The leaders of national intelligence services don’t typically become national heroes. Their usual goal is to stay under the radar. But whether intentionally or not, the director of Huenya’s Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) has assumed an outsize role on the national stage.
FIS Director Cuetlancaona has surged in popularity and become a viral sensation in the Caxcanan country. The phenomenon began after he was used as a character in the popular adult animated series The Enforcers, on Huenya’s H6 television network. The series follows the exploits of a real-life special agent with the Special Investigative and Prosecutorial Service (SIPS), Chimalpopoca “The Enforcer”. Chimalpopoca and his team of law enforcement officers are famous in Huenya for their successes in defeating separatist and terrorist cells. They are also famous for their pursuit of war criminals and wanted figures from the civil war period. Cuetlancaona entered the story as part of several episodes featuring joint efforts by SIPS and FIS to go after terrorists.
While The Enforcers was the beginning of Cuetlancaona’s entrance into the spotlight, the major surge in his popularity began with a spinoff H6 created called The Guardians. The new show, which premiered in February, has focused on the missions of FIS’ Intervention Program. The Intervention Program involves Huenyan intelligence agents undertaking missions in countries such as Xiomera and Milintica. Both The Enforcers and The Guardians have been criticized by Huenyan media observers for being overdramatized and unrealistic portrayals of SIPS and FIS missions, as well as their actual successes. The Center for Media Studies at the Huenyan National University of Chuaztlapoc has labeled both shows as “state propaganda thinly disguised as harmless entertainment”.
Despite that, The Guardians in particular has emerged as a runaway success for H6. “The show has capitalized on Huenyans’ zeal to challenge the Xiomeran Empire, and tyrannical states in general,” Xocoyotl of the Center for Media Studies said. “It has also tapped deeply into Huenyans’ desire to see their country as strong and successful, especially after the Golden Blade insurgency rattled people. Seeing Huenyan agents portrayed as bravely taking on missions that thwart imperial ambitions and change the course of events in the world feeds into that desire.”
The success of The Guardians has put Cuetlancaona center stage as the leader of those efforts, raising his profile and popularity to levels rivaling figures such as President Xiadani and High General Texōccoatl. “The show portrays Cuetlancaona as a steel-jawed, relentless and strong leader guiding the fight against Huenya’s enemies and the enemies of freedom and democracy. It was almost inevitable that he would become a hero figure in this way,” Xocoyotl said.
The success of the show has turned Cuetlancaona into a viral phenomenon. Merchandise such as blankets, plush toys and cardboard cutouts bearing the FIS director’s likeness have begun popping up online and in shops throughout the country. Action figures of Cuetlancaona are also being marketed next to those of other star figures from The Enforcers and The Guardians. Users have also increasingly been using AI to generate images of themselves with the FIS director in various settings. AI also is being used to show Cuetlancaona in different heroic, dramatic and even silly settings.
The FIS director himself has refused to comment on the phenomenon, saying that he is focused on his job. But his sudden popularity has led to speculation that a political party could draft Cuetlancaona for Huenya’s June elections. “The Unification Party is unlikely to urge him to run, as they are solidly backing President Xiadani. But another of Huenya’s parties would love to use his popularity to break the dominance the Unification Party has on national politics,” political consultant Icnoyopil said. He cited a possible coalition between the Huenyan Conservative Party and the Party of Huītzilōpōchtli as the most likely landing place for Cuetlancaona, should the FIS director decide on a presidential bid.
If elections were held today, multiple polls indicate that Cuetlancaona is the only candidate who polls close to the President. “Cuetlancaona and Xiadani essentially run neck and neck. In a race where only one of them is running, either one of them would have at least a twenty-point lead on any likely opponent,” Icnoyopil said.
Whether Cuetlancaona enters politics or not, his popularity has proven to be a boon to the makers of fan items in Huenya. “Ever since The Guardians came out, I can’t make stuff with his face on it fast enough,” Yolizoh told DTNS. The owner of a factory in Acalan, Yolizoh makes blankets and pillows featuring the FIS director. “We’re doing three production shifts a day, and it’s still not enough. Everyone loves the guy, he’s handsome, smart and tough. Men or women, it doesn’t matter. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to my business.” When asked who she would vote for in a theoretical match-up between Xiadani and Cuetlancaona, Yolizoh didn’t hesitate. “Xiadani isn’t the one selling hundreds of these blankets and plushies a day. Who should I vote for?” she asked.
