Taboo Season 1 Episodes 1-4 [Review]

Hey guys, welcome back to the channel, and today we're going to be reviewing the TV show Taboo, seasons, uh, or rather episodes 1 through 4 of season 1. And, um, I was aware this show was coming out Initially, I heard some people didn't like the first episode. However, after watching the first episode and episodes 1 through 4, I really like this show a lot. It's become one of my favorite shows. Um, it involves one of my favorite actors, Tom Hardy, and one of my favorite directors and producer of this show, Ridley Scott. So how can it not be a good show? In any case, I was late and I didn't want to start reviewing this show until I felt it was up to par. I found it's on the same quality as well-done productions like HBO shows. I could see this on HBO. However, it is being done on the FX Network. But FX is doing a great job with this show. So we'll get into the review. The first episode is called Shovels and Keys. And if you don't already know, the show takes place in the year 1814 in London. So this is a period of history with Britain and America. They're basically wrapping up the War of 1812. So they're still at war, and our main character named James Zakiah Delaney, played by Tom Hardy, um, he's, um, returning to London after 10 years. And, uh, it was believed he went insane and killed some of his military commanders, uh, and then went to Africa. So he's returning home to London after 10 years to attend the funeral of his father and wrap up the business dealings of the estate left for him. Although when he gets there, he finds his father's pretty much penniless. However, through his exploits through Africa, he's discovered a fortune of his own in diamonds. So he finds out his father has a piece of land called the New Sound And, um, you know, the land is presented to him by his lawyer or his family's lawyer, and it's kind of presented in a way to suggest it's not worth anything. The East India Company gets involved, and when we talk about the East India Company, that's the same East India Company we learned about in history class. That was pretty much the first international mega corporation. They were more powerful than kings and countries put together, and they seemingly have an interest in this so-called worthless land as well. So it's not long before we find that James is not quite as mad or insane as we're led to believe. You know, he's actually discovered that The land he holds is going to be the key at the war's end, as it's said to be a gateway to trade with China. It's near Vancouver, um, but America and Britain are desperately trying to get this land. So the East India Company tries to make James an offer, and Jonathan Price who plays a character who I believe is called Sir Storr, was once James Delaney's commander in the military. However, he doesn't remember James, and he's also like the chairperson of the East India Company that's handling the negotiations to try to buy the land from James Delaney. But James has other plans with the land as opposed to selling it to them. We also find that the crown or Britain wants the land as well as the American government. So this sets off a dangerous chain of events because James refuses to sell, and all the factions involved seemingly are willing to stop at nothing to get this land. So as well, what's happening is James has a half-sister, and apparently it's a history of an incestuous affair amongst them. So the situation greatly matches the title of the show. But in addition to that, whilst in Africa, James became engaged in African cultures, voodoo, witchcraft, and things that caused him to be labeled on his return a figure that is in league with the devil. As well, his sister's husband is starting to figure out that there was these incidents of incest between the sister and James Delaney. And this is basically the setup of the show. You know, it's James Delaney on both fronts— battles a political landscape and a pretty dysfunctional social status in London society. And so this is early 1800s London, so London is a very dark and dreary place. The characters are all pretty dark as well. And this show, um, you know, kind of reminiscent of, um, The Young Pope, you know, as, uh, I think it's going to be one of those shows that's not for everybody, you know. I've, I've come to like this show, but I can, I can see that this is going to touch on subject matter and incidents that, uh, you know, people, uh you know, may find a bit disturbing in certain senses. Um, uh, the characters are troubled, and as bad as James Delaney sounds, he's actually our protagonist, you know, and the best person in the show. So Tom Hardy's acting as James Delaney is pretty similar to how he played Bane in Batman, you know, and I really liked him as Bane. But I disagree with the critics of the first episode. I thought it was awesome. If you like history, I think you'll appreciate this show. If you like Game of Thrones type shows where bad things happen to good people and vice versa and things like that, then you'll probably like the show as well. A lot of Game of Thrones actors have moved over to this show, literally. One of the main characters, as I mentioned earlier, played by Jonathan