Peaky Blinders Fans Are Rediscovering Tom Hardy’s ‘Dark, Deranged’ Eight-Episode Period Thriller — With Stephen Graham in a Brutal 19th-Century London

Fans missing the shadowy streets, ruthless power struggles and morally complicated characters of Peaky Blinders have another gritty British period drama waiting on Netflix.

And this one puts Tom Hardy at the centre of an even darker world.

Taboo originally premiered on BBC One in 2017, but its eight episodes are now being rediscovered by viewers who have praised the series as “dark, deranged, and entirely watchable.”

Created by Peaky Blinders mastermind Steven Knight alongside Tom Hardy and his father, Chips Hardy, the psychological historical thriller transports viewers to London in 1814.

It’s a city dominated by corruption, violence and competing interests — and Hardy’s mysterious James Keziah Delaney is about to walk straight into the middle of it.

Tom Hardy Returns From Africa With a Dangerous Inheritance

Hardy plays James Keziah Delaney, an adventurer and businessman who has spent 12 years in Africa.

Following the death of his father, James returns to England.

But the London waiting for him is far from welcoming.

Britain has been at war with the United States, while political corruption, criminal gangs and powerful commercial interests have created a city where influence can be every bit as dangerous as violence.

James soon becomes caught in a dangerous struggle involving the formidable East India Company.

At the same time, his return brings him face to face with the grim reality experienced by London’s working classes.

The result is a story steeped in conspiracy and menace, unfolding against what the series presents as a bleak Imperial Gothic world.

Stephen Graham Is Among a Standout Supporting Cast

Hardy may dominate the centre of Taboo, but he’s surrounded by an impressive ensemble.

Jessie Buckley plays Lorna Delaney, the widow of James’s father.

Oona Chaplin appears as Zilpha, James’s half-sister.

And Peaky Blinders and This Is England star Stephen Graham plays Atticus, an informant operating within the dangerous world James enters.

Together, the characters inhabit a version of 19th-century London that viewers have repeatedly singled out as one of the series’ greatest strengths.

Rather than presenting a romanticized historical capital, Taboo embraces grime, danger and unease.

Viewers Call It ‘Weird and Immensely Entertaining’

Audience reactions suggest the show’s unusual atmosphere is precisely why it has developed such a devoted following.

One viewer praised virtually every element of the production, writing:

“Tom Hardy and Dad wrote a great script. And the casting, acting, and directing were well done. Brilliant stuff.”

Another offered a shorter description:

“Weird and immensely entertaining.”

A third went further, calling the series:

“Dark, deranged, and entirely watchable!”

For some viewers, however, Taboo deserves recognition far beyond the period-drama genre.

One fan called it “one of the best series of the last 20 years,” praising its writing, performances and story.

Another was particularly impressed by its recreation of the period, saying they loved the “gritty and dark depiction of 19th-century London.”

They added that the setting and atmosphere helped make the story especially compelling.

The Series Earned Emmy Recognition

That distinctive atmosphere didn’t go unnoticed when the series was originally released.

Taboo received two Primetime Emmy nominations.

Composer Max Richter’s score earned recognition in the Outstanding Music Composition for a Series category, while the production was also nominated for its visual effects.

Both elements contribute heavily to the oppressive, psychologically unsettling world surrounding Hardy’s character.

It’s a period drama, but certainly not the drawing-room variety.

Instead, Taboo combines historical intrigue with the mood of a psychological thriller, placing its central character inside a London shaped by money, political influence and criminal power.

Fans Are Still Waiting for More

Perhaps the biggest frustration for viewers who become hooked on the eight episodes is that James Delaney’s story has never received its long-awaited continuation.

A second season has been discussed and rumoured for years.

However, according to the supplied source, no official announcement has yet confirmed its arrival.

That leaves the original eight episodes as a tantalising standalone watch for now.

For Peaky Blinders fans, however, the creative connection alone makes Taboo particularly intriguing.

Steven Knight helped create both worlds.

Stephen Graham appears in both.

And with Tom Hardy stalking through a grim 1814 London filled with conspiracies, gangs and powerful enemies, Taboo has exactly the kind of brooding atmosphere likely to appeal to viewers missing Birmingham’s most notorious fictional crime family.

All eight episodes of Taboo are now available to watch on Netflix.