by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
Welcome to Cross-Platform Partners! In honor of a new movie release, I have selected a TV show to watch to pair with the movie. Think of it as a way to get hyped for the new movie, a preview of things to come, a means to tide you over if the movie won’t be released where you live for a little while, or a change of pace if you’ve run out of related movies or sequels.
For October, I picked Taboo to pair with Venom: The Last Dance!
Tom Hardy has been a star ever since he burst onto the screen in Inception. As a supporting player, he knew how to make the most of his time with his charisma and intensity, making his presence known with his smoldering eye contact and powerful line delivery. Over the years, he’s become a certified lead and legendary villain. Between his turns as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises and in the Venom films, Hardy knows how to play both hero and villain well. If The Last Dance truly is the end for Hardy as Eddie Brock, he cements himself as someone who can tackle challenging roles and elevate material that might otherwise be underneath him.
But back in 2017, on Taboo, Hardy did fantastic work as an evil and compelling character.
Taboo tells the story of James Delaney (Hardy), a businessman who adventures in Africa. Assumed dead after being gone for 12 years, Delaney returns to London a changed man due to his father’s death. When James inherits his father’s shipping company, he devises a plan to get revenge on the individuals responsible for his disappearance, while also attempting to drive wedges all around the social and political underworld of Great Britain.
Taboo is not an easy show to watch by any stretch of the imagination; however, one sure thing is that Hardy is as stunning as Delaney. As a character, Delaney presents two sides of a coin which are hard to reconcile. On one hand, he is a dynamic leader who knows how to rally a team together for a singular cause. Despite his rough exterior, he’s exceedingly intelligent, and his business savvy helps create a character whose words carry much weight. However, Delaney is incredibly violent and cursed to put his faith in the wrong type of people. In addition, he lets his desires get the best of him, particularly when it comes to Zilpha Geary (Oona Chaplin), his half-sister.
Delaney surrounds himself with a crew of eccentric people loyal to his cause. His crew has everything, from spies, to chemists, to soldiers, to servants. Some individuals, such as Brace (David Hayman), James’ father’s servant, have known James his entire life. While Brace knows a lot about the Delaney family, he also can be objective while being one of the only people who can tell James no. In addition, he also has someone like Atticus (Stephen Graham). Known as an underworld shepherd, Atticus always follows James’. Both represent a common trait that James seeks in his group: loyalty no matter what.
James also surrounds himself with spies all over London to prepare him for any situation. Godfrey (Edward Hogg) works for the East India Company, the rival of James’ father’s shipping company. At his core, Godfrey just wants to live his life in the underbellies of London. However, James leverages Godfrey’s lifestyle to blackmail him into being an informant. Delaney also partners with American spies bent on causing unrest and rebellion against the British crown. Edgar (Michael Kelly) pulls double duty as a surgeon and American spy. Aligning himself with James as his only resort, Edgar is a lifeline to America and an escape route out of London.
Taboo does a fantastic job of making the most of its strengths. As mentioned, the cast is stacked with performers who understand how to commit to a role. Assembling some of the best modern character actors, Taboo has a gift of performers who can match Hardy’s lead with style.
Similarly, the technical aspects of the show are outstanding. London feels like a character on its own. Grungy and gross at times, the sets and costumes are gorgeously crafted to make the series feel authentic. The audience thinks on a history page all around 19th century London.
Finally, the series’ pace is an asset. I never feels like the show is stalling or wasting my time. With eight hours to tell the story, the creative team squeezes everything out of the story to make sure no stone remains unturned.
I’m surprised at how much I enjoyed Taboo. The surrounding cast and characters match Hardy’s energy and are anchored by his outstanding performance. The look and feel of London stands out, making it feel less like a cheap Renaissance Faire and more like a museum exhibit. It took me longer than I’m proud to admit to realize James Delaney isn’t a natural person, but that’s how much I believed in the series. Taboo is one of the most gorgeous and riveting historical dramas ever.
You can read more from Mike Hilty and follow him on Instagram, Letterboxd, and Serializd