Locked Up Abroad (2007– ) User Reviews (13)

Let's give Five some credit

[Max_Planck · 9/10 · 17 October 2007]

Five may not be the UK's most-watched terrestrial TV channel, but personally I think their programming is often far superior to either BBC1 or any of the ITV channels. They're particularly good at commissioning documentaries (which are a lot cheaper than drama, I guess), and have screened lively and informative docs covering everything from art, military history, engineering, medical issues to...well, you name it.

"Banged Up Abroad", produced by Raw TV, is a case in point. The reconstructions using actors are not cheesy (BBC, take note), the camera-work is not intrusive with faux-verite shakiness (everyone else, take note), it's well directed with the minimum of voice-over, and manages to extract heartfelt, and often very moving, narratives from the actual protagonists.

It also skillfully avoids falling into a trap of implicit racism concerning the foreign countries where people find themselves imprisoned. Very often conditions are shocking, and the prison system in question is failing miserably on inmates' rights, but the programme never lazily and simplistically portrays foreign nations as inherently corrupt and beyond-the-pale.

I've found every episode both gripping and illuminating from beginning to end. One can only imagine how hammy BBC1 would make it, with someone like Michael Burke doing the voice-over.

It's a shame that this series, currently airing, consists of only four episodes. This week they told the story of two American girls imprisoned in Peru, so perhaps they will continue to spread their net to relate the stories of other non-Brits. It would also be interesting to hear the stories of those not imprisoned for drug offences - how about the testimony of someone held at Guantanamo Bay?

Let's hope that this excellent programme has a third series.

Wonderful Production

[jontyboy345 · 9/10 · 8 August 2014]

One of the best shows on TV. The way in which the former jailbird (more often than not) ends up being a drug runner (more often than not) is gripping. The producer does a great job as from the start to the finish its normally one person talking without interruption. That could get boring in certain situations but for some reason never does. The show is so good we normally know the outcome- person ends up in jail for drugs but even so always has twists and turns. There are shows which are not about drugs but lets face it the drug busts are the best ones and you are hooked- waiting for the time they get caught. Then there is the aftermath in jail and what its like to be there. It's better than a Hollywood movie as its dramatic without extra drama being written into like a 'true story' film. The only reason why it's not 10 out of 10 is because of the 'coming up' bit at the start. Would be better if the viewer was unaware of what was to come all the way through.

I'm addicted to this series

[selig-24696 · 9/10 · 5 July 2015]

This is a very interesting series. I first saw some episodes five years ago, but recently after joining Netflix, I've watched a slew of newer episodes. The episodes have a lot of things in common with each other; nevertheless, each one has unique and interesting things as well. Each individual character is interesting in their own way. Furthermore, each story has its own interesting twists and turns. In a few episodes, I was skeptical of some story lines and details, but overall it's a great series. The production is very good, too.

This series should discourage people from trying to smuggle drugs overseas. Most of the individuals got caught up in the trade because they were young, naive, and just careless -- and, of course, the lure of lots of easy money. So, in addition to being entertaining, the series provides a public service to those who are considering thinking about drug smuggling. The series made me despise the higher level drug dealers who unashamedly and callously use amateurs to make them money. In many cases, these higher level scumbags purposely set up the amateurs to get caught.

Even though most of the episodes involve drug smuggling, some of them do not. In fact, one of my favorite episodes is about a guy named Glenn Hegstad, who has nothing to do with drugs, but is kidnapped by Colombian guerrillas. Anyway, I hope National Geographic produces more seasons of Locked Up Abroad.

Hooked

[sampollock-pollock · 14 July 2011]

I just want to say that I love love love this show. One reviewer writes how the show has shifted from representing "unfair tourists" to "glorifying drug-runners". I believe there is still a good mix of episodes in which tourists are unfairly locked up and also in which undoubtedly, poor decision makers are also punished (though NOT fairly). Personally, I like these episodes that divulge the insides of the "poor decision-makers''' experiences. That's the lure of the program. If someone is not looking for this type of entertainment, fair enough. But I find it incredibly fascinating and have also been introduced to new books (from Chris Chance) and new research opportunities from these individuals. To each his own. I love the show and find it compelling, exciting and well, ....addicting!

Well done in all aspects.

[honestjohng · 10/10 · 31 January 2019]

I am very impressed with the stories of those who have been "Locked Up Abroad". The interviews and recreations are excellent and give one a view of what can happen if you make a bad decision and think you can get away with it. Billy Hayes was the most prominent many years ago but far too many either never saw "Midnight Express" or simply never thought it could happen to them

A Specific Type Crime Series That Has Evolved To Be One Of The Best

[AudioFileZ · 9/10 · 25 September 2016]

I haven't watched "Locked Up Abroad" now for several years even though I initially found it interesting. I guess my thinking was along the lines of these stories, though often compelling, are so similar. I guess I'm thinking something like if you've seen several, you've seen them all. Now I'm thinking quite differently as I'm doing some retrospective looking back starting with more recent stories. Watching without relentless commercial breaks is the first thing that allowed me to invest more into some very heartbreaking, often harrowing, personal tragedies. Even with the rote cable TV format's ubiquitous recaps after breaks (this show thankfully has concise recaps), this is, now for me, a much more involving watch. The show, now on MSNBC, has matured too. The stories, while heavy on drug trafficking, are truly varied. I even noticed at least one, so far, that has nothing to do with being locked up abroad as it was about the Vegas Mob. I think the broader palette used is more brilliant than not because it gives needed variety to drug mule type vignettes. All in all I give the show high marks. The real people involved are the most compelling device as they narrate their experiences with well recreated visuals that drive home a small portion (the real horror would be virtually impossible) of unimaginable pain and suffering endured. I imagine if you're like me, with an interest in true life survival stories as well as crime, you will want to take another look at a series that is getting better and maturing with more variety. Sometimes you invest so much in the people who are involved you even want to know more than the small wrap ups which give you a peek into their lives post being incarcerated. That's pretty high praise, this series is highly recommended especially if, like myself, you stopped watching early on.

