Living in the UK, I remember when Top Boy first aired on TV back in 2011 and what a huge deal it was. The show was a massive success and a truly groundbreaking look at the drug and gang culture in London. This is a brutal and hard-hitting show that holds nothing back and now that Netflix has the show, things have gotten even better.
How to Download Top Boy
You can download or stream the film from Netflix. Click on the Download button at the end of this review. Check out also our review of another drug-related crime TV show – Narcos.
The Movie Review
Ok, so there is a thing we have to address here and that is Netflix taking over the show in 2019. Netflix made things a bit confusing as their 2019 season is classed as season one, whereas the original two seasons that Channel 4 made are called, Top Boy: Summerhouse. You could watch the Netflix seasons on their own, but trust me, make sure you watch Summerhouse first.
Talking about a show like Top Boy is kind of tough as it is the kind of show you really need to experience for yourself, without any spoilers. The series takes place in Summerhouse which is a fictional estate in Hackney, London. Our two main characters are Dushane and Sully who are drug dealers that go from nothing to pretty much kingpins in the London drug scene.
We have a ton of other interesting characters too such as Ra’Nell who is my favorite. Ra’Nell is a major focus of season one where he is trying to help a friend grow and sell a bunch of cannabis so she can escape to a better life. Of course, anyone trying to grow and sell drugs in a place like this is going to have to answer to someone and before long there is a violent battle over territory and respect.
The way the characters progress is very interesting, I loved how in season two we had Dushane and Sully kind of be at odds with each other for part of it. Sully ends up in some real trouble with a new crew that he tried to start and ends up having to get Dushane’s help once again.
The third season is where Netflix took over and we do have a bit of a time jump. Dushane is trying to live a “normal” life in Jamaica, but he ends up falling in with a drug dealer there. Before long, Dushane is back in London trying to sell drugs for his new “friend” that he met in Jamaica.
However, on his return to London, he soon realizes that a brutal new crew has taken over and they won’t stand for him trying to get in on their territory. Season four builds upon the epic showdown at the end of season three and what I like about season four is the way that we see that being a “top boy” is not as great as certain characters thought it would be.
Top Boy is a thrilling and entertaining ride that is just so hard to stop watching once you start. It was great when it first aired, but thanks to being able to binge watch it, it is now even better. While I do like the original Channel 4 seasons, I must admit that I like the direction Netflix has taken the show in just a tad better. Just make sure you watch the “Summerhouse” seasons first!
