Taboo (FX)

[Bmore Irish]

Re: Taboo (FX)

Finally saw the first episode, I liked it. A nice dark, brooding atmosphere in bleak 1800's England. Tom Hardy is solid, hopefully they don't make his character invincible. The occult bits kept me interested through the exposition. They did tease a lot about the overall story, a decent setup episode.

[spoiler]

All around a solid opening episode, can't wait for episode two tonight.

Regarding your spoiler, I think that's exactly who it is. And I'm sure that'll end up being a major storyline.

I'm also interested to see what this piece of land his father left him is all about. Clearly there's something valuable about it, with East India Company being so interested.

[LambertandHam]

Re: Taboo (FX)

I enjoyed episode two a bit more than the premier. Lots of new characters, Winter was my favorite of the new characters introduced. The actress who played "Lorna Bow" seemed miscast. It might have been her character purposefully being written that way, but she didn't pull it off. Especially when Franka Potente is great as Helga and Oona Chaplin is solid in her role.

Of course it ended

Spoiler

on a cliffhanger, but man did he take out that attacker, even with getting stabbed. Biting the neck? Damn. Seemed like a bit of the occult with the tribesman shown looking at him while he was loosing consciousness.

Also, not sure if anyone else noticed, episode two's was easier to spot, but they're sneaking "apparitions" or "spirits" into shots(pictures in spoiler).

Spoiler

What looks like his mother in episode one:




And his father in episode two:

[LambertandHam]

Re: Taboo (FX)

Episode three slowed things down again. The character interactions were hit and miss for me. Winter gets more screen time, Lorna's character came off better(especially when performing and at the end), and they gave some more background into James' mother. I wasn't a huge fan of of Ziphila or her husband in this episode. Aside from mounting in a church and her husband lamenting the fact that she can't give him a child, it seems like she is just "there".

As for the

Spoiler

scene where he finds the American spy talked about in the start of the episode in the cross-dressing club/party and gets him to pass information, was that Godfrey? I can't remember if they explicitly say who it's.

Hopefully episode four has a little more going on as all of the backroom dealings have come to a head.

I didn't notice a "spirit" added this week, seems weird after having two episodes with one hidden.

[LambertandHam]

Re: Taboo (FX)

Episode 4

Spoiler

Show is starting to finally move, with the last third of the episode centered around the party having a nice driving pace. Jessie Buckley as Lorna Bow keeps getting better, really enjoyed her character this episode. On the other hand, Oona Chaplin as Zilpha is starting to wear thin. She does the same thing every episode, mainly running away from James.

Lots of sex in this episode compared to the others, including James being able to somehow have sex with Zilpha in her dreams. Tom Hollander joins the cast as a chemist. I liked him in Pirates of the Caribbean and a Good Year. The party scene mixed in with the robbery was well done. While the focus is more on James, it seems like the show is shifting to a more James and his crew type of show.

Cliffhanger again with Zilpha's husband challenging James to a duel over his wife. No ghost again this week.

[Watson]

Re: Taboo (FX)

Episode three slowed things down again. The character interactions were hit and miss for me. Winter gets more screen time, Lorna's character came off better(especially when performing and at the end), and they gave some more background into James' mother. I wasn't a huge fan of of Ziphila or her husband in this episode. Aside from mounting in a church and her husband lamenting the fact that she can't give him a child, it seems like she is just "there".

As for the

Spoiler

scene where he finds the American spy talked about in the start of the episode in the cross-dressing club/party and gets him to pass information, was that Godfrey? I can't remember if they explicitly say who it's.

Hopefully episode four has a little more going on as all of the backroom dealings have come to a head.

I didn't notice a "spirit" added this week, seems weird after having two episodes with one hidden.

Spoiler

Yes, it was Godfrey, the guy that takes the minutes at East India

[LambertandHam]

Re: Taboo (FX)

Episode 5

Spoiler

I like how the pace is now. Tom Hollander continues to be great as The Chemist, lots of good interactions with James. Seems like it's common knowledge now that the kid is his son after he made him help with the gunpowder. I liked the framing for the duel scene, with the boat ride and Thorne looking likes James was a monster when he hit him with the shot.

