Legends Review
Director: Brady Hood and Julian Holmes
Date Created: 2026-05-07 18:40
2.5
Legends Review: Directed by Brady Hood and Julian Holmes and written by Neil Forsyth, Netflix’s British crime drama stars Tom Burke as Guy, Steve Coogan as Don, Douglas Hodge as Blake, Aml Ameen as Bailey, Hayley Squires as Kate, Jasmine Blackborow as Erin, Charlotte Ritchie as Sophie and others. The series has six episodes, with each running close to an hour, takes viewers back to 1990s Britain during the height of the heroin crisis.
Legends Review
The Story of Netflix series Legends opens with Britain experiencing an epidemic of heroin that is slowly taking lives across the nation. The government is eager for results, prompting Blake, who leads the customs (played by Douglas Hodge), and Don Clarke, an ex-undercover officer (played by Steve Coogan), to embark on a mission unprecedented in their previous endeavours. Unlike in the past, where they relied on agents and spies to uncover drug rings, they turn to ordinary customs officers.
However, this show takes quite some time to properly introduce us to these recruits before diving right into the middle of the action. In fact, it is during this process that the viewer finds themselves liking this series even more. Guy, played by Tom Burke, has been shown to be shy and alone, making him the ideal person for any undercover mission. On the other hand, Kate, played by Hayley Squires, appears to be rather edgy due to being unhappy with her usual job. Bailey, played by Aml Ameen, is a much more calculating fellow, always wondering if all the risks are worth it.
From the moment when the covert operations get underway, the plot begins to revolve around the gradual infiltration of these fictitious personalities – known as “legends” in the series – into their creators. The narrative surrounding Guy gets the spotlight as he dives into the drug trafficking organisation of Hakan in Turkey via Mylonas, his former colleague, who serves as the intermediary for both sides. Observing the process by which Guy gains the confidence of his contacts within the criminal organisation ranks among the most intriguing aspects of the series due to the constant threat hanging over his head.
Netflix’s Legends series succeeds greatly in portraying the immense tiringness that comes along with working as an undercover agent. Guy is forced to lie to criminals, manipulate people, and even cut ties with his own family for the sake of the mission. Several times throughout the series, one can notice his wife Sophie (played by Charlotte Ritchie) observing the changes in him, silently depicting how the stress of the mission is slowly taking a toll on him. Unlike other shows, the series delves into themes such as paranoia and identity crises rather than action.
However, Kate and Bailey’s story in Liverpool brings a whole new dimension to the story. The mission is not as organised and structured since Kate has direct dealings with the criminals in the streets who operate under gangster Carter. While Guy takes his time adjusting to this new environment, Kate frequently resorts to aggression, making her the reason for some of the conflict in the team. Bailey emerges as one of the most likeable characters because of the racism he experiences as well.
Something I liked about this Netflix Legends series is that there is no attempt to make those characters look glamorous and heroic. On the contrary, most of them appear worn out, anxious, and emotionally exhausted. It even applies to Don Clarke, who behaves like a mentor to those newbies. The actor Steve Coogan does a pretty decent job in his role as he plays an extremely nervous character who feels as if all the poor decisions made on this mission are his fault.
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It is quite easy for Tom Burke to pull off the best performance among those seen in the series. Burke’s Guy seems emotionally shattered even before the start of the mission, making the character’s transformation into the criminal realm believable enough. There will be times when one is tempted to think that Burke has gone out of control and is getting lost within the fabricated personality. This psychological battle becomes far more fascinating compared to the crime-solving process.
Nonetheless, while both the character development and the gripping opening to Legends of Tomorrow were excellent, the pace of the show begins to slacken in the second half. With each deeper part of the mission, the plot becomes increasingly formulaic. The episodes begin depending extensively on lengthy discussions, meetings, and even surveillance that are too drawn out. Rather than creating natural suspense, the show becomes predictable and routine.
The major issue lies in the fact that although Netflix’s Legends is constantly stressing the importance of the mission to the audience, the emotional impact is not made clear enough. Allusions to the heroin devastation in Britain are often made; however, the personal side of the issue is never brought out. This results in the series losing its emotional aspect in some significant moments that should be emotional milestones of the series.
Netflix Legends Review: Summing Up
Overall, Legends appears to be a series with an intriguing plot that has never really fulfilled its true potential. The theme of undercover work, the psychological pressure, and the character’s identity crisis make the series rather captivating, particularly when it comes to Guy’s part of the storyline. Nevertheless, it is the lack of a consistent pace and predictable narrative pattern that prevents it from being a suspenseful piece of art.
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