Unveiling Judy Moncada in Narcos: A Closer Look at Her Character & Portrayal

Article Overview

Judy Moncada, a fictional character in Narcos, becomes a drug lord seeking revenge against Pablo Escobar after he kills her husband.

She establishes the organization Los Pepes with the intention of dismantling Escobar and capturing his cocaine production facilities, thus diminishing his influence in the drug industry.

Judy's narrative is influenced by the actual inception of Los Pepes, despite her character not being derived from a genuine individual.

Judy Moncada, a character in Narcos, contributes to the rich narrative of the Medellín Cartel and the drug trade in the Americas. The popular Netflix series, which premiered in 2015 and aired for three seasons, follows the rise of Pablo Escobar (played by Wagner Moura) as he eludes the pursuit of DEA agents Steve Murphy (Boyd Holbrook) and Javier Peña (Pedro Pascal). The first two seasons of Narcos portray Escobar's life and eventual demise, while the third season explores the aftermath of his death and the emergence of the Cali Cartel. The series later transitions to Narcos: Mexico, a spinoff with three seasons.

While Narcos takes some creative liberties with historical events, many characters are either entirely fictional or a blend of real individuals. Despite lacking real-life counterparts, these characters still play a key role in depicting the far-reaching consequences of Escobar's empire. Judy Moncada is one such character, driven by her experiences of Escobar's brutal actions.

Judy Moncada Is A Drug Lord In Narcos

Judy Moncada (formerly Mendoza) is a prominent figure in both season 1 and season 2 of Narcos, known for her dangerous nature. While she only makes a brief appearance as a guest in episode 9, "La Catedral," in season 1, she becomes a central character in season 2, appearing in nearly every episode. Judy is married to Gerardo Moncada, one of Escobar's top lieutenants, whom Escobar kills in season 1 for betraying him. This gruesome event ignites Judy's thirst for revenge, ultimately leading to Escobar's downfall. In season 2, Judy forms an alliance with her brother Jaime Mendoza and Diego Murillo Bejarano, head of security for the Medellín Cartel, in order to seek vengeance against Escobar. Together, they start seizing Escobar's cocaine labs and form an organization called Los Pepes. By reaching out to the Cali Cartel, Judy successfully weakens Escobar's control over the drug trade, ultimately resulting in his demise at the hands of the DEA and the fragmentation of the Medellín Cartel.

Unbeknownst to Judy, the Cali Cartel has secretly conspired against her. After the downfall of Escobar, they betray Judy by handing over her drug reserves to the extremist paramilitary group, the AUC. Surviving an assassination attempt by the AUC puts Judy in a difficult position - she must choose between assisting the DEA as an informant and starting a new life in America, or remaining in Colombia. Her decision to flee to the United States signifies a significant turning point in the series. With many key figures of the Colombian drug trade either dead, on the run, or having fled, the power vacuum is now being filled by the ruthless Cali Cartel and even more brutal drug traffickers.

Similar to others in Narcos, Judy's intense animosity towards Escobar blinds her to the existence of other looming dangers. The series is replete with characters who are fixated solely on Escobar and Medellín, disregarding the signs of impending threats emerging in their surroundings. Fortunately, Judy correctly chooses to sever ties with the drug trade altogether, ultimately securing her own survival.

Is Judy Moncada Based On A Real Person?

Judy Moncada does not exist in real life, but her storyline in Narcos is based on the formation of Los Pepes, which is a real organization. Los Pepes was created by Pablo Escobar's many enemies with the aim of defeating him and taking control of his drug operations. The portrayal of Los Pepes' formation in Narcos is mostly accurate, except for the inclusion of Judy. Gerardo Moncada, Judy's husband, was indeed killed by Escobar and his death triggered the creation of Los Pepes, but there is no historical record of Judy being involved in the group.

In reality, it was Carlos and Fidel Castaño Gil who sought assistance from the Cali Cartel to financially support their paramilitary organization. Just like in the series, Carlos (Mauricio Mejía) and Fidel (Gustavo Angarita Jr.) are significant characters in Narcos season 2 and operated as vigilantes, causing destruction and pain similar to the man they were hunting. After Escobar was shot, Los Pepes, like in the show, disbanded, leaving a power vacuum in its wake.

Cristina Umaña Plays Judy Moncada

Although Judy was not officially part of this group, which is named after "Los Perseguidos por Pablo Escobar" ("People Persecuted by Pablo Escobar"), it undoubtedly encompasses the relatives of the numerous victims who lost their lives due to Escobar and Medellín. Judy effectively represents these anonymous individuals.

Cristina Umaña portrays Judy Moncada in Narcos seasons 1 and 2. Born in Colombia, Umaña embarked on her acting career in 1995 by appearing in telenovelas. An enthusiastic passion for acting led her to Mexico, where she pursued formal education at the Center for Artistic Education, Televisa— an institution associated with the production company she collaborated with. Upon completing her studies in Mexico, Umaña returned to Colombia to fully immerse herself in the world of acting. One of her notable early accomplishments was her starring role as the titular character in the telenovela series Yo amo a Paquita Gallego, which encompassed the entirety of the 150 episodes.

Where Else You've Seen Cristina Umaña

While Umaña has primarily worked in Spanish-language movies and TV shows throughout her career, her role as Judy Moncada in Narcos exposed her to a wider audience. Since her time on the Netflix series, she has landed roles in more high-profile TV shows. In Netflix's first Colombian original series, Wild District, she portrays Daniela León, a guerrilla fighter navigating post-conflict Colombia in 2016. This period holds some intertwined history with Narcos.

Furthermore, Umaña can be seen in Amazon Prime Video's Jack Ryan, alongside John Krasinski. In the second season, she portrays Gloria Bonalde, an influential figure running against the incumbent Venezuelan president, Nicholas Reyes (Jordi Molla), in the upcoming presidential election. While Umaña has not been involved in many projects following Narcos, her exceptional talent showcased in these roles undoubtedly ensures that she will soon be embarking on another prominent venture.

Where To Watch Narcos

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I find the character of Judy Moncada in Narcos to be a fascinating and complex one. On the one hand, I admire her strength and determination in seeking revenge against Pablo Escobar after he kills her husband. Her willingness to take on Escobar, one of the most powerful drug lords in history, is truly commendable. On the other hand, I find her methods to be ruthless and violent, and I cannot condone her actions. Judy's character is a cautionary tale about the dangers of revenge and the destructive power of the drug trade.

I also appreciate the fact that Judy Moncada is a complex and well-developed character. She is not simply a one-dimensional villain, but rather a person with motivations and emotions that we can understand. Her character arc is one of the most interesting in the series, and I found myself rooting for her, even as I disagreed with her actions. Overall, I think Judy Moncada is a great character and a valuable addition to the Narcos series.