The second season of Steven Knight's A Thousand Blows reunites stars Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty in a tale of bare-knuckle boxing and crime in 1880s East London. Building on its first season's dramatic cliffhangers, the series introduces a bold art heist plot amid high-stakes action. Reviewers praise its inventive character dynamics while noting occasional pacing issues.
Steven Knight's A Thousand Blows returns for a second season on Disney+, blending historical fiction with intense drama set in the Victorian East End. The show features real-life inspired figures, including bare-knuckle boxer Henry 'Sugar' Goodson, portrayed by Stephen Graham, Caribbean prizefighter Hezekiah Moscow played by Malachi Kirby, and feminist gangster Mary Carr brought to life by Erin Doherty.
The first season concluded on tense notes: Hezekiah's career shattered after he accidentally killed an American fighter in a match, Mary lost the confidence of her all-female criminal group the Forty Elephants, and Sugar ended up destitute following a violent clash with his brother Treacle, played by James Nelson-Joyce in a reduced role this time.
Season two opens with about 20 minutes to reorient viewers to the 1880s setting before escalating the action. Hezekiah, grieving the assassination of his friend Alec (Francis Lovehall), pulls a bearded and alcoholic Sugar off the streets. Mary works to rebuild trust with the Forty Elephants and reassembles the crew. Together, with assistance from American mesmerist Sophie Lydons (Catherine McCormack), they devise a plan to steal Caravaggio's 16th-century painting Martha and Mary Magdalene from a collector, aiming for immense wealth.
The series delivers gripping moments, such as the second episode's climax where Hezekiah and the gang barricade themselves in Treacle's pub, The Blue Coat Boy, against the rival Elephants Boys, creating intense suspense. However, the following episode experiences a dip in momentum, with a set-piece marred by confusing editing reminiscent of standard action films.
Overall, A Thousand Blows stands out from Knight's other ventures like House of Guinness, thanks to its steampunk-infused Victorian boxing world and compelling ensemble. Doherty's portrayal of Mary, mixing resilience, playfulness, and vulnerability, emerges as particularly standout, surpassing even Graham's intense Sugar. The season builds toward a anticipated plot twist, maintaining frenetic energy throughout.
