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Season 1 – A Thousand Blows

Play trailer 1:49 Poster for Season 1 – A Thousand Blows Feb 2025 History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 43 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Inspired by the true life stories of a group of characters battling for survival in the brutal East End of London in the 1880s. Hezekiah Moscow and Alec Munroe, best friends on the run from Jamaica, find themselves thrust into the criminal underbelly of London’s thriving bare-knuckle boxing scene. As Hezekiah finds fortune and fame through the art of pugilism, he attracts the attention of the infamous Queen of the Forty Elephants, Mary Carr, who sets about exploiting his talents to further her criminal enterprise. Meanwhile the menacing and self-declared emperor of the East End boxing world, Sugar Goodson, determines to destroy Hezekiah whose ambitions to fight in the West End threatens everything he has built. What ensues is a battle of the old world against the new.
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A Thousand Blows — Season 1

A Thousand Blows — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Punching up an intriguing era of British history with creator Steven Knight's flare for genre grit, A Thousand Blows is riveting entertainment that leaves a bruise.

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Critics Reviews

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Clarisse Loughrey Flicks (AU, NZ, UK) Apr 3
Invested in the meaning and weight of these women’s lives, presenting us with a Mary who is neither good nor heroic, but persists despite. Go to Full Review David Bianculli NPR Mar 15
While "A Thousand Blows" is not, so far, quite up to the level of "Peaky Blinders," it does achieve one thing that TV series did so brilliantly -- it introduces us to characters and performances that linger long after the show is over. Go to Full Review Graeme Blundell The Australian 03/07/2025
[A Thousdand Blows is] simply gorgeous to look at...and has operatic style, grand complicated characters and, like Peaky Blinders, confronting violent moments straight from the Scorsese gangland manual. Go to Full Review Ana Yorke PopMatters Jan 21
Themes of lion-taming and bare-knuckle fights mix with those of racism, classism, and exploitation of the most vulnerable, but make no mistake – this isn’t one preachy outing, rather scattershot mayhem loosely strewn together to form a story. Go to Full Review Clotilde Chinnici The People's Movies Aug 7
4/5
A Thousand Blows is a very engaging drama series that fans of Knight’s previous work – namely Peaky Blinders – will undoubtedly enjoy thanks to its exploration of a historical time that many may be familiar with but won’t know the exact details of. Go to Full Review Christopher Stevens Daily Mail (UK) Aug 4
2/5
Long set-piece fights slow down the plot. The first bout is dragged out across two episodes, with a flashback scene in the middle. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Some Guy F @RT75171520 Feb 1 Everyone is over or underacting. With it being so all over the place it feels like the actors were left to their own devices, I blame the direction for it being so bad. See more Chad T @Wooaaday1985 Jan 27 I absolutely love this show. The English accents are what sets it off! From the first episode of season #1 to the End of Season #2..I love it! Can't wait for season #3! See more Dave L @RT29131586 Jan 20 This was an amazing surprise and a gem to watch. What a story and magnificent cast and hope that there will be a third season. See more Welter R @WelterR Jan 12 Excellent first Season. Looking forward to Number Two. See more M2G T @RT39822067 Sep 1 How could you not love this show? It has everything. So glad I just took the time to watch this recently. Next season looks crazy See more Mark O @RT04940304 Aug 25 A brilliant. Well written and well acted drama. Stephen Graham puts on a great performance as usual See more Read all reviews
A Thousand Blows — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Steven Knight

Creator

Malachi Kirby

Hezekiah Moscow

Stephen Graham

Sugar Goodson

Erin Doherty

Mary Carr

Francis Lovehall

Alec Munroe

Ziggy Heath

Peggy Bettinson

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Feb 21, 2025 Hezekiah and Alec, best friends from Jamaica, arrive in London to make their fortunes; they meet Mary Carr, leader of the Forty Elephants, who is planning a major heist. Details Episode 2 Aired Feb 21, 2025 Hezekiah becomes Sugar's target as Mary accelerates her heist plans with him and Lao; the Forty Elephants raid Harrods while Alec meets a new acquaintance. Details Episode 3 Aired Feb 21, 2025 A bombing threatens Mary's plans as she takes Hezekiah out to meet a key West End boxing figure; Hezekiah seizes this opportunity and asks Alec to help train him. Details Episode 4 Aired Feb 21, 2025 Hezekiah debuts at West London Boxing Club, but Sugar's appearance after his fight disrupts plans; Mary Carr's heist night arrives with preparations complete, while Alec and Treacle strike a deal. Details Episode 5 Aired Feb 21, 2025 Mary finds herself under threat from figures both new and old; having caught the Earl of Lonsdale's attention, Hezekiah finds himself rising in the West London boxing circuit. Details Episode 6 Aired Feb 21, 2025 Hezekiah is in shock but his title fight against Buster Williams is fast approaching and many key parties, including Peggy and Lonsdale, are relying on his victory. Details

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A Thousand Blows — Season 1

A Thousand Blows: Season 1 Featurette - Inside Look A Thousand Blows: Season 1 Featurette - Inside Look 2:13 A Thousand Blows: Season 1 Trailer A Thousand Blows: Season 1 Trailer 1:49 View more videos
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A Thousand Blows — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Tinge Krishnan, Nick Murphy, Ashley Walters, Coky Giedroyc, Katrin Gebbe, Dionne Edwards
Creator
Steven Knight
Executive Producer
Steven Knight, Tinge Krishnan, Stephen Graham, Hannah Walters, Damian Keogh, Kate Lewis, Tom Miller, Sam Myer, David Olusoga, Lee Mason
Network
Hulu
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Feb 21, 2025