Reviewers often highlight that the show successfully expands its scope from a local scandal to a global one, though some find the narrative jumps and heavy satire occasionally distracting from the historical facts.
: Despite the focus on the past, Andrés Parra returns as the narrator, Sergio Jadue
The episode's biggest weakness is its reliance on exposition. Because the Lava Jato scandal is exponentially more complex than the FIFA bribes, the script spends a lot of time having characters explain the plot to one another. It occasionally feels like a documentary with actors, rather than a fluid drama. el presidente s02e01 h264
Returning showrunner Armando Bó maintains the series' signature irony, blending historical facts with sharp commentary on colonialism, capitalism, and military dictatorships . Season 2, Episode 1: "Call Me João" Synopsis
: Season 2 features a richer, more cinematic color palette than the first, often utilizing 1960s and 70s aesthetics to match the period setting. Reviewers often highlight that the show successfully expands
The ensemble cast features international stars, blending returning favorites with new leads: The President (TV Series 2020–2022) - IMDb
The premiere episode, "The Corruption Game," immediately establishes that the tone has changed. While Season 1 felt like a farce about petty football egos, Season 2 aims for a higher-stakes political thriller vibe. It occasionally feels like a documentary with actors,
The return of the critically acclaimed satire marks a shift from the 2015 "FIFA Gate" scandal to a broader, historical exploration of football's transformation into a multi-billion dollar political machine. Season 2, Episode 1, titled "Call Me João" (or "Llámenme João"), premiered on November 4, 2022 , and is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. The Shift in Focus: From Jadue to Havelange
While the first season centered on Sergio Jadue’s unlikely rise in Chilean football, the premiere of the second season—subtitled The Corruption Game —introduces a new protagonist: .
The writing does a decent job of connecting the dots for the audience, explaining how the kickbacks work in a way that is digestible without being condescending. However, the pacing in this premiere feels slightly slower than the frantic energy of Season 1's opening.
Season 1 of El Presidente was a surprisingly entertaining, darkly comedic deep dive into the "FIFA Gate" scandal, anchored by Andrés Parra’s performance as the bumbling yet cunning Sergio Jadue. Season 2 shifts the goalposts. With the FIFA scandal exposed, the series pivots to arguably the biggest corruption case in the history of Latin American governance: the scandal, focusing on the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht and its web of bribes.