It doesn’t take much to convince me to watch a gritty Victorian drama, but when that drama is based on a real and infamous all-female criminal gang, it shoots straight to the top of my to-watch list. And not only did A Thousand Blows not disappoint, but it’s one of the best pieces of television I’ve watched in quite a while, and I’m going to confidently predict it’ll be the best show I watch in 2025.

A Thousand Blows dives into the dark underbelly of boxing in Victorian London and follows Hezekiah and Alec (played by Malachi Kirby and Francis Lovehall), two best friends from Jamaica who find themselves thrust into the vibrant and violent melting pot of East End London in the wake of the industrial revolution. Drawn into the crime-riddled world of the thriving boxing scene, Hezekiah meets Mary Carr (Erin Doherty), leader of The Forty Elephants – the notorious all-female gang – as they fight for survival on the streets.

As Hezekiah sharpens his new skills, he comes up against Sugar Goodson (Stephen Graham), a seasoned and dangerous boxer, and the two are soon locked into an intense rivalry that spills out way beyond the ring. The series was created by Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight, and in a similar vein to his previous shows, Knight based A Thousand Blows on real people. Sugar Goodson, Hezekiah Moscow and Mary Carr were all real people and The Forty Elephants was a real group of criminals that operated in London for decades.

While the series is fairly heavy on the boxing, it also paints an immersive and vibrant picture of the social climate of London in the post-industrial revolution era and the lengths people went to obtain and keep hold of power. It’s historical fiction at its finest, and it’s refreshing to see a period drama where Black people weren’t depicted as slaves or in chains; if anything, race is hardly mentioned in the series. The main societal divide that’s homed in on is that of class and money, between the East End’s working class and the aristocracy of the West End.

Stephen Graham and Malachi Kirby are brilliant in their roles, showcasing the power play and rage between the two of them so well. As the title of the show suggests, it’s bloody, violent and brutal. But for me, it’s The Forty Elephants that blew me away, especially Erin Doherty’s portrayal of the group’s leader, Mary. As I watched, I couldn’t believe that I’d never heard of The Forty Elephants or that their stories have rarely made it onto the big screen. This group of women were defying all odds, sticking it to the Victorian patriarchy by creating their own power and becoming an untouchable criminal syndicate for decades. And doing it all in corsets, which is an achievement in itself.

Doherty’s Mary is ruthless and determined, and she knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. She exudes power in any room or situation she walks into, whether that’s making plans with her Elephants or convincing Hezekiah to join in with her big plans. There’s a scene in the first episode when Mary is talking to her lover in her room, and he screams that he loves her, but she stares at him deadpan as if she’s aware and just does not care. The actor portrays this confidence and power not only in the way Mary speaks but also in the way she carries herself with a straight posture and a slight swagger – something she uses to great effect when she walks into the Elephants’ heist at Harrods. Doherty’s performance here is simply career-defining.

A Thousand Blows is an immersive, entertaining and gripping watch. The costumes and film sets all add to the grandiosity and add a dramatic element to the series and storylines, but it’s the writing and the performances that really make the show what it is. And I’m so pleased that a second season of A Thousand Blows has already been confirmed because more is certainly needed.

Images: Disney+