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Season 1 – Taboo

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Taboo Jan 2017 Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
76% Tomatometer 68 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
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. Focused on building a shipping empire to rival the imperious East India Company, Delaney's other wish to seek vengeance for his father's death means conspiracy, betrayal and bloodshed are also in the cards. As he works to accomplish that, Delaney must also navigate increasingly complex territories in order to avoid his own death sentence.
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Taboo — Season 1

Taboo — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

After a sluggish start, Taboo takes hold as a mysterious, dark, and often brutal period drama with plenty of promise as a series -- most notably evident in Tom Hardy's exceptionally watchable performance.

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Critics Reviews

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James Jackson The Times (UK) 12/28/2017
3/5
If you could fathom what Hardy was growling, Delaney's closing run-in with Jonathan Pryce's East India Company boss suddenly put things on a knife-edge, promising just the sort of conflict you'd return for. Go to Full Review Andrew Billen The Times (UK) 12/27/2017
4/5
I want to be kind about the series because it looked fantastic. It had, as I say, great lines. There has not been such a blissful collective display of character acting for a while: the best supporting actor gong goes to the lot of them. Go to Full Review Deborah Ross Daily Mail (UK) 09/01/2017
2/5
... if you have ever wished to know what you get when too many alpha males gather in a room, perhaps this is it. Go to Full Review Chris Sawin GeeksHaveGame 08/30/2019
4.5/5
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. Go to Full Review Matt Miller Esquire Magazine 10/19/2018
Not even often-stunning performances... can dig Taboo out of its messy, overwrought darkness. Go to Full Review Anne Brodie What She Said 08/24/2018
The Hardys have created a period piece with a grim, noir feel, and ballsy execution. There are plenty of betrayals, murders, conspiracies and a clash of primitive and modern western values. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Really S @ReallySeriously Dec 13 tom hardy and dad wrote a great script. and the casting, acting, directing well done. brilliant stuff. was probably too sophisticated to garner support for s2. See more Mother J. @African-Mother Nov 2 This show, which I first watched years after its 2017 release, instantly became one of my favorites and still holds up after many repeat viewings. Tom Hardy plays a mysterious man returning from years abroad, with plenty of unfinished business waiting for him. The show has great atmosphere, tension, and a unique tone, including scenes where his character relies on teachings he picked up during his time away. There is a key supporting character played very well by Edward Hogg. One part of the show that didn’t work for me involved the sister’s husband. His behavior and dialogue were overly harsh, and I felt some of those scenes could have been written differently. Aside from that, the writing, acting, and story are all excellent. It’s a shame that Tom Hardy hasn’t continued the series, especially since it’s been nine years. There have been talks about a second season, but it seems uncertain since he hasn’t been acting as frequently in recent years. See more Jason P. @Psutka22 Oct 25 Weird and immensely entertaining. If you love Tom Hardy like I do, you'll love this work. See more Brendan M @RT76082430 06/06/2025 A controversial take, but I thought this was a waste of time and talent. A weak meandering story that was well cast all the same. Style over substance. I'm a Tom Hardy fan, but I would like to see him in better material. Happy it never made it to season 2 See more Andreja j @Njandrata 06/01/2025 Very very good. Too bad this never got renewed... See more Joakim U @Sweden123 04/01/2025 one of the best series last 20 years See more Read all reviews
Taboo — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Steven Knight

Creator

Tom Hardy

Creator

Chips Hardy

Creator

Tom Hardy

James Keziah Delaney

Leo Bill

Wilton

Oona Chaplin

Zilpha Geary

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jan 7, 2017 Episode 1 After 10 years in Africa, James Delaney returns to 1814 London to claim a mysterious legacy left to him by his father. Details Episode 2 Aired Jan 14, 2017 Episode 2 While James Delaney assembles his league of the damned, an unexpected arrival threatens to disrupt his plans. Details Episode 3 Aired Jan 21, 2017 Episode 3 In order to safeguard himself, James takes radical action. Details Episode 4 Aired Jan 28, 2017 Episode 4 James Delaney sets out to protect his business by any means necessary. Details Episode 5 Aired Feb 4, 2017 Episode 5 James Delaney is blackmailed into a dangerous mission; animosity between the Crown and Company escalates to a new level. Details Episode 6 Aired Feb 11, 2017 Episode 6 The East India Company declares war on James Delaney; a family revelation drives James into dark and haunted places. Details Episode 7 Aired Feb 18, 2017 Episode 7 A devastating betrayal puts James Delaney's freedom in jeopardy, handing his enemies the opportunity for which they have been longing. Details Episode 8 Aired Feb 22, 2017 Episode 8 An enraged Prince Regent unleashes one final plan to destroy James Delaney, who conspires to escape. Details

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Taboo — Season 1

Taboo Taboo Taboo Taboo View more photos

Season Info

Director
Kristoffer Nyholm, Anders Engström
Creator
Steven Knight, Tom Hardy, Chips Hardy
Executive Producer
Ridley Scott, Kate Crowe, Tom Hardy, Dean Baker
Screenwriter
Steven Knight
Network
BBC
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Jan 7, 2017