A Thousand Blows is a popular historical drama series created by Steven Knight, known for Peaky Blinders. The show’s first season introduced a gritty world of boxing and crime in 1880s London . With the second season confirmed to premiere on January 9, 2026 on Disney+ and Hulu, here is a complete guide to everything you need to remember from the first six episodes .
The story follows two central groups. The first is Hezekiah Moscow (Malachi Kirby), a Jamaican immigrant who becomes a boxer, and his friend Alec Munroe (Francis Lovehall). The second is the Forty Elephants, a real-life, all-female crime syndicate led by Mary Carr (Erin Doherty) . Their paths cross with Sugar Goodson (Stephen Graham), a dangerous man who controls the East End’s bare-knuckle fighting scene .
Where to Watch and Catch Up on Season 1
Before the new season arrives, you can watch all six episodes of the first season. Each episode is about 52 minutes long .
You can stream A Thousand Blows Season 1 on the following platforms:
- Disney+ and Hulu in the United States and many other countries .
- The series is also available on Star via Disney+ in some international markets .
The new episodes for Season 2 will be released on Friday, January 9, 2026 . All six episodes of the new season are expected to be available at once for streaming on that date .
Main Characters and Where Season 1 Left Them
The story is driven by the ambitions and conflicts of three main characters, whose lives are deeply connected by the end of the season.
Hezekiah Moscow arrived in London from Jamaica with his best friend, Alec. They planned to work as lion tamers but were forced into the city’s underground boxing rings to survive . Hezekiah’s natural talent brought him fame, money, and the attention of Mary Carr. However, his season ended in tragedy and isolation. During a major public fight, Hezekiah, fueled by anger, accidentally killed his opponent . This event, combined with learning that Mary knew the truth about Alec’s death, shattered his world. He walked away from his relationship with Mary and his boxing career, leaving him completely alone .
Mary Carr, the leader of the Forty Elephants, is a strategic and ambitious criminal. She saw Hezekiah’s rising fame as a tool for a major heist against government shipments . Her plans were complicated by betrayal and violence within her gang, including the accidental killing of a Chinese official. By the season’s end, her lie about this death destroyed her bond with Hezekiah. Most of her gang abandoned her, leaving only her loyal protégé, Alice Diamond (Darci Shaw), by her side .
Sugar Goodson is the violent and unstable ruler of East London’s bare-knuckle boxing world. His hatred for Hezekiah grew into an obsession that drove him to extreme actions. His violent rage caused a major rift with his brother, Treacle (James Nelson-Joyce), who owned the pub where the fights were held. Although Treacle survived a brutal beating from Sugar, their relationship was broken. Sugar’s final scene showed him signing over the deed to the pub to his brother, but his own future remained dangerous and unpredictable .
The Historical Truth Behind the Drama
A Thousand Blows blends fiction with real history. While the characters’ interactions are dramatized, they are based on real figures from the period .
The Forty Elephants were a genuine all-female criminal gang that operated in London for decades, specializing in shoplifting and large-scale theft . The show takes creative liberties with their timeline and specific exploits, but the core idea of a powerful, women-led organization is historically accurate .
Hezekiah Moscow is inspired by real Jamaican boxers who fought in London during the Victorian era, facing immense racism and hardship . The show imagines the personal struggles and societal challenges a man like him would have faced . As one review noted, the series “acknowledges the sinister realities of colonialism and exploitation” within its dramatic story .
What the Season 2 Teaser Reveals
A teaser for the upcoming season gives hints about where the story is headed next year .
The new season appears to begin after a time jump. The footage suggests that Hezekiah, Mary, and Sugar are all in different, darker places than before . The official synopsis for Season 2 states:
“A year later, Hezekiah is a shadow of his former self, while Sugar Goodson has drifted from his family and is drinking himself to death. As Wapping is on its last legs, Mary Carr returns to town with her faithful second-in-command, Alice Diamond, to reform her gang and reclaim her crown.”
Key story points from the teaser include:
- Hezekiah appears to be returning to the boxing world, but now in the more formal, gloved matches of the upper class, suggesting a new arena for his battles .
- Mary is back in London trying to rebuild the Forty Elephants. Scenes show her once again holding people at gunpoint, indicating she hasn’t left her criminal life behind .
- Sugar is seen training again, potentially aiming for a comeback. His fractured relationship with his brother Treacle may also be a focus, especially concerning Treacle’s family .
- The conflict may expand to include Indigo Jeremy (Robert Glenister), a powerful new character who could be an ally or an enemy to Mary’s plans .
The actors have hinted that the relationships remain complex. Morgan Hilaire, who plays gang member Esme Long, described the dynamic within the Forty Elephants as “complicated,” while Hannah Walters (Eliza Moody) said the storylines are a “very, very intricate weave of emotions” .
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