British crime drama series, Peaky Blinders premiered its first season on Netflix in September 2013, gaining worldwide popularity around its fourth season. This April, the series wrapped its nine-year run show with its final set of the sixth season. It features an intriguing and highly entertaining production, cast, and direction. It is also backed by terrific cinematography, soundtracks, and not to mention fashion.
Even though I developed an interest in Peaky Blinders late in the Pandemic year, much like the Ozarks, everything about it was outstanding. Then again, since it is a severely violent crime drama series, it might not appeal to everyone, given its themes, graphic content, bloodshed, and strong language. Apart from that, it is well worth your time. Here is a brief review upon finishing the final season.
THE PEAKY BLINDERS PLOTLINE
A crime family of mixed Irish Catholic and Romani origins based in Birmingham, England, starts Peaky Blinders in 1919, in the aftermath of the First World War. The series revolves around the Peaky Blinders, a street gang led by the swashbuckling and ambitious Tommy Shelby, who straddles between two worlds. When a robbery goes wrong, the Blinders are caught stealing an arsenal of guns by Chief Inspector Chester Campbell, a detective in the Royal Irish Constabulary.
Campbell takes on the task of securing the guns, breaking up the Blinders, and cleaning up crime and corruption in Birmingham. He also sees potential in the romance between Tommy’s sister Ada, and his wartime companion and current political rival Freddie Thorne. Then, the enigmatic Irish co-worker Grace Burgess, a barmaid working at the Blinders’ hangout who spies on Tommy, is Campbell’s ally. However, Tommy will not make it easy for Campbell to detain him and his gang.
As the series progresses, the Peaky Blinders expand their criminal organizations beyond England to an even more dangerous world, keeping a stronghold in the heartland of Birmingham. Thus begins the war between The Shelby Family and Major Campell, featuring several mysterious plot twists for the viewers.
THE SHELBY FAMILY
In the aftermath of WW1, the Shelby Family attempted to establish themselves as bookmakers, racketeers, and gangsters. Even though they are a small family, their influence is significant and extends over a large part of England. The “Shelbys,” a wealthy, Irish-Traveller descent based in Birghimgham who runs the Peaky Blinders and the Shelby Company Limited.
Peaky Blinders, the Shelby Brothers, are known for securing razor blades into their distinctive caps so they could assault and possibly blind their opponents when violence erupts. Nominally the head of the family is the oldest brother, Arthur Shelby. But the real brains, ambition, and drive in the organization lie with Tommy, the second oldest.
You see, the Shelbys were not born rich, but Tommy had big dreams. He wanted to take his family out of the backwaters of Birmingham and into the highest circles of British society. He initially served as a sergeant major during WWI. His experiences as a digger during the war left an indelible impression on his mind in the form of PTSD and disinterest in ordinary civilian life.
Throughout the series, Tommy appears to be relentlessly seeking more power, which takes him from the streets of Birmingham to the highest circles of the British government as a member of parliament. After Tommy, Arthur is the most respected, most feared member of the gang, and with good reason. Also, as a soldier who served in WWI, Arthur was impacted by those experiences even more than Tommy. He suffered from frequent fits of rage, causing him to become violent and take out anyone who stood in his way. But after he marries Linda and begins attending church more often, Arthur reconsiders his acts of violence.
Then, the central trio of the Shelby Family peaks with John Shelby. While he, too, served in the army during WWI, John had a relatively better time letting go of the trauma he experienced than his older brothers. Like Arthur, John is also unwaveringly loyal to Tommy. He is content to work under him rather than vie for gang leadership. The only difference between John and Arthur is that John is not prone to outbursts of rage, despite being a brutal combatant. However, John gets easily provoked when he feels disrespected, and this character trait ultimately ends up being his downfall.
Peaky Blinders centers around violent men engaging in outrageous behavior, but the women are equally significant. Polly Gray, a leading member of the group, is aunt to Tommy and his siblings. She is also the official bookie for The Peaky Blinders. Despite not participating in the gang’s more violent activities, Polly has gained a reputation for her business skills and tactical mind. She is one of the few people who can persuade Tommy to change his mind. Additionally, the rest of the gang members treat her with respect which verges in admiration.
However, when Polly discovers that her long-lost son, Michael, is alive, her life is turned upside down. After becoming intrigued by the world of the Peaky Blinders, Michael left his foster family to live with Polly, his birth mother. She becomes excited but also crushed. Despite her disapproval of her son joining the Blinders, Michael willingly follows the group much later in the series. In respect for Polly, Tommy and his brothers initially welcome Michael with open arms. But he proves himself a natural fit for the gang, acting as a manager and as a fighter.
Moving on to the Shelby Brothers, there is another one, the youngest, Finn Shelby. Tommy, Arthur, John, and Polly took the Peaky Blinders to heights undreamt of in their time as leaders of the gang. But those four will not be around forever to head the organization. Herein lies the role of Finn Shelby. In Season 1, Finn, Tommy’s youngest brother and the only one who did not fight in the Great War, has little to do with the gang’s operations. But as he grows older, Finn becomes more involved in the violence associated with the Peaky Blinders. He displays a natural aptitude for the gang’s operations.
Lastly, the fourth oldest Shelby sibling, Ada Shelby. She is the only girl in the family who stands out as a headstrong feminist. Although her brothers never wanted Ada exposed to Peaky Blinders-related violence or unsavory business, she was uncontrollable and stubborn. Then, we have the Shelby Spouses, who play an essential role in defining the leading characters. However, they aren’t directly involved with the family businesses until much later.
