The Delaney family faces love and death.
I have a confession: I was pretty lukewarm on the first few episodes ofTaboo.
The episode was chock full of major events that could serve as the last shot on most shows.
Credit: FX
Here, they were just one of many.
Before we get to the shocking end, lets rewind to the start.
Even though weve never met her, Delaneys late mother has been one ofTaboos most important figures.
Her memory and her death drive and haunts him.
She wanted you dead, James, Brace admits.
Story time with Brace inspires Delaney to visit his mothers grave at the abandoned Bethlem Royal Hospital.
Complete with chains on the beds, it doesnt look like a pleasant place.
Of who they say you are the African devil, she responds.
He then speaks an African language to her, making her immediately reconsider her whole position.
Stop staring, youre scaring me, she declares.
As he goes underwater, seeming to drown himself, he has flashbacks to the incident from his childhood.
Finally popping up, he spots Robert (his son/brother), who instantly runs away.
George Chichesters investigation has already begun to send panic through the EIC office.
Hes African; they smell fear like dogs, quips Pettifer.
Tired of being outmaneuvered, the company man compares the situation to a game of chess.
I think its time we start moving some pieces, he confidently states.
Business is booming at the Delaney factory… well, luckily not literally.
He makes multiple impromptu stops to check in, and he doesnt appear to like what hes seeing.
Her unease inspires her to make a house call to her stepdaughter/romantic rival.
Unfortunately, a drunk and jobless (even bragging about it) Geary greets her.
An actress who enjoys walking with a man with human flesh in his teeth, he says.
Lorna counters that people were singing that long before her stepson returned.
Before Mr. Delaney returned to London, Geary responded.
Oh yes, the golden age.
Zilpha has had enough, telling Lorna that they cant help and she should leave.
She een refuses to call her a carriage.
Its time to deliver the gunpowder to the Americans.
Robert, who appears to have the family gene of being quiet, stands up well to questioning.
Finally, Delaney returns home, which means one thing wacky hijinks and comedy!
The good times continue in the Delaney household.
Its a really heartfelt message from Lorna, but Delaney can only hear one thing.
What did my sister say?
This time, she does more than play with the object.
After little time or struggle, Geary lays motionless.
Her arrival confuses him, a feeling thats only enhanced when she hugs him.
What have you done?
She chillingly responds, I killed him, just like you said.
Uh oh, I dont think this is quite what he intended when he started visiting her.
Hell do what any great brother/lover would dispose of the body.
And by the time its morning, hell have a carriage bring her home.
This part of the plan doesnt sit well with Zilpha, until he explains that its to avoid questions.
Creating a cholera panic already helped with the gunpowder transfer, so Delaney goes back to that well again.
As they don masks, Dumbarton and a nurse go to the morgue to look over Gearys body.
The doctor puts a cholera warning tag on the dead man and orders an immediate burial.
The information is met with universal praise at the EIC, well, besides Godfrey.
In full panic, Godfrey runs to Delaneys house to warn him.
Not very thankful, Delaney sends his informant away and goes to see Chumley.
Not wanting any excuses, Delaney literally gives Chumley a heart for some courage.
Its the heart of the old man, who was killed and left in the church where he confessed.
That sudden motivation gives Chumley an idea.
To the water, a.k.a Delaneys favorite place, it is!
The men make away with the product on rowboats as the soldiers arrive to an empty building.
I told you that Stranges happiness would be short lived.
Upon being informed by Wilton of the failed seizure, the big boss comes up with a new plan.
Zilpha is in true Ice Queen mode as she prepares for her husbands funeral.
After the burial, the siblings are the only ones left, staring at each from afar.
The passion is off the charts, until those pesky visions happen again.
Not quite the ending to the night he probably imagined.
Making his way there, hes greeted by Wilton, who has a message from his boss.
Its war, he says.
The gloves are off.
The man isnt joking, considering that moments later, the ship explodes.
Looking on as his prized possession bursts into flames, Delaney is truly shocked.
Having long acted untouchable, he is paying the price.
First up is Godfrey.
Next up is Atticus.
Atticus has no problem assisting with the second matter, approaching the man whose thumb Delaney previously sliced off.
As the man is distracted, Delaney sneaks up and kills him, even gutting him.
Always a good friend (except to Godfrey), Delaney allows Atticus to keep the heart.
A drunk Delaney then stops by Helgas brothel, asking for just a slight favor.
Shes not a fan of that plan, so he heads out, taking another bottle with him.
Where would a miserable and intoxicated Delaney go?
The water, of course.
Taking a dip once again, Delaney is interrupted by you guessed it Winter.
This girl legit must just follow him around waiting for the best time to start a convo.
Next thing we know, its morning, and Delaney must have had quite the alcohol-fueled evening.
He wakes up face down in the mud, still at the docks.
Its Winter, and shes dead.
And not just regular dead like, missing flesh, Delaney-victim-jot down dead.
What do you think?
Has the showed gone to another level in the last few weeks?
Did Delaney kill Winter?
For more answers, read ourpostmortem with co-creator Steven Knight.
