Review: Top Boy (Netflix)

In the aftermath of Channel 4’s cancellation of Top boy: Summerhouse nearly 6 years ago, it was thanks to the world’s biggest selling Hip Hop artist that life was breathed back into the the Hackney crime drama. After Drake expressed his admiration for the show on social media, the show’s lead actor Ashley Walters told Radio 1 Newsbeat "The next thing I knew, we were sitting in a room with Netflix. And here we are" at season 3 premiere. The show’s gritty and realistic depiction of the East London estate is truly a refreshing break from the usual hospital or police drama that materialise on our screens. The show continues to capture the attention of teenage audiences and adults alike with the introduction of British Rapper and songwriter Dave to the third season in his debut acting role as London’s new big bad dealer Modie. The latest season also featured an album with some of the world’s most talented, up and coming Hip Hop/Rap artists including Dave, Fredo, AJ Tracy, Giggs, Nafe Smallz and, of course, Drake himself.

The show follows Hackney’s most notorious drug dealer and gangster Dushane Hill (Ashley Walters) and his two right-hand men, Sully (Kane Brett Robinson) and Dris (Shone Romulus) in their ongoing attempts to be East London's ‘top boys’. However despite the brother-like trio being partners in crime, we observe as they each face their own personal struggles and how they cope with the outrageous things they are forced to do. With every step they take, they are faced with another twice as hellish. With a constant rising threat from rival gangs and the police, we observe as Dushane’s drug empire rises and falls.

It’s clear that Netflix ramped up the budget from the all new 10 episode season (seasons 1 & 2 were 4 episodes each) with a hugely different cast that saw the likes of Michael Ward, who plays Hackney’s fresh and latest top boy, Jamie. The newest season continues to impress fans due to its authenticity of life as a youngster growing up in the streets of London surrounded by the presents of poverty, drugs, knife crime and illegal firearms. But at the true heart of Top Boy lies the unbelievably complex relationships these characters have with each other and their personal motive for being involved in this dangerous world. Whether it be to provide for their children or purely to make huge money fast, the characters are constantly faced with unthinkably hard choices that could leave them with a bag full of cash or a bullet to the head. However it’s not just the ruthless drug dealers that Top Boy’s compelling narrative follows but also the innocent children and families who live on the Hackney estate, surrounded by such violence.

All in all Netflix’s revival of the London crime drama offers something utterly different and unique to grace our screens. Instead of the ordinary police/detective drama, our perspective is turned upside down and we find ourselves rooting for the despicable drug dealers and savage gangsters.

Our review: 4.5 stars out of 5