A Thousand Blows season two
Peaky Blinders and House of Guinness creator Steven Knight returns with the second season of Victorian crime drama A Thousand Blows. The show picks up one year after the tragic events that concluded the previous season, after Hezekiah Moscow (Malachi Kirby) became entangled in the East End’s criminal underbelly. Angered and reeling from the grief of losing his best friend, Hezekiah continues to fight in the illegal boxing circuit while plotting his revenge. Meanwhile, his former rival Sugar Goodson (Stephen Graham) has become destitute and estranged from his brother, and Mary Carr (Erin Doherty) intends on regaining control of the Forty Elephants gang.
Season two’s initial episodes function as a prologue that sets up the next chapter in Hezekiah’s story. Although the pacing is a little slow and the script skips over some details for convenience, this instalment is nevertheless on track to be bigger and grittier than before.
The performances are still the strongest element of the show. Kirby is once again phenomenal and easily the best part of these opening moments. By exploring the darker side of the character, the actor gives a more nuanced portrayal of Hezekiah, which consequently makes for a compelling viewing experience. Graham is likewise fantastic here. While the series feels like it’s missing a few steps between seeing Sugar drunk and facedown on the cobbles to being his old self by the next episode, Graham is always a delight whenever he’s onscreen. Doherty’s Carr is where Knight’s brand of sharp writing is seen best, with dialogue centred on women’s rights bringing further depth to the drama.
Like Knight’s other outings, the production quality here is exceptional. The crowded streets and cramped alleyways of Victorian London are wonderfully realised, and getting lost within them during the Halloween festivities is a visual treat. With the plot focused on getting the characters to where they need to be, the pacing can drag at times. However, this changes during the climax of the second episode when events take a thrilling turn. The result is an exhilarating and gripping finale that sets the stakes high for what the remainder of the season has in store.
Despite a slow start, A Thousand Blows looks to be stepping up its game for round two.
Andrew Murray
A Thousand Blows season two is released on Disney+ on 9th January 2026.
Watch the trailer for A Thousand Blows season two here:
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