July 12, 2025

After years of anticipation, Taboo: Season 2 finally explodes onto the screen with a hypnotic blend of violence, mysticism, and political intrigue that reaffirms its place as one of television’s most daring narratives. Picking up right where Season 1 left off, the series plunges us deeper into the treacherous waters of James Delaney’s ambitions and the brutal consequences that follow. The show wastes no time, thrusting viewers into a world where no one is safe, trust is a currency long spent, and every whispered word carries the weight of empire and blood.

Tom Hardy once again delivers a blistering performance as James Delaney, more enigmatic and haunted than ever. This time, his crusade for power leads him across oceans, not just geographically but spiritually. The season explores Delaney’s expansionist ambitions in the nascent United States, weaving in themes of colonization, indigenous resistance, and the ghosts of Delaney’s past that continue to stalk him like wolves in the dark. Hardy’s presence is volcanic—calm on the surface, but liable to erupt in unpredictable fury at any moment.

Visually, Season 2 is a masterpiece. The grimy docks of London give way to the untamed wilderness of the New World, and the cinematography captures both with brooding beauty. Director Kristoffer Nyholm balances sweeping wide shots with intimate, suffocating close-ups, echoing the psychological tightrope the characters walk. The lighting, often flickering and murky, amplifies the show’s gothic tone, making every scene feel like it could collapse under the weight of secrets.

The writing is sharper and more layered this season. Dialogue crackles with menace and double meaning, often leaving viewers breathless as motives shift and betrayals unfold. New characters—some allies, some enemies, and many uncertain—are introduced with care, each adding dimension to the already thick web of espionage and occult ritual. But at the center of it all remains the question: is James Delaney a visionary, or simply mad?

Thematically, the series continues to challenge notions of morality, legacy, and power. It confronts the viewer with uncomfortable truths about empire-building and the cost of ambition. Delaney is no hero, yet the enemies he faces are often far worse—ruthless capitalists, colonialists, and manipulators dressed in powdered wigs and stained consciences. It’s a chessboard of madness, and every move feels like a battle for the soul of a collapsing world.

Taboo: Season 2 is not merely a continuation; it’s an escalation. More intense, more violent, and more psychologically profound, it doesn’t just meet the bar set by its predecessor—it obliterates it. Tom Hardy and Steven Knight have crafted a fever dream of a show that hypnotizes as much as it horrifies. If this is the kind of television we can expect in 2025, the wait was more than worth it. Prepare to be disturbed. Prepare to be captivated. Taboo is back—and it’s darker than ever.