Historical series starring Tom Hardy is 'one of the best BBC period dramas'

This historical series starring Tom Hardy has been hailed as the "best BBC period drama". Taboo is a television drama series that first aired in 2017. The series is made up of eight episodes and was created by Steven Knight, Hardy, and his father, Chips Hardy, based on a story written by Tom and Chips Hardy.

Alongside Hardy, the cast includes Leo Bill, Jessie Buckley, Oona Chaplin, Mark Gatiss, Tom Hollander, and Stephen Graham. The series' synopsis reads: "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."

Screen Rant highlighted the series in its listing of the "20 Best BBC Period Dramas Of All Time". Taboo received favourable reviews upon its release, and its popularity still holds up today.

The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes awarded the series an approval rating of 76%. Their critical consensus reads: "After a sluggish start, Taboo takes a hold as a mysterious, dark, and often brutal period drama with plenty of promise as a series - most notably Tom Hardy's exceptionally watchable performance."

One reviewer said: "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."

One fan described the drama as "one of the best series last 20 years".

Another said: "This is a regency era crime thriller that's fuelled with vengeful spirits infesting a seasoned sailor on seas of life. He walks the streets and death follows known as devil itself, Dealaney is a character that was acted without a single break.

"The mystified look that signals numbness to anything that happens in the ruins of society's underbelly is the tone setter.

"Precise work by the whole cast in piecing together this unique period drama. Descriptive audio effects. A wide range of characters that could keep the audience immersed. Excellent story of strategy and action that demands another season."

Taboo is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.