A Thousand Blows rewrites the historical crime drama formula with the kind of unapologetic edge you expect from Steven Knight.
But where Peaky Blinders eventually sprawled into operatic gangster mythology, this new Disney+ series doubles down on dirt and intimacy, keeping its fists—and its themes—close to the chest. Think Dickens with a mean right hook.
A Thousand Blows true story meets fearless fiction
Set in the chaotic alleys of 1880s Victorian London, A Thousand Blows draws loosely from real events, especially the notorious Forty Elephants—the all-female crime syndicate that operated with sharp coordination and sharper blades.
Mary Carr, played by Erin Doherty, is no myth. Her gang really did exist. But the show has no interest in dry history.
Knight has long been drawn to stories of lawlessness—not for their romance, but for how they lay bare the mechanics of power.
This is where historical accuracy and storytelling strike a mutual deal. You won’t find a classroom reconstruction here.
Instead, Knight gives us a pulsing story full of betrayals, power plays, and social commentary—where fact is twisted just enough to ask better questions.
Malachi Kirby and the emotional weight behind Hezekiah Moscow
There’s a reason Malachi Kirby’s name is buzzing. His portrayal of Hezekiah Moscow, a Jamaican immigrant who arrives in London chasing a promise of lion taming (yes, really), becomes the reluctant emotional spine of the show.
Flashbacks reveal colonial scars, but Kirby keeps things grounded with a performance that lingers more in glances than speeches.
When Hezekiah beats Sugar Goodson in an unsanctioned bout, it’s not a rise—it’s a warning.
What unfolds next is a tangle of threats, attraction, and ambition that pushes him further into the bare-knuckle boxing world.
Erin Doherty as Mary Carr: leader of the Forty Elephants
If Kirby is the quiet storm, Erin Doherty is the lightning strike. As Mary Carr, leader of the Forty Elephants, she weaponises presence.
Her past with Sugar Goodson makes her both ally and adversary, and Doherty plays her with unnerving precision.
Erin Doherty plays Mary as someone who understands that softness, in her world, can be fatal—and she leans into that contradiction.
You see it when she smashes jewellery counters one moment, then protects a man with broken fingers the next.
Mary Carr isn’t written for sympathy, but for respect. That alone makes her one of the most compelling characters Knight has penned since Tommy Shelby.
Stephen Graham’s Sugar Goodson and the rot beneath the power
Stephen Graham doesn’t just deliver menace as Henry “Sugar” Goodson—he infects every scene with it.
His presence looms over the East End, a self-declared king of the ring, yet visibly rattled by Hezekiah’s challenge.
Sugar’s not just a fighter; he’s a man clinging to relevance in a city that’s changing under his boots.
His chemistry with Doherty crackles. The two share a history tied to poverty, workhouses, and pain.
As critics have noted, Sugar appears haunted by his past and terrified of vulnerability—his rage is often the cover.
A Thousand Blows full cast delivers a knockout ensemble
While the trio of Kirby, Doherty, and Graham command the spotlight, the full cast of A Thousand Blows is stacked with talent.
Francis Lovehall brings anxiety and loyalty to Alec, Jason Tobin adds moral complexity as Lao Lam, and Ashley Walters surprises with a brief but potent role.
Even the side characters are curated with intention. The show might be busy, but it’s never cluttered. Each face adds something to the weight of the world.
How to watch A Thousand Blows online
All six episodes of A Thousand Blows are available to stream on Disney+ internationally and Hulu in the United States.
A Thousand Blows Rotten Tomatoes reception and season 2 buzz
Critics are already weighing in. With a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an average score of 8.3/10, the series is striking a nerve.
Lucy Mangan of The Guardian praised its “energetic abundance” and described it as a Dickensian epic with bite.
A second season has been confirmed, with filming already completed.
Expect the story to expand further into the criminal landscape, with even more focus on the Forty Elephants.
Mary’s just getting started—and Erin Doherty’s performance suggests there’s a lot more to come.
Why A Thousand Blows deserves your attention
You can call it a crime drama. You can call it a period piece. But A Thousand Blows resists easy labelling.
It mixes immigrant narratives, gender politics, and class struggle into a tight six-episode run that never wastes a frame.
This isn’t just another Peaky Blinders clone with corsets and punches. It’s a story that punches back.
