A Thousand Blows

I don't always enjoy costume drama, but this one is definitely one to watch. Stephen Graham didn't disappoint! He is made for this role. What an amazing performance from his end.

I also loved how the crime syndicate displayed is one with women. Erin Doherty is perfect for the role of Mary Carr.

Throughout great acting, good script and the locations are spectacular. I suspect AI is used for some scenerys but it is done well in this case. I guess what ever keeps the production coats down and free budget for other things like great actors is a plus !

Cliffhanger in the end, meaning there will be a second season and I will definitely watch it.

Set in London in the 1880's it is apt that this Historical drama that includes Jamaican immigrants, one of which is fluent in Chinese, who become boxers, both bare knuckle and the gloved noble art variety, the forty elephant all female gang of robbers, they really existed too, and small time hoodlums, one played superbly as always, by Stephen Graham, as it is without any doubt on a par totally with Taylor Sheridan's 1883. Stephen Knight's story and characters are also on a par with his characters in SAS Rogue. But whether they will become as iconic as his Peaky Blinders characters, only time will tell.

Great program gets you reeled in . Definitely one of best at the moment. Lots of great performances with twists and turns throughout the whole series . Short and sweet with only 6 to watch so doesn't feel like it's been dragged out to the death . The characters could do a tweak here and there but sure that's down to getting to know them and been introduced to each of their roles . Hope a second series comes up . Would like to see more of The pub characters eg the brother , punch and the Tom Davies part . Plenty to like and more to love about this showcase of London in a different time of Victorian England.

A Thousand Blows is a Hulu original series based off the real life stories of a group of people battling for survival in the most brutal part of East London in the 1880's. Two best friends, Hezekiah Moscow (Malachi Kirby) and Alec Munroe (Francis Lovehall) on the rum from Jamaica find themselves thrown into the criminal world of London's bare-knuckle fighting scene. As Hezekiah continues to win and find fame and fortune, he attracts the attention of the Queen of the Forty Elephants, Mary Carr (Erin Doherty), who then works with Hezekiah to further her criminal empire. Then there's the boss of the East End boxing world, Sugar Goodson (Stephen Graham), who is determined to destroy Hezekiah because he's threatening everything Sugar has built. What happens next is a battle between the two of them. This is one of the early surprises of 2025 so far.

Actors, storyline, sets, just riveting! Every character drags you into their baggage and you don't want to leave. The parallel stories of the East and West Ends of London - a stark contrast that is jarring. I really hope the series will continue. Its characters and the story are among the best I've seen this year. Don't miss it! If you love the grit and grime of rough characters in London - it's brutal and gory but you'll be unable to stop watching despite the difficulty of the story. I can't wait for the next set of stories - please bring it back!! It's one of those stories that you hate to see the last episode because you don't want to let go of the characters.