--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I like about 'Taboo' just in…" description: "\"What I like about 'Taboo' just in general, even in writing it, you are not certain what the motives are sometimes because these characters are so odd t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/steven-knight-2205_never_what-i-like-about-taboo-just-in-general_1569590.jpg" --- # What I like about 'Taboo' just in general, even in writing… ![“What I like about 'Taboo' just in general, even in writing it, you are not certain what the motives are sometimes because these characters are so odd that you let them speak for themselves and you're never quite sure where it's headed.” quote by Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/steven-knight-2205_never_what-i-like-about-taboo-just-in-general_1569590.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/steven-knight-2205_never_what-i-like-about-taboo-just-in-general_1569590.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/steven-knight-2205_never_what-i-like-about-taboo-just-in-general_1569590.jpg) > “What I like about 'Taboo' just in general, even in writing it, you are not certain what the motives are sometimes because these characters are so odd that you let them speak for themselves and you're never quite sure where it's headed.” [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The story thrives on unpredictable characters whose motives are unclear, letting their actions drive the plot **In simple terms:** Characters act oddly, keeping viewers guessing their intentions Key Takeaway Embrace ambiguity, let characters speak for themselves Themes mystery character study uncertainty narrative structure Mood intriguing confusing engaging Type thematic character-driven When to use this quote - writing a TV drama - developing a novel - creating a film script - building a character ensemble Key Concepts complex motives character-driven storytelling plot ambiguity Questions to Reflect On - How does uncertainty shape audience engagement? - When should a writer reveal character motives? A Different Perspective Ambiguity can alienate audiences who prefer clear motivations ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Taboo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taboo/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [But the drugs are kind of like taboo, at least among me and my friends and the people I've worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-suplee/but-the-drugs-are-kind-of-like-taboo-at-least-among-me-and-my-friends/) [Ethan Suplee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-suplee/) > [A woman going out with a younger man feels like the last taboo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/a-woman-going-out-with-a-younger-man-feels-like-the-last-taboo/) [Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/) > [“Colorful characters are the odd shaped pieces that fill the holes in life's puzzle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stephens/colorful-characters-are-the-odd-shaped-pieces-that-fill-the-holes-in/) Richard Stephens > [But if we never acted except when we were certain our motives were pure, we would never act at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-if-we-never-acted-except-when-we-were-certain-our-motives-were/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you're a woman with a certain amount of fame and money, you are never certain what someone's motives are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-richardson/when-you-re-a-woman-with-a-certain-amount-of-fame-and-money-you-are/) [Patricia Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-richardson/) > [There's a stigma attached to 'pop music,' like it's a taboo word. It used to make my skin crawl when people said it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/there-s-a-stigma-attached-to-pop-music-like-it-s-a-taboo-word-it-used/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [ I've been writing so much. And what happens with TV is that they split \[Taboo\] into two blocks, so you get a director that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/i-ve-been-writing-so-much-and-what-happens-with-tv-is-that-they-split/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [Expect the unexpected, is what I'd say about Taboo. It's different. I don't think you've seen anything like it. It's getting incredible responses, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/expect-the-unexpected-is-what-i-d-say-about-taboo-it-s-different-i/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [ I didn't direct \[the Taboo episodes\]. I wrote all of them. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/i-didn-t-direct-the-taboo-episodes-i-wrote-all-of-them/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [Expect the unexpected, is what I'd say about 'Taboo.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/expect-the-unexpected-is-what-i-d-say-about-taboo/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [Taboo' certainly isn't a commentary on other types of period drama. It's just a different way of tackling one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/taboo-certainly-isn-t-a-commentary-on-other-types-of-period-drama-it/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [ The plan is that there would be three seasons \[in Taboo\], and, as with Peaky Blinders, I have had a destination in mind from… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/the-plan-is-that-there-would-be-three-seasons-in-taboo-and-as-with/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [ \[Taboo\] has been exactly the same as working with the BBC in that creatively they do that precious thing which is to only make… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/taboo-has-been-exactly-the-same-as-working-with-the-bbc-in-that/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [When I played football was somewhat taboo for a girl. Today it's not as much of a problem. Not all girls want to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-powell/when-i-played-football-was-somewhat-taboo-for-a-girl-today-it-s-not/) [Hope Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-powell/) > [I like big escapist films. It's odd because the type of comedian I am and the things I do when I'm writing and directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-like-big-escapist-films-it-s-odd-because-the-type-of-comedian-i-am/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) ## More by Steven Knight > [There's a convention in English stuff that if something is more than 100 years old, people have to say 'do not' instead of 'don't.