Introduction
After years of anticipation, Taboo Season 2 finally arrives, plunging viewers back into the smoky, brutal world of James Delaney. Created with the same feverish intensity that defined its first season, this continuation pushes deeper into the abyss of empire, memory, and madness. As a seasoned film critic, I can say that few shows today are as daring, or as unrelenting, as Taboo.
Plot Overview
Set against the chaos of post-Napoleonic trade wars, Season 2 expands its scope beyond London’s shadowy docks. Delaney, played with primal ferocity by Tom Hardy, forges uneasy alliances with American spies and African shamans. The narrative explores not just politics and power, but also the collision of belief systems, colonial ambition, and the ghosts of the past.
Performances
- Tom Hardy delivers a towering performance—gravel-throated, animalistic, yet deeply human. His James Delaney feels both mythic and terrifyingly vulnerable.
- Jessie Buckley returns as Delaney’s tormented sister, balancing fragility with fierce resilience.
- Stephen Graham injects chaotic energy as an assassin with a sailor’s tongue, a character both dangerous and oddly charismatic.
- Ruth Wilson offers one of her most memorable roles yet as a revolutionary nun, blending faith and fury in equal measure.
Cinematography & Style
The visual language of Taboo remains extraordinary. Every frame glistens like oil—slick, dark, and poetic. The cinematography does not merely depict a world; it immerses you in a fever dream of fire, mud, and shadow. The aesthetic is both theatrical and visceral, conjuring a space where history bleeds into myth.
Strengths of the Season
- Bold storytelling that refuses compromise.
- Complex characters whose morality is blurred and shifting.
- Atmospheric world-building that feels both historical and timeless.
- Raw performances led by Hardy, whose screen presence is unmatched.
Critique
For some, the deliberate pacing and relentless darkness may feel overwhelming. Taboo does not seek to comfort its audience; it challenges them. This is not a show for casual viewing, but for those willing to enter its storm of brutality and mysticism, it offers rare rewards.
Final Verdict
Taboo Season 2 is a triumph of uncompromising vision. It is raw, sensual, and brutal, filled with performances that sear into memory. Tom Hardy delivers one of television’s most haunting portrayals, supported by an ensemble that matches his intensity. With its blend of history, myth, and madness, the season dares to look into the abyss—and invites us to stare along with it.
Rating: 9.0/10
If you seek television that does more than entertain—if you crave storytelling that unsettles, provokes, and astonishes—Taboo Season 2 is essential viewing.
