Image Credit: @Netflix via YouTube
Everyone has experienced the frustration of scrolling through the endless line of streaming icons on a Friday night in search of something that will actually capture our interest. It’s that old thing of wanting something new that’s also old school. Fortunately, Netflix has just launched a new series entitled Legends that could put an end to that quest. It’s one of those rare creations that have high stakes tension and a very human story.
A New Kind of Undercover Story
This series is not the glamour and high-tech spy missions we see in big Hollywood blockbusters; it’s about the real grit of undercover work. It deals with everyday people placed in extraordinary situations, with no “normal” safety nets.
Inspired by Remarkable True Events
The series is based on an actual covert operation by British Customs officers in the early 1990s. This real-life basis is a big layer of tension in all the scenes of six episodes.
Meeting the Man Named Guy
Tom Burke plays Guy Stanton, a fictionalized version of the real officer who lived a double life for years. The performance is a silent witness to the constant tension and stress in his life, which could easily be noticed at any moment.
Steve Coogan Brings the Weight
Steve Coogan stars as Don, the senior officer in charge of recruiting this motley crew. He’s, of course, a comedian, but here he offers a rational, slightly cynical voice that seems a remarkably transparent voice of the time.
The Ordinary People Behind the Badges
This show differs from others because the main characters are not top-tier commandos. They are the everyday office staff and officials of customs whose lives revolve around a place they didn’t belong in, where they had to survive by relying on their wits and street smarts.
The Brilliant Mind of Neil Forsyth
The Gold’s talented writer, Neil Forsyth, is behind this one. He is brilliant at getting complex criminal histories and making them into compelling TV dramas.
Gritty Realism over Glitz
In this take on the UK underworld, you won’t encounter any tuxedoes or fancy gadgets. The show embraces the “tracksuit” era of crime, with the setting being lived in, dirty, and possibly very lethal.
Humor in the Darkest Places
Though the content is serious, there are moments of humor that hold the story for the reader. These moments of humor are usually the sheer absurdity of the situation that undercover officers find themselves in.
Why You Should Press Play
You might like this if you’ve watched films such as Argo or TV series that focus on the “amateur” aspect of an intelligence operation. Perhaps it’s the most suspenseful crime story of the year.
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