A Thousand Blows
By Sioph W. Leal
A Thousand Blows centres on Mary Carr (Erin Doherty) as she leads an all-female crime syndicate, Henry “Sugar” Goodson (Stephen Graham) as the self-declared emperor of the East End’s illegal bare-knuckle boxing world and Hezekiah Moscow (Malachi Kirby), a newly immigrated man from Jamaica who dreams of becoming a lion tamer with his best friend Alec Munroe (Francis Lovehal) who will fight for their survival as they collide with Mary and Sugar’s infamous groups. Hezekiah and Alec’s dreams seem more out of reach the longer they are in London, from the crime syndicates to the struggles those who immigrated to London face, Hezekiah and Alec may find themselves fighting more than one opponent.
Steven Knight brings the 1880s East End London to life through its gritty criminal and illegal elements that would have plagued London. Fans of Knight’s previous work such as Peaky Blinders will not be disappointed but rather be impressed at Knight’s ability to have a fast-paced drama while keeping the focus on the East End. Of course, given the success of Peaky Blinders, comparisons will be endless, but Knight delivers in delivering a rich, immersive world that weaves together Mary, Sugar, and Hezekiah’s story.
Mary’s crime syndicate, ‘The Forty Elephants’ are some of the most entertaining plots in A Thousand Blows. An all-female criminal gang is already an appealing concept, but A Thousand Blows doesn’t shy away from the intelligence and loyalty of these women. They work incredibly hard, (yes, it's stealing but it's entertaining to watch). While Mary is a standout, you can’t ignore Eliza (Hannah Walters) as you learn why each of the women joined Mary’s infamous group. By season's end, you will be eager to learn more about these women and thankfully A Thousand Blows has already been given a second season!
Following Hezekiah’s and Alec’s story is one of the most captivating of A Thousand Blows. The two arrive in London with dreams of their own but are soon forced to face the harsh racism in London and fear of being sidelined. It’s a tale that many can relate to today, but it’s Hezekiah’s hopefulness that will have the audience rooting for him, helped further by Alec’s much-needed humour in the show.
Each character has its own plot going on, and while Knight tries to make each one stand out on its own, it can come across that Knight was unsure which plot line should have an overriding focus. There is a plot in the first episode which involves the viewer seeing the more affluent side of London, but it falls short contrasted to the other plots going on. Between that and Esme (Morgan Hilarie) and Alec’s very rushed romantic plot, it felt like more time could have been spent elsewhere.
At times, A Thousand Blows can have a lot going on, but the quick pace of the series makes it an enjoyable watch. The characters and performances are the strongest point of the series, especially when the pacing starts to drop off. The show's captivating storyline is a testament to Knight's ability to weave together characters' stories. However, Knight's focus on each character's plot may have been unsure, with the first episode's affluent side falling short and the rushed romantic plot between Esme and Alec.