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Season 1 – A Thousand Blows

Play trailer 1:49 Poster for Season 1 – A Thousand Blows 2025 History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 41 Reviews 78% 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

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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) 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. Apr 3, 2025 Full Review David Bianculli NPR 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. Mar 15, 2025 Full Review Graeme Blundell The Australian [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. Mar 7, 2025 Full Review Emily Baker iNews.co.uk Peaky Blinders fans will find a lot to like in this Dickensian boxing tale from Steven Knight. Rated: 4/5 Mar 17, 2025 Full Review Ally Ham The Review Geek In the most surface-level treatment possible of its political themes, A Thousand Blows acknowledges the sinister realities of colonialism and exploitation but reworks them into a limp story whose premier message is “representation matters.” Rated: 4/10 Mar 15, 2025 Full Review Neely Swanson Beverly Hills Courier A Thousand Blows isn’t just boxing; it’s revenge, racism, brutality, women looking forward, at least in a criminal sense; most of all, it tells a great, complicated, brutal story. Mar 14, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (41) audience reviews
King R At first I didn't like the story of the series that much, but towards the end of the first episode it got better and better. From the second episode onwards I was hooked. Above all, the setting is very beautiful as are the costumes. I also really liked the camera work. I'm already looking forward to the second season Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/02/25 Full Review laurent b High production value, superb acting to support well written characters, drama, fights, violence, pain, love... It's a very good show, abusively compared to "Peaky blinders" whilst it's closer to "Warriors" (another excellent show). I feel the audience tomatometer is underevaluated at the moment I'm writing the review... Looking forward to season 2, which is already shot (so hopefully it will come sooner than later). Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/02/25 Full Review Andrei D Somewhat scattered and uneven when it comes to acting, lacks context, and moves too fast but it's still fascinating Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/27/25 Full Review Robert Z It's not Peaky Blinders, so don't tune in if that's what you're looking for. But, it's damn good television. Plus, anything with Erin Doherty and Stephen Graham has my attention. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/21/25 Full Review Qwophi F It's really interesting, making life in such place it takes plans and making allies to survive what might come. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/19/25 Full Review David G Trash. Storyline was weak. Characters forgettable. 6 episodes in, and still waiting for something to happen before the season finishes. Don’t waste your time. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/18/25 Full Review Read all reviews
A Thousand Blows — Season 1

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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

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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