Taboo― “Episode 4” Review. Sweet Dreams are Made of This.

Season 1, Episode 4

Air Date: Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at 10PM ET/PT on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

“I have use for you.” – James Keziah Delaney

I’m not sure what I just watched but I know it was well crafted, unexpected, and delightful. To see James Keziah Delaney (Tom Hardy) come out on top when no one expects him to makes my day. You have to wonder how he concocts such schemes. It reminds me of the character Kaz from the novel Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. Kaz is always two steps ahead of the adults who think he’s a stupid punk kid. Oh but does he show them. James is on another level with his craziness. And can we talk about the “visit” he has with his half-sister Zilpha (Oona Chaplin)? I didn’t think I saw what I was clearly seeing and quickly realized, that yes, there is some interesting supernatural freaky deaky goings on happening. What else can James do to a woman without even being in the same room as her? Da-yum!

Blackmailing Bastards Aplenty

It seems Nookta Sound and James’ shipping company, are of great import to the East India Trading Co. Not only have they tried to kill him over it but now they devise scare tactics to make Lorna Bow (Jessie Buckley) turn over her shares. Imagine if she was a simple woman, easily swayed or frightened into doing what a man wants. Lorna would not have lasted long upon being incarcerated if that were the case. But no, she follows James’ directive to “hold out” and receives unexpected help. I don’t like Lorna being used as bait or a pawn in one of James’ games. He has to go about securing his interests in a different way because Lorna comes too close to danger. I hate seeing women abused by men in power because they feel they can do whatever they want. Watching Lorna tremble so hard in fear nearly breaks my heart. Buckley plays the hell out of the scene, and gets massive respect for keeping her character’s integrity.

Most Peculiar Dialogue:

Cholmondeley: “You know semen, not ejaculated at the point of passion, turns to poison and narrows the mind? Eventually you become innate.”

James: “So ejaculate, and then we can talk of business.”

Cholmondeley: “Is that gold?”

James: “Has the semen yet turned to poison?”

I honestly don’t know what to say after that, except that Tom Hollander, who portrays Cholmondeley, is fabulous. I hate him from the moment I first see him on screen. There is nothing redeeming about the conniving “doctor” that plays with chemicals to shock and amuse those who don’t know any better. Alas, James isn’t one to be swayed when he has set his focus on something, and he gets what he wants from Cholmondeley. This, of course, leads me back to James visiting Zilpha in her sleep, and not for a brotherly chat. What is that hoodoo that he do and who teaches the class? I kid, I kid. The chemistry between Zilpha and James is combustible and I’m anxious to see which one of them goes up in flames first.

James and his dastardly band of ruffians cause a bit of ruckus this fourth episode. I don’t understand what they are doing until I see where they are breaking into and what they are stealing. I know there is a master plan waiting to be revealed and I’m looking forward to seeing what that is. For now though, I have to give kudos to Hardy for his stoicism in every scene. He never breaks character when James is running someone through. Talk about gruesome. James Delaney has no issue with getting his hands dirty. I’ve never seen such a realistic fight scene as the one between James and yet another brute sent by the East India Trading Co. When will those assholes learn they cannot keep James down?

This fourth episode of Taboo ends with a request for a duel. How cruel the writers are to leave us hanging like so? I don’t think I can wait until next week to experience the rage that James will unleash on his opponent. Can you tell if Zilpha’s head movement signifies her begging James to deny her husband Thorne (Jefferson Hall) his request or is she asking James to release her from her life as the wife of Thorne Geary? Let me know what you think about “Episode 4” by dropping me a line in the comments section below or tweet me @ellemoe.

Tune in to Taboo, Tuesdays at 10PM ET/PT, only on FX. For more info on Taboo, visit the official site.

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Elle

Writer, mother, realist, cloud lover, daydreamer, dessert enthusiast, sweet tea addict, perfectionist, and lover of life and Christ, but not in that order. http://www.fanfiction.net/~vikingloverelle