This gritty historical drama featuring Tom Hardy has been lauded as the “best BBC period drama”.
“Taboo” burst onto our screens in 2017, offering a gripping eight-part series crafted by Steven Knight, Hardy himself, and his father, Chips Hardy, inspired by a story penned by the Hardy duo.
The stellar cast alongside Hardy includes Leo Bill, Jessie Buckley, Oona Chaplin, Mark Gatiss, Tom Hollander, and Stephen Graham.
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The plot of “Taboo” is summarised as follows: “Adventurer James Keziah Delaney, long believed to be dead, returns home to London from Africa in 1814 in order to inherit his late father’s shipping empire.
All is not what it seems, however, as Delaney encounters numerous enemies intent on making his life back in the United Kingdom very difficult.”
With ambitions to establish a shipping behemoth to challenge the dominant East India Company, Delaney’s quest for retribution for his father’s death ensures a tale rife with conspiracy, treachery, and violence.
As he strives towards his goal, Delaney must also tread carefully through a labyrinth of danger to dodge a death sentence hanging over his head.
Screen Rant singled out the series in its roundup of the “20 Best BBC Period Dramas Of All Time”. “Taboo” was met with positive critiques when it debuted, and it continues to captivate audiences to this day.
Taboo is streaming now on BBC iPlayer -Credit:BBC
Rotten Tomatoes has given the series a solid 76% approval rating, with their critical consensus stating: “After a sluggish start, Taboo takes a hold as a mysterious, dark, and often brutal period drama with plenty of promise as a series – most notably Tom Hardy’s exceptionally watchable performance.”, reports the Express.
One critic praised the show, remarking: “Freshly unique, gloriously offensive, and delightfully vicious with superb costume design, an unbelievably talented cast, and a riveting story that thrives on reeling its audience in.”
A fan hailed the drama as “one of the best series last 20 years”.
Another viewer commented: “This is a regency era crime thriller that’s fuelled with vengeful spirits infesting a seasoned sailor on seas of life. He walks the streets and death follows known as devil itself, Dealaney is a character that was acted without a single break.”
The review highlighted the show’s atmosphere, noting: “The mystified look that signals numbness to anything that happens in the ruins of society’s underbelly is the tone setter.”
Praise was also given for the ensemble’s efforts: “Precise work by the whole cast in piecing together this unique period drama. Descriptive audio effects. A wide range of characters that could keep the audience immersed. Excellent story of strategy and action that demands another season.”
Fans can catch Taboo streaming on BBC iPlayer.