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/there-s-a-convention-in-english-stuff-that-if-something-is-more-than/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [There's lots of different ways of writing stuff and lots of different mindsets to have, but I think when it's your own creation, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/there-s-lots-of-different-ways-of-writing-stuff-and-lots-of-different/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [It's such a gift when you know who you're writing for and you know that that actor is capable of so much that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/it-s-such-a-gift-when-you-know-who-you-re-writing-for-and-you-know/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [I'm not a great film-goer, and I never have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/i-m-not-a-great-film-goer-and-i-never-have-been/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [There's no writers room, or any other writer involved. I write everything from beginning to end. Maybe it's just me not being able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/there-s-no-writers-room-or-any-other-writer-involved-i-write/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [I've realized that the only thing I'm interested in is the performance. If the performance is right, then I'm happy. You offer up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/i-ve-realized-that-the-only-thing-i-m-interested-in-is-the/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [“It seems to me, that if there is a bad taste in your mouth, you spit it out. You don't constantly swallow it back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/it-seems-to-me-that-if-there-is-a-bad-taste-in-your-mouth-you-spit-it/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [With FX in particular, they've been fantastic and were really hands off. I mean, it helps that you've got Ridley Scott on your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/with-fx-in-particular-they-ve-been-fantastic-and-were-really-hands/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [I often find in the film world, that it's very self-referring. If you talk to someone about films, they talk about them in terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/i-often-find-in-the-film-world-that-it-s-very-self-referring-if-you/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [Whenever I went to L.A. the first thing people said in the meeting, no matter what it was about, was how much they loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/whenever-i-went-to-l-a-the-first-thing-people-said-in-the-meeting-no/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [ I've spent three hours with Snoop Dogg, talking about how he loved \[Peaky Blinders series\]. And David Bowie loved it. The late Leonard Cohen… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/i-ve-spent-three-hours-with-snoop-dogg-talking-about-how-he-loved/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [I think the best research is people you meet and things that they say, rather than second hand accounts of something. I think when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/i-think-the-best-research-is-people-you-meet-and-things-that-they-say/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [Writing, when it works, one needs to access whatever it is that creates dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/writing-when-it-works-one-needs-to-access-whatever-it-is-that-creates/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [Making a film is hard because you're not dealing with the intangible. When you're writing, it's perfect because it's only in your head and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/making-a-film-is-hard-because-you-re-not-dealing-with-the-intangible/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [There's a grown-upness about television now that wasn't there before. You do know you're doing stuff for adults who can tell the difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/there-s-a-grown-upness-about-television-now-that-wasn-t-there-before/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) [Explore all 179 Steven Knight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I like about 'Taboo' just in general, even in writing it, you are not certain what the motives are sometimes because these characters are so odd that you let them speak for themselves and you're never quite sure where it's headed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Knight" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/what-i-like-about-taboo-just-in-general-even-in-writing-it-you-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/what-i-like-about-taboo-just-in-general-even-in-writing-it-you-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/steven-knight-2205_never_what-i-like-about-taboo-just-in-general_1569590.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/steven-knight-2205_never_what-i-like-about-taboo-just-in-general_1569590.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/steven-knight-2205_never_what-i-like-about-taboo-just-in-general_1569590.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What I like about 'Taboo' just in general, even in writing it, you are not certain what the motives are…” — Steven Knight", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Steven Knight", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What I like about 'Taboo' just...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/what-i-like-about-taboo-just-in-general-even-in-writing-it-you-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/what-i-like-about-taboo-just-in-general-even-in-writing-it-you-are/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```