TopBoy Thoughts and Feelings

Raphael August 08, 2013 0 Comment

I am sure the majority of young people in London, tuned in to watch the short series drama Topboy, 2 years ago. For those who are not quite familiar with the show, it was 4 episode drama/crime thriller about what happens in the streets and estates of London…Relating to drugs, crime, violence and most of all young people.

A couple days ago I decided to watch shows/films that tried to replicate what happens in the less richer places in London, and out of all of them Topboy had done the best job. It had shown all the violence, struggle, drugs and the people correctly. However, what made Topboy stand out from all the other shows was the main character (Ra’nell). Ra’nell is a young black teenager with a mentally unstable mother, an abusive father (whom he attacks when he sees his dad abusing his mother), a naive friend and a crazy world around him.

The thing that stands out about Ra’nell is his courage and intelligence. Ra’nell had been chosen to join the estates gang in their drug world but he chose not to do so, even though it would be quick money and a lot of money. Unlike his naive friend who takes the first chance to get into the gang, Ra’nell steps back from it even though he is pressured continuously he knew it wasn’t right. His intelligence told him what the right thing to do, while his courage was to stand up to the gang leaders and not give in to peer pressure.

Peer pressure has a huge impact on young people, it takes courage and persistence to not give in…Everybody has courage, they just need to find it within them!

Topboy can be watched on youtube

Here’s 2 of the main characters talking about Topboy 2 which is being shown this autumn!

[youtube id="" widiOTEHSaL-xsth="620" height="360"]

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