Sam Narr reviews the first episode of Taboo…
After various teasers and building anticipation, the first episode of Taboo aired last night on BBC one. The huge draw to the period drama will no doubt be Tom Hardy, in what feels like a homecoming from Hollywood.
Taboo, set in 1814, follows the return of James Keziah Delaney (Hardy) to London’s lurid, gluttonous streets in wake of his Father’s death. Mystery surrounds his return as he has been assumed dead for a decade.
The introduction to the eight-part series gives an offering into the complexities of James’s return and character. The enemies from the offset the East India Company, the imperialistic trades and commodities arm that had free reign to voyage the world. James’s Father had purchased land in America which has not only become incredibly expensive, but may be a deciding factor in the war between the UK and US. As you guessed, James is the sole heir and inherits the land meaning he’s an essential component to the EIC and he’s in no mood to be negotiable, especially after learning his Father had been poisoned.
The episode introduces an unclear relationship with James’s half-sister Zilpha Geary (Oona Chaplin), the reclaiming of his Father’s London properties and his vividly sinister hallucinations in which he communicates with the dead. All giving a gritty, intriguing and despicable feel to the start of the series – which is delightfully exciting.
Hardy is magnetic and spellbinding. Being a seasoned actor, his preference to work on a project such as a mini-series shows his dedication and passion towards a stellar script. Expect the same level of intensity and vigour as what we saw in Bronson, with manic and unpredictable shifts of Bane in The Dark Knight. Delaney is a tormented soul who has returned from Africa, experiencing inexplicable things whilst becoming more cultured it seems. This makes him alien in the late Georgian London, a role which Hardy thrives on.
Taboo was created by Chips Hardy (Tom’s Father) and in an interview with Flickering Myth they both discussed the inspiration behind James Delaney’s characters which was Bill Sykes, a dark, unforgivingly violent figure trawling through the narrow London streets (Tom played Bill Sykes in a television adaptation of Oliver Twist back in 2007).
A special mention has to go to production designer, Sonja Klaus. The authentic landscape and smog of 1814 London is brought to life through screen with a level of detail that is miles apart from usual dramas on the BBC.
Next week’s episode will be sure to keep viewers locked as we see the storyline develop and the introduction of Stephen Graham’s character Atticus – as seen in this BBC teaser below.
Sam Narr
Originally published January 8, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
