It’s not always easy to watch shows that originate from across the pond, but iPlayer has one of America’s best crime dramas hidden in its archives: Snowfall.

The show first aired on FX back in 2017, and during its six-season run, Snowfall won nine awards, including for lead actor Damson Idris and actress Gail Bean. The show recently acquired a spin-off, which will see Gail return in her award-winning role.

The crime drama was set during the 1980s and focuses on the crack cocaine epidemic that spread across the United States at the time. At its heart, the show features various storylines, including those of a drugs kingpin, a CIA agent hoping to end the trade and Mexican drug cartels.

A synopsis for the series teases: “A new drug hits the streets of LA, and changes the game forever. A sun and violence-saturated story of the rise of crack cocaine in the 1980s.”

Fans have been treated to several gritty crime dramas over the past few years, and Snowfall is perfect for those who have enjoyed the likes of Peaky Blinders or This City Is Ours.

Who stars in Snowfall?

Given that Snowfall was on air for six years, dozens of stars appeared in the show during its run. However, the main stars include Damson Idris (Black Mirror), Carter Hudson (American Horror Story), Emily Rios (Breaking Bad), Sergio Peris-Mencheta (Resident Evil: Afterlife) and Gail Bean (P-Valley).

Other key actors in the show are Michael Hyatt (Ray Donovan), Amin Joseph (Transparent), Angela Lewis (The Good Wife), Juan Javier Cardenas (The Walking Dead), Isaiah John (All Day and a Night), Filipe Valle Costa (Blue Bloods), Alon Aboutboul (London Has Fallen), Malcolm Mays (Power Book III: Raising Kanan), Marcus Henderson (Get Out), Kevin Carroll (Widow’s Bay), Devyn A. Tyler (Clarice) and Alejandro Edda (Narcos: Mexico).

What did fans make to Snowfall?

Fans have loved the gritty crime drama, with one enthusing: “Snowfall will hook you from the start and not let go. It really is one of the better series of the last few years, it’s extremely gritty and realistic,” while calling it “underrated”.

A second posted: “Snowfall really is one of the most underrated shows currently on television. It’s hard for me to even describe how much I like this show. I fell in love with from the very first episode,” while a third added: “Snowfall stands tall as a captivating series that masterfully weaves together powerful acting, a gripping narrative, and the journey of a young individual striving for success in the face of adversity. Reminiscent of iconic shows like The Wire, Breaking Bad, and Sons of Anarchy, this series forges its own distinctive path while delving into the harsh realities of the drug trade.”

Critics were similarly glowing of the programme, although in a more mixed review, Jake Nevins of The Guardian said: “Snowfall, with a lack of focus and a surfeit of material, can sometimes barely contain itself. In the hands of another director, it might have been a total mess. With Singleton and his auteurist sensibilities at the helm, at least it’s a beautiful one.”