Taboo Season

Taboo Season 1 (2017) – A Gritty Masterpiece of Mystery, Madness, and Empire

Premiering in January 2017, Taboo Season 1 quickly captured the imagination of audiences with its dark, immersive storytelling and haunting atmosphere. Created by Tom Hardy, his father Chips Hardy, and Steven Knight (of Peaky Blinders fame), the series stands out as a unique blend of historical drama, gothic noir, and psychological thriller. Set in 1814 London, Taboo presents a world teetering on the edge of the modern age—where old-world mysticism, imperial power struggles, and personal vengeance collide.

At the center of the story is James Keziah Delaney, played by Tom Hardy in one of his most intense performances to date. Delaney, long presumed dead, returns to England after a mysterious decade spent in Africa. He arrives just as his father dies, leaving him a contested inheritance: a strip of land on the western shores of North America called Nootka Sound. Though the property seems worthless at first, it soon becomes clear that it holds immense strategic value, drawing the attention of the British Crown, the powerful East India Company, and the United States.

What follows is a slow-burning tale of espionage, murder, and mysticism. Delaney, covered in tribal tattoos and speaking in riddles, is a man both feared and ridiculed by London society. He appears to be driven by vengeance, but his motives are often cryptic, as he maneuvers through corrupt political circles, underground criminal networks, and occult rituals. As the series progresses, layers of Delaney's past are revealed, including his troubled relationship with his half-sister Zilpha (Oona Chaplin), a forbidden bond that adds both emotional depth and moral ambiguity to the narrative.

The show’s greatest strength lies in its world-building and atmosphere. Director Kristoffer Nyholm and cinematographer Mark Patten paint early 19th-century London as a decaying, grimy metropolis filled with shadows, secrets, and filth. The visuals are saturated in soot and fog, and the sound design—echoing footsteps, whispers, and the droning hum of shipyards—immerses the viewer in a suffocating world of corruption and chaos. Max Richter’s chilling score further elevates the mood, blending classical melancholy with industrial menace.

Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Delaney is magnetic. With few words and many stares, he constructs a character who is both frightening and captivating—a man forged by violence and loss, yet capable of deep, if twisted, love and loyalty. Supporting performances by Jonathan Pryce (as Sir Stuart Strange, head of the East India Company) and Jessie Buckley (as Lorna Bow, Delaney’s unlikely ally) add rich layers to the political intrigue and personal stakes.

Critically acclaimed for its bold storytelling, rich production design, and Hardy’s commanding performance, Taboo Season 1 became a cult hit. However, it’s not without its criticisms—some viewers found the pacing slow and the plot dense. Yet for those willing to immerse themselves in its world, the series offered a deeply rewarding and provocative experience.

In essence, Taboo is not just a tale of revenge or empire—it is a journey into the darkest corners of the human psyche, wrapped in historical mystery and gothic grandeur. Season 1 ends with Delaney and his loyal few escaping England by sea, setting course for America and the secrets that lie ahead. It is a fitting close to a season that, from the beginning, was never afraid to dive into the shadows.