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Season 1 – Legends

Play trailer 2:16 Poster for Season 1 – Legends May 2026 Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
As drugs flood the streets of '90s Britain, a team of civil servants is thrust undercover to topple the gangs behind it; inspired by an untold true story.
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Legends — Season 1

Legends — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Legends gets the basics of the crime genre right, bringing in clear-cut drama to a daringly real tale and imbuing its narrative with the right balance of respect and spectacle.

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Audience Says

Fueled by sharp pacing and genuinely unexpected twists, Legends leans into its ironclad cast and stands as the new British series we didn’t know we needed.

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Critics Reviews

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Graeme Blundell The Australian Jun 2
...it’s a sharp, elegantly engineered drama based firmly on fact. And it’s presented in a hard, tough, move-it-along-at-all-costs fashion, no sense of that “historical nostalgia” that’s meant to make us feel warm and fuzzy about the past. Go to Full Review
Wenlei Ma The Nightly (AU) May 20
It’s an extraordinary story that has been well served by this satisfying show. It could even be legendary. Go to Full Review
David Opie Empire Magazine May 17
4/5
Legends is tightly wound from the get-go, a true-crime drama that sets itself apart through its top-tier cast and thrills rooted in the grimy greys of drug-ravaged Britain. Go to Full Review
Jack Seale Radio Times Jun 10
5/5
It’s a thriller, not a novelistic slow-burn character piece like The Sopranos or The Wire, but Forsyth finds time to explore the motivations and inner conflicts of the bad guys, as well as reminding us what the operation is ultimately all about. Go to Full Review
James Delingpole The Spectator May 28
When it works well, which it does mostly, you get a sense of how nerve-wracking it must have been and how hard not to give away your cover -- aka your ‘legend’. Go to Full Review
Andrew Murray The Upcoming May 28
4/5
A stellar ensemble cast leads the charge in this tightly paced thriller. However, the show’s social commentary doesn’t quite hit its mark. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Justin P. @RT98646521 19h Very good, definitely worth a watch See more Michael W @mawilps 1d This crime miniseries was really good. Tom Burke, Steve Coogan, Hayley Squires, Aml Ameen, Jasmine Blackborow, Johnny Harris, Tom Hughes, Numan Acar, and the rest of the cast did an excellent job in this miniseries. This true story about a task force of customs agents in Britain working to take down a drug dealer smuggling heroin into Britain was dramatic, thrilling, and suspenseful. If you haven't seen this miniseries yet, check it out sometime. It's a definite must see. See more Del S @DeadlyDel 4d Brilliantly written, brilliantly acted, brilliantly put together. As crime dramas go, it's as close to The Wire, (which in my opinion is perfect) as any British crime drama ever has. A brilliant ensemble cast with a few stand out performances, Tom Burke especially. Great use of 90's music to help take the viewer back to the time. Coogan adds that spark of British comedy that sets us apart from all others. Other Netflix shows have been very good, The Diplomat for instance. Legends is great. See more Anne C @AnnyC 5d Just finished this show and thought it was quite good. It had some weak spots but overall loved it. See more Peter M @Tcaddy Jun 13 I was completely gripped from start to finish, and I have to say it is the most entertaining programme I have watched all year so far. The cast are excellent throughout, and the storyline is compelling. See more Tris M @Yoder68 Jun 10 Utterly compelling series based on an incredible true story of poorly paid and chronically under-resourced Customs officers making the Thatcher Government look good despite being hampered by them at every turn. For those of us from the UK the story is eerily familiar from the superficial press coverage at the time. The characters are complex and entirely believable, the plot twists are unexpected and honour the spirit of the audacious operation, the script is just about flawless (which is incredibly rare!), and the results they achieved are difficult to comprehend. This is one of the finest Tv series I've seen for a while, and I can't recommend it highly enough. See more Read all reviews
Legends — Season 1

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired May 7, 2026 Could You Offer More? As drug deaths surge in '90s Britain, the government turns to a veteran customs investigator to recruit a novice unit for an unprecedented covert mission. Details Episode 2 Aired May 7, 2026 Alliance Customs recruit Guy faces tests that threaten to blow his cover; the team in Liverpool chase the scent of a suspicious bakery. Details Episode 3 Aired May 7, 2026 This Is Liverpool A volatile alliance puts Guy at the heart of a high-risk smuggling deal; the Legends in Liverpool embark on a surveillance mission that ends in trouble. Details Episode 4 Aired May 7, 2026 The War on Drugs Cracks start to appear in both gangs as tensions, pressure and paranoia run high; Kate looks to exploit a possible weakness in Carter's armor. Details Episode 5 Aired May 7, 2026 Old Kings While Kate chases a murky trail of corruption, a potential meeting with a feared drug lord sends Guy, Bailey and Don on a dangerous overseas mission. Details Episode 6 Aired May 7, 2026 Legends Never Die Betrayal, distrust and ambition put the entire mission and the Legends, at risk; can they stop an unprecedented heroin shipment from reaching Britain? Details

Season Info

Director
Brady Hood, Julian Holmes
Creator
Neil Forsyth
Executive Producer
Ben Farrell, Richard Bradley
Network
Netflix
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date
May 7, 2026