Keeping the streets of Mexico safe from crime at any cost.
Belascorán PI follows our titular hero (Luis Gerardo Méndez, The Resort) as he embarks on a career in private detection, promising to keep Mexico's streets clear from crime and solve any cases that come his way. Deciding to become a PI on a whim, Belascorán first decides to tackle the city's local strangler, looking back on the previous victims and even going on a televised game show to goad the killer out of hiding. Teaming up with his lecturer sister Elisa (Irene Azuela), office space co-worker Gilberto (Silverio Palacios) and the mysterious 'Girl with the Ponytail' Irene (Paulina Gaitan), Hector investigates three different mysteries in the first series, tackling a killer strangler, the death of a Union Leader and even a dead body turning up in his own office. At this point there's really nothing he cannot do.
The actual cases and mysteries here were well done and I really loved Hector's detection style. The pacing of the episodes was sometimes a little off but I also think watching near 90 minute episodes in Spanish meant I sometimes did struggle to fully concentrate. Episode one was definitely my favourite and it did a great job at establishing the setting and introducing us to the main cast . Episodes 2 and 3 also featured some intriguing mysteries and I loved the darker undertones, 1970s setting and mix of serious crime and comedic moments, this series really was a lot of fun to watch.
Belascorán had a somewhat self aware, meta humour style which I really enjoyed throughout. Hector's PI style was learnt mainly to him through books and TV so a lot of the time he did compare his situations to the stereotypical private detective, leading to some quite funny throwaway lines and jokes. Hector would repeatedly talk about what detectives in books would do if they were in his situation and then often do the complete opposite or even play into the stereotype depending on what was happening around him. The show as a whole was almost a wink to crime fiction fans and Hector's love of the genre was definitely felt through his character and reciprocated by me as a viewer.
Overall Belascorán PI was an enjoyable watch and I loved the 1970s time setting and how the show played heavily into the stereotype of the private detective genre. The actual cases were interesting and whilst the pacing was a little off at times I did like this show as a whole and would definitely watch more if it got renewed, it was a lot of fun!
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