What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedTaboo
Steven Knight · Series · 2017
If you loved Taboo, start with Sabotage (1937) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Taboo across media.
If the dark, brooding vengeance and atmospheric gloom of Taboo captivated you, these selections mirror that same relentless drive for retribution.
Books on the same thread
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 1
Koyoharu Gotouge · Book
Shares a thread with Taboo: revenge.
Much like James Keziah Delaney in Taboo, the protagonist here is fueled by a singular, consuming need for revenge against those who destroyed his family and disrupted his world.
Demon Slayer
Koyoharu Gotoge · Book · 2018
Explores: Sibling Bond, Grief, Moral Duty.
Fans of the dark historical stakes in Taboo will recognize the same intense, grief-stricken journey where a family tragedy sets the hero on a perilous path of moral duty.
With a Vengeance
Riley Sager · Book
Shares a thread with Taboo: Revenge.
This story echoes the intricate corporate conspiracies and calculated retribution found in Taboo, focusing on a protagonist navigating a complex web of deception to settle a family score.
Diamonds are Forever
Ian Fleming · Book · 1965
Shares a thread with Taboo: Revenge.
If you were drawn to the high-stakes diamond smuggling and criminal underworld of Taboo, you will appreciate this gritty investigation into the dangerous intersection of international crime and greed.
Films on the same thread
Sabotage
Film · 1937
Shares a thread with Taboo: Family Secrets.
The claustrophobic tension and family secrets that defined the London setting of Taboo are reflected in this classic noir, where hidden betrayals threaten the stability of a domestic life.
Oldboy
Park Chan-wook · Film · 2003
Shares a thread with Taboo: Revenge.
The visceral, uncompromising quest for vengeance that makes Taboo so compelling is mirrored here, as a man emerges from isolation to hunt down those who stole his life away.
The Revenant
Alejandro González Iñárritu · Film · 2015
Shares a thread with Taboo: Revenge.
The raw brutality and survivalist intensity that James Keziah Delaney displays in Taboo are mirrored in this frontier epic, where one man’s path is paved by his singular vengeful drive.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Tim Burton · Film · 2007
Shares a thread with Taboo: Revenge.
Sharing the dark, gothic London aesthetic of Taboo, this tale of a barber seeking retribution against those who wronged him captures the same obsession with social injustice and vengeance.
Podcasts on the same thread
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Explores: small-town isolation, eccentricity, social decay.
Those fascinated by the eccentric, isolated figures navigating corrupt power structures in Taboo will find a modern resonance in this investigative look at family legacy and small-town social decay.
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
The exploration of colonialism and its lasting impact that anchors the historical narrative of Taboo is examined here through a critical lens, tracing the roots of American national identity.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the primary motivation for James Keziah Delaney in Taboo?
Upon returning to London from Africa in 1814, James Keziah Delaney is driven by a desire to seek vengeance following the death of his father. He utilizes fourteen stolen diamonds he brought back with him to navigate his return and execute his plans.
When does the story of Taboo take place?
The events of Taboo occur in 1814. The narrative follows James Keziah Delaney as he arrives in London after spending time in Africa, carrying fourteen stolen diamonds intended to help him achieve his goal of seeking vengeance for his father.
Is Taboo based on a true story?
Taboo is a 2017 television series created by Steven Knight. The plot focuses on the fictional return of James Keziah Delaney to London in 1814 to seek vengeance for his father using fourteen stolen diamonds, rather than being a factual historical account.
Where does James Keziah Delaney arrive from in Taboo?
In the series Taboo, James Keziah Delaney arrives in London after traveling from Africa. He brings fourteen stolen diamonds with him to the city in 1814 as part of his objective to seek vengeance for the death of his father.