When it comes to British historical dramas, very few can be said to have matched the popularity attained by Peaky Blinders, so it’s understandable why fans were excited for series creator Steven Knight’s latest venture, A Thousand Blows. Set in the underworld of late 19th century London, the six-episode series focuses on the real-life all-female thieves gang, The Forty Elephants, and highlights the transition period of boxing. A Thousand Blows is engaging enough to keep its viewers hooked throughout, and aside from a solid script and the authentic recreation of historical settings, a colorful ensemble of characters proved to be the major reason behind that. With a second season already greenlit, there is a possibility of the series gaining a cult following in the near future, and the continuation of a proper arc of the players involved will be something to look forward to.
Hezekiah Moscow Played By Malachi Kirby
British actor/writer Malachi Kirby has been active on the small screen scene for over a decade, and his performances in Roots, Small Axe: Mangrove, and movies like Wicked Little Letters were received with critical acclaim. In A Thousand Blows, Malachi played the role of Hezekiah Moscow, a Jamaican immigrant whose dreams of making it big drive him to arrive in London with his dear friend, Alec Munroe. However, Hezekiah gets a brutal reality check as he is reminded that he cannot hope to be treated equally in the land of the White oppressors who subjugated and murdered his family.
As shown in the series, despite not being a boxer, Hezekiah participates in bare-knuckle boxing matches to make ends meet and proves his mettle as a rising star at the first opportunity he gets. Hez is as sharp as he is strong with his fists, as he adapts to changing situations by accepting the proposal of his friend, Alec, to take up gloves to participate in a more respectable form of modern boxing. Mary Carr was able to recognize Hez’s ingenuity and potential for greatness, and their relationship shows a milder side of his character.
However, Alec’s death affects Hez a great deal, as he blames himself for his predicament, given it was upon his request that Alec had decided to venture to London. The personal tragedy emotionally overwhelms Hez, which makes it easier for Sugar Goodson to trick him and turn him against Mary at the end of the first season.
Mary Carr, Played By Erin Doherty
British actor Erin Doherty has previously acted in a number of BBC series like Les Misérables, Unprecedented, and Call the Midwife, and also in Netflix’s The Crown. In the series, she plays the charismatic, resourceful, crafty, and ambitious Queen of Forty Elephants—the gang of all-female thieves who operated in the impoverished areas of East London from the late 19th to the mid 20th century. Thrown into a life of crime, Mary had had to claw her way out of the pit since her childhood, which explains her deceitful, unscrupulous demeanor. However, as revealed by the female members of her gang, Mary looks after her own and protects them from cruel men in power. Mary herself hasn’t been able to step out of the shadow of her abusive, cruel mother—which makes her act protective of those who depend on her. Mary’s principle and advice to members of her syndicate is not to get involved with matters of the heart because of their line of work, but she breaks her own rule as she falls for Hez and ultimately gets her heart broken.
Henry ‘Sugar’ Goodson, Played By Stephen Graham
Renowned British actor Stephen Graham has found acclaim with his performances in the movie This is England and its small screen spin-offs, as well as Gangs of New York, The Irishman, and Boiling Point, to name a few. In the series, he portrays the character of Henry ‘Sugar’ Goodson, an ill-tempered, arrogant, stubborn veteran boxer who controls much of the illegal activities in the East End of London. A victim of abuse in his childhood, Henry is protective of his family and the people he cares for, but his self-destructive nature makes it impossible for him to form a natural connection with others. Egotistical and stubborn, Henry isn’t the type to deal well with rejection, and despite Mary’s unwillingness to reciprocate his feelings towards her, he continues to try to persuade her. Henry’s possessive, zealous attitude when it comes to Mary finally prompts him to cause a rift between her and Hez, the man she loves.
Miscellaneous Characters
Aside from the lead trio, the supporting cast of A Thousand Blows did a splendid job as well. Francis Lovehall played the role of Hez’s friend, Alec Munroe, and Jason Tobin’s portrayal of Mr. Lao—the Chinese immigrant/hotelier in the East End who could relate to Hez’s experience of being subjected to oppression by the White colonizers—left a mark in the first season. Actor Darci Shaw’s portrayal of Alice Diamond surely gained the attention of the viewers, and in the upcoming second season she will play a larger role—mimicking the journey of real-life Alice Diamond, who became the Queen of Forty Elephants.
