Taboo: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

76%

Tomatometer

68 Reviews

91%

Audience Score

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. Read More Read Less

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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

Times (UK)

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.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 28, 2017

Full Review

Andrew Billen

Times (UK)

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.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 27, 2017

Full Review

Deborah Ross

Daily Mail (UK)

... if you have ever wished to know what you get when too many alpha males gather in a room, perhaps this is it.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 1, 2017

Full Review

Chris Sawin

GeeksHaveGame

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.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 30, 2019

Full Review

Matt Miller

Esquire Magazine

Not even often-stunning performances... can dig Taboo out of its messy, overwrought darkness.

Oct 19, 2018

Full Review

Anne Brodie

What She Said

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.

Aug 24, 2018

Full Review

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Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Mad decent methadone for Peaky Blinders withdrawals. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/08/24 Full Review Audience Member Wow, one of the best TV shows I've ever seen. Need a second season desperately. Love the gritty and dark depiction of 19th century London. Setting and atmosphere really made the show, interesting plot as well. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/12/24 Full Review Christopher T As many critics it crawled out of the gate but stick with it. Cant go wrong with Tom Hardy in a badass role Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/25/24 Full Review Bob S intriguing exciting captivating adventurous mystical dramatic smart what else you want???? Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/04/24 Full Review Nancy M Our second time viewing this excellent series. Looking forward to Season 2. Tom Hardy always delivers. The casting and performance are solid. Intriguing plot. Beautifully filmed - the framing, composition, palette, etc. Dark and mysterious. This series is filled with talent - Tom Hardy, David Hayman, Jonathan Pryce to name only a few of the top tier actors; Ridley Scott was one of the producers. The plot has some interesting twists. The protagonist had spent several years in Africa and has returned with some mystical abilities, like visions and communicating with the dead. The story is leading us to believe the character is going to get retribution for himself and for victims of the East India Shipping Co. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/25/24 Full Review Tijs v Great first season but where is the second season? Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/18/24 Full Review Read all reviews

Taboo — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

Steven Knight Creator Tom Hardy Creator Chips Hardy Creator Tom Hardy James Keziah Delaney Leo Bill Wilton Oona Chaplin Zilpha Geary

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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

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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 (L|V)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date: Jan 7, 2017

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