7 January (2017-01-07) – 25 February 2017 (2017-02-25)
Taboo is a BBC television drama series produced by Scott Free London and Hardy Son & Baker. It premiered on BBC One in the United Kingdom, on 7 January 2017 and on FX in the United States, on 10 January 2017. The eight-episode series was created by Steven Knight, Tom Hardy, and his father, Chips Hardy, based on a story written by Tom and Chips Hardy.
Upon the death of his father in 1814, adventurer and merchant James Delaney (Tom Hardy) returns to England after spending the prior twelve years in Africa. The story is set towards the end of the 1812 war between Great Britain and the United States (1812-1815).
"Taboo" refers to the protagonist's sexual relationship with his half-sister Zilpha Geary (they have the same father). Taboo further explores the dark side of 19th-century London, its political and business corruption involving the East India Company. The narrative arc closely references the development of geopolitical lines defining Canada and the United States. The story leverages the machinations and antics of real world spies (Committee of Secret Correspondence) and sympathizers of the United States in London during the early 1800s.
The protagonist's mystical and magical powers, learned during his time in Africa, add a supernatural tone to the story. Delaney can communicate with the dead, has numerous visions and the script deepens Hardy's character by accurately using numerous phrases from the Ghana Twi language used by the Akan people during numerous mystical flashback scenes.[1]
Delaney bears a striking tattoo on his neck depicting the Sankofa bird, a mystical symbol that recurrently surfaces as numerous carvings during his time in London. The imagery portrays a bird with its head turned backward, retrieving an egg from its back. This potent Asante mystic symbol serves as a powerful invocation of the recurring themes of taboos in Delaney's life—ranging from incest and mass murder to his various amoral acts. Essentially, the symbol conveys the profound message that "it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind."[2][3] Delaney is portrayed as a dangerous man; the story contains several horrific fights in which he kills with a knife in a dramatic manner, disemboweling numerous opponents.[4]
Kristoffer Nyholm and Anders Engström each directed four episodes of the first series. Max Richter composed the score. The series received favourable reviews, with critics praising Hardy's performance, visual presentation, and pacing.
Taboo was created by Steven Knight, Tom Hardy and his father, Edward "Chips" Hardy, and is based on a story written by Tom and Chips Hardy.[6] Knight and Tom Hardy previously worked together in the 2013 film Locke and the TV series Peaky Blinders, which premiered in 2013.[7] The first series was directed by Kristoffer Nyholm and Anders Engström.[7] The music was composed by Max Richter.[8] Steven Knight plans for two more series.[9]Taboo was renewed for a second series in March 2017.[10] In November 2021, Knight confirmed that six of season two's eight planned episodes had been written, and the start of filming is contingent upon Hardy's schedule.[11] In May 2022, Knight earmarked the end of 2023 as a potential filming start date.[12]
James Delaney, believed dead, returns to London to attend the funeral of his father, Horace. Other than owning a small part of the west coast of North America, Horace has left nothing of value. The land, Nootka Sound,[14] is in dispute between Great Britain and the United States, who are at war. The East India Company had an agreement to buy the land from Zilpha Geary, Delaney's half-sister, but Delaney knows the war is coming to an end, greatly increasing the value of the land, and scorns their offer. Delaney discovers his father died from arsenic poisoning.
2
"Episode 2"
Kristoffer Nyholm
Steven Knight
14 January 2017 (2017-01-14)
6.18
Delaney sets about reclaiming his inheritance; he buys a ship at auction, then begins to assemble his crew. The reading of Horace's will concludes with the appearance of Lorna Bow, a London actress, who claims that she and Horace were married. Delaney pays off Horace's numerous creditors, and makes contact with Dr Dumbarton (an American spy). The East India Company hires a contract killer, a Malay man with a silver tooth to kill Delaney. The man stabs Delaney injuring him badly. Though seriously hurt, Delaney manages to kill his assailant using a knife and also by tearing by out the assassins' throat by biting him.
