# Under Siege: Netflix's 1985 Colombia Palace Siege Drama

> Netflix's 'Under Siege' dramatizes the 1985 Colombian Palace of Justice siege with fictional characters based on real events.
- Title: Under Siege: Netflix's 1985 Colombia Palace Siege Drama
- Summary: Netflix's 'Under Siege' dramatizes the 1985 Colombian Palace of Justice siege with fictional characters based on real events.
- Keywords: colombia, netflix, stream it or skip it, under siege, palace of justice, m-19, guerrilla, siege, supreme court, bogota, Decider
- Source: Decider — https://decider.com/2026/11/06/under-seige-netflix-review
- Published: 2026-11-06T22:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: colombia, netflix, stream it or skip it, under siege, palace of justice, m-19, guerrilla, siege, supreme court, bogota, entertainment, culture
## The 1985 Siege
In November 1985, the Colombian guerrilla group M-19 seized the Palace of Justice in Bogotá, ending with over 100 deaths including Supreme Court justices.

> In November, 1985, the Colombian guerilla group M-19 took the Palace of Justice in Bogotá . The two-day siege ended with a military raid that killed over 100 people, including a number of Supreme Court justices.
## The Show's Premise
The series follows M-19 member Memo scouting the Palace for a date with Mona while tensions escalate between the group and the government.

> Two months before the November 6-7, 1985 siege of the Palace of Justice by the guerrilla group M-19, a couple meet at the Palace. Memo (Santiago Londoño) tells Mona (Mariana Gómez) that he wants to take her to the cafe there for a date, but he’s really there to scout out the fourth floor, where the Supreme Court justices have offices.
## Historical Context
The siege occurred after years of political tension, with military leaders initially believing the guerillas wouldn't attempt such a large building.

> The tensions between M-19 and the government have been at the breaking point for some time, to the point where Alfonso Reyes Echandía (Santiago Alarcón) requests protection for the Palace of Justice. The military generals think that the guerillas wouldn’t dare take such a massive building.
## Real-Life Basis
The show uses interviews and research from survivors of the military raid that killed over 100 people during the siege.

> Under Seige (Original title: Palacio ) reminded us of two recent dramas about the October 7 attacks in Israel: Red Alert and One Day In October .
## Viewing Experience
Viewers unfamiliar with Colombia's political history may find the complex timeline and characters confusing without context.

> We’re just not sure how it will resonate with viewers who are not as familiar with Colombia’s political history from that time period.
## Our Recommendation
Stream it if you understand Colombia's political history; otherwise, look up the Palace of Justice siege first.

> Our Call: STREAM IT. If you’re not familiar with Colombian’s political history, you should look up the Palace of Justice siege before watching Under Siege .
## Key takeaway

Netflix's 'Under Siege' adapts the 1985 Colombian Palace of Justice siege with fictional characters but requires viewers to understand Colombia's political history for context.