Tom Hardy Wades Into Corruption and Violence With FX’s Moody, Opaque ‘Taboo’

Aryeh Harris-Shapiro

“Taboo” should be an exhilarating show. The story centers on James Keziah Delaney, a former slave trader played by series co-creator Tom Hardy, who returns to England from Africa upon the death of his father with 14 stolen diamonds and a mysterious agenda. On returning, he inherits a small piece of land called Nootka Sound, worthless except as a valuable bargaining chip in the U.S.-Canadian border dispute that followed the war of 1812. The land is sought by the cutthroat East India Company and its chairman, Sir Stuart Strange, played by Jonathan Pryce. That seems like a perfect platform for a nail-biting thriller where a mysterious antihero engages a greater evil. But “Taboo” lacks forward momentum due to an opaque presentation and narrative that keeps the viewers at arms’ length instead of dragging them down into the dirt and the blood.

“Taboo” was created by Steven Knight, Tom Hardy and his father Chips Hardy. The show is fascinated with its grizzled protagonist and his secrets, focused far more on building showcase moments for Delaney’s badass disposition than on building immediate stakes or momentum. Hardy is a fascinating screen presence more than capable of holding the camera, but here he has so little to work with that Delaney feels generic more than mysterious. His war with the East India Company is sketched in vague terms with vague threats on both sides. By the end of the second episode, the audience knows almost as little as they did at the beginning of the first despite the many tensely whispered scenes and spasms of violence in between. Part of that comes down to the actors’ thick accent and their low volume – words do get lost fairly frequently – but the majority is due to the show’s preference for establishing moments and mood over plotting and clear characterization.

Otherwise, “Taboo” is beautifully executed on almost every level. Directing duties are split between Kristoffer Nyholm of the original Danish “The Killing” and Anders Engström. Nyholm’s color palettes are beautifully murky, and he knows precisely the way to frame Tom Hardy and his billowing coat for maximum effect. Sonja Klaus’s production design is impeccable, fusing the class of Regency-era England with its filth in order to give the strong, silent Delaney a perfectly corrupt world to rip apart.  The main performers all turn in excellent work as well – Hardy and Pryce are seasoned pros, “Game of Thrones” alum Oona Chaplin balances strength and ambivalence as Delaney’s sister Zilpha. These actors and their strong supporting cast work overtime to put together scenes that crackle with energy, but the series doesn’t find anything to do with it. The cast is boxed in by mystery and ambiguity, unable to leave a lasting impression.

“Taboo” premieres Jan. 10 on FX. Cable subscribers can stream the episodes on the FXNow app and on VOD.