Taboo

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Overview

Adventurer James Keziah Delaney returns to London from Africa in 1814 along with fourteen stolen diamonds to seek vengeance after the death of his father.

Media

Taboo: Trailer - BBC

Cast

Creator:

Tom Hardy, Steven Knight, Chips Hardy

Fist Air Date:

2017-01-07

Episode Runtime:

60m

Production Companies:

Hardy Son & Baker, Scott Free Productions

Genres:

More Show Details

Vote Average: 7.9/10

Vote Count: 1447 Votes

Show Popularity: 12.8013

Show Status: Ended

Show Type: Scripted

Spoken Languages: English

Review

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 04 May 2026 at 10:18 pm

7 Based on 1 Votes
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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 9/10 THE SUMMARY London, 1814. James Keziah Delaney, a man long presumed dead, returns from the ends of the earth to attend his father’s funeral. He’s not the man he was when he left; he’s tattooed, haunted, and carries the brutal secrets of his time in Africa. Inheriting a mysterious piece of land on the American border, James finds himself at the center of a lethal tug-of-war between the British Crown and the all-powerful East India Company. It’s a dark, mud-caked, and visceral period thriller where corporate espionage meets occult mysticism, and James Delaney is the most dangerous man in the room—mostly because he’s already been to hell and back. THE PROS This is a 9/10 because Tom Hardy delivers a performance of pure, unadulterated intensity. He barely speaks, but his grunts and stares carry more weight than most shows' entire scripts. It hits Epic status because of its world-building—the 19th-century London it portrays isn't a postcard; it’s a sprawling, stinking, and corrupt machine. The writing by Steven Knight (the genius behind *Peaky Blinders*) is razor-sharp, turning trade disputes into high-stakes psychological warfare. It’s a winner because it’s a "passion project" that feels genuinely unique, blending historical realism with a supernatural edge that never feels out of place. As of May 2026, the hype is finally boiling over again; with Tom Hardy recently finishing his *Venom* commitments and *The Immortal Man* hitting Netflix, the schedules have finally aligned for the long-awaited continuation. THE CONS It misses a 10/10 because, for some, the pacing might be a bit too "languid." It takes its time to reveal its cards, and the heavy focus on shipping routes and land deeds can feel a touch dense in the middle episodes. It settles at a 9 because the nine-year gap between seasons has been a brutal wait for fans. While the first eight episodes are a masterpiece, the cliffhanger ending of 1814 has lived in development hell for so long that the momentum of the original run was nearly lost. It’s an epic, but one that has tested the patience of its audience to the absolute limit. THE VERDICT A massive 9/10. It is a gritty, atmospheric, and utterly compelling masterpiece that proves Tom Hardy is at his best when he’s playing a man with nothing left to lose. It isn't a 10 simply because we’ve been waiting nearly a decade for the next chapter, but with production finally ramping up again for late 2026, the "Devil Delaney" is about to reclaim his throne. If you like your history with a side of darkness and a heavy dose of mud, this is the best show you’ve never seen. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • Father and Son: The show was a true family affair. Tom Hardy co-created the story with his father, Chips Hardy. They wanted to create a character that was a blend of Bill Sykes, Sherlock Holmes, and Hannibal Lecter—someone completely unpredictable and terrifyingly capable.• Authentic Grime: The production team went to extreme lengths to make London look "authentic." They used actual soot and dirt to coat the sets, and the costumes were rarely washed to ensure they had that lived-in, 19th-century "stink" that you can almost smell through the screen.• Nine-Year Exile: The delay between Season 1 (2017) and the upcoming Season 2 wasn't due to a lack of interest. Tom Hardy’s seven-year commitment to the *Venom* franchise and various film projects kept him away, but creator Steven Knight confirmed in early 2026 that the scripts are largely complete and the story will shift to the rugged frontiers of the "New World." THE VIBE Like a dark alleyway in London after a heavy rain. It smells like woodsmoke, gunpowder, and old secrets. It’s cold, visceral, and incredibly intense. It makes you want to buy a top hat, learn how to navigate by the stars, and realize that some inheritances are more of a curse than a gift.

