A Thousand Blows Lands Its Punches

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Shows like Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes, Boardwalk Empire, and especially Steven Knight’s Peaky Blinders – which gained a huge fanbase and is now getting a movie – all tapped into a trend of stylish, old-fashioned crime dramas. Knight’s A Thousand Blows, now streaming its second season on Hulu, fits right in. The show looks back at a time, around 15 years ago, when this type of gritty, historical crime was popular. Featuring strong performances from Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty, and a compelling Malachi Kirby, A Thousand Blows delivers a fast-paced, exciting story. It includes everything from street fights and art heists to a dangerous anarchist and plenty of explosive action. While the plot can sometimes be confusing, the show’s energy makes it a thoroughly entertaining watch.

The first season of A Thousand Blows introduces us to three central characters whose lives become intertwined in 1880s East London. Hezekiah Moscow, a Jamaican immigrant, comes to London expecting a job training lions, but ends up performing as the “Wild Man of Africa.” He quickly gains notoriety through underground boxing, where he meets Mary Carr, the head of the Forty Elephants, a powerful all-female gang. Mary is looked after by Sugar Goodson, a fiercely volatile crime boss and boxing champion who has a complex personality – he’s capable of both great kindness, like caring for abandoned children, and extreme violence towards those who neglect them. Both Sugar and Hezekiah are attracted to Mary, but she clearly prefers Hezekiah, fueling Sugar’s rage. The show is particularly notable for the range of angry expressions actor Graham uses during arguments with Hezekiah, Mary, or his brother, Treacle – a grounded family man who embodies the life Sugar could have had if he weren’t consumed by self-hatred.

The first season of the show thrived on the engaging dynamic between Kirby and Doherty. Their witty banter – his dry commentary on her ego and her playful teasing about his boxing skills – created a strong emotional core. Both characters were driven by a desire to overcome the obstacles they faced: he, a Black immigrant escaping a history of oppression and violence, and she, a woman held back by her background and societal expectations. However, the season ended with a rift between Mary and Hezekiah after she inadvertently caused the death of his friend. Simultaneously, Sugar’s violent outburst during a fight with Treacle over their pub, Blue Coat Boy, left him deeply shaken and spiraling into alcoholism.

Season two of A Thousand Blows quickly picks up the pace after a brief downturn for its characters. Mary, having lost leadership of the Forty Elephants, immediately starts plotting a comeback, bringing in hypnotist Sophie Lyons to help. Hezekiah finds himself training a royal family member, which allows him to connect with Victoria Davies over their shared experience as Black individuals in London. While Sugar remains a tough fighter, he’s given more depth and vulnerability as he confronts the fading of his boxing dreams. The show moves quickly and is so engaging that you won’t notice some character changes or dropped storylines. It’s simply a fun ride watching Mary and her crew navigate high society, Hezekiah challenge the privileged, and Sugar and Treacle finally build trust. A Thousand Blows delivers the same winning formula as before, but this season, every punch lands perfectly.

Look, let’s be honest, A Thousand Blows isn’t trying to change the world with deep political statements. It touches on things like racial equality and female empowerment, and hints at anarchism, but it’s more about the moment-to-moment experience. Seriously, there’s a line about an explosion being a ‘victory,’ but a victory over what exactly? It’s never really explained! And the plot relies on a lot of convenient coincidences and things happening off-screen. But honestly? None of that bothers me. The show is just so unique in how it portrays its characters, it’s surprisingly unpredictable, and it just knows how to deliver pure, immediate satisfaction. If you’re waiting for a certain character to get what’s coming to them? Trust me, they get it, and the show really leans into that visceral thrill, even if it’s fleeting. It’s just…fun.

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2026-01-10 00:54