3
"Episode 3"
Kristoffer Nyholm
Steven Knight
21 January 2017 (2017-01-21)
5.57
After Dumbarton administers to Delaney's wound, his assistance regarding Nootka Sound is made clear. Delaney protects his life against the East India Company and the Crown by making the United States government the beneficiary of his will. When Lorna makes claim for half of Horace's assets, she is warned that her life is at risk and she should flee to Paris. Michael Godfrey is blackmailed by Delaney to provide secrets from the East India Company's meetings. Lorna is abducted after leaving the theatre, only to be rescued by Delaney.
Lorna, encouraged by Delaney, allows herself to be arrested by the Crown. About to be raped by Coop, she is rescued when the East India Company intervene, having been tipped off by Delaney about the duke's threat to Lorna. Cholmondeley advises Delaney on gunpowder.[15] They plan to steal refined saltpetre from a Company warehouse. An attempt to kill Delaney, instigated by the US secret agent Carlsbad, ends with the disembowelment of his attacker. When Delaney is invited to a ball held by the Countess Musgrove, he asks Lorna to accompany him. Although she neither confirms nor denies it, he realises that Musgrove is Carlsbad. Thorne, under the influence from laughing gas provided by Cholmondeley, challenges Delaney to a duel to the death.
5
"Episode 5"
Anders Engström
Steven Knight and Ben Hervey
4 February 2017 (2017-02-04)
5.63
When Thorne's shot at Delaney's chest proves to have been sabotaged, Delaney fires at the second, Mr. Hope, killing him. Because the Crown had purchased the saltpetre, the Company pay the consequence for the theft. The Prince Regent decides to make matters difficult for the Company and sends George Chichester, a lawyer for the Sons of Africa, to investigate the sinking of the Influence, the slave ship that has been haunting Delaney's memories and on which 280 people died. Dumbarton tells Delaney that the Americans know about his hidden farm. Lorna has followed Delaney's instructions and brought him his father's trunk; he finds the treaty that proves Nootka Sound was bought from the natives, rather than taken by force. Delaney believes that his father bought his mother, a Nootka woman, for beads.
6
"Episode 6"
Anders Engström
Edward "Chips" Hardy and Steven Knight
11 February 2017 (2017-02-11)
5.43
Continuing his investigation into the East India Company, George Chichester discovers that the name of the slave ship had been changed from 'Cornwallis' to 'Influence' to disguise her real identity; that she was registered as being empty when she sailed on her fatal voyage; that she had only a skeleton crew; and that Sir Stuart Strange's own brother owned a sugar plantation in Antigua. Meanwhile, Brace tells Delaney that his mother was confined to Bedlam lunatic asylum after she attempted to drown him as a baby, and that his father had saved his life. Zilpha murders Thorne, and Delaney has Dumbarton remove the corpse, which is later buried in a Catholic funeral. Farmer Ibbotson makes his confession to the local Catholic priest, and the priest reveals the location of Delaney's gunpowder factory to the Company. Delaney kills Ibbotson, cutting out his tongue and leaving his body in the confessional for the horrified priest to discover. Before the Company's soldiers can seize his gunpowder, Delaney removes it by barge and succeeds in transporting to his ship. Company representative Benjamin Wilton finds Delaney at the dock and passes on a message from Sir Stuart that it is now war between them. Immediately afterwards Delaney's ship blows up, leaving it a flaming hulk. In reply, Delaney kills the man who was supposed to be guarding the ship and cuts out his heart. Then he gets drunk and appears to be about to drown himself. But as he heads out into the Thames, Winter brings him another bottle and he thinks better of it. The following morning, he wakes up face down in the mud... and finds Winter's dead body not far away.
7
"Episode 7"
Anders Engström
Steven Knight
18 February 2017 (2017-02-18)
5.53
Following Winter's funeral, Delaney is fearful that he may have killed her whilst drunk. Unlike Helga, Lorna believes in his innocence, especially as he houses another young waif, Robert. Delaney is visited by Chichester, who accuses him of complicity in sinking the slave ship but offers immunity if he will indict the East India Company. Brace makes a confession to Delaney: it was he who had poisoned Horace, starting the chain of events that followed. Meanwhile, a vengeful Helga informs Strange about the gunpowder, leading to Delaney being imprisoned for treason and tortured. Lorna does her own sleuthing to prove James innocent of killing Winter, whilst Delaney's ally in the Company, Godfrey, agrees to testify against it, requiring George to spirit him away for his own safety. With the Prince Regent still at odds with the East India Company, Delaney is surprised to find Strange offering him a compromise.
