Review Summary
The series A Thousand Blows returns to Disney+ and Hulu, presenting a bleaker, bolder, and more brutal narrative than its predecessor. This historical drama’s second season maintains its immersive Victorian London setting and engaging characters, but shifts its focus from boxing to the intense struggle for survival on the city’s streets.
Pros
- Larger-than-life characters brought to life by a talented cast
- References real historical events that deserve more attention
- Detailed set-pieces and costumes capture Victorian London
Cons
- Narrative focus is vastly different from the first season
- Fewer boxing scenes
A Thousand Blows moves beyond the bareknuckle boxing rings of Victorian London in its second season, exploring darker themes within Steven Knight’s historical drama. While intense brawls are still present, A Thousand Blows season 2 prioritizes the fight for survival in a harsh Victorian London over pure fight sequences.
Similar to the first season, Knight blends historical facts with fiction. He uses real historical events as “stepping stones” to build the series’ narratives. He explained that starting with a known date or event, such as a boxing match or a robbery, allows the creative process to explore the reasons behind those occurrences.
Knight stated that approximately 35% of the second season is based on real-life events. This approach lends authenticity to the show, which is interwoven with emotional storylines. These narratives include Hezekiah Moscow’s (Malachi Kirby) transformation from a lion tamer to a heavyweight champion, and Mary Carr’s (Erin Doherty) leadership of the notorious all-female gang, the Forty Elephants, in daring department store robberies.
Season 2 finds Hezekiah recovering from the tragic boxing match that concluded the first season. Still grieving the loss of his brother Alec (Francis Lovehall), he experiences a profound sense of displacement.
These overwhelming emotions drive a new redemption arc for Hezekiah, aligning with Knight’s view on universal human motivations. He believes that regardless of the historical period, people share the same core motivations, emotions, jealousy, and passions.
Due to this thematic focus, season 2 features significantly less boxing than the initial installment. This shift makes the series more accessible to viewers less interested in pugilism, incorporating real historical events such as the Matchgirls’ Strike of 1888 at the Bryant & May factory. Malachi Kirby highlighted the use of “white phosphorus, which was poisonous and caused horrible diseases for the workers.” The show also includes allusions to Jack the Ripper, further rooting it in the historical authenticity of the era.
Erin Doherty described the period’s atmosphere: “Life was fragile then, it was easily lost… When you understand how many people would just die on the streets, the stakes are incredibly high.” She added that finding the human element in such a terrifying and bleak setting was not difficult.
Darci Shaw, who portrays the supporting character Alice, found that researching the period’s grim history helped her grasp the high stakes involved. She mentioned reading extensively about the era and the plight of homeless women, which clarified why characters like the Forty Elephants gang members were so determined and willing to do whatever it took, as they had no other options.
Supporting characters, such as Edward ‘Treacle’ Goodson, also gain increased depth. James Nelson-Joyce, playing Goodson, attributed the character’s complexity in season 2 to Knight’s writing. He praised Knight’s scripts, stating that they always provide characters with multiple layers and underlying meanings.
Despite a particularly heartbreaking storyline, Treacle and his brother Sugar Goodson (Stephen Graham) have a reduced presence in the second season, allowing Hezekiah’s and Mary’s stories to become central.
The stakes remain high. While the second season of A Thousand Blows features fewer boxing matches than the first, the fights are still brutal. However, it is the characters’ struggles outside the ring that provide the season with its compelling dramatic power.
All six episodes of A Thousand Blows season 2 premiered on January 9, 2026, on Disney+ (internationally) and Hulu (US).
