A Thousand Blows

Streaming on: Disney+
Episodes watched: 6 out of 6

Steven Knight certainly knows his way around a captivating historical drama. Hot on the heels of SAS: Rogue Heroes and almost three years since Peaky Blinders ended on the small screen, the Brummie writer is back with another excellent British series, once again based on fascinating real-life characters and settings. But while the big draw is undoubtedly Boiling Point and This Is England icon Stephen Graham’s transformation into a bulky bare-knuckle boxer, Knight also lays the foundations for an engaging larger ensemble.

Elements that are synonymous with Knight’s previous shows are here in abundance. There are plenty of gripping developments amongst the numerous schemes and deadly rivalries, along with a Peaky Blinders-esque family pub. Strong social and political commentary is also woven throughout, with a marked divide between the East End’s struggling working class and the aristocracy of the West End.

Stephen Graham’s metamorphosis is incredible.

What sets A Thousand Blows apart is Hezekiah (Malachi Kirby) and Alec’s (Francis Lovehall) heartfelt friendship, and their emotive fish out of water immigration tale. Amongst a cast stacked with talented Brits, Small Axe star Kirby proves a real standout, sensitively portraying Hezekiah’s emotional arc. He holds his own alongside the intense and physically imposing Graham, who plays fearsome fighter and pub owner Henry ‘Sugar’ Goodson. Graham’s metamorphosis is incredible, dialling up the violence of This Is England’s Combo and finding a sense of frenzied, animalistic rage. Underneath the toxic masculinity and unwillingness to embrace the new ways, there’s a surprising complexity to the character, even if it isn’t quite afforded enough time to be fully explored.

The exploits and ensuing chaos of the historic all-female Forty Elephants criminal syndicate are compelling, particularly within the context of the Victorian patriarchy. The Elephants’ queen — the excellent Erin Doherty’s wily Mary Carr — provides the connective tissue tying the many plot threads together and her chemistry with Kirby’s Hezekiah sizzles. It’s just a shame we don’t see more of Mary and Graham’s Sugar together, considering their repeatedly hinted-at shared history. There are also supporting turns from James Nelson-Joyce, Jason Tobin and an underused Daniel Mays – but so many characters and storylines are difficult to juggle, and it can start to feel a little unwieldy at times.

Set in a gritty and grimy underworld, the show is brought to life through impressively dressed sets and costumes, all of which make it an immersive watch. A tense heist sequence is a highlight, as are the brutal and bloody boxing matches, with one fight in particular set to truly shock. Mike Tyson, eat your heart out.