THE POLITICAL ASPECTS OF FASCISM AND SOCIALISM
As the series unfolds and the Shelby Family gains more and more power, things get increasingly tangled. After all, Birmingham was a hub of leftist activism, fascist agitation, and conservative crackdowns. And a tale of violent resistance and unscrupulous capitalists is what Peaky Blinders celebrates. With the shifting fortunes of the Shelby Family and the tides of history coming in with more ferocity, the Blinders becomes increasingly complex and fascinating. Everybody from power-seeking criminals to law enforcement officers is out to bring the Shelby Family down, including saboteurs, moles, and outright fanatics.
Throughout the series, Tommy has expressed his interest in the political arena. And having worked with Winston Churchill, the State Secretary, he realized the power and authority politicians could command. In anticipation of how his political ties would enable The Shelby Limited Company to expand its export businesses, Tommy has since advanced his career toward the political realm. While politics have always been a primary aspect of the series, it gained increased prominence in seasons five and six.
For example, the conversation about Socialism, Nationalism, and Fascism is woven tightly and intricately into the storyline through characters like Oswald Mosley, Jack Nelson, and Laura McKee. Indeed, Mosley and Nelson represent purely Fascist ideals in the episodes, portraying anti-Semitism. Mosley also believes in governing with rules that he feels are right. He aspires to become the sole Fascist leader of Britain. Later, Nelson appears to favor Mosley being the new Fascist leader of Britain as well as his business partner. Besides, Tommy and Laura McKee, the Battalion Commander of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), would seem to carry strong socialist viewpoints.
Then again, politics can be complex. For example, Tommy appears to be a Socialist by addressing strong commands in favor of the working class during his public speech in one of the episodes. However, when he interacts with Laura from the IRA, he suggests she side with the Fascists. He implies she considers both the Shelby Company and the IRA to rely on Nelson’s business in the American market.
Amidst all this, Tommy convinces Ada that he intends to escape from the Fascists. And that he wishes to contribute to the working class in the long run. In addition, he appears to be plotting to wipe out the Fascists with Alfie Solomons, an earlier Jewish business partner. In the end, Tommy reveals himself as a Socialist at the core while maintaining a bridge between the two ideologies on a public platform. He takes a neutral stance to garner support from the Socialists and the Fascists until he can take down the latter and make a getaway.
THE CINEMATOGRAPHY, MUSIC, AND FASHION
With its plotline and the dark industrial atmosphere of Birmingham post-WWI, Peaky Blinders makes for an unforgettable viewing experience. Everything from the costumes to the music to the cinematography fits together seamlessly. As if you had taken a time machine back to the early 20th century.
Peaky Blinders frequently references the hardships of the Birmingham working class within its narrative. With a color scheme that contrasts pale blues, greens, and shades of red, the series makes a strong impression on the viewer. It reflects the misty weather in Birmingham. In addition, the dark and creative visual effects emphasize the historical theme of the series to perfection.
Even though Peaky Blinders takes place in the early 1900s, it features mostly rock music. The series sets an edgy tone that works well with its anachronism theme. The series begins with the excellent soundtrack, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave, which seems perfectly suited for Tommy Shelby. The music continues to be a scene-specific theme song and includes several other memorable selections. One episode alone features three great tracks of all time. For example, Climbing Up The Walls by Radiohead, Atmosphere by Joy Division, and War Pigs by Black Sabbath.
Next comes the eye-pleasing dressing sense of the Shelby Brothers, which goes exclusively to costume designer Stephanie Collie. In the first season of Peaky Blinders, Collie based the fashion department on photographs of criminals from the early 20th century. As the series progressed, we can see that Peaky Blinders covers several influential eras of tailored suiting. For example, the Big and Boxy Twenties, the Cinched Thirties, and the Broader-Boxier Forties. Then again, there are many rumors that tailoring is declining in the modern world. But the Shelby Brothers proved them wrong by their impact on Britain and the world today. With just a few tweaks, the suiting styles have become the fashion trend in 2022.
A REAL-LIFE HISTORICAL CONNECTION OF PEAKY BLINDERS
A stunningly beautiful Shelby Family might rule the roost in the series, but reportedly, in real life, the gang was far less successful. The fictional group draws inspiration from a real urban youth gang of the same name. They were active in the city of Birmingham, England, before the 1900s. Birmingham at that time was impoverished and filled with unemployed and underemployed men and boys. And many of them turned to low-level crime for survival. The real-life Peaky Blinders were one of many gangs operating in the area at the time. For example, some mugshots of members that are available appear as young as 12. But one thing was prominent, the gang became known for its violent and erratic behavior. During a brawl, the real-life Blinders killed a police officer and hospitalized a man after ordering a non-alcoholic beverage at a pub.
Unlike the Shelby Families in the television series, the real-life Peaky Blinders did not engage in large-scale schemes. Most of their arrests were for petty crimes like shoplifting and bike theft. And by the early 1900s, the real-life Peaky Blinders was already on the way out. They lost their territory and members to rival gangs. While the series stretches over the years between the two World Wars, the real-life Peaky Blinders operated in the 1890s. The start of WWI, however, marked the end of the group entirely. Even so, the Peaky Blinders mythology endured.
During the development of the series, creator Steven Knight drew inspiration from his father’s memories of a powerful, well-dressed gang in Birmingham. Rather than try and tell a historical tale of the relatively short-lived real-life criminal group, Knight instead took on the concept of glamorous, violent Birmingham gangsters. He created his cast of characters to inhabit the storyline. But the more probable theory suggests that the real-life Peaky Blinders owed their name to their signature dressing sense. For example, the peaked caps, cravats, bell-bottom trousers, and a jacket with brass buttons for gang members. Also, accessories like pearls, silk scarves, and long bangs for their girlfriends. The style was so distinctive that the gang was well-known for it. And the combination of their peaked caps, known by their nickname as “peakys,” with the slang term “blinder” for someone strikingly dressed, may have given rise to their gang name.