Pryce, Sir Stewart, played the High Sparrow in Game of Thrones. Oona Chaplin, I believe her name is pronounced, who is a grandchild of the actor Charlie Chaplin. She, who played Talisa on Game of Thrones, Robb Stark's wife, which was, you know, she was assassinated or she was murdered at the Red Wedding. She actually plays the sister. So that pretty much was, you know, what episode 1 was about. And what I'm gonna do, if you're just on episode 1, Um, you know, and, uh, you don't want it to be spoiled, you can wait till, uh, I'll give you a few seconds to leave as I go on to episode 2. So you should pretty much be out of here by now or getting out of here. So we move to episode 2, uh, and as we open up, the East India Company wants James Delaney, the problems he's causing, to go away. So it's just to the point now they decide to hire an assassin and just make this problem a thing of the past. Sir Stuart, who heads up the East India Company, the division that's over these negotiations, isn't sure why James won't sell. He's starting to feel like James may be in league with the American government, which is basically treason at this point. Tethering on the line of treason, if that's true. Um, and, uh, James, in a very interesting scene, uh, does come into contact with an American spy. And it's interesting to see how American spies operated in England during this period in history. So James uses some codes to speak to the spy he's picked up, and the American spy just isn't buying it, you know. He, he doesn't trust James. He's sticking to his story, uh, that he's a doctor. And so James claims to want to speak to President Thomas Jefferson of the, uh, Jefferson of the 15 states of America. So that shows you just what period of history we're dealing with there. So James is basically going around London trying to figure out who poisoned his father, as it's discovered that his, his father's death wasn't natural. And Of course, the situation with the Nuka Sound territory being so important, it's much easier to just get people out of the way at this point. So, you know, it's very likely his father was killed. And, you know, just like they've now hired an assassin to take James out, but as well, just like James, his father doesn't seem to be in his right state of mind as well. So we next get this actress who comes forward and is claiming to be the wife of of James's father and is wanting half the estate. You know, this seems to work out well for the East India Company in that they already have a plan to kill James and feel she'll be much easier to negotiate with. So the issue with the land is that because it was involved in private trade and proprietary ownership, it's not a matter of the state. So they just can't legally force his hand under the law. You know, so we also get more into the strange relationship in this episode between James and his sister, and she wants to forget everything that's happened. However, the past seems to keep resurfacing. Her husband grows even more upset and adversarial to James. We also find that his father's lawyer, who's handling many of the arrangements, is bought by the East India Company, you know. As James calls him out on it. And we finally, in the end, get the assassin coming for James. And we get to see that James won't be easy to kill. You know, he has picked up a lot of warrior skills whilst in Africa. You know, he's really good with a knife. And assassin seems to be of some Asian culture, you know, I would imagine maybe like a ninja of some type. And so they They go at it and James kills him, and the savage really comes out of James. You know, he's basically, uh, after he's defeated the assassin, he uses his teeth and rips his throat out with his mouth. So we, we learn that James is, you know, although he's quite clever and sharp, that he's not a very well man, you know. But, uh, but, uh, but a great episode. You know, I think by this episode or the second episode, the critics, you know, started to come around. I think they can now see the show gaining its legs. It's really a good show, but it's psychological. It's, it's, it's a very on-the-line dark psychological thriller type show set with the backdrop or set in the back history. Um, so now, uh, you're up to episode 3. We're gonna move on to there. If not time to say bye-bye. And I'll just give y'all a few seconds to, um, exit, because I know some of you probably haven't, um, seen all the episodes. So, uh, let me get to another slide whilst we wait here to give you a little, uh, scenery there. So as we open up in episode 3, we get to learn that James is badly injured after his fight with the assassin, and he is then doctored back to health by the doctor pretending— or the spy pretending to be a doctor, but he obviously is a doctor too because he, uh, you know, puts James back together. And, uh, James now sees the East India Company means to kill him, so In a very clever move, James draws up a will so that if he dies, all his land goes to the American government. So now neither Britain nor the East India Company wants to kill him, or it will immediately go to the American government. So for the time being, James has successfully stopped one side from being able to kill him. We