Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.
In 2011, we were introduced to Dushane (Ashley Walters) and Sully (Kane “Kano” Robinson) as they tried to navigate the treacherous waters of the London criminal underworld. They were each, in their own way, trying to be the Top Boy — that is, the head of the underground economy of drug dealing. The first season aired on Channel 4 in Britain in 2011, and the second season aired in 2013. (Both are available on Netflix as “Top Boy: Summerhouse.”) The show was, thereafter, shelved, but it did not stay on the shelf.
Aubrey Graham, better known to the world as Drake, was a fan of the show and brought it back with the help of Maverick Carter and Drake’s manager, Future the Prince.
“Top Boy” stands above the many similar shows that have come out in the past 10 years.
“BMF” is an enjoyable show to watch, but it does not have the depth of storytelling of “Top Boy.” It’s good for discussion but does not stand up to critical scrutiny. The “Power” franchise is good popcorn TV, but it does not compare to “Top Boy.” The characters are paper thin, and the narrative feels more like a telenovela than a serious examination of crime. There is suspense in the storytelling (indeed, we cannot wait to see what is going to happen next), but once you step back from the series and examine it holistically, you may realize that what you’ve been watching is hollow. “Power” amuses, but it does not edify.
“Snowfall” gets the closest. In fact, I enjoyed that show so much that I wrote about it. With “Snowfall,” you get depth. You get an understanding of how drug policies in America are connected to America’s war on Black bodies.
Yet, “Snowfall” is not a perfect show. Much of the…
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