The 10 Best Characters on Top Boy, Ranked

Introduction

British crime drama Top Boy became one of Netflix's biggest hits after it returned to screens in 2019. One of the keys to the revival's success is the number of intriguing characters the show introduces from its third season onward, all brought to life by the exceptionally well-selected Top Boy cast. Each of the best Toy Boy characters has managed to make a profound impact on the story (whether it is because they are major antagonists or heroes).

Aaron Tovell looking serious in Top Boy.

Netflix subscribers have also loved watching the dynamics between the Top Boy characters, particularly since the Tovell family has a unique relationship that is not like anything they have seen before, especially those outside the UK. With the fifth and final season of Top Boy concluded the British drama on Netflix has come to a close, though thanks to the incredible range of characters it remains one of the most rewatchable shows on the platform.

Ashley Walters as Dushane in Top Boy.

10. Aaron Tovell

Season 3 of Top Boy introduced the Tovell Family, which consists of three brothers. The middle brother, Aaron, is played by Hope Ikpoku Jr. He is unlike his other siblings and has no plans to follow them into a criminal lifestyle. One of the reasons why the viewers are drawn to Aaron is because he is focused and intelligent. Not only do they want him to do well in his studies and go to University, but many also root for him to succeed since everyone can see how determined he is to make an honest living. By the end of Top Boy Aaron is one of the few characters to make it out the Summerhouse estate, as he's relocated to Leeds and works in Marketing.

Stefan looking upset in Top Boy.

9. Stefan Tovell

Stefan is the youngest brother of the Tovell family and is played by Araloyin Oshunremi. He looks up to Jamie and has a troubled relationship with him during the second series, as his best friend Ats is caught up in Jamie's world and ends up dead. Stef grows to resent Jamie for his broken promises and time in prison and the brothers have a rocky relationship throughout season 4. Tragically, Stef is one of the biggest victims among the Top Boy characters, as he longs for a normal family life that he can never have. His time during the final season of Top Boy was explosive after the death of Jamie. The youngest Tovell almost kills Sully, but manages to stay his hand at the last moment.

Shelley looking sad in Top Boy.

8. Shelley

Season 3 of Toy Boy brought in Shelley as a love interest for Dushane. Shelley is played by Simbiatu Ajikambo (better known for her musical handle 'Little Simz'). She tries hard to stay out of Dushane's work and is focused on making an honest living and providing for her daughter. In season 4, the viewers see a darker side to Shelley, as her past catches up with her, and she desperately acts to stop her world from falling apart. Although she may have started as a simple love interest, Shelley underwent a huge amount of character growth in Top Boy. Viewers get to see how much of a hard worker, a caring person, and a great mother she really is. She was even prepared to leave Dushane during season 5 to protect Trish, though she also didn't report him to the police when he was on the run.

Shelley looking sad in Top Boy.

7. Lizzie

In Top Boy season 3, viewers are introduced to Lizzie (Lisa Dwan) and Jeffrey, a couple who are soon discovered to be drug suppliers. During one of the episodes, she supplies to Jamie (which leads the two to have an affair). However, after Jamie is arrested and put into prison, she then begins to supply Dushane. Lizzie brings a new angle to Top Boy. Lisa Dwan's character is a very business-minded woman in the criminal underworld, and would not be out of place in an episode of Breaking Bad. She is a strong female character who is deceptively strong and cunning. Her long-brewing resentment towards Dushane could have made her an interesting antagonist in season 5, though she fled to Ireland after season 4, taking Dushane and Jeffrey's money with her.

Shelley looking sad in Top Boy.

6. Dris

Dris Wright is one of the few returning characters from the original series, serving as Dushane's second in command. Sadly, although he proves to be an empathetic character, he soon proves himself to be unreliable and sells out Sully and Dushane (leading Sully to execute him). Overall, Dris serves as a way of bridging the older version of Top Boy with the revival, but his death represented the new direction of the show. His presence served as a reminder of the brutal world these characters occupy and that death is around every corner in Summerhouse.

Dris looking upset in Top Guy.

5. Modie

Morris Gregory, known as Modie, serves as one of the main antagonists of Top Boy season 3 and is played by the rapper Dave (David Orobosa Michael Omoregie). He spends the beginning of Top Boy season 3 in prison, allowing Jamie to become the leader of the London Fields Gang in his absence. Once everyone hears how he made an iconic escape from prison, he is set on reclaiming his throne by any means. Despite not appearing in many episodes, Modie has a commanding presence throughout the whole of season 3. His name brings a lot of fear and tension whenever he is mentioned, which makes his escape from prison and return to the streets even more menacing. Modie is one of several Top Boy characters whose absence was felt when they didn't return for season 4 or 5.

Modie smiling in Top Boy.

4. Dushane Hill

Dushane is the main protagonist throughout all four series of the show and is played by Ashley Walters. He grew up at Summerhouse and rises through the ranks of the London criminal underworld's drug trade to become Top Boy. Between Top Boy: Summerhouse and Top Boy, Dushane has fled to Jamaica but returns to take back control of East London. The revival of Top Boy makes Dushane a much more complex character. At times, he is ruthless, but through his relationship with Shelley and becoming a Father figure to her daughter, the viewers see Dushane's tender side and his moral battle over how he makes his money. At first, Dushane was only interested in money and power. Over the finals seasons, he learns that family is the most important thing, though sadly too late.

3. Jaq

Jaq Lawrence (Jasmine Jobson) is introduced in Top Boy season 3 and is a high-ranking member of Dushane's gang. She begins as Dris's second in command and has difficulty working for Dushane, but quickly earns his respect and proves herself to be loyal. Jaq quickly became one of the best characters in Topy Boy as her story progressed. As one of the few LGBTQ+ characters on the show, fans have been particularly invested in her relationship with Maude as it has allowed the writers to explore several important themes (such as discrimination, homophobia, and bigotry).

Jaq looking serious in Top Boy.

2. Sully

Sully, played by rapper Kano (Kane Robinson), has been a central character in Top Boy since the show began in 2011, and remained one of the best throughout the show. Sully is a livewire with a more-or-less uncontrollable temper. He and Dushane have known each other their whole lives, and have been both friends and enemies. While the earlier seasons showed Sully as ruthless and callous, since Top Boy was renewed by Netflix, viewers have seen a more tender side to Sully. Sully is still one of the most violent Top Boy characters, but now tries to do the right thing (like supporting his family and making amends for his sins). Season 4 ends with the shocking cliffhanger of Sully killing Jamie in front of his younger brothers, confirming Sully's curse that no matter hard he tries to do what he feels is right, he can never leave the world he is in. This inevitably caught up to Sully by the end of Top Boy, as the ambiguous ending saw him killed by one of his many enemies (the identity of whom wasn't revealed).

Sully looking at the camera in Top Boy.

1. Jamie

Michael Ward has been the breakout star of Top Boy since its revival. He plays Jamie, who begins as the leader of a rival gang before going to prison and then working for Dushane. He is very similar to Sully, as he is always at a moral crossroads between his work and looking after his two younger brothers. Jamie does what he does to make a good life for his younger brothers. After the death of their parents, he has become their father figure, and his tender home life contrasts with his life out on the streets. Jamie had also proven how far he is willing to go to protect them when he murdered his best friend, Kit, in order to protect his family. Jamie's death at the end of Top Boyseason 4 was both shocking and tragic, but despite not appearing in season 5 he remains the best character on the show.

Jamie at a diner with another in Top Boy.