The long-awaited revival of Taboo, the brooding historical drama starring Tom Hardy, has finally gained momentum. After years of speculation and delays, Hardy confirmed in early 2025 that Season 2 is actively in development, with scripts being written. This news excites fans who have eagerly awaited more since the explosive finale of Season 1 in 2017. Set against the shadowy underbelly of early 19th-century London, Taboo captivated audiences with its blend of mystery, violence, and psychological depth. This article recaps the intricate plot and character arcs of the first season while exploring what lies ahead for James Keziah Delaney and his band of misfits.

Recapping Season 1: A Tale of Inheritance, Vengeance, and Imperial Intrigue

Taboo Season 1 unfolds in 1814 during the final days of the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States. The series centers on James Keziah Delaney (Tom Hardy), an enigmatic adventurer presumed dead after years in Africa. His sudden return to London coincides with his father Horace Delaney’s funeral, thrusting him into a web of corporate greed, family secrets, and supernatural undertones.

The plot revolves around James inheriting Nootka Sound, a strategically valuable strip of land on North America’s west coast. This inheritance pits him against the formidable East India Company (EIC), a powerful entity resembling modern corporations and intelligence agencies. Led by the ruthless Sir Stuart Strange (Jonathan Pryce), the EIC covets Nootka for its trade monopoly, especially as peace negotiations loom. James, however, aims to build a shipping empire and uncover the truth behind his father’s mysterious death, which he suspects involves foul play.

James assembles a ragtag crew of outcasts, including the loyal thug Atticus (Stephen Graham), the eccentric chemist Cholmondeley (Tom Hollander), and the opportunistic actress Lorna Bow (Jessie Buckley), who claims to be his father’s widow. His methods are brutal and unorthodox—he employs voodoo-like rituals learned in Africa, experiences visions of his deceased mother, and navigates alliances with American spies like Dr. Dumbarton (Michael Kelly).

A central tension stems from James’s forbidden relationship with his half-sister Zilpha Geary (Oona Chaplin). Their incestuous attraction, laced with trauma and taboo, ends tragically: Zilpha, tormented by her abusive husband Thorne (Jefferson Hall) and her feelings for James, takes her own life by jumping into the Thames. This arc highlights the series’ exploration of psychological scars, with James’s rituals and visions suggesting mental fractures from his African experiences, possibly involving slavery and tribal initiations.

The season builds to a climactic dockside showdown, where James and his allies battle EIC forces in a bloody gunfight. Betrayals surface: Brace (David Hayman), James’s loyal servant, admits to poisoning Horace out of mercy. James exacts revenge by bombing the EIC headquarters, killing Strange. In a daring escape, he sets sail westward on a ship loaded with gunpowder, bound for Ponta Delgada in the Azores to meet the American agent Colonnade. The finale leaves survivors like Atticus, Cholmondeley (badly wounded), and Lorna aboard, hinting at new adventures in the Americas.

Season 1’s plot is a slow-burn masterpiece, blending historical fiction with gothic horror. It critiques imperialism through the EIC’s machinations, portraying it as a corrupt force exploiting global conflicts. The pacing starts slowly but accelerates into gripping action, enhanced by authentic atmosphere—grimy streets, fog-shrouded ships, and Max Richter’s haunting score. Critics praised Hardy’s commanding performance, with the season earning strong approval for its dark, immersive storytelling.

Analyzing Character Arcs: From Torment to Transformation

James Delaney is the heart of Taboo, his arc a study in tormented resilience. Hardy portrays him as a growling anti-hero, scarred by unseen horrors in Africa—implied cannibalism, spiritual possessions, and lost love. His return shifts him from wanderer to empire-builder, driven by vengeance but haunted by morality. James evolves from a solitary figure to a reluctant leader, forging bonds with his crew while battling his inner “devil.” His rituals, blending Christianity and African mysticism, symbolize internal conflict, culminating in his explosive retribution against the EIC. His escape suggests unfinished business, with potential for redemption or further descent into madness.

