40 PICK POCKETS AND CONS

EAST END OF LONDON IN VICTORIAN ENGLAND THE SCENE OF THE CRIME

by PETER THOMAS BUSCH

A boxing ring in the back room of a pub puts the focus on the wagers being placed by the patrons on the bare-knuckle fights, in A Thousand Blows (2025).

The real money, though, is being made behind the scenes by a gang of female cons in 19^th century London.

Stephen Graham plays Henry ‘Sugar’ Goodson, who is the leading boxer, and co-owns the pub with his brother. The play seems to be that Goodson is the toughest guy in London’s East End, until a group of gentlemen introduce gloved boxing.

Further competition arrives in the East End melting pot of Victorian England, with two friends from Jamaica trying to survive by making a go of the boxing action.

Goodson incrementally falls apart personally as his dominance is diminished by the changing rules and the arrival of better and better competition.

The narrative then turns to the gang of The Forty Elephants, as the women call themselves, who operate as pick pockets and petty thieves until Mary Carr, played by Erin Doherty, comes across an idea for the heist of the year.

Mary first involves herself by trying to influence the outcomes of the boxing matches, ultimately backing the Jamaicans, Herzekiah and his trainer Alec, played by Malachi Kirby and Francis Lovehall.

Series creator Steven Knight develops several subplots, such as the relationship between the Goodson brothers, and the rise of Mary in power until she can lead the gang of female thieves on her own.

Over two seasons and 12 episodes Goodson falls apart while Mary rises to lead The Forty Elephants into a second heist of the year.

Herzekiah finds favour with the aristocracy for his boxing skills. The camera follows the Forty Elephants more in the second season, though, especially with Goodson down and out and no longer involved in competition and betting on boxing.

Graham shows how Goodson endures the consequences of a violent act against his brother.

Victorian England has a greater connection with New York City, with the second heist in season two involving an art thief acting on behalf of a black market collector.

This twist highlights new characters that freshen up the plot lines, and reinvolve recurring characters with different emphasis by the camera seen through different perspectives.

A Thousand Blows is streaming on Disney+ in Canada.