Snowfall (TV Series) Pilot (2017) User Reviews

NOT JUST ANOTHER HOOD RAT

[douglasjordane · 8/10 · 13 May 2022]

I STARTED WATCHING THIS SHOW ON RECOMMENDATION. AT FIRST, I WAS SKEPTICAL THAT I HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF STUMBLING UPON SOME HOOD VERSION OF COMING OF AGE THROUGH THE VICE OF DRUG DEALING. IN FACT, IT WAS SOME DRUG DEALING IN THE HOOD -OR AT LEAST THE STORY SEEMED TO BE HEADED TOWARDS THAT TRAJECTORY.

TO MY CHAGRIN, I NOTICED OTHER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENTS THAT WERE NOT "HOOD" AT ALL. THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY LET THE PLOT DEVELOPMENT OFF THE HOOK. WHAT INDEED CHANGED MY MIND WAS THE WAY THE STORY HAD WEAVED MANY LIVES INTO THE FOCUS OF THIS NARRATIVE THAT WAS VERY INTRIGUING. I LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING THE NEXT EPISODE FROM THIS PILOT.

Episode 1

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 3 December 2017]

Co-created by John Singleton, episode one of Snowfall look at the crack cocaine epidemic of the early 1980s in the black neighbourhoods of LA.

The episode establishes its three complex story lines. Franklin Saint, a clever young man works two jobs, in a convenience store and selling weed his uncle. Franklin finds out that there is money to be made in cocaine when some white friends asks him to buy some for a party and he meets a Jewish supplier in a gaudy mansion and makes a deal with him.

There is a political tinged narrative of a CIA agent who teams up with a Contra soldier. The plan is the drugs for arms scandal that later rocked the Reagan administration.

The third story is that of Gustavo, a has been wrestler now working for the Mexican drug cartel which plots to increase its control.

The first episode is stylish and violent. British actor Damson Idris displayed a lot of promise as Franklyn but the episode felt hindered when it moved away from him.