Top Boy: Summerhouse | Review |

One of the very few silver linings to this dark cloud of despondency, known as Covid-19, is the amount of spare time available to binge-watch the Netflix streaming service. In the past 2 and a bit months, I've spent countless hours on the site; watching films, series and documentaries. In this mini-series of articles, I wish to rank these shows according to my preference. As a disclaimer, I should mention I have previously watched all 5 seasons of Breaking Bad so therefore this show is exempt from these writings.

 6. Top Boy: Summerhouse: Coming in at 6th place is Top Boy: Summerhouse. I refrain from calling this 'last place' because I feel this show deserves credit where it's due. For those of you who are unaware, Top Boy: Summerhouse or 'the original' Top Boy was created in 2011 by Channel 4 and broadcast over 4 nights in late October. The series lasted 2 seasons and had a grand total of 8 episodes. The series was later revived by popular rapper Drake and this show subsequently adopted the name Top Boy: Summerhouse. I'm not going to lie, I had to research this after watching one episode and wondering when the iconic Dave was going to make an appearance, only to discover he features in the new series.

 Summerhouse is the central location of this series; a block of flats at the heart of a gang run by Dushane (Ashley Walters) and Sully (Kane Robinson). A 15-year-old Ra'nell (Malcolm Kamulete) resides in one of the flats in Summerhouse and the story follows his struggles and strife in life; such as his unwell mother (Sharon Duncan-Brewster), his relationship with his best mate Gem (Giacomo Mancini), his involvement with his mother's friend's cannabis crop, and his resistance to joining the local conformity of Dushane's gang. The central focus of this series is Dushane and Sully's path to the top and the conflict that arises with each step forward. With the help of the 'enforcer' Dris (Shone Romulus), the couple rise through the ranks of the London drug trade. In season 2, arrests lead to great moments of tension and pressure on the nearly estranged 'business associates' as well as the 12-year-old Michael (Xavien Russell).

 One of my biggest issues with this show is it's lack of focus in the opening season. As a consumer of the first season, I didn't know who I was supposed to treat as the main character. The show gave plenty of focus to Ra'nell but then as season 2 began, his story dwindled drastically as he began to escape the standards set by the gang in his area. I don't understand why the season really zoned in on him and his relationship with his mother as well as Leon (Nicholas Pinnock) and then they completely wasted all the minutes and hours of character development in season 2 as his story reached a vapid conclusion.

 I have to admit, the atmosphere created in this series is depicts the streets of London masterfully and enforces the lack of opportunity or hope for it's residents as they become cogs in the great contraption of crime. This can be seen in season 2 as Ra'nell doesn't succeed in his trials (sorry, spoiler alert) and as pressure grows on his mother at the salon and Gem's father at the chipper. I thought one of the character's I felt most connected to was Gem, surprisingly. A real 'gem' in this show, if you will. His innocence and attachment to his dog can be related to massively by anyone and when blackmailed by Vincent, you can feel the despair germinating inside him and we also share the relief as the problem is resolved.

 This 'prequel' instills feelings for the main characters of the new series. Dushane is revealed to have been raised by a single mother as his father walks the streets with his new family and a broad smile plastered on his face. His failed relationship with the lawyer emphasizes his prioritisation of his work ahead of his relationships with others. Sully, on the other hand, is a father but develops a father-like bond with Jason (Ricky Smarts) and this bond is enhanced in the new series.

 In its essence, the show feels like a prequel to the 2019 Top Boy, despite it's latest season being produced 6 years prior to the former. In my opinion, the conclusion to season 2 leaves the viewer with much to chew on and desiring answers to burning questions (a brilliant, nail-biting finale). I don't want to spoil the ending for any keen spectators but anyone who has finished the series in its entirety will know what I mean. Perhaps if renewed, we would have gotten these answers from Channel 4 but I think the new version is superior to the original in most conceivable ways.

 I believe Top Boy: Summerhouse is a necessity before watching the latest installments and it forms the foundations of our relationships with Dushane, Sully and Dris. I would give the show a 78/100
Next week I will present my 5th favourite series.