also have a scene where his sister's husband comes to the office under the false idea to sell him insurance for his shipping company. However, he really just is there to try to provide or to provoke James by talking about his sexual activities with his sister, which James hates because he's still obviously in love with his sister. But it doesn't work as James keeps his cool. So we then get the actress who married his father and she's now laying claim to her half of the estate. And so she decides, uh, you know, the home, the family home, is hers as well. So she moves in, and James doesn't want this. Uh, he has a butler, also a confidant, and his only friend, it seems, in the show, who's against it as well. But James allows her to stay because he claims to have or she claims to have belongings that belong to the father and the mom as well. And we get a backstory on James' mom being actually purchased by her father, and this is hurtful to James. Uh, it never, never sat well with him. He wants to know things about, you know, his mother. He feels his butler knows but won't tell him the complete truth. So he's basically allowing her to stay in exchange for getting these belongings from her. As well, he explains to her that as he is a target by owning the Nuka Sound land, so shall she be. So James knows it's a matter of time before they try and get her to release her half. So she's set up one night. She thinks she's getting a ride from an aristocrat. They end up trying to basically force her into a sexual perversion they know she won't do, and she's not that type of woman. However, they do this to set her up so it could look like she attacked an aristocrat so she can be imprisoned. James knows all this and the game they're playing, so he comes in right in time to save her, takes her home. But at this point, they know the authorities will come for them as an aristocrat has been assaulted. We also get this— another one of these strange taboo incestuous scenes from his sister. Who seemingly returned his affections in a church in the ways he like it. However, she's basically just letting him know to get it out of his mind. That was the last time he ever get anywhere near close to her. And that pretty much ended episode 3, and we will now move on to episode 4. And I will get— again, give everyone a chance to, uh, you know, exit who hasn't seen episode 4, uh, and don't want to be spoiled. So I'll be getting my next slide while we're doing that. Okay, let's go there. All right, so episode 4 opens up and we get the authorities coming to take the actress or wife of James' father to prison. And James basically tells her it's all a setup, to remain calm, don't sign anything, hold out, I'll be there shortly. So she's taken, um, in prison, to prison, and we learned this time around the setup is being done by the Crown. Pregent. The Crown wants to get half the Nuka Sound rights from the actress. And the reason it's being conducted by the Crown and the Prince Regent is, you know, if you recall in history, uh, at this point King George had went mad, and it's actually his son who's pretty much, you know, running the kingdom. You've probably heard the, uh, story of the madness of King George. So That's why it's the Prince Regent basically handling everything with his staff. So they threaten the actress with everything from rape to prison, and she's about to cave, but James gets there just in time to get her out of prison. We learn how he's able to achieve this. He achieves this by basically letting the East India Company know, "Hey, the Crown is using deception and operating behind your backs to get the Nuka Sound from under you all." And so the East India Company sends their agents to get the actress released so they don't lose out to the crown. Because remember, the East India Company kind of operates as a sovereign of its own. They're as powerful as governments. They're almost like a country of their own. And they have naval forces, they have, uh, armies, they have more money than governments. And so it's almost like three superpowers fighting. You got America and, and the Crown going head to head of Britain. And you also got the East India Company. They're all vying for this land and this trade route to China. So again, we get to see, um, how clever James is with, with operating with these powerful entities and being a person with basically no friends, no allies. So quite impressive. He's basically got everybody fighting each other and taking the attention off himself. The problem though James finds himself in is that he's now being ostracized from everyone and everything—business, supplies. So he needs gunfire. He knows nobody is going to sell it to him. So he finds this very interesting and disgusting at times chemist who can make him gunfire at his factory. It will take a year with just the supplies he has on hand, which is nothing but pig and cow waste and human urine. I guess they need to use this and extract chemicals out of it. He explains how he can soak ashes from particular wood and he'd have gunfire— or gunpowder, rather. James can't wait a year. That will be too late. So the chemist lets him know, if you can get me some saltpeter then I can get it done within 