Taboo_1x03 Apr 2026

Delaney secures his own internal intelligence by blackmailing Godfrey, a gay East India Company minute-taker he knew from their youth, to pass him secrets from the Company's inner workings.

In the third episode of Taboo (2017), James Delaney shifts from merely surviving to actively outmaneuvering the East India Company and the British Crown. After recovering from a near-fatal assassination attempt—thanks to stitches from the American spy Dr. Dumbarton—Delaney reveals his true ambition: a monopoly on the tea trade with China. Key Plot Developments Taboo_1x03

The "taboo" relationship between James and his sister Zilpha comes to a head. After a series of intense letters, the two meet in a church where they share a brief, incestuous kiss before she tries to sever ties with him forever. Dumbarton—Delaney reveals his true ambition: a monopoly on

In his most calculated move yet, Delaney visits the lawyer Thoyt and draws up a will that leaves Nootka Sound to the Americans in the event of his death. This effectively forces the East India Company to keep him alive, as his death would immediately forfeit the strategically vital land to their rivals. In his most calculated move yet, Delaney visits

When the Duke of Richmond attempts to assault Lorna Bow as a "honey-trap" for the Company, Delaney intervenes and grazes the Duke with a gunshot. He recognizes Lorna is being used as a weakness to target him and tries to send her to Paris for safety, though she refuses to leave. Recurring Symbols

During his recovery, Dumbarton accidentally lets slip that "Carlsbad"—the primary American contact Delaney has been seeking—is a woman, adding a new layer of mystery to the hunt for allies.