Spin-offs of beloved television dramas normally range from forgettable to absolute triumphs. The best ones to do it successfully expand the world and characters from the source material, all while telling a story that can not only stand on its own, but also entice new viewers to search out other installments of the franchise. The Drop: A Snowfall Saga does all of this and more.
Full disclosure: I had not heard of the Snowfall series before reviewing the first five episodes of The Drop, which FX kindly provided to CGM before its premiere on September 8, 2026. So when episode one thrust me into the intense and oppressive LA streets of the early 1990s, it hooked me with its immersive visuals, intoxicating music, and edge-of-your-seat character drama that picked me up by my collar and never let go.
While Snowfall’s six seasons explored the effects of the crack epidemic and the gang wars it helped fuel, The Drop focuses on the bridging power of music and the struggle that comes with trying to change one’s circumstances when it feels like almost everything around you tells you not to.
“The Drop focuses on the bridging power of music and the struggle that comes with trying to change one’s circumstances.”
While several characters from Snowfall appear in The Drop, it primarily focuses on Wanda Bell (Gail Bean) as she tries to put her life as a junkie in the past while doing everything she can to become a music producer. At the same time, her young cousin Lamar’s (Asante Blackk) natural musical talent begins to make waves in the community, but as his dreams seem to come true, he’s held back by a tragic family secret. Between the family drama, gang violence, and tumultuous music industry, each plotline is filled with excitement and tension that will leave viewers anxious for more with each episode.
Between Lamar’s illogical stubbornness, her ego-centric boss, DG (Brandon Mychal Smith), and the loose cannon gangster rapper Artillery (Buddy), Wanda’s journey to reinvent herself is met with struggle at nearly every turn. Still, Bean’s performance oozes Queen-energy as she negotiates and attempts to put out the fires her family and business partners consistently spark.
The first five episodes of The Drop throw a lot at Wanda’s character, resulting in moments of extreme vulnerability and determination that Bean delivers flawlessly, especially in the scenes she shares with her ex-boyfriend Leon (Isaiah John). Without knowing the full context of what their characters went through in Snowfall, each of their scenes is heavy with a sense of loss and frustration undercut by a hint of repressed love they both struggle to hold back with nearly every second they share onscreen.
“Every moment in The Drop feels tense with the sense that it could be suddenly interrupted by gang violence or a lost crackhead with a short trigger.”
Besides Wanda’s quest to turn her life around, Asante Blackk’s Lamar receives a fair bit of focus as another of the show’s primary protagonists. The young actor continues to impress with a character that feels desperate to use their art to break free from a family and world that have suffocated so many before him or pushed them into a life of violence. Lamar’s stubborn nature pushes him and Wanda into several nail-biting scenarios that can make the character hard to root for at times, which feels even more realistic for anyone with a loved one in that age range.
As more of the cast of The Drop: A Snowfall Saga is introduced, and their quests for fame or peace unfold, the show proves that it has no weak links in its performances. While Bean’s Wanda and John’s Leon continue to prove their command of the screen, Smith’s often short-sighted and aggressive portrayal of drug dealer-turned-music producer DG is another standout. Several of his scenes demonstrate a cockyness that’s just as easy to hate as it is to respect, but it’s when he indulges in his darkest character traits that shows the actor’s range from intimidating monster to confident businessman that makes him a joy to watch.
DG’s vibrant wardrobe says a lot about his character and how he wishes to be viewed, and is a prime example of how brilliant The Drop’s costume designer, Mynka Draper, is with their work on the series. The costumes and production design, Warren Alan Young, effectively recreate a world that feels lively and dangerous while artistic expression bursts at the seams, complementary to the overall themes of the series. A lot of thought clearly went into building the show’s version of reality, and the cast and crew executed each task beautifully.
Much like how I assume it felt living on the streets of LA in the early 90s, every moment in The Drop feels tense with the sense that it could be suddenly interrupted by gang violence or a lost crackhead with a short trigger. The show isn’t hesitant to disrupt heartfelt moments with unexpected conflict. The series is relentless in its portrayal of the unrest that polluted the LA area during the time, while also capturing the beauty of the music and bonds such conflicts spawned.
The combination of family drama and gang violence tension can feel uneven at times during The Drop’s first five episodes. However, the show’s writing and direction do wonders in weaving each plotline together, allowing each character to feel real and raw while their actions either force others to act or break. The show’s performances, writing, production design, and direction cohesively help The Drop: A Snowfall Saga stand on its own as the next big drama series I highly recommend. Now if you’ll excuse me, I now have six seasons of Snowfall to devour while I wait for the rest of the episodes of The Drop to…drop.
