A Thousand Blows

This period drama created by Stephen Knight of Peaky Blinders fame is brilliantly gritty & grimey. The sets & settings are top quality, you really do get a glimpse into the squalor of the Victorian era East End.

Acting is of a high standard, no suprise with a cast of Stephen Graham (as usual, brilliantly moody & perfectly cast) as Sugar Goodson, a slightly past his best barekuckle boxer & local enforcer. Erin Doherty is great as Mary, the leader of the all female thieving gang, the forty Elephants. The gangs & characters are all based on real people.

The story follows two recently arrived Jamaicans, looking for a better life. Their lives are very soon intertwined by the afore mentioned characters, through boxing. The storyline moves at a good speed. I can understand why people have binge watched.

The only slight let down is the obvious whiff of Anti British, especially in earlier episodes. I didn't feel there was any need, considering almost everyone of the time lived in squalid conditions & had a very harsh life & it was Britain that was giving the Jamaicans a chance at bettering their situation.

Overall though a well written, good paced story that's easily recommended. Two seasons have already been finished, but it's only season one (6 episodes) released so far.