free on SBS On-Demand here in Australia.
Once youโve binged the entire season (we have no doubt you will), get ready for the upcoming BBC drama Vigil โ which will debut on Binge next month.