My theory for the Americans knowing so much is that Brace is an informant. James even makes the remark of "you have so much to tell" to him near the end of the episode. Added in with Brace previously trying to purposefully get rid of the chest when Lorna brought it in. The ship that the Crown is trying to go after the EIC with is the same ship James almost drowned on, no? I imagine we'll get some backstory of his past.

Some good setup for the last three episode of this season, with Zilpha getting beat up by her husband, an exorcism and then either talking to the spirits or James about killing him.

[LionsFanNJ]

Re: Taboo (FX)

This is getting better by the episode. The end of the episode was crazy. She's definitely done with her husband, so to speak. Also, seems like for ever step forward, Delaney gets pushed two back. I think you're right with your theory Lambert.

[KG]

Re: Taboo (FX)

Yeah solid theory and good episodes of late. Really liked the duel scene from a few eps back.


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[bigfnjoe96]

Re: Taboo (FX)

Just watched episode 6. Man oh Man is the ish about to hit the fan is all I can say....

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[LambertandHam]

Re: Taboo (FX)

Episode six

Spoiler

**** really did hit the fan, as bigfnjoe96 mentioned above. Zilpha killed Thorne, which wasn't too big of a surprise after episode five. Still, I like her character more when she is slightly "off". Talking to Lorna about James and stabbing Thorne/showing up to James' house is one of those "off" moments. The sex scene between the two put to rest theories from episode one.

I really think that Zilpha is being controlled by her mothers spirit/influence. When she comes over to tell James that she killed Thorne like he told her to, James has no clue. On top of all the scenes of James' mother trying to drown him and attack/hurt him when he goes into the water. It feels like there is still a piece of the puzzle missing about his mother, something still doesn't add up.

The scene where they transported the gunpowder was nicely shot. The black horses, the frills, the masks all added to the atmosphere of the scene. Sad to see that Winter died, liked her character. The question is did James kill her, as he did tell her that she shouldn't be around him like he was and woke up face down in mud, or was it EIC? I think Godfrey might be the next to go, especially after this episode.

Slave ship investigation coming back to James, Helga pissed about Winter, and all out war from the EIC. Only two more episodes to go, can't wait.

[Bmore Irish]

Re: Taboo (FX)

Definitely building to an explosive finish. I agree with your thoughts on his sister, and I'm questioning Delaney's involvement in what was discovered at the end of the episode.

Things have really picked up these past few episodes.

[ODogg]

Re: Taboo (FX)

This is a great show, loves Hardy aka Bane, LOL...and the show set pieces and "graphics" are so cool. Hoping this is renewed for season 2 but so far cannot find any information on that. This is my wifes favorite tv show too.

[LambertandHam]

Re: Taboo (FX)

Episode Seven

Spoiler

Lots of revelations in the first half. The first part of the episode felt really disjointed to me. I'm not sure if FX cut anything or if it was the commercial breaks, but it seemed to bounce around trying to tie up character arcs. Unless Zilpha pops up in the finale, that was a weird way of writing her off. I did notice that they made it a point to show her in the bathtub, same as when she started to have the "visions" to kill her husband.

I assume she does the same thing James does where in water/ducking below the waters surface lets her contact her mother. Brace did poison James' dad, but it felt very out of place revelation wise. Unless it had something to do with James' son coming to live with them. Surprised they didn't kill Godfrey off. Winter made a ghostly appearance, looks like the EIC did kill her.

James can sure take a lot of pain. The torture scenes were well done, especially the bit with the hood on his head. Loved him looking up at Sir Stuart and simply going "I have a use for you". Leading up to the big action pack looking finale based on the preview.

Also, it spooked the hell out of me the first time, pause the episode when James has the hood on in the torture scene wide shot. Look at the stairs above the right shoulder of the soldier .

[LambertandHam]

Re: Taboo (FX)

Episode Eight

Spoiler

Death, Death and more Death. Sir Stuart, the two EIC lackeys, Helga, Zilpha, Cholmondely, Dumbarton. Lorna wounded but hanging on, cliff hanger for next season. Happy that Godfrey survived, liked the character. Actually lots of good scenes for the finale.


Hopefully there is a season two. Would like to see James and companies adventures in America.

[Bmore Irish]

Re: Taboo (FX)

They definitely left it open