Critically evaluate Taboo Taboo is a television series in the genre Period Drama, which premiered in the UK on the 7th of January 2017, and was directed by Kristoffer Nyholm Andrs Engström. In addition, it was writen by Tom Hardy, Steven Knight, Chips Hardy and the music was composed by Max Richter. This television series was set in 1814 London, as the character James Keziah Delaney (Played by Tom Hardy), returns after 10 years in Africa. He is quick to discover that he has been left a mysterious legacy by his late father, causing murder, betrayal and conspiracy. To ensure the program’s realism to the era, many factors had to be carefully researched. First, there is the dialect, which is a prominent feature to a program’s success. In Taboo, you can see consistant drama dialect throughout while being appropriate to the 18th century. An example of this would be “This fog is pestilential”[1}. In this scene, you see Sir Stuart complaining about the fog. However, it is clear that the dialect was carefully chosen using words like “Pestilential” (Annoying) to portray his frustration; instead of words that would be used in our dialect today. A general aspect you can notice in the speech
used in Taboo, is the fact there were a lot of pauses between sentences, which (back in 1814), was used to let people know they were finished talking. Plus, this may have been used to help create the dramatic and serious aura to the scene. The props and costumes, were also carefully chosen for the time. To effectively create the costumes for the characters, the designer – Joanna Eatwell, had to understand the complex history of fashion and fabric in 1814. She said, she looked at ‘Paintings and drawings of the period and first hand accounts’. She continued to say that ‘Diaries and wills are full of primary source information’. This shows evidence towards the complexity in research to adequately create costumes in televisions series. You can see this in the Dual Scene previously embedded. Where the men are wearing: top hats, waist coats and long black coats. While, Countless Musgrove was wearing a decorative hair piece, a puffed sleeved long green dress and black gloves. Looking at the props, they were also carefully chosen for the 18th century, as one odd gun, for example, could ruin the series ambience. An example of an appropriate prop would be; the Tower Sea Service Pistol – used by Thorne Geary (Jefferson Hall) and the 50 Calibre English Flintlock – used by Dalaney (Tom Hardy).
This Dual Scene was filmed on a location, which not only helps the realism of the show, but it is easier than setting up a whole set. And filming on location, tends to be cheaper overall. However, there may be aspects of the location that were not suited for that time, resulting in them having to edit them out or cover them up. And the creative control is more prominent on a set. By being aired on the BBC, it means the show is shown on a Public Service Company, which is payed by licence fees. Rather than a corporate or independent company (Private capital – individually funded). Taboo is realistic up to a point, while being heavily romanticized, exaggerated and glamorized. And was highly rated (per IMDb) However, one of the writers and actors (Tom Hardy) lost $3.2 making the BBC1 drama.
[1] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU1s0BEjUbw