Lessons learned

[inskyfire · 9/10 · 25 January 2020]

This is a very good program where people seem to actually learn from their mistakes and in a very extreme way. I like seeing how other prison systems work compaired to ours and this show does a good job portraying that. I also like to see how much time each person gets for what the smuggle, and in the end, they all seem to learn and grow from their experiences. Interestingly enough, if you smuggle from Mexico to America, you get ZERO time, no matter what you smuggle or how much. You are just sent back to repeat. Watch BorderForce USA: the wall, to see that in action. So to see how much time all these people get compaired to all those people getting no time for millions of dollars worth of Meth, Cocaine, and Fentanyl being smuggled over. It is kinda sad. At least these people learn a lesson after.

Endings have gone down hill

[mballa-11360 · 8/10 · 23 January 2020]

Early seasons were edge of the seat, dramatic climax every time. Seems now that it's simply words at the bottom "so and so was freed. Now back home." Ok... It's not a difficult part to make exciting. Add some dramatic music and have the prisoner say they got a visit...didn't know what was gonna happen...

Still a solid show though.

Great!

[suljicdino · 10/10 · 5 December 2020]

My favorite show on National Geographic Channel! It's nice to hear the stories about many interesting lives, you can always learn a new life lesson. Altough I like the show very much, I would definitely want to hear the pure truth, not the variation of the story with some changes.

interesting

[pepe4u22 · 6/10 · 21 January 2016]

I do not mind watching this show but as per the people caught I have absolute no pity for their stupidity and ignorance.it is hard to feel sorry for jerks trying to do illegal things and the phrase you reap what you sow. I wonder if these losers are allowed to travel abroad because of there past. plus let us be truthful most of these people shown really show no regret for their idiot choices and I only wonder how many other dumb decisions they have made. the show is well shot though the characters of the loser protagonists are shown in too good of a light and the police in these shows tend to be stereotypes but then I guess they have to be to bring pity upon these idiots banged up abroad

Other people's misery

[Goingbegging · 7/10 · 30 August 2020]

They call it 'schadenfreude' - the dubious thrill of watching other people's misfortunes, sometimes spiced with a feeling that it could so easily have been you.

Banged Up Abroad touches this nerve every time, and brings it all close to home; you are watching people very like your own friends and neighbours, suddenly pitchforked into a shockingly unfamiliar jail environment among people quite unlike them.

The 'us and them' factor (or indeed the very word 'abroad') raises the spectre of racial imagistics, rather in the tradition of Bing and Bob in their Road films, though strictly it's cultural rather than racial. (As for how far culture is impacted by race, that is of course endlessly debatable.) But under the test, there is no doubt that a good-looking young white woman, however guilty, is always made unmistakeably aware of her high rank in this world.

The main theme, though, is the simple contest between goodies and baddies, the baddies being sharply divided between the chuckling drug-barons in their safe havens and the wretched mules, mostly little people who've been tempted by greed into situations they can't handle.

It is that slippery slope that creates the drama, part-tragic, part-comic. The false hopes raised by just one mention of a five-figure reward. The inducement of a tropical holiday break free on the house. The fleeting friendships between gang-members, that turn so easily to loathing and mutual recrimination. The bland assurances that nothing can go wrong...

Welcome to a world tour of luxury yachts, quayside cocktails, false-bottomed suitcases, money-laundering, murderous cartels, corrupt police, sniffer-dogs, dirty needles, lesbian rape, bed-bugs, the lot.

It is well produced and a fun watch, however the ex-cons are all liars as I discovered searching them

[imdb-25288 · 4/10 · 9 August 2023]

The series is entertaining and fast-paced enough and it keeps you watching the editing and producing job would get a 10/10 from me, if it weren't for the fact that the stories are all lies and, as expected, the "poor me I didn't do it, I was conned into transporting drugs" prisoners are all liars as expected.

A new one is starting right now I see on the screen it says 'parts of the story have been dramatized for television' and it's a pity that they resort to complete alterations and complete reworking of the truth for entertainment purposes. I thought that would simply mean that the recreations have more scary parts in so far as the murders taking place in jail but it's much worse than that.

Case in point, the story of the Irish woman who calls herself Zoe here but her real name is rosin, and claims to have had one daughter with a woman, when in fact her ex-husband reported in the press that Zoe abandoned their two sons born many years before her "daughter". Also in her story, it was claimed that she escaped on a day release and they made it very dramatic and compelling story, however nothing could have been further from the truth: as reported in the Irish newspapers articles which I just read, the Irish government secured her release via the Consulate in Ecuador, as long as her sentence was finished in Ireland, which she failed to report here. I mean what kind of backwards country would allow prisoners daily releases?! I only recently started watching this show, I do not know if all the stories are like that, but I find it very interesting that all the women are all in relationships with other women. It's kind of feels like it's claiming that if you are one you'll end up in jail but whatever.

One of the most compelling series on the National Geographic channel!

[sea-04213 · 31 May 2023]

This television series is about people that have traveled to foreign countries for various reasons, and have ended up in prison. Each episode generally starts off with an individual explaining how, and why they ended up going abroad. It has real people explaining real stories. The series has reenactments as the person is talking about the events. The way this series is put together really makes you feel like you were there. National Geographic does an amazing job of adding a human element to these narrative stories. It touches on subjects like drug smuggling, kidnapping, gun running, and even journalists at the wrong place at the wrong time. It gives insight to different countries, laws, or lack of laws, and paints a picture of both human endurance and suffering. Absolutely engaging.