Supporting characters enrich the narrative. Zilpha’s arc is tragic, evolving from a repressed Victorian woman to one consumed by forbidden desires. Her suicide resolves her turmoil but isolates James further, amplifying his grief. Sir Stuart Strange embodies institutional evil, his hubris peaking before his fiery demise. Atticus, the loyal brute, offers comic relief and steadfastness, his bond with James hinting at found family among societal rejects.

Lorna Bow transitions from opportunist to genuine ally, her resourcefulness shining in the finale. Cholmondeley’s intellectual quirkiness contrasts James’s brutality, his near-death adding stakes. The arcs explore class divides, colonialism’s legacy, and personal demons, with women like Zilpha and Lorna challenging period gender norms despite tragic or uncertain fates.

Season 2 Updates: Production, Plot Speculation, and Cast Returns

In 2025, Taboo Season 2 is no longer in limbo. Hardy, while promoting another project, confirmed active scriptwriting, dispelling doubts after years of delays. Producer Dean Baker noted work progressing, though production faced postponements due to schedules and the COVID-19 pandemic. Steven Knight, the co-creator, revealed that six of eight episodes were scripted, with filming initially planned earlier but delayed by Hardy’s commitments to films like Venom.

No official release date exists, but if writing concludes soon, filming could start by late 2025, with a potential premiere in 2026 or 2027 on BBC One and FX. Knight promises “explosive stuff,” continuing James’s westward journey. The plot likely picks up from the Season 1 cliffhanger: the crew’s voyage to the Azores and America, delving into U.S. intelligence intrigue and Nootka’s exploitation. Themes may include repeating history and corruption, with ambiguity around the “Colonnade” figure.

Hardy has suggested bold ideas, like time jumps to the 1960s Vietnam era or Napoleonic Wars, reimagining the Delaney dynasty in new eras. However, a linear continuation seems likely, exploring America’s early days amid post-war tensions. This could deepen critiques of empire-building, with James navigating Native American lands, fur trade rivalries, and his inner demons.

Hardy reprises James Delaney, the story’s core. Survivors like Atticus (Graham), French Bill (Scroobius Pip), and Michael Godfrey (Edward Hogg) are expected to return. Lorna and Cholmondeley’s fates are uncertain due to injuries, but their returns could enrich arcs—Lorna as a maternal figure, Cholmondeley as comic relief. Deceased characters like Zilpha and Strange are unlikely to appear, except perhaps in flashbacks. New cast members may join for American settings, possibly including Paddy Considine, as Hardy hinted.

Potential Character Developments and Thematic Depth in Season 2

Season 2 offers fertile ground for character growth. James’s arc could shift from vengeful loner to reluctant patriarch, leading his “league of the damned” in uncharted lands. His African traumas might resurface through encounters with American slavery, forcing confrontations with identity and morality. If time jumps occur, descendants could mirror his struggles, emphasizing cyclical corruption.

Atticus might emerge as a moral anchor, his loyalty tested by new alliances. Lorna, if surviving, could explore independence in a frontier world, further challenging gender roles. Thematically, the series may intensify its anti-imperial stance, drawing parallels between the EIC and emerging American powers. Supernatural elements—James’s visions—could blend with Native American mysticism, deepening his psyche.

Anticipation and Legacy

Taboo Season 2 promises to build on the first’s strengths: Hardy’s magnetic presence, Knight’s sharp writing, and Ridley Scott’s executive production. With strong viewership in Season 1, demand remains high. Delays have only heightened intrigue, and Hardy’s passion ensures quality. In a landscape of rushed reboots, Taboo‘s deliberate pace mirrors its narrative—dark, methodical, and rewarding. As James Delaney sails into the unknown, fans can expect a season that probes deeper into human taboos, the cost of power, and history’s shadows.