Legends, a British crime thriller now streaming on Netflix, has drawn praise from viewers who compare it favourably to shows such as Slow Horses and Breaking Bad. The series, released in May 2026, dramatises real events from the early 1990s when a small team took on a major drug smuggling gang.
Based on a true story
Written and directed by Neil Forsyth, Legends focuses on British customs investigators who infiltrated the drug world with little help and limited budgets from the police force. In the early 1990s, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise was losing its battle against drug smuggling along British borders, prompting the creation of a top-secret operation.
A small team of customs employees were given entirely new identities and instructed to infiltrate the most dangerous drug gangs. The cast includes Tom Burke, Steve Coogan, Hayley Squires, and Aml Ameen.
Viewer reception
In August 2026, the series was renewed for a second season. One viewer wrote on Rotten Tomatoes: "This is actually exceptionally good and feels very different. Many of us know the British crime drime dramas, especially crime dramas on Netflix, look exactly the same. However, this script wastes no time and gets your mind immediately intrigued without blowing past the parts you need to know."
All of the characters have their own motivations behind their determination to tackle the significant problem of drugs in Britain, and these stories help fuel the show. One of them, for example, is a Northern woman who has witnessed the devastation drugs have had on her own community back home. Although the challenge is not straightforward, as many of them are way out of their depth and have to be hot on not blowing their own covers.
Second series confirmed
Another review reads: "The characters were fantastic, and watching them individually find their own character was interesting. Everything from the music, the style of dress and the overall attitude brought me back to the late 80s and early 90s."
Making note of the acting, one fan said: "The acting is largely excellent – especially an outstanding performance by Gerald Kydd as Milonas. Extremely watchable and binge-worthy. Hooked from the first episode."
It has been confirmed that a second series is set to come out, although an official premiere date has not been announced yet, while filming is scheduled to start in 2027. In the meantime, you can watch all six episodes of Legends exclusively on Netflix now.
