Warning! Spoilers for Peaky Blinders season 6 ahead.
It's the end of an astonishing era for Netflix's sleeper hit as Peaky Blinders season 6 concludes with a mix of high and low points for the series. Peaky Blinders originally premiered on the BBC in 2013, eventually becoming an international sensation with the help of Netflix and the rise of streaming in television. Set in Birmingham shortly after World War I, the series explores a time, place, and working-class population that has been largely unrepresented by historical dramas, while also striking a unique tone with its music and cinematography that makes Peaky Blinders stand out even amongst the wide selection of content available for television audiences today.
The first season impressively brought film stars to the small screen, with the initial cast headlined by the familiar faces of Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, and Helen McCrory. Later, the show would go on to attract incredibly high-caliber guest stars such as Tom Hardy, Adrien Brody, Sam Claflin, and Anya Taylor-Joy, as well as a large celebrity audience following including the likes of Brad Pitt, Snoop Dogg, Samuel L. Jackson, and the late David Bowie. With its deeply interesting characters and undeniable style, Peaky Blinders has been able to carve out a spot for itself in pop culture history.
Though the series has never quite been able to return to the peaks it reached in its magnificent first two seasons, Peaky Blinders has still provided solid entertainment and consistent intrigue in the years since. After Aunt Polly due to the devastating ing of Helen McCrory, however, season 6 proves disappointingly uneven in many respects. Here's what worked and what didn't in Peaky Blinders season 6.
Worked: Time Jump
Peaky Blinders season 6 begins by tying up the loose ends left from season 5's finale, then quickly jumps forward in time by four years. Aside from Polly's death and its emotional repercussions, not much has changed in the life of Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) in the years that were skipped, which emphasizes Tommy's tiredness and ever-deepening sense of dissatisfaction. The growth of Shelby Company, Ltd. and Tommy's influence, which have consistently and exponentially increased each season, have stagnated somewhat, and there is no longer anywhere higher for Tommy to go. Additionally, the time jump puts the show in 1933, moving Peaky Blinders much closer to the events of World War II and examining how the seeds of fascism were able to grow and prosper in the depression of pre-war Europe.
Didn't Work: Character Arcs
Unfortunately, a lot of characters are not given thematically coherent or complete story arcs in Peaky Blinders season 6. While Ada (Sophie Rundle) returns to the fold for an interesting but brief storyline, she is relegated to the background by the second half of the season, along with all the potential for powerful storytelling that she could have brought to the series as the single mother to a mixed-race child during the rise of fascism and increasingly hostile prejudice. Arthur (Paul Anderson) has very little to do this season, and it's unclear where the show is trying to go with him at this point. Though the character of Tommy Shelby does get ample screen time and story, he is also very inconsistent, going from trying to save the world from encroaching doom in one scene to killing innocent people in the next.
Worked: Cillian Murphy's Acting
Cillian Murphy gives another phenomenal performance in Peaky Blinders season 6. If there is one thing that has remained consistent throughout the run of the series, it is the quality of Murphy's acting, without which the show could not have survived. The deeply compelling way he plays all the different sides of the enigmatic Tommy Shelby makes it almost impossible to root against him, despite all the terrible things the character has done. However, the fact that Murphy has been overlooked for Emmy consideration year after year seems like the biggest crime of all.
Didn't Work: Ruby's Death
After falling ill with tuberculosis, Tommy's daughter Ruby tragically dies in season 6. This is one of the most frustrating plotlines of the entire series, as Ruby hadn't played a very big role prior to her sickness and her relationship with Tommy was hardly shown on screen. This made the death much less impactful for the audience than it could have been, while still dramatically changing Tommy's story for the season despite the fact that he had hardly acknowledged Ruby's existence before she became mortally ill.
Worked: More Screen Time For Lizzie
Tommy's wife, Lizzie (Natasha O'Keeffe) is one of the most important characters in Peaky Blinders season 6, which comes as a pleasant surprise after the previous seasons kept her largely in the background. Granted, Lizzie is only ever on-screen to be tortured by her daughter's death, Tommy's emotional unavailability, and patronizing fascists, but at least she is getting the on-screen consideration that she deserves. After a season full of grief and loneliness, Lizzie finally decides to leave Tommy in the season 6 finale of Peaky Blinders, signifying real growth and a big win for the long under-appreciated character.
Didn't Work: Esme's Return
While it was initially very exciting to see Esme (Aimee-Ffion Edwards) return in the Peaky Blinders season 6 trailer, her reappearance was ultimately very unsatisfying and disappointing for the character. Esme, the widow of Tommy's brother John (Joe Cole), left the show after John's death in season 3, cursing Tommy and his family for her husband's unfortunate fate. She comes back in season 6 to lead Tommy on a wild goose chase as he desperately tries to find a way to cure Ruby. Tommy Shelby is convinced she has a curse placed on her, and Esme only serves to egg him on in this belief while exchanging her unreliable information for gold.
Worked: Coin Toss Throwback
In one of the final scenes of Peaky Blinders season 6, Tommy tosses a coin to determine whether he will shoot himself or not. This was a great callback to season 1, when the coin toss was a prominent motif for the character. Tommy had little to lose after coming home from the war in the early seasons and he could afford to be more reckless, making his decisions with the toss of a coin and leaving the result up to fate. As time went on, Tommy became more shrewd and controlling of his own destiny. It is powerful to see the character return to his roots in this way, signifying that he once again has nothing left to lose.
Didn't Work: Music
The brilliant use of Nick Cave's Peaky Blinders was a major focal point for the show in its early days, and it was a shame to see the series drop it altogether in later seasons. The music of the show felt innovative, exciting, and creative at first, blending recent rock and alternative with the gritty backdrop of 1920s Birmingham. However, more recently the musical choices have been somewhat flat and predictable, reusing a lot of songs while ignoring what used to be the show's theme.
Worked: Tuberculoma Twist
After Tommy was diagnosed with tuberculoma halfway through the season, his apparently inevitable impending death felt like a somewhat cliché way to end his story. However, a shocking twist in the show ending of Peaky Blinders reveals that Tommy was tricked into believing he was mortally ill by his enemies in the hopes that he would succeed in killing himself where they had not. This turn of events was a fantastic way to reinvigorate both Tommy and the story, while also steering away from any predictable or generic plot points.
Didn't Work: Michael
Along with his truly awful mustache, Michael's (Finn Cole) storyline is largely underwhelming this season. He spends most of it stuck in jail, despite being set up as Tommy's biggest threat by the previous season and the opening episode. However, Tommy defeats Michael with ease, and his death feels unnecessary and cruel given that Tommy thinks he is going to die anyway.
Worked: Movie Set-Up
The finale's twist is a perfect way to pave the path for the Peaky Blinders movie that will serve as the true conclusion for the series. With a new sense of purpose and determination brought about by coming to with his own death, Tommy truly has nothing left to lose, making him more powerful than ever. It will be exciting to see how events unfold as Peaky Blinders approaches World War II on the big screen after its nine-year run on television.