It’s been a long, cold winter so far for many. That might leave you wanting to huddle up under a blanket or by a fire and sink into a new show. But how do you know if a new show is worth the investment? That’s why this series exists. We give you the information you need to make an informed decision. Today, it’s a new historical drama on Hulu.
Series: A Thousand Blows
Where to Find It: All six episodes are now streaming on Hulu
What’s It About: This new series comes from creator Steven Knight, the man behind the popular Peaky Blinders. This is another series rooted in the world of crime but based on real people and a true story. It is set in the 1880s in London and captures that period with its look and style.
At the center of the narrative is Mary Carr (Erin Doherty), who leads the infamous all-female crime syndicate 40 Elephants. They specialize in theft and are successful in plying their trade. New to London’s East End is a pair of newcomers from Jamaica. Chief among them is Hezekiah (Malachi Kirby), a scrappy young man who dreams of being a lion tamer. But, without money and without the job he thought he’d been promised, he needs money and a way forward. He makes a deal with Mary, but also decides to ply his trade as a bare-knuckle boxer.
That puts Hezekiah in the obit of Sugar Goodson (Stephen Graham), who is the best fighter and runs the local fighting ring. He never loses, and that makes him dangerous. Can Hezekiah navigate this new world and manage to find a way forward?
You Should Try It If: You’re a fan of streaming dramas, a fan of period pieces, or a fan of Knight’s previous work.
A Thousand Blows is a quick binge but is it worth it?
Peaky Blinders is a popular, long-running show that has a built-in fanbase. It makes sense that there would be optimism and interest in what Knight would do next. And this show is obviously a nice grab for Hulu. It’s also just six episodes, each about an hour, making for a quick binge.
The time frame and the set up here works well. I like Doherty and Graham in these roles, while Kirby does a nice job as Malachi. Likely there will be those who are interested in the time period and in the exploits of the 40 Elephants, that are grounded in historical record.
For me, while I appreciated the craft and the set up, I couldn’t quite get drawn into the narrative. It’s OK, but at times it felt like it played out too slowly. That’s interesting given that it’s only six episodes, but I think your feelings for this series will depend on how interested you are in the world and in these characters. I liked the set up, but I didn’t feel enough of a connection to move past the first two that I sampled.