Tom Hardy’s Taboo: A Relevant and Riveting Historical Thriller

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While many know Tom Hardy from Peaky Blinders, his performance in the 2017 series Taboo is particularly impressive. The historical thriller centers on James Delaney, a character played by Hardy, who returns to Britain from Africa in the early 1800s and finds himself caught up in London’s criminal world.

The actor delivers a captivating performance as the show’s complicated and compelling lead character, showcasing even more nuance than his popular role as Alfie Solomons in Peaky Blinders. Many would agree this is Hardy’s strongest work on television. The character perfectly suits his mysterious on-screen persona and feels deeply personal, as if it comes directly from his own inner world.

Beyond the compelling main character, Taboo really stands out for how it tackles colonialism. While shows are more likely to critique the British Empire now, Taboo was remarkably forward-thinking when it aired in 2017. In fact, it’s arguably Steven Knight’s most impactful and honest television work.

Tom Hardy & Steven Knight’s Taboo Has Aged Like Fine Wine

Created with significant input from Tom Hardy and writer Steven Knight – and even co-written with Hardy’s father – Taboo is a gripping historical thriller. It’s perfect for viewers who enjoy dark, violent stories that challenge traditional British history and explore morally complex characters.

Compared to Knight’s other TV shows, Taboo offers a much darker look at the powerful forces that shaped society during its time period. It also uniquely presents indigenous spirituality as a form of resistance against colonial rule, something rarely explored on British or American television.

Why Taboo Is More Relevant Now Than Ever

While the show’s portrayal of West African shamanism may not be entirely accurate, it effectively establishes the atmosphere for James Delaney’s fight against the East India Company and his opposition to colonialism. It also highlights important social problems that remain relevant today.

As a huge fan of shows like Gangs of London, I was immediately struck by how Taboo portrays the criminal underworld and the powerful institutions that should be controlling them – they’re really two faces of the same problem. But what Taboo does differently, and brilliantly, is really digging into how Britain’s history of empire-building and colonialism actually created a lot of the problems we see today. It’s not just about crime; it’s about the long-reaching consequences of historical injustice.

Although the series is set over 200 years in the past, its themes still resonate today. Public conversations about colonialism have evolved significantly in the last nine years, but issues like racial injustice, immigration, and the abuse of power by governments – often driven by imperial ambitions and greed – remain urgent and relevant now.

Taboo Could Be Returning For A 2nd Season In The Near Future

I was so thrilled to hear there’s a real possibility of a second season of Taboo! Considering how much the show resonated with what’s happening in the world today, and how well the first season was received back in 2017, it feels incredibly relevant. I know it was originally greenlit a while ago, but I understand Tom Hardy and Steven Knight have been busy with other projects, so delays were inevitable. Still, the thought of more Taboo is fantastic!

There’s still so much left to resolve in the life of James Delaney, and so much more of Regency London’s grimy criminal underworld to explore from his perspective. Taboo deserves another set of episodes, and they could well be on the way soon.

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2026-01-31 21:00