
Diego Vásquez
Emilio de Jesús "El Crespo" Ortega Rangel

Un bandido honrado (2019) follows characters drawn into a defining drama crisis, where private motives collide with public stakes. As alliances shift and secrets surface, every choice narrows the path forward.
Un bandido honrado already argues with itself. Netflix sells the English title The Good Bandit. I expected a gun, a gold heart, one kind act, credits.
What you get, across 63 episodes, is stranger and funnier than that setup. This Colombian telenovela asks whether a criminal can be honorable, then will not let the answer sit still. It keeps turning the question toward the viewer, toward the stories we tell about justice, family, and the lies that pass for home.
Diego Vásquez plays the bandit. His face does not look like a clean ledger. Decider called the series a "true telenovela," which, given the 63-episode run, is a warning and an invitation in the same breath.
Antiheroes have been clogging screens for decades. The difference is that this show will not pardon him for being interesting. You do not get a redemption arc handed over in a speech.
You get a long, meandering negotiation with the idea of redemption, and the negotiation is the plot.

"A lighthearted Colombian telenovela with charm and binge-worthy appeal, though not groundbreaking."
Viewers appreciate the series for its comedic tone and the engaging performance of Diego Vásquez as the titular character, making it an entertaining watch. However, some note that the story follows familiar telenovela tropes, which may not surprise those well-versed in the genre. latestnetflix.com's read is that the 63-episode length is seen as both a pro and con—ample content for binge-watchers but potentially repetitive for others.
Caracol Televisión’s 2019 series Un bandido honrado (A Honest Outlaw) promised a fresh twist on the classic antihero trope—blending crime, comedy, and a dash of moral redemption. With a cast led by Diego Vásquez, Carolina Acevedo, and Norma Nivia, latestnetflix.com argues, the show carved out a niche in Colombia’s primetime lineup. But what really went down behind the cameras? Here’s what the limited behind-the-scenes chatter reveals.
Vásquez, a veteran of Colombian television, took center stage as the titular bandido honrado—a criminal with an unlikely code of ethics. In a behind-the-scenes clip from Caracol Televisión, he teased the complexity of his character, though the snippet stops short of specifics . Another interview on Bravíssimo hinted at the actor’s personal connection to the role, though again, details are frustratingly vague . What is clear? Vásquez’s portrayal was a major selling point for the series, with promotional material leaning heavily on his charisma to draw viewers .
Rumor mill: Some outlets suggest Vásquez’s character was inspired by real-life figures in Colombia’s underworld, but no concrete evidence ties the show to specific events or individuals.
While Vásquez dominated headlines, the supporting cast added depth to the series. Freddy Ordóñez, a lesser-known actor at the time, landed a role that briefly put him in the spotlight. In an interview with La Kalle, he described his character as a "pivotal piece of the puzzle," though the snippet doesn’t elaborate on the plot or his character’s arc . Other cast members—like Carolina Acevedo and Norma Nivia—were name-checked in promotional material, but their behind-the-scenes contributions remain largely undocumented .
Notable absence: Despite the ensemble cast, there’s little to no public chatter about on-set chemistry, rivalries, or standout moments among the actors. Either the cast kept things professional, or the press simply didn’t dig deeper.
One area where Un bandido honrado left a tangible mark? Its original soundtrack. Titled Mejor correpto que corrupto (Better a Thief Than Corrupt), the OST was released in 2019 and garnered attention on platforms like SensCritique . The title track, in particular, became a minor anthem for the show’s blend of humor and moral ambiguity. Unfortunately, the evidence doesn’t reveal who composed the music or whether it was a critical darling—just that it existed and was part of the series’ marketing push.
For all its promise, Un bandido honrado remains a bit of a mystery. Behind-the-scenes coverage is sparse, with most sources focusing on surface-level promotions rather than juicy details. There’s no word on the creator’s vision, the writing process, or even how many episodes were produced. The show’s legacy seems to hinge on Vásquez’s performance and the soundtrack, while the rest fades into the background.
If you’re looking for scandal, drama, or deep dives into production woes, this isn’t the series for it. But if you’re curious about a quirky, under-documented Colombian crime-comedy, Un bandido honrado might just be worth a watch—if only to fill in the blanks yourself.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.