8
"Episode 8"
Anders Engström
Steven Knight
25 February 2017 (2017-02-25)
5.59
In prison awaiting trial, Delaney lets Strange know he is aware of his part in the sinking of the slave ship, a fact Godfrey will reveal to the Royal Commission, thus forcing Strange to arrange his release. Delaney is distraught to find that Zilpha has killed herself. Lorna and Atticus also rescue Helga, telling her that Delaney was framed by the East India Company for Winter's murder. Delaney settles business with Dumbarton, revealed to be a double agent for the Company, on behalf of the Americans. The Prince Regent, scorned by Delaney's repeated slights against him, orders his death. Delaney, Lorna, Atticus, Michael and their associates prepare for an ambush against the Prince Regent's forces. After a long protracted battle, they escape on the ship Strange has arranged for them, at the cost of Helga's life. George Chichester, guided by a now-free Brace, finds the evidence he needs to ultimately discredit the East India Company. Strange is killed by an explosive device planted by Delaney, completing his revenge. On the ship, the Union Jack is torn down and the Stars and Stripes is raised, signifying their new destinies as Americans.
Broadcast
Taboo premiered on BBC One in the United Kingdom on 7 January 2017, and on FX in the United States on 10 January 2017.[16] The debut episode had 1.839 million viewers in the US, and a rating of 0.6 for the 18–49 demographic.[17] Its Live+3 figures were 3.43 million viewers – 1.63 million adults in the category 18–49 – the time-shifted percentage increase of 101% in the demographic is a record for FX.[18] In the US, the first season averaged per episode 1.33 million viewers and 0.4 rating in the 18–49 demographic on the episodes initial airings, but increased to 5.8 million viewers per episode after viewing figures from all platforms had been added, including on-air replays, delayed viewing and streaming.[19]
Reception
The series has received generally favourable reviews, with critics praising Hardy's performance, the aesthetic and the slow burn aspect.[20][21] The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the series an approval rating of 78% based on 45 reviews, with an average rating of 7.03/10. Their critical consensus reads, "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".[22] On review aggregator Metacritic, the series has a score of 67 out of 100 based on 32 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[23]
Ben Lawrence of The Telegraph gave Taboo 3 out of 5 stars, though stating that Taboo's strength is that, despite borrowing from westerns, gangster flicks and even Charles Dickens, it still manages to feel utterly original.[24] Sam Wollaston of The Guardian noted that while some of the dialogue "does make you wince", Hardy's acting and onscreen presence more than makes up for it.[25]
Writing for The Hollywood Reporter, Tim Goodman noted that Taboo is a solid if slow, in the early going, entry in FX's stable of series, with a compelling turn by Tom Hardy.[21] Kevin Yeoman of Screenrant wrote in his review that it all added up to a dark, slow-moving but nonetheless intriguing drama with secrets to dispense in due time. He also said that it was likely that those drawn to Hardy's onscreen intensity and seemingly unlimited capacity to become the physical embodiment of gloomy menace would be the ones most likely to stick around until the very end, and in doing so would reap the potential rewards.[20]
Some historians have expressed concern that the East India Company may be portrayed in a manner that is not accurate.[26] Tirthankar Roy, an economic historian at the London School of Economics, stated that it gave an excessively negative view of the East India Company. Nick Robins, author of The Corporation That Changed the World, added that the organisation had made a positive contribution, but that by the time it was dissolved it had long "outlived its usefulness".[26]
Before the broadcast of Taboo, Steven Knight said, "This man, James Delaney, is a deeply flawed and deeply troubled human being. His greatest struggle will be against the East India Company which, throughout the 19th century, was the equivalent of the CIA, the NSA, and the biggest, baddest multinational corporation on earth, all rolled into one self-righteous, religiously-motivated monolith.[27]
Season 1 was released in the United States and Canada by Echo Bridge Acquisition Corp, LLC (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment) on DVD and Blu-Ray on February 6, 2018, and in Europe by StudioCanal on May 29, 2017. The US/Canada DVD set consists of two discs while the European release is a three disc set. French and German dubbed releases were released on April 13, 2017, and May 9, 2017, respectively.[citation needed]
