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Taboo |OT| TV miniseries starring Tom Hardy, Tuesdays on FX / Saturdays on BBC One
- Thread starter Ydelnae
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Wait, is Chumly still alive?
Well, that was pretty action packed and they certainly cleared the board for the next season. Still really not thrilled with what the show did with Zilpha.
Well, that was pretty action packed and they certainly cleared the board for the next season. Still really not thrilled with what the show did with Zilpha.
Yeah, dude is in preeeeeeeetty rough shape. Couldn't understand what he said at the end there.
Yes. Well, sort of.
Smokey_Run
Member
I hope there is more to come at some point down the line. I still don't think this show would survive without Hardy though. Good season finale too. Closed the book on most of the stuff explored this season and left enough to tease where it could go in the future.
I think he was apologizing to an old love of his, something like that.
But yeah, if he survives and doesn't succumb to the shock, Tom Hollander will have a good time with make-up next season, haha.
tearsintherain
Member
I thought that was a pretty interesting aspect of the show. Brace killed his dad. Brace really did nothing while his mom was mentally abused and eventually committed to an asylum where she died (I think?). God knows what the fuck happened with Zilpha and James and the family and the assumed incest kid and what Brace did about any of it. Brace did a LOT OF bad shit to James' family and James.
So was it punishment for those crimes that he left him behind? Was it forgiveness, with his message of "you wouldn't be able to handle freedom"? Brace's expression at the end too was so weird, I really thought he was gonna kill himself but then the dog licks his face and he sorta looks happy and its just sooooo weird.
There was a packet from the "American doctor", who was Sir Stuarts double agent all along. But the packet did not contain the Nookta treaty, which is what he expected. It contained an explosive that the doctor (Chumly) had prepared. The "envelope" was something Delaney had taken from the American doctor after he killed him in the vats.
It does leave one small hanging item though, Sir Stuart should have known that the "head of the American spy agency" was the woman James visited and got the pass codes and right to sail stuff from. I guess maybe he did know and just didn't do anything with it yet, but seems a bit odd he didn't have her killed long ago.
Turbo Killer
Member
I missed the explosion in the east India company, how did it happen?
Smokey_Run
Member
Paper wrapped around something Chumly cooked up. Strange opened it up.
Just to be safe.
Cornballer
Member
So now it's finished I find I liked it overall. In particular I liked it's style/pace and the approach to character.
That said I have some niggles I think are flaws within this I'd like to see tided up going forward (no really huge spoilers but details on what I think was weak so I'll tag it):
In short, too often this felt like a reverse example of Chekhov's gun: everything took place in a room where every wall is festooned with guns and none of them are fired.
That said overall I liked it and found the positives outweighed the negatives. And Hardy was magnificent.
But yeah tighten it up and make sure everything has a reason. There's no point James having the past he does if it turns out to be meaningless in context.
However there is clearly room for improvement in the execution.
That said I have some niggles I think are flaws within this I'd like to see tided up going forward (no really huge spoilers but details on what I think was weak so I'll tag it):
wasted characters - his sister and a number of other characters in truth mattered little to the narrative and resolution despite being built up as having import.
weak villains in context - I loved Jonathan Price's character because I love Price but in truth the EIC was pretty lame and their attempts to thwart James pitiful. They send one assassin! They mope around when he outfoxes him with his will but fail to come up with anything concrete. They blow up his ship and try and frame him (the latter being odd as it could easily lead to him being killed in revenge which would spoil their plans). In short despite a nice strong start they turned out to be a damp squid
way to much unnecessary baggage/opaque narrative approaches - visions, ghosts, possibly mystical capabilities, taboo behavour: it was all hinted at or touched on but actually mattered to the narrative and outcome not at all. Every such event in every episode could be removed so far as I can see and nothing would change. That's bad because that means its just excessive window dressing that disguises a simple core.
weak villains in context - I loved Jonathan Price's character because I love Price but in truth the EIC was pretty lame and their attempts to thwart James pitiful. They send one assassin! They mope around when he outfoxes him with his will but fail to come up with anything concrete. They blow up his ship and try and frame him (the latter being odd as it could easily lead to him being killed in revenge which would spoil their plans). In short despite a nice strong start they turned out to be a damp squid
way to much unnecessary baggage/opaque narrative approaches - visions, ghosts, possibly mystical capabilities, taboo behavour: it was all hinted at or touched on but actually mattered to the narrative and outcome not at all. Every such event in every episode could be removed so far as I can see and nothing would change. That's bad because that means its just excessive window dressing that disguises a simple core.
In short, too often this felt like a reverse example of Chekhov's gun: everything took place in a room where every wall is festooned with guns and none of them are fired.
