Three months ago, the film F1 was released, directed by Joseph Kosinski and starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris as leads. While Brad Pitt is widely regarded as the centerpiece of this high-profile production, Idris delivered an equally compelling performance alongside a strong supporting cast including Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, and Javier Bardem. For viewers familiar with Damson Idris, his role in Snowfall, the critically acclaimed FX crime drama, showcased his abilities long before he took on the lead actor mantle in F1.
Damson Idris’ Groundbreaking Role in the Crime Series Snowfall
Snowfall premiered on FX in 2017 and ran for six seasons, concluding in April 2023. Co-created by the late John Singleton, the show followed Franklin Saint, played by Idris, a bright young man who transforms into a ruthless drug kingpin during the crack cocaine epidemic. Idris earned critical praise for portraying one of television’s most intense antiheroes. Despite the show’s popularity and acclaim, it was often overlooked by major awards such as the Emmys, yet it remains a defining series within the crime drama genre, establishing Idris’s reputation as a leading actor well before his work in the F1 film.
The Storyline Behind Snowfall: A Deep Dive into Franklin Saint’s Journey
Snowfall is set between 1983 and 1986 in South Central Los Angeles, focusing on the crack cocaine epidemic’s devastating impact on local communities. Franklin Saint is introduced as a hopeful 19-year-old aiming for legitimate success and a better life for his struggling family, including his mother Cissy, portrayed by Michael Hyatt. Initially, Franklin is not a criminal figure but a respectful, intelligent youth whose ambitions quickly force him into the harsh realities of illegal drug trade.
Frustrated by limited opportunities faced by poor Black men in his community, Franklin cautiously enters the narcotics business, first selling marijuana for his uncle Jerome (Amin Joseph). His path soon leads him into the more dangerous cocaine market through connections with Jerome’s girlfriend Louie (Angela Lewis) and an Israeli drug dealer named Avi Drexler (Alon Aboutboul). Franklin’s cautious entry shifts to full commitment as he recognizes the enormous profits the drug trade offers.
As Franklin climbs the ranks, he moves from powder cocaine to crack cocaine, a cheaper and more addictive form. His influence expands rapidly alongside the drug’s demand, but this rise comes with severe consequences, including estrangement from loved ones and increased violence. Franklin also becomes entangled with the CIA through their covert operative Teddy McDonald (Carter Hudson), unknowingly funding the agency’s black operations. This evolution paints a complex portrait of Franklin as both a victim and a contributor to his community’s decline.
How Snowfall Builds on Crime Drama Traditions While Charting New Territory
Snowfall draws comparisons to iconic shows like Breaking Bad and The Wire, sharing crime drama themes that explore ambition and downfall. Franklin’s journey echoes the classic rise-and-fall narrative reminiscent of Scarface’s Tony Montana (Al Pacino). The setting and character parallels reflect John Singleton’s earlier work in Boyz n the Hood, with Franklin resembling a different take on the challenges young Black men face in Los Angeles during this era.
The show also pays homage to The Sopranos. A notable example is the Season 3 finale called Other Lives, in which a comatose Franklin imagines an alternate life where he follows a legal college path. This narrative device parallels The Sopranos’ Join The Club episode, where Tony Soprano visualizes a life without his mobster identity while unconscious.
Unlike many predecessors, Snowfall stands apart by grounding itself in specific cultural and historical realities, namely the crack epidemic and alleged CIA involvement. While Franklin is the series’ core, the show also exposes broader systemic issues that devastated many communities.
The Limited Recognition of Snowfall and Its Impact on Visibility
Throughout its run, Snowfall remained underrated despite critical acclaim, achieving a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Unlike shows such as Breaking Bad, which gathered multiple Emmy Awards, Snowfall received little institutional recognition. Reflecting on the similar oversight faced by The Wire, Damson Idris remarked in a 2022 interview,
“It’s a shame. I’ve spoken to so many [actors from The Wire]. And I always ask them, ‘How’s it feel? You made magic. Something that people are still referring to as one of the greatest shows of all time. And you guys never received the accolades.’ And they say, ‘It’s a shame.’ So that’s as simple as I could put it.” —Damson Idris, Actor
The show’s limited exposure can partly be explained by its home network, FX, which at the time Snowfall premiered did not have the global reach of HBO, Netflix, or AMC, networks behind many celebrated crime dramas. Additionally, Snowfall’s initial distribution was fragmented across cable and streaming services such as Hulu, restricting its accessibility and binge-watching potential. Its marketing relied heavily on word of mouth and local campaigns in Los Angeles rather than large-scale global promotion.
By the time Snowfall gained momentum around its third season, the broader cultural focus had shifted away from prestige crime dramas, further diminishing its opportunities for widespread attention.
The Enduring Legacy of Snowfall and Damson Idris’s Performance
At its heart, Snowfall portrays the tragic story of Franklin Saint—a young man whose promise is slowly consumed by the very criminal empire he creates. Damson Idris’s nuanced portrayal keeps Franklin’s complexity vivid, making the character and the series unforgettable. Though it has not yet received the recognition it merits, Snowfall stands among modern television’s most important epics, offering a raw and unflinching look at systemic failures and personal downfall.
For those interested, Snowfall is currently available to stream on Hulu.
