User reviews

Top Boy is a well written, well acted British crime drama that is a must watch for any fan of this kind of genre. People calls shows underrated all the time but this is definitely underrated. It's one of those shows where once you start watching it you can't stop. The cast does such an excellent job sucking you into their world. The acting and writing is just so good that they really make you care about their characters and what happens to them. Each character has depth and this show shows that each of their actions have huge consequences. The only bad thing I have to say about it is that the seasons are so incredibly short. I really can't recommend this show enough!

I highly recommend Top Boy for any fan of gritty, intense dramas! I didn't watch it until recently because of everything I heard about it and I'm so glad I finally gave it a chance and that Netflix made the incredible choice of bringing it back because it's as good as ever!

I've largely avoided this series because I thought it would be bad story bad acting with posh drama school teens as gangsters n hood rats. I was wrong ... It's a great story very well crafted n filmed. The acting is very good too. So I came late to the party... But at least I'm here now.

Haven't written a review in years but had to rectify this wrong.

It's really unfair how stupid movies and series get thousands of reviews and recognition but gems like this only have 30 odd reviews. Hopefully now that Netflix has picked up season 3 and produced a masterpiece, maybe it will start to get the recognition it deserves.

For people watching the 3rd season first, you can watch it as a standalone as even though it is a continuing story line from past seasons like Narcos, etc, you will still understand whats going on and will really connect with the characters.

All in all a very gritty and realistic ride. The character development, suspense, twists are great and at the end of it you will be left wondering why you haven't heard of or seen this series before.

P.S - The ending of season 3 left very mouth watering prospects for season 4 to fulfill.

This series is everything you can possibly want, compelling, gripping, absorbing. If you enjoyed The Wire or The Shield, this is the show for you. I accidentally ran across it on Netflix and was captured instantly. I watched it back to back and then watched all 4 episodes again. Excellent. Its about time there is something different and unique to watch. Looking forward to Season 2. This is a solid piece of work. The theme is more than just hoodlums, drugs and violence, it received just a strong audience response because the acting is so precise you feel compassion and understanding. You begin to root for the bad guy and want the drug deal to be executed, and the villain becomes somehow good. This fantastic show reaches beyond just entertainment, it reaches your heart. A must see.

Oh my god Netflix have gone and done it. They have made a great series even better. I think this new revival is even better than the original made by channel 4. Hopefully they commission another series.

I can't honestly remember when I last watched a series back to back all in one sitting. This series had me gripped from the start and I just had to watch it all back to back. Really great storyline and fantastic acting from the entire cast - they were all brilliant. I cannot recommend this highly enough - I can see why it scored so high. I am impressed.... Well done!

This show is flawless in every way.

The story, acting, music, atmosphere, just blew me away. The ending was emotional and must admit, I hated Dushane at the close but hands down, the best thing I've watched in years.

Outstanding performance (especially Sully and Dris).

A truly brilliant show.

A very raw gritty look into the darker side of London's ghettos & the reality of everyday life done flawlessly in this 3 part series from composition to the cast it's a masterclass and definatley Top of its game.. a solid 10/10

This would have gotten 8 or 9 stars from me, if the fight scenes hadn't been recorded by someone with adhd and parkinsons, after drinking 10 cups of coffee.

The first thing to point out, there are 4 series in total but 3 & 4 are the recent releases, c. 10 years on from the original 2. S3/4 are significantly better than the first 2. You don't need to watch the first 2 (on Netflix as Top Boy: Summerhouse - separate title). But it does give you some insight into some of the characters and the dynamic between a few of them, Dushane and Sully in particular, and the latter's relationship with Jason, which all seems a bit random off the bat in series 3.

This review is mainly for S3/4:

This really is a gripping watch. A significant improvement on the first 2 series mainly down to the brilliance of Michael Ward (playing Jamie), who completely steals the show. This is backed up by a great performance by Kano (Sully), who to my surprise is a very capable actor who's brilliant in this. Asher D as the main character is ok, and there are brilliant supporting acts all around, in particular from Jaq and some of the child actors ('Ats' is really good!).

The first episode, set in Jamaica is a little slow. I spent half of the time trying to understand some of the thick accents but stick with it as the show moves forward quickly.

I could write all day about how good this show is. The characters make it great, the best dynamic is the hot and cold relationship between Dushane and Sully, along with a similar up and down relationship between Jamie and his 2 brothers. Then, away from these friendships, who will make it to 'Top Boy' status. The difficult part as a viewer is you're rooting for all 3!

The show is mainly a hard hitting gangland thriller but does also feature some extremely hard hitting storylines. As inevitably on a new Netflix show, it does walk a thin line into woke storylines for the sake of it in S4 but it delivers them so well, the majority fit in with the exception of a gay prejudice attack, which has no real relevance. The very powerful storylines are a windrush style deportation and an extremely well done mental abuse/coercion plot. This was downright uncomfortable viewing at times but was integrated into the man plot with a fantastic villain. There's also several sub plots on kids getting into working for the drug lords, which gives insight on the challenges a lot of kids face IRL in these areas.

