Top Boy – Season 3 Episode 1 “Step Back” Recap & Review

Step Back

Episode 1 of Top Boy season 3 begins back at the apartment as that fateful gunshot changes everything. Jamie has been shot dead, Sully skips away, while Dushane is completely unaware of this, heading out for dinner with Shelley. Dushane has plans to retire, but with Jamie now dead, that seems to be completely out the window.

Dushane receives a text from Jaq confirming that Jamie has been killed, and this completely rattles him. In the bathroom, Sully appears and offers a new deal. He wants Dushane to step back and let him take over. He even offers a “generous cut” if he does. Dushane concedes, telling Sully to make sure he brings the money. And just like that, Sully is in charge.

Time passes and the operation ticks by. Lauryn gives birth to her beautiful son, and Jaq is there to reassure her that the child definitely doesn’t take after her father. Lauryn has been through a horrific ordeal and seems to be suffering from post-natal depression, with a look bordering on resentment toward her child.

Elsewhere, Stef is going through the motions. After seeing Jamie killed right before his eyes, he’s struggling to adjust. Grief threatens to consume him but a small glimmer of hope comes in the form of Mandy’s daughter, Erin, who has a crush on him.

Jaq continues to handle business and Sully messages to head down to the warehouse for a delivery. Only… there’s nobody there. An empty van is suspiciously out in the open though, and as the pair investigate, they find boxes inside holding the severed heads of two Moroccan links. One has a phone with a number on, coupled with the words “call me”.

The cold, chilling voice on the other end of the line belongs to a guy called Tadgh, and he’s an Irish fella who wants to work with Sully. Apparently he has a contact nearby called Jonny whom he’s going to be contacting.

Dushane shows up to see Bill, an old contact who knows a good deal about the Irish. Sully quizzes about the phone call and, more specifically, who Jonny may be. It turns out the guy is part of the McGee family. They’re big time and their boss is Tadgh. They’re serious and they make their money through drugs too.

Bill is hesitant to help but he’s clearly rattled by this revelation, showing just how serious they are. Sully is quick to remind Bill that he owes a favor, so he doesn’t have much of a choice.

Dushane heads off to try and get his money back from Lithe, and he wants 2.1 million by the end of the week. Unfortunately, it’s all tied up in the Summerhouse redevelopment so getting that back out is not as easy as it seems. Dushane is not happy but Lithe agrees to do what she can. The menacing look in Dushane’s eye is enough to twist her arm.

Immigration show up to see Diana, with orders to remove Kieron. This causes a big ruckus in Summerhouse, especially when Kieron is taken outside in handcuffs. It’s a shocking sequence, especially as Kieron screams for his mum.

Mandy organizes a peaceful protest to combat what’s happened. The whole community sit around the police cars so they can’t leave. When Sully finds out, he’s not exactly supportive and he reminds Jaq that she’s supposed to be drug running. She refuses, believing this is a much more righteous cause, but when more feds show up, they’re overwhelmed by shouts of “let him out” and the situation escalating.

For now though, Sully’s interest lies with Jonny, and for 5 grand he convinces Bill to come along to point out who the guy is. Jonny’s not alone though and as the group arrive at the stables, it turns out Bill has double-crossed him with Jonny, and Sully is left in no man’s land, his associate killed in cold blood.

The Irish want 50% of the cut for Sully’s business, and they’ve taken out the Moroccans so they have all the product right now. It’s not like they have much of a choice. “Think about it boys,” Jonny says, before leaving.

Elsewhere, the community manage to come out on top as the police back off and decide to leave on grounds of public safety. In fact, Kieron is let go too. It’s good news all round, with Shelley excited to get her new shop up and running. At least, it would be if Sully hadn’t just messaged wanting to talk to Dushane.

As the episode closes out, Jaq heads over to Lauryn’s and is shocked to find drugs on the sofa. She’s concerned, especially as Lauryn is passed out and the babe is in his crib. The stomach churning reality hits her – she’s been supplying drugs to feed Lauryn’s habit.

The Episode Review

Top boy is back and the show wastes no time picking up where it left off from before. There’s a new threat in town in the form of the Irish, and the show’s tension and drama continues to be a particular highlight.

If that wasn’t enough, we also have some social issues bleeding through, something the show has always done quire well with. In this instance, it comes in the form of immigration. The peaceful protest is enough to free Kieron but it’s clear this is far from over.

Everything gets off to a solid start here though, paving the way for an enticing few episodes to follow.