4 weeks. So the only place where, um, they can get, uh, saltpeter at this point is in the storage facility owned by the East India Company. So James has some shady characters he does business with, uh, to basically— he basically hires them to steal the saltpeter. As James is getting ready to leave the factory He's yet again attacked by this huge, uh, or he's attacked by again by, uh, an assassin or some someone of that caliber. It's a huge guy who seemingly said to kill him, but this time we don't know who's behind it. And we get this gory fight where this big fighter cracks open James' skull, and you think James is out for the count, but he's playing like he's out and he just uses his knife skills, uh, um, he slashes this guy up and then he gets meat hooks and drags him like a fish. It's just probably one of the most grotesque fights I've seen on TV, and this is all happening on FX. And so, you know, we did move on to this party going on where both James and his sister were invited, and James believes they were invited there by the Americans on purpose or the American spies as a means to negotiate in person for the Nooksound. And we find that, uh, they, uh, are using this magic show, uh, exhibition, uh, in which they get in these boxes and it appears they disappear. And this is all staged so that they can talk, uh, or James could speak with the head of the spy network who's a double agent and He found out earlier she was a woman, and it's believed she started off as an escort, became an aristocrat by marrying her way up, and she's now running the spy network for the Americans. She lets James know that they can basically kill James at any time, and that the person that attacked him earlier was actually sent by them to teach him that very lesson that his life is in their hands. And it's a real bad situation for James because the leverage he was using over the Crown and the East India Company is now falling apart, as they have more to gain now by killing him, uh, than leaving him alive, as he's, you know, basically willed the Nuka Sound to them. Um, so he seemingly is about to negotiate because They also offer him safe passage out of Britain with his sister, whom he wants to take with him. And so we move on. Uh, the sister's husband gets drunk and still thinking about James being involved with his, with his wife, and he makes a big scene. James has to rough him up a bit, take him outside, but he continues on letting the crowd know that James did this unspeakable thing of sleeping with his own sister. And finally, James's sister's husband asks for a duel as the episode ends. Also, part of what triggered the incident was apparently from James being in Africa, he got really good with spells and such, and he was able to use spells to visit his sister and seemingly create this type of sexual stimulating hallucination, if you will. Um, and so I don't know if he's actually able to do this Or if this is something that's just going on anyway inside his sister that she really, you know, desires him in this way still. But that's basically how it was done, so it is made to look like he's using magic or something like that. Um, uh, and, um, I'm trying to think of the sister's husband's name. I can't— it's hard to recall his name at this point. But the episode pretty much ends right there with the duel being requested. James doesn't answer, so we don't know if he's going to take it or not until episode 5. Uh, but anyway, I'm going to give my final thoughts. For me, this is one of the best shows on TV right now. The subject matter is a bit dark at points and disturbing, but I will say this: this could have been a great show without it even needing to be as dark, um, as it's been in many of these scenes. Even, you know, without the incestuous relationships between him and the sister or their past relationships, I don't think these elements were needed at all for this to be a good show. Uh, I don't think those elements are needed in the story. I think it's just interesting enough without all that. But one issue I say I have with this show, and that's I feel they have fallen into this thing we've seen happen a lot on TV now, and that's what I call the Game of Thrones syndrome. You know, where TV shows try to copy Game of Thrones. And, um, you know, I think after Game of Thrones won all these Emmys, uh, by being dark at points, you know, the good guys don't always win, where the good characters are killed off, you know, a lot of shows want to use this model now. And, you know, and it's even more than that. Literally the same characters from Game of Thrones, or actors are in some of the rules in this show, you know. So that's my only gripe with the show. Other than that, it's to my surprise turned out to be one of my favorite shows. I had a feeling I'd like it because I like Tom Hardy and of course Ridley Scott. I just didn't know I'd like it this much. Anyway guys, this is my review. I look forward to the next episode. Let me know how you feel about this show. Do you feel the taboo subjects expressed in the show make it better, worse, or is it either or? Do you feel like I do, it could have been in there or not? Don't forget to like and subscribe, and take care, folks.