These things are going on while all the while 'Top Boys' are vying for position as the king of summerhouse, not always with each other too, there are lots of external threats and gangs that cause mayhem.

All in all a brilliant show and I'm really looking forward to the upcoming series 5.

Finally - the ought to put a 'teeth kissing' disclaimer in series 3 & 4, as almost every sentence either starts or ends with one.....you get used to it.

Nothing special, not understand the high ratings, is literally more of the same, plus, very slow.

Top Boy is a show that I can really connect with, not only is it set in home (London) everything about this is so realistic, you'll be shocked upon watching but it is a fact. Top Boy is Incredible. Dushane Hill (Ashley Walters) is a character who has alot of problems that are always in need of sorting, being the top boy of the streets can't be easy.

I really enjoyed Top Boy: Summerhouse, everyone was talking about it when it was around, now we have Top Boy with a new addition to the series Michsrl Ward, playing Jamie, Big brother who is also playing dad to his two younger brothers awhile being on the road trying to gain the title Top Boy.

All in all I loved every second of this, if you're looking for a programme that gets right into the ghetto then you're in the right place! This is phenomenal show that deserves all the respect and praise it gets. Kano plays Dushanes right hand man Sully, and out of everyone I would say he is the best, you'll see what I mean when you watch it, everyone played their roles so good and it's definitely worth watching, by far the best crime drama, a perfect hood show.

Highly Recommend this show, it's so good, who is your favourite Top Boy?

Wagwan. I don't want to ramble on but bloody hell, this series never ceases to amaze me - besides the fact that I have to wait for Drake and whoever else pays for Ronan to start writing the next season. Get the man a pencil fam. Yes, it may be slightly predictable at times but all in all, the acting, cinematography and general vibe is brilliant innit. Sully.... Say less.

Drama set in London about two friends and their gang trying to get rich the only way they know how; selling drugs. The cast is a mix of actors and grime artists such as Kano and Scorcher all of whom are from gang London so they know how the character should be therefore giving their characters true realism. The shows gives an inside look into London gang lifestyle on the estates of London and how kids become 'shotters' for the more notorious people on the estates. Each episode of Top Boy has a gripping storyline which keeps you wanting more; one millions viewers for a urban C4 show cannot be wrong. Not only is the acting good, but the soundtrack is phenomenal, showcasing a lot of London grime artists.

I have reached Season 3. I have not left a review in years; but this show changed my mind. The casting is as inspired as 'The Wire' was. It's also interesting to note that (like The Wire) the plot starts to evolve, and spin off. As life does. Real estate and gentrification rears its head. No compromises on the dialects.

I got to say that one of my favorite scenes is in Season 3 when the 3 brothers are sitting on a bench that commemorates their mother, and Jamie hands off a few bills to his younger brothers. The look on the young ones face, when he realizes he got less. No words, but priceless.

Those rare occassions where season 2 is a level up. Take a bow Team Top Boy. Gritty, slick, and superb acting. Love the nuances and emotions this season brings. A series whixh does not try too hard to be cool, that's what makes it better.

Cracking series! One of the best I've seen from the acting to the whole story line. Better be another series.

Netflix did well to revive top boy after channel 4 dropped it for this new season it is really worth it

I have loved TopBoy from the original series and was so happy it was resurrected, the first 2 new series gave me everything I wanted and was joy to watch. I loved the characters and Sully in particular was the Topboy the enacting was great and storylines were well written, Sadly the final series has left me underwhelmed, the six part series just felt like it was rushed, there is no real storyline flipping from immigration protests to evri toon protests Tia little bit of what we all tuned in for.

To me Sully again showed he was the Topboy and Dushane just did not fit the part, but what I think let me down was the ending, I have seen many shows that failed to deliver and I think this unfortunately is one of them, the last part was entertaining in parts and showed us all what we expected from the series but it was predictable that as we knew this was the last season all dates were obvious.

Being a non native speaker, I gotta watch the show with subtitles, to really not miss on anything said. The set n setting are well done, some projects, low income, crime is abundant. Different characters battle for the crown, to rule the estate, the streets.

I just enjoy about everything this show does, but one thing: they introduce and build characters, make them interesting and that you want to know more about them, then they simply disappear or do not have any matter regarding the storyline. Aside from that, this show is definitley mint. Nine outta ten and hoping for more. Very well executed by directors, producers and actors. Thank you for the entertainment.

I don't understand alle the 8, 9 or 10 for this series. It's bad acting, lame script and boring. Just stopped after episode 2 - waiste of time seeing this.