Kechae West offers a frank and thought-provoking review of the popular Netflix series Top Boy.
Top Boy is a crime and drama British tv series filmed in Hackney, East London, it showcases younger kids living on the estate who are surrounded by drugs, crime, violence and money. The desire for power and status are huge themes within the series, where being in a high position and pursuing a lifestyle of wealth is the goal.
Most of the cast in all three seasons are young black males, living on the estate – Top Boy shows how such individuals are easily swayed into the idea of being a ‘Top Boy’, whether this is due to a desire to help their family financially, live a better life for themselves, impress somebody or be respected by their peers.
Top Boy: Summerhouse (Season 1) is primarily based on a young teen male called Ra’Nell (Malcolm Kamulete), who is a good kid and really cares for his mother, she suffered with mental illness due to past issues with his father.
This is very hard on him and he does what he can to help her. Without his father being in his life he wants to ensure he is doing right by his mother – this can be a common issue within black families where the father is not present in their child’s life and the male child steps up to take responsibility.
He stayed in school and looked after himself and the flat whilst his mother was away. Ra’Nell is knowledgeable about what happens around the estate and does not want to get mixed up in it, he has a kind heart and is willing to help others – however his kindness of heart is taken advantage of and gets him in some trouble.
The kids who are working for the gang are not in school and always on the estate selling drugs, being on the lookout and taking orders from Dushane (Ashley Walters) who is the leader of the gang. They are told to see it as being a family, which can suggest that they have issues within their own family or at home.
When Top Boy (Season 3) was released in 2019, a new cast was introduced, it illustrated the same issues and was filled with more action and drama. When Dushane and Sully return with the idea to take the lead again, they run into competition.
You would think from when they left, life would be viewed differently and they would not want to get into that life of crime again. At the end of the second season their life was in danger, and a young boy who worked for them was thrown off an estate building to his death by dangerous people after he was trying to warn Dushane.
The show does not shy away from depicting the terrible repercussions of living this life of crime and violence, often showing how innocent people’s lives are put at stake especially when it comes to revenge which is another theme within the series; rival gangs often target the family or closest friends of their enemies to send a message.
Dushane, Sully and Dris who are the original members of the summerhouse gang are much older, and two have children (Sully and Dris). They are in a position of power and influence towards the younger generation.
Throughout the series relationships and loyalty are tested. Not only does the series focus on young people being encouraged into crime but adults too, and it looks at several significant social issues that those living in poverty must deal with such as being single parents, drug addiction, and the problems that come with financial issues.
All three seasons of the show are very good, depicting the reality of what some people go through in a challenging but interesting way.