Legends (Netflix) is a high-voltage, gritty undercover thriller that feels like a throwback because it is one—set in the 90s drug-war trenches, it trades polished CGI for sweat, paranoia, and a career-best performance from Steve Coogan. If your teen is looking for a "hero" story, keep moving; this is a messy, morally grey deep-dive into the cost of living a double life, and it doesn't pull its punches on the reality of the era's drug culture.
TL;DR: Legends (Netflix) is a sophisticated, intense crime drama best suited for older teens who can handle heavy drug themes and graphic violence. It’s a masterclass in tension, starring Steve Coogan as an undercover operative losing his grip on reality. If they liked Top Boy or Narcos, this hits that same "prestige crime" sweet spot.
Forget the Alan Partridge memes. In Legends, Steve Coogan plays Martin Odum, an undercover agent for a specialized deep-cover division of the FBI (or the "Legends" division). The gimmick—and the source of the show's massive tension—is that Martin is too good at his job. He transforms into entirely different people: a stuttering engineer, a corrupt Greek businessman, a violent Northern gang member.
The 2026 Netflix revival leans hard into a 90s Manchester and Liverpool setting, focusing on the height of the ecstasy and heroin trade. It’s atmospheric, loud, and deeply cynical.
This isn't a "nostalgia" show in the sense that it wants you to buy a Tamagotchi. It uses the 90s setting to strip away the safety nets of modern tech. There are no GPS trackers on iPhones; if Martin gets into a van with the wrong people, he’s genuinely off the grid.
- The Intensity: The show operates on a "boiling frog" principle. It starts with a slow-burn investigation and ends with high-stakes raids. The violence is visceral—not stylized John Wick stuff, but messy, frantic, and consequence-heavy.
- The Drug Culture: Since the show is about the drug war, drugs are everywhere. You’ll see the manufacturing, the distribution, and the usage. It doesn't glamorize it; if anything, it shows the "business" of it as a bleak, soul-crushing machine.
- The Language: It’s a 90s crime thriller set in Northern England. The air is thick with profanity. It’s used for character-building rather than shock value, but it is constant.
If your teen is into the "Prestige TV" era—think The Wire or Better Call Saul—they’ve probably already seen the trailer for Legends. It has that "grown-up" sheen that makes it feel like an event.
There’s also the "Coogan Factor." For a generation that knows him mostly through TikTok clips or comedy, seeing him play a man whose psyche is literally fracturing is a draw. It’s a "prestige" performance that gives the show a lot of weight.
The "Identity" Hook: Acting Within Acting
The coolest part of the show for a sharp teen is watching the layers of performance. Martin Odum isn't just a spy; he's an actor whose life depends on his craft. For kids interested in drama, psychology, or filmmaking, the "Legends" themselves—the fake backstories and personas—are a fascinating study in how identity is constructed.
If this brand of high-stakes undercover work is hitting the right notes, there are a few other deep cuts worth their time that don't always show up on the "Top 10" lists:
A soulful, stylish crime drama that splits its time between Tokyo and London. It’s about a detective looking for his Yakuza-member brother, and it’s one of the most underrated thrillers of the last decade.
If they want to see where the "British Gangster" DNA comes from, this is the blueprint. It’s 80s, it’s brutal, and it features a young Bob Hoskins in a role that defines the genre.
For a slightly more modern (and funnier) take on British intelligence. It’s about the "rejects" of MI5, but the tension and the tradecraft are just as sharp as Legends.
The best way to engage with a teen watching Legends is to lean into the moral ambiguity. This isn't a show about "good guys vs. bad guys." It’s about "bad guys vs. guys who are pretending to be bad and forgetting why they started."
Ask them: "At what point does Martin stop being a 'good guy'? Is it when he lies to his family, or when he lets a crime happen to keep his cover?"
This gets them thinking about the "ends justify the means" trope that dominates most of our media. Legends suggests that the "means" eventually rot the person doing them.
The friction point here isn't just the "content" (the blood and the drugs); it's the cynicism. Legends is a dark show. It suggests that the "War on Drugs" was a meat grinder that didn't really have winners. If your kid is in a headspace where they need something hopeful or uplifting, this is the exact opposite of that.
However, if they’re ready for a complex historical look at a specific era of crime, it’s a masterclass. See our digital guide for high schoolers for more on navigating these types of heavy-hitter dramas.
Q: Is Legends okay for a 14-year-old?
It depends on their "thriller" baseline. If they’ve seen Narcos or Top Boy, they’ve seen this level of intensity. If they’re used to PG-13 action movies, the drug use and the psychological breakdown of the main character might feel like a lot.
Q: How much drug use is actually shown?
A lot. It’s a central plot point. You’ll see the manufacturing of "E" pills, heroin being prepared, and characters under the influence. It’s portrayed as a dangerous, dirty business, but it is frequent.
Q: Is Steve Coogan funny in this?
Not really. He has a few dry, cynical lines, but this is a dramatic role. If your kid is expecting Alan Partridge or Night at the Museum, they’re going to be very confused very quickly.
Q: Is there sexual content in Legends?
There are some scenes of nudity and sexual situations, primarily in the context of the undercover worlds Martin inhabits (clubs, parties). It’s not "Euphoria" levels of focus, but it’s present as part of the "90s underworld" aesthetic.
Legends (Netflix) is a heavy, expertly-made thriller that earns its TV-MA rating. It’s a great pick for older teens who want something they can actually sink their teeth into, provided they’re okay with a story that stays in the shadows.
- Check out the best shows for kids and teens for more age-appropriate thrillers.
- Explore our digital guide for high schoolers to help navigate mature content.
- Ask our chatbot
for a specific content breakdown of any episode.