Tom Hardy (who also executive produces) Setting: London, 1814 — during the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the brink of the Industrial Revolution. Genre: Historical drama / Gothic thriller / Revenge tragedy Plot Overview (No Major Spoilers) The story follows James Keziah Delaney (Tom Hardy), a roguish adventurer who returns to London from Africa after the death of his father. He inherits a seemingly worthless piece of land — a remote, barren island called Nootka Sound, located off the coast of modern-day Canada.

⚠️ – The relationship between James and Zilpha is central to the plot and includes taboo subject matter.

✅ – The show immerses you in a filthy, foggy, and dangerous 19th-century London. Costumes, lighting, and sets are top-notch.

Here’s a helpful guide to the TV series Taboo , which premiered in 2017. Taboo is a British historical drama series that first aired on BBC One in the UK and FX in the US in January 2017. Created by Steven Knight ( Peaky Blinders ), Tom Hardy, and his father, Chips Hardy, the show is known for its dark, atmospheric tone, brutal violence, and complex protagonist.