The new season of A Thousand Blows is now streaming on Disney+, bringing viewers back to the gritty underworld of 1880s London. The show’s creator, Steven Knight, has explained how this next chapter builds on the foundation of the first season by expanding the characters’ stories and testing their limits.
A Thousand Blows Season 2 arrived with all six episodes available on January 9, 2026, on Disney+ platforms globally. For viewers in the United States, the series is available through Hulu as part of the Disney Bundle. The main cast, including Malachi Kirby as Hezekiah Moscow, Erin Doherty as Mary Carr, and Stephen Graham as Sugar Goodson, all return for this darker, more expansive story.
How Season 2 Evolves From the First Season
Steven Knight, the creator of the series, has shared that the second season was designed to go “a bit more expansive” with each character. The first season focused on introducing the characters and the world. Now, the story moves into new territory.
“Once people are invested in the characters, I think you’re then at liberty to go a bit deeper and be a bit more expansive with each of the characters,” Knight said.
He also wanted to put the characters through more difficult challenges. Knight explained his goal was to “put them in situations where they really are put to the test.” He starts the new season by separating the main characters, showing how their shared history keeps pulling them back together. The season explores the consequences of the explosive first season finale, pushing the characters into darker emotional places.
Where the Characters Start in Season 2
The new season picks up shortly after the events of the first season finale. Every main character is dealing with serious fallout. Hezekiah Moscow is now a changed man. After arriving in London with hope, he is now hardened by loss and betrayal, focused on revenge. His boxing career is in ruins after he accidentally killed his opponent, Buster Williams, and he is banned from the official rings.
Mary Carr, the former leader of the all-female Forty Elephants gang, has been ousted and her gang has scattered. She is trying to rebuild her crew and reclaim her status with a new, ambitious plan. Sugar Goodson has hit rock bottom. Haunted by his violent actions against his brother, Treacle, Sugar has become a disheveled alcoholic, living on the streets.
The Major New Story Arcs and Challenges
The plot of Season 2 is driven by Mary’s grand scheme to regain her power and fortune. She plans an audacious art heist to steal a valuable Caravaggio painting with the help of an American associate named Sophie Lyons. This plan becomes the central mission that forces the disbanded Forty Elephants to consider reuniting.
Hezekiah’s journey takes a different turn. He is recruited to train a member of the British royal family, Prince Albert Victor, in the art of boxing. This role places him in high society, a world far removed from the bare-knuckle brawls of the East End, and forces him to confront new forms of prejudice and class conflict.
Sugar’s story is one of a deep personal struggle. The season focuses on his battle with alcoholism and his attempt at redemption. He is trying to protect what he has left while wrestling with the guilt over nearly killing his brother. His journey is less about physical fights and more about an internal, emotional battle.
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What Critics and Viewers Are Saying About the New Season
Early reviews note that Season 2 has a different, more serious tone than the first. Publications describe it as “darker, grittier and more exciting” and note it reaches “horrifying levels of darkness”. The focus has shifted from the thrilling rise of the characters to the heavy consequences of their actions.
The performances of the main cast continue to receive high praise. Erin Doherty’s portrayal of Mary Carr is frequently highlighted as a magnetic and compelling force that drives the story. Stephen Graham’s nuanced performance of Sugar’s decline and Malachi Kirby’s portrayal of Hezekiah’s internal conflict are also widely commended.
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