That said overall I liked it and found the positives outweighed the negatives. And Hardy was magnificent.
But yeah tighten it up and make sure everything has a reason. There's no point James having the past he does if it turns out to be meaningless in context.
However there is clearly room for improvement in the execution.
milanbaros
Member?
Good news for those that enjoyed Taboo.
The first 3 episodes all made the January iPlayer Top 10. In fact episode 1, with 2.8m views was second only to the first Sherlock (it beat episodes 2 and 3!).
Considering that epsiode 1 was also in the top 40 all of February, it may have overtaken it.
Big ratings success.
The first 3 episodes all made the January iPlayer Top 10. In fact episode 1, with 2.8m views was second only to the first Sherlock (it beat episodes 2 and 3!).
Considering that epsiode 1 was also in the top 40 all of February, it may have overtaken it.
Big ratings success.
B-B-Bomba!
Member
I felt the show was two episodes too long. I really lost interest by the end, whereas in the beginning I was pretty gripped. Seemed like a dark perversion of The Count of Monte Cristo.
I was barely paying attention through the last episode. And the BBC doing big barnstorming action sequences is usually more lol worthy than exciting. I'm unmoved by the idea of another season, I've been treating it throughout as a one off and I think that's all it should have been.
I was barely paying attention through the last episode. And the BBC doing big barnstorming action sequences is usually more lol worthy than exciting. I'm unmoved by the idea of another season, I've been treating it throughout as a one off and I think that's all it should have been.
dead souls
Member
Overall a B-/C+ show. I'd watch another season, but if this is it I won't mind.
Cornballer
Member
Yup, that's about where I am. I enjoyed Delaney and a few of the other characters (Cholmondeley, Lorna Bow, and Chichester in particular) and the finale certainly delivered the mayhem that had been building all season. However, I found the show overly long and grim plus the Zilpha plotline didn't do much for me. If they trimmed a few episodes and lightened it up a bit, I would have had more fun with it.
I've crowed about the spoiler part.
I loved the scenes where the EIC complain how they are getting outplayed because Strange made them so entertaining...but I also hated those scenes because it highlighted the EIC's ineptitude. Every time Strange walks through Delaney's logic, the others look so dumbfounded :/
Cornballer
Member
No need to use spoiler tags at this point. Thanks.
I don't understand the lukewarm reviews and viewer reception to this show.
It may be kind and of a slow burn but it's a drama not an action flick.
I think it is well acted, I enjoy the story, and it has great cinematography. I do think Hardy is somewhat one dimensional though and lacks emotion.
I thought it was just meant to be a miniseries but I'd be stoked about a second season with an NA setting. Would have Revenant vibes for sure.
It may be kind and of a slow burn but it's a drama not an action flick.
I think it is well acted, I enjoy the story, and it has great cinematography. I do think Hardy is somewhat one dimensional though and lacks emotion.
I thought it was just meant to be a miniseries but I'd be stoked about a second season with an NA setting. Would have Revenant vibes for sure.
tearsintherain
Member
whoah, someone found something in three scenes of the show so far, first one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14oAb5uin30
34 seconds in, just spoilered for those who wanna find it for themselves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14oAb5uin30
34 seconds in, just spoilered for those who wanna find it for themselves
What?whoah, someone found something in three scenes of the show so far, first one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14oAb5uin30
34 seconds in, just spoilered for those who wanna find it for themselves
It's a ghost. Supposedly every episode has a hidden ghost. I have no idea how people find those ghosts, they're hard to spot.
Ah. Saw it on my second viewing. That is creepy.
The thing I was annoyed by the most was how James was always a step ahead of anyone. Never in any danger, always in control, even when he was a captive in the second to last episode. When he got knocked out somewhere in the third episode he just woke up again and killed the guy. Even something simple like when someone brought him news he already knew it ofcourse!
I don't think I'll be back for a second season.
I don't think I'll be back for a second season.
AbortedWalrusFetus
Member
I finally finished watching the last episode last night. I really enjoyed the show and hope it continues.
Hope Cholmondeley isn't dead if they do another season, as he's one of my favorite characters. Them heading to the Azores is a big difference in survival chances over heading to the US.
Hope Cholmondeley isn't dead if they do another season, as he's one of my favorite characters. Them heading to the Azores is a big difference in survival chances over heading to the US.
How did he get out jail in this last episode? I must have looked at my phone when that got explained.
Familienoberhauptvogel
Banned
By freeing the prostitutes they lacked the evidence to hold him.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
If there's one word that I'd use to describe this series it'd be: inessential. I'm not sure why 'Taboo' was such a passion project for Hardy - the premise was interesting but he didn't really do anything cool with it.
