A look at the early days of the crack cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles during the beginning of the 1980s.A look at the early days of the crack cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles during the beginning of the 1980s.A look at the early days of the crack cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles during the beginning of the 1980s.
- Awards
- 11 wins & 33 nominations total
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Summary
Reviewers say 'Snowfall' is a compelling crime drama exploring the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles. It is lauded for its realistic depiction, strong performances, and intricate characters. Damson Idris' portrayal of Franklin Saint is often highlighted. Comparisons to 'Breaking Bad' and 'The Wire' are common. Some critics note pacing issues and inconsistent writing in later seasons, yet 'Snowfall' remains a powerful, thought-provoking series that delves into a significant period in American history.
Featured reviews
Hmmm... OK... I've been reading reviews on IMDb for many years now for I am an avid fan of movies and TV. After reading some of the poor reviews for Snowfall, I decided to become part of the community. I don't feel this show glorifies or romanticizes the beginnings of the crack era, it just tells it like it was. It was one big party and there was lot's of money to be made. I Thought the pilot captured the 80s in East LA precisely and the soundtrack was aces. I felt the story line was interesting and it kept my attention to the very end. I also thought the acting was on point and the best is yet to come. Different strokes for different folks people.This is my unbiased review and I say this show will be around for awhile.
It's 1983 South Central LA. Small time dealer Franklin Saint (Damson Idris) is looking to purchase $200. He stumbles upon drug lord Avi Drexler and starts selling cocaine in kilos. CIA operative Teddy McDonald (Carter Hudson) works on foreign assets from LA. He is shown 50 kilo of coke at a dead CIA agent's home and starts smuggling drugs into LA to buy guns for revolutionaries in Central America. Crime lord's daughter Lucia Villanueva recruits Mexican wrestler Gustavo Zapata to steal from her father for the funds to strike out on her own.
This is a bit of Breaking Bad in the hood. It's Fargo with an actual real story. It has some great unknown actors starting with Damson Idris. He's mostly a minor British TV actor before this role. His quiet determination is disorienting. It takes a little time to adjust. One of the show's creators is John Singleton. R. I. P. He's the big name in the group and he's back in his comfort zone, 80's South Central LA. This one does not look away from the darker side to play up the cool gangster fun. Damson's coolness plays really well with the brutal darkness of his character.
This is a bit of Breaking Bad in the hood. It's Fargo with an actual real story. It has some great unknown actors starting with Damson Idris. He's mostly a minor British TV actor before this role. His quiet determination is disorienting. It takes a little time to adjust. One of the show's creators is John Singleton. R. I. P. He's the big name in the group and he's back in his comfort zone, 80's South Central LA. This one does not look away from the darker side to play up the cool gangster fun. Damson's coolness plays really well with the brutal darkness of his character.
I never stamp my approval after two episodes and I'm sure I'll update this, but I need you to know what you're missing out on! Forget the mixed reviews they probably had some kind of expectation, going into this with an open mind and you'll find so many sub-plots that are intriguing, characters that are likable and you'll notice that you want the narrative on each part not shifting only to shift and feel the same. It's John singleton everybody you can't go wrong!this show is extremely entertaining and compelling! It's the most fun I have in front of a TV of a TV for an hour. It had all the ingredients. Don't miss out it's a phenomal show during a fantastic era
Snowfall will hook you from the start and not let go. It really is one of the better series of the last few years, it's extremely gritty and realistic. The cast is made up of mostly previous unknown actors and I think that actually adds to the grittiness of the show. It's now finishing up after this current season 6 and even though it's probably time for it to end I'm actually going to miss it. It's classic John Singleton and is up there with the best things he's ever done. I guarantee that you'll become addicted once you start watching this and you'll want to binge the entire series as fast as you can. It just pulls you into their world and doesn't let go. Do yourself a favor and go watch this incredible series immediately!
I've watched two episodes so far and I have been blown away at how real and factual it has been based on what I've read in books about the beginnings of crack. The other reviewers that have given this poor ratings I think must be watching something else. With all the TV shows out there, this is by far above the rest in realism and ethnic relatable characters that don't come across as villains or heroes, just everyday people trying to make better lives for themselves that unfortunately choose bad paths.
Did you know
- TriviaAccording to showrunner Dave Andron, they aimed to make the show's wardrobe authentic to the 1980s, but decided to avoid things that are too distracting to modern audiences, like giant shoulder pads.
- ConnectionsReferenced in WatchMojo: Top 10 Most Anticipated Releases of July 2017 (2017)
Details
- Runtime
- 45m
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1
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