After beginning the narrative over a decade ago with Top Boy: Summerhouse, the series reaches its climax in Netflix’s Top Boy Season 3. “All good things must come to an end,” as proclaimed by Jasmine Jobson, who portrays the character Jaq, during a set visit last year. “Returning to put a definitive end to this journey is both a joyous and thrilling experience,” she added.
Ashley Walters, the actor behind Dushane, shares this sentiment of pride and closure. “A show of this caliber should conclude at its peak, and that’s our goal,” he expressed during an on-set interview with Tudum in September 2022.
Let us dive into how the intricate storyline of Top Boy Season 3 unraveled, following the intense battle that marked the end of Season 2.
Season 2’s finale stunned the viewers as Sully (Kane Robinson) murders Jaime (Micheal Ward) in his own house while a horrified and grief-stricken Stefan (Araloyin Oshunremi) watches. Season 3 commences without skipping a beat, showing Sully fleeing and Dushane discovering his actions. The season begins with Sully pushing Dushane to take a substantial share of money and retire from the game, letting Sully be the sole ‘Top Boy’. However, Sully’s rule is short-lived as Irish mobsters Tadgh (Brian Gleeson) and his nephew Jonny (Barry Keoghan) make their entrance.
Who are Tadgh and Jonny?
Tadgh is a high-ranking member of an Irish gang, while his fierce nephew Jonny assists in managing their affairs. They initially get in touch with Sully after murdering his Moroccan suppliers and sending him their severed heads along with a phone to establish contact. Despite his initial hesitation, Sully quickly realizes their strategic prowess and ruthless rule, eventually seeking help from Dushane to escape their control.
What about Aaron (Hope Ikpoku Jnr) and Stefan?
Aaron is absent in Season 3, but Stefan mentions he’s employed in the marketing industry. Stefan begins to mingle with the Fields gang, where Si (Dudley O’Shaughnessy) acts as an older brother figure. Stefan takes a liking to Erin (Savanah Graham), and they start a romantic relationship.
What unfolds for Sully and Dushane?
Sully persuades Dushane to take his money and move on, and Dushane plans to invest in Shelley’s (Simbiatu Abisola Abiola) business initiatives. However, a sizable portion of Dushane’s money, which Jeffrey (Shaun Dingwall) had, becomes inaccessible after Lizzie (Lisa Dwan) freezes their shared accounts. In desperate need of funds, Dushane decides to help Sully resolve the issues with the Irish gang to reclaim his money.
In the meantime, Jeffrey discovers that Lizzie moved all their money out of their shared accounts, leaving him empty-handed. When he discloses this to Dushane, Dushane loses his temper and kills Jeffrey, leaving a crime scene that will later create problems.
Sully and Dushane launch an attack on the Irish gang during a birthday party at a nursing home, successfully overpowering and killing Tadgh and Johnny.
Dushane’s stress escalates, and when Shelley tries to get him to open up, he loses his temper and yells at her, leading Shelley to pack her things and leave.
Jaq’s Journey and Challenges:
Jaq is occupied throughout the season, caught between obeying Sully’s commands and leading a protest to prevent Kieron’s (Joshua Blissett) forced return to Rwanda. Her sister Lauryn (Saffron Hocking) and her newborn baby are also under her care. When Lauryn tragically passes away, Jaq and her partner, Becks (Adwoa Aboah), find themselves responsible for the child.
The Untimely Demise of Lauryn:
Despite Jaq’s constant support, including helping her choose a name for her newborn and engaging in self-care routines like yoga and nail salons, Lauryn’s substance abuse problem continues. Lauryn overdoses one night and is found dead in her bathtub. In her grief, Jaq takes a drastic step and steals drugs from Sully.
Motivation behind Jaq’s Theft:
Both Becks and Sully to quit advise Jaq dealing drugs and focus on her role as a guardian to her nephew. However, following Lauryn’s death, Jaq steals a substantial amount of drugs from Sully, intending to sell them for her nephew’s future. Her actions are under suspicion by Sully and Dushane, and Kieron is compelled to cover for her.
Dushane is simultaneously trying to evade the police after being implicated in a murder. Money is needed for him to escape to Turkey, and while hiding in Summerhouse, he receives an unexpected call from Jaq who plans to return the stolen drugs. As a result, Sully has Kieron killed.
Dushane’s Downfall:
Dushane is in dire need of money to vanish before the law catches up with him. As the riots escalate, he and Sully are informed about the location and time of Jaq’s drug drop. Dushane seizes this opportunity, attacks Jaq during the drop, and absconds with the drugs. Now on Sully’s radar, Sully while attempting to escape shoots Dushane, leading to his death.
The Fate of Sully: top boy sully death
After shooting Dushane, Sully retrieves the drugs and is left contemplating Dushane’s lifeless body. His problems are far from over as Stefan plans to avenge Jaime’s death. Sully comes face to face with death when Stefan points a gun at him. However, Stefan decides not to pull the trigger and walks away. As Sully sits in his car, processing the recent events, a mystery shooter assassinates him.
The Unseen Assassin:
While the face of Sully’s killer is briefly seen post the fatal shot, their identity remains a mystery. Who could it be?
