Tom Hardy's Ridley Scott Thriller Is The Ultimate Slow-Burn, And Season 2 Can't Come Soon Enough

Published Nov 13, 2026, 8:30 PM EST

Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV.

Some TV thrillers make their biggest impression through constant action, while others take their time establishing an atmosphere like Tom Hardy's Ridley Scott slow burn series, which will be returning for a second season in the near future. While a flash-in-the-pan thriller series can make waves in the short-term, shows that build out their stories and establish a long game can be more interesting to viewers. When all of the elements of a show with a slow burning plot come together, it can be delicious for the audience as a reward for their time spent watching and faith in the writers.

This slow burning quality is what makes one of Hardy's most distinctive TV projects worth revisiting, especially as the series has a second season coming in the future. The historical thriller, which premiered in 2017 and has remained in the public conversation since, had some struggling with its deliberately slow pacing, while other viewers praised the way that it took on dense storytelling. The series, created by Hardy and his father, Chips, and executive produced by Ridley Scott, follows James Delaney (Hardy) a mysterious adventurer returning to London in the early 1800s to claim an inheritance and confront issues within his father's business.

Although it's been nearly a decade since the first season of Taboo aired in 2017, the show has long been a topic of conversation, especially with the series' second season being confirmed by Hardy himself in recent press. While the wait's been long, the journey to Taboo season 2 will surely be well worth the wait.

Taboo Is A Great Slow-Burn Historical Thriller Starring Tom Hardy

Set in 1814, Taboo follows Hardy's James Keziah Delaney, an adventurer who returns to London after years in Africa left him presumed dead back at home. Word of his father's death brings him back to claim what remains of his family's shipping empire, but James' inheritance isn't exactly straightforward, as the East India Company has their own business interests in the company. Other powerful figures also have their own reasons for keeping Delaney from taking control of the family business, as his return opens old wounds and changes family relationships. As the reasons behind his father's passing are called into question, Delaney's world slowly begins to fall apart.

While the show does operate as a period piece due to its timing, it isn't always a conventional one. The version of London that unfurls in Taboo is grim and complicated, focusing on a more corrupt depiction of the city than the reality of what early 19th century London was like. With Hardy's performance anchoring the show, Taboo is able to move within its slow rolling story because his spectacular performance. On top of Hardy, the ensemble cast of the series does a phenomenal job in depicting a fascinating mix of characters in the most difficult of circumstances.

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Taboo Season 2 Is Still On The Way

After a renewed burst of attention because of a streaming resurgence, Taboo is more in demand than it's ever been before. The most frustrating part of Taboo's legacy has been the fact that it had a stellar first season and seemed like a series that was determined to continue, but has yet to air another season after its 2017 debut. With Delaney and his companions leaving London on the search for their next adventure, the challenges that came with creating another season of Taboo didn't seem too intense when the first season came to a close. Thankfully, Hardy himself recently confirmed there was more to come.

Despite the unusually long wait between seasons, Taboo does seem like it will be back for another season at some point, though there's no filming dates or release window to speak of. Though a second season isn't guaranteed to arrive anytime soon, the series does seem to be a lock for another season in the future. Taboo has demonstrated with ease that its long-form storytelling can have a lasting impact, so the amount of time between seasons may simply create more material for the show to work with. Taboo's return will be another win for Hardy.