Taboo : This seems to be a Tom Hardy ego-trip

This mini-series has many strong points, namely its cast, and I am sure that the next 7 episodes will not disappoint, but its major flaw is the totally anachronistic plot.

It is a real shame because any drunken fool browsing Wikipedia at 1am could have verified that Vancouver would not be appropriate for the time period chosen. Quite why they decided to a) set it in 1814 and b) insisted on this Vancouver plot-line is beyond me. I can only surmise that it is down to laziness or contempt for the audience, neither of which can be forgiven on a project as ambitious as this. The suspension of disbelief required to enjoy this story places it firmly in the realm of fantasy rather than historical fiction.

I think Tom Hardy may have enjoyed playing Alfie Solomons a little too much.

Since it's Vancouver Island that's being discussed, perhaps you could check back with wiki and explain your objections?

The whole piece seems to be set in a world Conrad created, so a mixture of fact and imagination. To pick over it for anachronisms is, I would suggest, a pointless exercise.

I thought it obvious that it was the island and not the future city, and for that reason I used the designation "Vancouver". I haven't looked at any Wikipedia articles, it was merely a facetious remark to bolster my criticism of the series.

Why did you think it was obvious that you were referring to the island and not the city, even though, factually speaking, you referenced the city? And why would you joke about researching the subject yourself?

If you just know the history of Vancouver Island, perhaps you, as the expert, could be more specific about your bolstered criticism of a series which isn't a documentary.

The Fort Vancouver area was the center of fur trading and fierce competition between the Hudson Bay Company (Canadian) and the American company headed by John Jacob Astor. The fort oversaw 34 outposts, 6 ships and 600 employees.

When the War of 1812 (1812-1814) broke out the British sent a navy ship but the Americans had no military protection. They sold out and withdrew. Fort Astoria was renamed Fort George for King George III.

The US tried in 1818 to arrange s a joint sharing arrangement with the British but failed.

Meanwhile there was armed conflict between American and Canadian fur traders in what was called The Pemmican War until 1821. Pemmican was dried buffalo meat like beef jerky and vital for traders to make it through long winters. They were buying this from the Indians and Metis and there was not enough for both sides. During this period First Gibraltar and Firt Williams were captured, recaptured and even burned. They even recruited discharged army soldiers to fight.

Maybe they should have made it more clear that Fort Vancouver came along a long time before the city of Vancouver.

I don't know everything. Neither does anyone else

Thank you for this information - very interesting.

My questions were directed to someone who was criticising the show for not researching its subject - and you seem to have conclusively proved this is an erroneous criticism. So thank you.

Very interesting, thanks for posting. This puts the show in more context for me.

Given where Nootka Sound is located (near Vancouver island), I wonder why the isle of Vancouver shouldn't be mentioned. The Vancover island acquired its name after the Nootka Convention of 1790. Both Nootka and Vancouver islands were at the centre of the US vs Britian commercial/trade disputes in the early 19th century. So the 1814 period IS appropriate.

As long as the writing is great. No problem. I love a mad egoed up Hardy.

But it will hinge on the plot.

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This seems to be a Tom Hardy ego-trip

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Obviously, the 7 producers, besides Tom Hardy and Chips Hardy (Tom's father), have a high regard in thinking it worth putting to film. Sooo, what's your malcontent with Hardy?

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I think Tom Hardy may have enjoyed playing Alfie Solomons a little too much.

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And REALLY, WTH does that even mean???

"A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself within." W. Durant

I'm here for all Tom Hardy ego trips, honestly

Ditto.

To salvage history vs fiction with Vancouver, all I can guess is he'll end up tearing up the deed and something will happen that prevents the company from gaining the land. Wikipedia mentioned the Native tribes had a strong presence there til the 1850s or 1860s. Maybe Hardy's character puts something into action to ensure it.

I have now seen the first episode and they mentioned China in it. That's because the furs collected at Vancouver were shipped to Canton (Guangzhou today) by the East India Company. There they were traded for tea, spices and other Chinese products. The Americans tried to create a Pacific maritime trade also but were frozen out of China by the East India Company as a monopoly.

Years ago, I watched a British tv series called The Onedin Line about shipping lines in Liverpool beginning in 1850. It ran several years and had some great old wooden sailing ships in it. It covered the change from sailing ships to steel hulled steam ships. It also had struggling family frictions.



I don't know everything. Neither does anyone else

Of course Tom Hardy enjoyed playing the part to extreme, as he does with all of his roles.And he can, because he's at the top of his game, and also he and his father wrote this and put it of thetogether. BASED ON means just that- it doesn't define a work written word for word from Wikipedia, (which itself isn't always accurate), or any other source. They were free to make any changes to their liking.
Incidentally, Tom's performance in this show is almost better than any movie he's made! And that's only episode 1.
So, I hope you find something else more suited to your taste, while the rest of us continue to enjoy the hell out of TABOO, as well as watch the noms come in for the various award shows,and, I'll bet my life on it- THERE WILL BE WINS!