Viewers hail the gritty East London crime drama as the most realistic British series they’ve ever watched, with fans saying it’s ‘as close to real life as it gets’.
Parul Sharma GAU Senior Writer
07:00, 14 Apr 2026
All five seasons of the show have been highly lauded(Image: Netflix)
Fans of hard-hitting crime dramas, especially British crime dramas, need look no further for their next viewing marathon, as we’ve got the perfect suggestion for you.
Now available to watch on Netflix, this highly-rated programme is an underappreciated treasure and features Ashley Walters and Kane Robinson in the leading roles, alongside an impressive supporting cast including Malcolm Kamulete, Giacomo Mancini, Shone Romulus, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Jasmine Jobson, and Simbi Ajikawo.
Written and developed by Ronan Bennett, Top Boy is based on the fictional Summerhouse estate in the East London Borough of Hackney. The programme follows the story of two drug dealers and examines the widespread gang violence across London.
Spanning 32 episodes over five series, Top Boy’s opening season debuted in October 2011, with the second series arriving in 2013, though the programme was axed by Channel 4 in 2014.
Fans of gritty crime dramas needn’t look any further(Image: Channel 4)
After capturing the attention of Canadian rapper Drake, in 2017, Netflix revealed it would be resurrecting the series, with Drake and his production team joining as executive producers. Walters and Robinson were set to return to their roles, and the rest is history, reports the Express.
Netflix released three additional seasons of Top Boy between 2019 and 2023, with the initial two seasons appearing on the streaming service as Top Boy: Summerhouse.
The programme’s official synopsis states: “This drama takes viewers into the housing estates of East London. There is tension between the drug gangs that operate almost openly and those who strive to live honest lives against the odds in the crime-riddled area.
“That tension is explored through the interlocking stories of 20-something drug dealer Dushane, who is determined to become the area’s Top Boy, and good-natured but vulnerable teenager Ra’Nell, who is forced to grow up quickly following his mother’s breakdown and enforced absence.
“The program combines elements of a tense gangster thriller with subtle social realism, some tenderness, innocence and humor.”
Top Boy boasts an impressive critics approval rating of 97% across all five seasons on Rotten Tomatoes – an average that’s remarkably difficult to accomplish. It has also secured an 84% audience approval rating throughout the series on the review aggregator platform.
Garnering widespread acclaim across all five seasons, one critic remarked of the programme: “From the opening… this has been television drama at its outstanding best.”
Kane Robinson and Ashley Walters are the leading stars of Top Boy(Image: Channel 4)
Another critic writes: “The performances from cast members old and new simmer and flare brilliantly. Deeply steeped in place in a way that few other urban dramas are, it’s a must-see.”
While a third reviewer says: “It is not a flattering portrait of our times, but as a TV drama, it is up there with the best – tense, gripping and relentless.”
One critic said of the series’ conclusion: “British TV won’t be the same without a new Top Boy season to look forward to, but the show’s impact will remain everlasting: every character, every big narrative twist, every loss.”
While another wrote: “Top Boy is an ongoing masterpiece, the kind of show that will make your day and ruin your whole night.”
Viewer reviews echo similar sentiments, with one fan saying: “This has to be the best set of series I’ve ever seen. Having lived close to that kind of lifestyle, I found myself on a rollercoaster of emotions.
“It’s gripping, high speed pace carries the observer through a multitude of current, social issues. Sexual orientation, drugs, grief, love, poverty and teenage life. Plus much more. It’s as close to real life as it gets.”
Another fansaid about the programme: “You need to watch this. This show is phenomenal. Everything about it feels so real. Great cinematography, outstanding performances from the actors and really compelling story lines.”
Meanwhile, one Top Boy enthusiast added: “Finally. A Stupendously, Gripping and true depiction of the gangster life and underworld of Britain. Masterful. No black and white, biased nonsense that’s plagued the UK TV screens for so long.
“The director executed a phenomenal task and the actors, many of them who have absolutely NO acting experience does what so many drama brags cannot. Act.”
All five seasons of Top Boy are available to stream on Netflix.