This 96%-Rated Crime Drama Based on True Events Just Blew up Netflix's Top Charts

Legends is one of those rare Netflix series that you want to watch slowly, taking in every detail, rather than binge-watching.

It's a true psychological thriller, a rarity on a platform where lighthearted projects thrive.

What Is 'Legends' About?

In 1990, Margaret Thatcher declared that customs should combat drug imports but allocated no funds for the effort. However, when children from all socioeconomic backgrounds started dying of overdoses, the government had to find a way to infiltrate the drug trafficking system, and Customs was chosen for the task.

Former undercover cop Don and Chief of Investigations Blake began searching for recruits. Four people were ultimately selected.

Guy, a former boxer, adopted the guise of a drug importer and gained the trust of London's Turks. Kate and Bailey traveled to Liverpool, posing as property developers. Erin remained in the office – her brain was perfectly suited for working with data.

'Legends' Is Based on Real Events Which Makes This Crime Drama Even More Captivating

Legends is based on Guy Stanton's memoir, The Betrayer: How An Undercover Unit Infiltrated The Global Drug Trade. While researching for the book, Stanton spoke with customs officers turned agents. Even the crime bosses are amalgams of several famous figures.

The operation, codenamed Beta Project, prevented the distribution of over 12 tons of heroin in the UK and saved thousands of lives. The program was shut down in 2006, but its story remains.

The most interesting aspect of Legends is observing how a new personality develops within the characters, taking root and absorbing their original personality.

Guy leaves his wife and daughter, which is not easy – he loves his family, but his boring job is unbearable. He wears his cover story like a second skin and by the end of the second episode, you'll wonder how he ever wore a customs uniform.

There's a constant sense of danger, with self-taught agents teetering on the brink of exposure, which adds tension.

'Legends' Is a Psychological Thriller That You Won't Be Able to Stop Watching

Legends adheres to the utmost realism. Visually, it resembles 1970s dramas and unlike the flat, dull images we're accustomed to on streaming services, the cinematography is superb.

We're accustomed to watching TV series on a second screen while scrolling through our smartphones, but with Legends, you won't want any distractions.

The real events were so complex that they seem completely fictional when transferred to the screen. Even putting that aside, though, what remains is a story about courageous people who overcame the most difficult tasks with ingenuity, fortitude, and a devotion to duty that seems unrealistic in our time.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Legends'?

• Legends has 96% from critics and 86% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 8.0/10.