Top Boy (Season 4)

Bigger, badder, bolder - Ronan Bennett, you did it again!

From the first two episodes, director Brady Hood encapsulated the audience as he artistically portrayed the streets' grit and the characters' vulnerabilities through excellent cinematography.

I watched in awe, thinking, 'this is grim in HD' I felt like I was watching a Hollywood film. I believe the use of big close-ups in the first two episodes set the precedent of an intimate watching experience, informing the audience that we would get deeper into these characters. And boy, did we dive in!

Often characters from the streets, especially those of African heritage, are dehumanised and placed in a one-dimensional box, portrayed as thugs, villains, and cold-hearted individuals. But this season of Top Boy skillfully allowed the viewer the opportunity to see beyond the surface of these 'hardened' criminals. We were allowed to gain understanding and clarity through their vulnerabilities, seeing the tug and pull of their desires and reality. Equally, we were able to learn more about those characters who aren't directly involved in crime.

A prime example of this is Jaq. We see her evolution from one of the 'Mandem' to a Top Gyal, coupled with a slightly lighter feminine energy desiring to take care of those she rides for, her sister, members of the gang, and her love interest. Jaq's growth allowed us to see a multidimensional person who carries heavier masculine energy partly due to her surroundings but at times also exemplifies feminine qualities. Thus allowing the audience to sympathise with her, even when she portrays a more intricate, colder exterior. It's hard to smile with the world's weight on your shoulders, and you always have to be in defence mode, balancing blood and street ties.

Top Boy has always been mindful of depicting the less obvious underlying issues of the streets, such as mental health. And this season explored the impact of mismanaged mental health through the lens of Dushane and Sully. We see how stress impacts Dushane physically, with a heart condition, as he carries the heavy load of being a leader desiring a different reality and dealing with an ailing mother who isn't proud of him.

We also witness the unfolding of Sully's battle of living with the decisions he made due to the street code - I mean, he shot Dris 20 times, which would take some deep processing, even for Sully. His desire to withdraw and disconnect to establish a life where he can be the father is evident, but could his reputation let him slip away? It's apparent in this season that this might be a plight he has to bear.

Lauryn (Saffron Hocking) surprised me the most out of all the characters. The development of this character was astounding, from a major anti-hero in Season 3 to a significant protagonist; we got to experience more light and shade from her.

I think the last scene between Lauryn and Curtis is an award-winning one. Hocking's ability to portray a mix and blend of love, hate, revenge, and passion like a fierce lioness protecting her cub, was exceptional. When she said 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry', I mean my girl went there, and again, due to the storytelling, we could empathise with her, even though it was such a horrific situation. I was gripped further by her depiction of being shell-shocked/traumatised.

Image by Little Simz featured in The Face Magazine

I loved that this season had a more female presence, women who varied across the board, removing the stereotype that women of African Heritage are all the same. Collectively, they brought new eclectic energy to the show.

I can't lie; the ending messed me up! I do love me some Jamie, whose character development was also apparent. With this twist of events, I'm sure it will make for an exciting storyline in the next season; what will happen to Aaron and Stefan?

Due to the production value, the audience was introduced to other types of characters from the community, adding to the realism of Summerhouse Estate. The amalgamation of the ensemble cast storyline was impactful. It was interesting seeing the overarching Summerhouse project storyline and Dushane's significant influence over the decision making.

It takes a village to create such epicness, and although I've only mentioned some of the cast, one director and the creator, all the cast and crew did an exceptional job! Oh, big props for a fire soundtrack; the fusion of new and old school music perfectly drove the storylines.

Journal