Peaky Blindersis set to make its long awaited return to the small screen by way of a Netflix movie soon, but before we get there, the new series from creatorSteven Knightis garnering rave reviews ahead of its release on Hulu this week. TitledA Thousand Blows, the period boxing drama’s Rotten Tomatoes score was just unveiledto be a solid 89%at the time of this writing,with some even calling it better than the Cillian Murphy-led crime series.
“A Thousand Blowscould even end up being placed on a higher pedestal thanPeaky Blinders,“said Sabrina Barr from Metro UK, adding:“A bold claim, I know, but one I feel confident making considering how absolutely phenomenal it is from start to finish.“Martin Carr from CBR echoed those sentiments, while at the same timepraising star Stephen Graham:
“Everything audiences have come to expect from Steven Knight is there in A Thousand Blows. Stephen Graham puts in a commanding performance, and in every sense, it is an epic character-driven drama centred around a pivotal point in British history.”
‘A Thousand Blows’ Review: Another Knockout Series from Steven Knight
A Jamaican immigrant (Malachi Kirby), gang leader (Erin Doherty), and brutal pub owner (Stephen Graham) meet their fates in 1880s East London.
Inspired by true events and set in the East End of London in the 1880s,A Thousand Blowsfollows the all-female crime syndicate known as the Forty Elephants – led by Mary Carr (Erin Doherty) – and their clashes with another group led by Henry “Sugar” Goodson (Graham), the self-declared emperor of the East End’s illegal bare-knuckle boxing world. Additionally,A Thousand Blowsalso centers around Hezekiah Moscow (Malachi Kirby) and Alec Munroe (Francis Lovehall), two best friends on the run from Jamaica who get caught up in the said bare-knuckle boxing scene, and how their lives intertwine with both Carr and Goodson.
The Praise Continues for ‘A Thousand Blows’
No stranger to period dramas, Knight has undoubtedly createdsome of the best historical serieswe’ve had the pleasure of watching, as in addition toPeaky Blinders, he’s also the man responsible for such gems asTaboo,All the Light We Cannot See, andThe Town.A Thousand Blowscontinues his string of critically acclaimed hits, which Nicola Austin from Empire Magazine said is “not always a total knockout,” but"certainly packs a punch – courtesy of excellent lead performances, a gripping plot, and a fascinating historical setting.”
15 Best Quotes From Peaky Blinders
Peaky Blinders is full of smart characters who constantly dish out amazing lines of dialogue like these.
“If you’re waiting for aPeaky Blindersreplacement, Steven Knight’sA Thousand Blowsis a hell of a contender,“commented Simon Gallagher from Screen Rant. M.N. Miller of FandomWire calls it a “walk on the wild side” in his review, adding"this series would make Nelson Algren proud—full of gritty realism, drifters, grifters, and outcasts looking to bruise, rip, and bleed their knuckles apart to get their piece of the pie.”
Maggie Boccella from Collider is the only dissenting voice so far, sayingA Thousand Blowsis “easy fun, but fails to pack the same punch” asPeaky Blinders. It should be noted that the series has already been greenlit for a second season, so there’s no danger of being left hanging at the end of its six episodes. You can judge for yourself just how good it is whenA Thousand Blowsmakes its Hulu premiere on Jun 04, 2025.
A Thousand Blows
