The series chronicles the rise of a young man in the world of illegal gambling in Rio de Janeiro and the high price he pays as power, betrayal, and ambition collide.
I approached Rulers of Fortune with more curiosity than expectations, and ended up feeling genuinely invested in its characters and setting, even when it occasionally faltered due to its own ambition. From the first episode, the series presents itself as a crime epic: you're immersed in the world of jogo do bicho and other illegal gambling operations in Rio, where the conventional lines between family loyalty, business warfare, and street violence are blurred. That setting alone offers something fresh and compelling; instead of the typical American mafia or European cartel cliché, this is a Brazilian story, localized and enriched by the city's culture, its inequalities, and its rhythms.
Creator: Heitor Dhalia
Stars: Antonio González Guerrero, Larissa Bocchino, Stepan Nercessian
The central character, Profeta (played by André Lamoglia), is introduced as a young outsider from the outskirts of Rio, hungry, intelligent, and determined to succeed. His journey, from small-time hustler to big-league player, is handled with a surprising degree of nuance: from the beginning, we see his tactical mind, his vulnerabilities, the family relationships that surround him, and that ambition that quietly grows. The writers give him room to grow, make mistakes, win, and lose, and I found that very satisfying. Unlike many series that present the antihero as cunning and invincible, Profeta feels human: he's often on the verge of overreaching, he misreads people, he's torn between loyalty to his father and brothers, and he's also drawn to the glamour of power.
Around him, the cast is solid. The family dynamics between the Guerra, Fernandez, and Saad families are written with attention to internal tension and shifting alliances. For example, Xamã, as Búfalo, brings an energy that contrasts with Profeta's more cerebral style: Búfalo is more impulsive, seductive, and dangerous in his own way. Meanwhile, Mel Maia as Mirna and Giullia Buscaccio as Suzana add significant subplots of ambition and female empowerment that complement the male-dominated criminal world. The interaction between the characters is one of the series' strengths: the betrayals, emotional debts, and power shifts feel justified rather than being mere plot devices to generate excitement.
Visually, the series shines. The directors (including Heitor Dhalia) use Rio de Janeiro as another character: the alleyways and favelas, the opulent gambling dens, the carnival dance scenes—everything is filmed with a rich color palette and a strong sense of place. The cinematography often lingers on details—shining poker chips, the faces of men in suits, the tension as someone awaits a resolution or a betrayal—and this helps anchor the story in a world that could erupt in violence at any moment. The pacing is generally well-handled: in the eight-episode first season, major shifts occur without feeling rushed, and there are episodes (for example, the mid-season territorial war episodes) where the tension quietly builds before violence erupts. The script allows for moments of character development and quieter scenes, a quality often lacking in fast-paced crime dramas.
What I found particularly interesting was how the series integrates the broader context of legal change: there's a storyline about the potential legalization of the gambling industry, which leads to corporate-style negotiations with crime syndicates, foreign investors, and local power brokers. This adds a political dimension to the story, making the stakes feel both personal and systemic. It's not just about guys shooting each other over territory; there's a sense that the world is changing around them. This gives the series depth and helps it stand out from the typical "gang war" trope. As for the performances, Lamoglia is effective without being showy: he's quiet when he needs to be, he gets angry when provoked, and his arc of ambition versus loyalty is convincing. The supporting cast has good material to work with, and some of the secondary characters—those outcast brothers, members of the gambling ring's board of directors, petty criminals—have significant story arcs instead of being mere filler characters. I appreciated that the series didn't reduce everyone to "good" or "bad": many characters operate in shades of gray, and this makes the betrayals more difficult and more impactful.
Another minor complaint: some subplots feel underdeveloped. For example, some female characters have impactful introductions and brief story arcs, but by episode eight, I felt that certain storylines (like Mirna's entire story or some of the consequences for the lower-ranking characters) didn't receive the resolution they deserved. Also, given the large number of characters, I sometimes got lost regarding which faction was doing what without having to rewind a bit. When there are multiple families, board members, external unions, and shifting alliances, clarity becomes important, and the series sometimes assumes the viewer will understand everything without visual aids.
Finally, while Rio and its setting are used effectively, the language barrier and subtitles (for those who don't speak Portuguese) may limit the emotional connection for some viewers. While this is a minor criticism compared to the series' strengths, I found myself sometimes more impressed by the visual aspects than the emotional connection to some of the relationships. A little more time dedicated to character introspection would have increased the emotional impact.
In summary, Rulers of Fortune offers a solid and stylish crime drama that feels fresh in its setting and confident in its execution. Its strengths lie in its character-driven narrative, its vivid portrayal of the location, and its willingness to tackle power, corruption, and the human cost of ambition. If you're drawn to layered gangster stories, this series hits the mark in many ways. It's not perfect: there are moments where the plot demands a certain suspension of disbelief, and some subplots feel merely functional rather than fully developed, but overall I found it an engrossing experience. By the end of the first season, I was left wanting more—curious to see what Profeta will do next, how the alliances will shift, and what new twists the series creators will introduce. It delivers entertainment, tension, and a lingering atmosphere, enough to recommend it to anyone who appreciates intelligent and stylish crime stories.
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