Plot Synopsis

Set against the infancy of the Los Angeles crack cocaine epidemic in 1983, SNOWFALL is a one-hour drama series that follows numerous characters on a violent collision course, including: Franklin Saint, young street entrepreneur on a quest for power; Gustavo "El Oso" Zapata, a Mexican wrestler caught up in a power struggle within a crime family; Teddy McDonald, a CIA operative running from a dark past who begins an off-book operation to fund the Nicaraguan Contras and Lucia Villanueva, the self-possessed daughter of a Mexican crime lord. The series opens with South Central street entreprenuer Franklin taking a leap into the cocaine game; meanwhile, disgruntled CIA officer Teddy McDonald allies with a Contra soldier, and Luchador wrestler Gustavo "El Oso" Zapata makes inroads with a Mexican cartel family.

The sophomore season of SNOWFALL premiered on Thursday, July 19, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT on FX. The second season follows the Franklin, Teddy, Gustavo and Lucia as they intersect and overlap within the mosaic of Los Angeles in 1984, with all of them working toward their ultimate goals of money, power and influence, including: Franklin Saint, young street entrepreneur beginning to experience the perils of success; Teddy McDonald, a CIA operative who finds that his off-book drug-funded operation may be vulnerable from unexpected sources, both personal and professional; and Gustavo "El Oso" Zapata and Lucia Villanueva, the drug running couple who discover the potency of crack and try to exploit it, despite the new dangers involved. In the season opener, "Sightlines," Franklin struggles to keep up with the demands of his growing organization. As political tides shift, the CIA cuts Teddy's support, as he travels to recruit a new pilot. Feeling pressure to expand her business, Lucia crosses a line to impress a dangerous new partner.

Season 3 of SNOWFALL premiered on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT on FX. It's the summer of 1984, and crack cocaine is spreading like wildfire through South Central Los Angeles, continuing its path of destruction and changing the culture forever. Police are waking up to this growing epidemic, and Sergeant Andre Wright has set his sights on budding Kingpin and next door neighbor Franklin Saint and his people. While local law enforcement fights to stem the tide, Teddy McDonald and the CIA are working hard to make sure the flow of cocaine into LA doesn't stop. To continue funding the war against communism in Central America, Teddy will need to find new routes into the United States using Gustavo "El Oso" Zapata and what's left of the Villanueva family. As the stakes and losses continue to mount our players truly begin to understand the destructive force they have set in motion, forced to reexamine their own motivations and the cost of continuing forward from here. In the season opener, "Protect and Swerve," Franklin and Cissy look to make an investment in the community, while Andre tries to figure out what is destroying it. Jerome unveils his new business. A new cook on the streets is competing with Franklin's crew. Teddy's operation in Mexico becomes more complicated.

SNOWFALL returned for its fourth season on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 from 10pm-12:01am ET/PT on FX, with back-to-back episodes to start the new season. It's January 1, 1985. Ronald Reagan has won his re-election campaign proclaiming it is "morning again in America," but in South Central, Los Angeles, it feels more like the sun is getting low. The demand for crack cocaine is high, and while the crew of dealers led by Franklin Saint are benefitting greatly from the rising tide of addiction, they are also starting to become aware of the damage the drug is doing to the people and to the place they love. With the entire nation taking note, the LAPD is diverting serious money and resources to the "war on drugs." Politicians' phones are ringing. Powerful people are concerned, from the hallways of The White House to those of CIA headquarters, where there are whispers that one of their own may be involved in this burgeoning epidemic.

Season 5 of SNOWFALL debuted on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 with back-to-back episodes from 10pm-12:05am ET/PT on FX. In the new season, Franklin and family are rich beyond their wildest dreams and on the verge of having everything they've wanted as the ground begins to fall out from beneath their feet. The streets of South Central Los Angeles have never been so dangerous, but the biggest threat the family faces are each other as they try not to let greed, resentment and ego tear them all apart. In the season opener, "Comets" (10pm), it's the summer of 1986 and the Saint crew has leveled up. Franklin's personal and professional relationships are flourishing, but a problem in the valley brings trouble to his door. In the night's second episode, "Commitment" (11pm), Teddy forces his way back into the CIA's operation in Los Angeles. Franklin and Veronique have a business proposition for Jerome and Louie.

The sixth and final season of SNOWFALL premiered with back-to-back new episodes on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 10pm ET/PT on FX. It's October 1986, as civil war threatens to destroy the Saint family. Franklin is desperate, forced to rob his Aunt Louie and Uncle Jerome after being wiped out by former CIA officer Teddy McDonald. Meanwhile, Louie has taken over Franklin's role as Teddy's sole buyer, undercutting her nephew and creating a competing empire in the process. Franklin is now faced with losing everyone he loves and everything he's built, and coming through it all will mean out-maneuvering the KGB, the DEA and the CIA, as well as avoiding the LAPD's fully militarized, fully corrupt, C.R.A.S.H units. When everyone has their backs against the wall, who will they become in order to survive?
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On Wednesday, April 19, 2023 from 10-11:30pm ET/PT, FX premiered "The Struggle," the series finale of SNOWFALL, which brings the saga to an end.