TV Show Poster

Season 1

8 Episodes

Air Date: 2017-01-07

1814: James Keziah Delaney returns to London from Africa and is encircled by conspiracy, murder and betrayal.

Videos

Taboo: Trailer - BBC

Taboo | Season 1: Official Trailer | FX

Cast

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Reviews for

Taboo

Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 4 May 2026 at 11:18 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 9/10
THE SUMMARY
London, 1814. James Keziah Delaney, a man long presumed dead, returns from the ends of the earth to attend his father’s funeral. He’s not the man he was when he left; he’s tattooed, haunted, and carries the brutal secrets of his time in Africa. Inheriting a mysterious piece of land on the American border, James finds himself at the center of a lethal tug-of-war between the British Crown and the all-powerful East India Company. It’s a dark, mud-caked, and visceral period thriller where corporate espionage meets occult mysticism, and James Delaney is the most dangerous man in the room—mostly because he’s already been to hell and back.
THE PROS
This is a 9/10 because Tom Hardy delivers a performance of pure, unadulterated intensity. He barely speaks, but his grunts and stares carry more weight than most shows’ entire scripts. It hits Epic status because of its world-building—the 19th-century London it portrays isn’t a postcard; it’s a sprawling, stinking, and corrupt machine. The writing by Steven Knight (the genius behind *Peaky Blinders*) is razor-sharp, turning trade disputes into high-stakes psychological warfare. It’s a winner because it’s a “passion project” that feels genuinely unique, blending historical realism with a supernatural edge that never feels out of place. As of May 2026, the hype is finally boiling over again; with Tom Hardy recently finishing his *Venom* commitments and *The Immortal Man* hitting Netflix, the schedules have finally aligned for the long-awaited continuation.
THE CONS
It misses a 10/10 because, for some, the pacing might be a bit too “languid.” It takes its time to reveal its cards, and the heavy focus on shipping routes and land deeds can feel a touch dense in the middle episodes. It settles at a 9 because the nine-year gap between seasons has been a brutal wait for fans. While the first eight episodes are a masterpiece, the cliffhanger ending of 1814 has lived in development hell for so long that the momentum of the original run was nearly lost. It’s an epic, but one that has tested the patience of its audience to the absolute limit.
THE VERDICT
A massive 9/10. It is a gritty, atmospheric, and utterly compelling masterpiece that proves Tom Hardy is at his best when he’s playing a man with nothing left to lose. It isn’t a 10 simply because we’ve been waiting nearly a decade for the next chapter, but with production finally ramping up again for late 2026, the “Devil Delaney” is about to reclaim his throne. If you like your history with a side of darkness and a heavy dose of mud, this is the best show you’ve never seen.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• Father and Son: The show was a true family affair. Tom Hardy co-created the story with his father, Chips Hardy. They wanted to create a character that was a blend of Bill Sykes, Sherlock Holmes, and Hannibal Lecter—someone completely unpredictable and terrifyingly capable.
• Authentic Grime: The production team went to extreme lengths to make London look “authentic.” They used actual soot and dirt to coat the sets, and the costumes were rarely washed to ensure they had that lived-in, 19th-century “stink” that you can almost smell through the screen.
• Nine-Year Exile: The delay between Season 1 (2017) and the upcoming Season 2 wasn’t due to a lack of interest. Tom Hardy’s seven-year commitment to the *Venom* franchise and various film projects kept him away, but creator Steven Knight confirmed in early 2026 that the scripts are largely complete and the story will shift to the rugged frontiers of the “New World.”
THE VIBE
Like a dark alleyway in London after a heavy rain. It smells like woodsmoke, gunpowder, and old secrets. It’s cold, visceral, and incredibly intense. It makes you want to buy a top hat, learn how to navigate by the stars, and realize that some inheritances are more of a curse than a gift.

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