I also don't see why they initially implied that it was a one-off mini series, because the story certainly didn't end in a conclusive or satisfying way and there's clearly a set up for a second season.
The bolded is what really bugged me. How many times did Godfrey risk everything to run and tell Delaney the latest news, only to have Delaney brush him away because he already knew what he was going to say? It made Delaney seem obnoxious and Godfrey pointless until the very end.
I also don't see why they initially implied that it was a one-off mini series, because the story certainly didn't end in a conclusive or satisfying way and there's clearly a set up for a second season.
The bolded is what really bugged me. How many times did Godfrey risk everything to run and tell Delaney the latest news, only to have Delaney brush him away because he already knew what he was going to say? It made Delaney seem obnoxious and Godfrey pointless until the very end.
Yeah, no shit. Totally agree.
Kadayi
Banned
^This.
I really liked the look and feel, but there wasn't any sense of peril. Delaney always seemed to be ahead of the hounds, and I think the series as a whole would have been better served if there was at least some sense of obstacles overcome.
Yep feel the same way as these last few sentiments... felt it was all wrapped up just to damned neatly in advance in Delaney's mind before it even happened.
Putting himself up for torture just "knowing" how everyone else would react was too much.
Had a great feel and Hardy's acting kept me glued.. but it all fizzled out
Putting himself up for torture just "knowing" how everyone else would react was too much.
Had a great feel and Hardy's acting kept me glued.. but it all fizzled out
I was finally able to watch the finale and my first thoughts after watching it were that I wish the whole show kept this pace. I literally laughed at Zilpha's resolution being a 2 minute scene at the start of the episode in which she kills herself lmao. Sad to see my favorite characters, Lorna and Cham, go.
I don't know if I will stick around for the next season. While I think the show has very good quality in it, I didn't enjoy the first season as much as I expected. The slow pace and lack of distinctive punch scenes were sometimes dreadful. The show also fails to hold any tension, because James is always one step ahead and he already has everything figured it out. Maybe the mary sue-ness of the character would have been better handled if the show kept exploring those secrets and dark magic that he is trying to hold back from Africa.
God no, I hope she remains dead and we never see that character again.
I don't know if I will stick around for the next season. While I think the show has very good quality in it, I didn't enjoy the first season as much as I expected. The slow pace and lack of distinctive punch scenes were sometimes dreadful. The show also fails to hold any tension, because James is always one step ahead and he already has everything figured it out. Maybe the mary sue-ness of the character would have been better handled if the show kept exploring those secrets and dark magic that he is trying to hold back from Africa.
God no, I hope she remains dead and we never see that character again.
tearsintherain
Member
I think Hardy fell into the same trap we all did when we heard about the show: it SOUNDS really fucking cool and awesome, but at the end of the season it really wasn't that good. Hopefully they can learn from the mistakes of season 1 and make a kick ass season 2, but it'll always be one of those shows where you just say "watch the first and last episode of season 1, skip the rest".
Falchion
Member
Gotta say I enjoyed the first season quite a bit despite having problems with some key pieces. First, the sister was just awful, I dreaded all the scenes with her just standing their with her eyes wide open. Second, the show flirted with the ghost / paranormal stuff a lot but I didn't feel like it really explored any of that. The whole ghost in each episode thing is cool and would explain how James knew everything, but I guess they want to hold off on that until next season. Third, after all James' threats about betraying him and what happens to those who do, the Madame and her girl do just that and they are rewarded with a place on his ship for their troubles. I guess he could've forseen that and used it to his advantage, but that's still no reason to just let them do it and be cool.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
Same, lol.
To be fair, unless I've completely misread it he didn't foresee everything nor did he intend to be tortured. Rather he is shown to improvise well and to maintain illusion of control while using his reputation to keep others unbalanced in their focus.
He didnt plan or expect an unknown wife to his father to appear. He didn't seem to plan for his ship to be destroyed nor dd he seem to plan for his betrayal nor even for EIC to attempt to assassinate him. Nor for US to need urgent gunpowder supplies,
Rather as these events unfolded he reacted well and quickly.
EIC out to kill him? Take out a will that blocks this?
Ship blown up? Leverage EIC into giving him a ship.
Betrayed? Resist torture until his captors are forced to allow him access to EIC to apply his leverage as noted.
I rather liked that his plans actually tended to go awry and not enough time out as intended but with a combination of bluster, the illusion of being all knowing and quick thinking he always managed to get his schemes back on track.
Cornballer
Member
CreeperBlocks
Banned
YEAH!
metsallica
Member
Hmm... With a S2 confirmed maybe I'll finish those last few episodes on my DVR. Really found this show to be a slog, though a beautiful one.
dead souls
Member
Meh, more crap I'll probably keep watching.
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