The final series takes place in the mid-1930s, as the shadow of the Second World War begins to loom. Tommy continues his battle against Mosley and the rising tide of fascism. The family faces personal tragedies and ultimate reckonings as Tommy seeks a way to finally leave his criminal past behind and find peace. Character Analysis Tommy Shelby
Peaky Blinders is a British crime drama television series created by Steven Knight. Set in Birmingham, England, it follows the exploits of the Peaky Blinders crime gang in the direct aftermath of the First World War. The fictional gang is loosely based on a real urban youth gang of the same name who were active in the city from the 1880s to the 1910s. The final series takes place in the mid-1930s,
Tommy Shelby is the complex and enigmatic protagonist of the series. A war hero decorated for bravery, he returns from the trenches of WWI with severe PTSD. He is cold, calculating, and intensely ambitious, driven by a desire to elevate his family's status and escape the poverty of his upbringing. Despite his ruthless nature, Tommy possesses a deep sense of loyalty to his family and a hidden vulnerability. Polly Gray Character Analysis Tommy Shelby Peaky Blinders is a
Steven Knight, the creator of the series, was inspired by stories he heard from his father about the gang. Knight's father's uncles, the Sheldons, were reportedly members of the Peaky Blinders. Knight wanted to create a mythologized version of Birmingham's history, blending historical facts with fictional elements to tell a compelling story of family, power, and ambition. Plot Summary Tommy Shelby is the complex and enigmatic protagonist
Polly Gray is the matriarch of the Shelby family and the gang's treasurer. She ran the business while the men were away at war and remains a powerful and influential figure. Polly is intelligent, resilient, and deeply spiritual, often serving as the family's moral compass and Tommy's most trusted advisor. Arthur Shelby
Set in 1924, the third series finds the Shelbys even more powerful and wealthy. Tommy is now married and has a son, but his life is far from peaceful. He becomes embroiled in a complex international conspiracy involving Russian exiles, the British government, and a shadowy organization known as the Economic League. The stakes are higher than ever, and the family's loyalty is tested to the breaking point.
The series features an ensemble cast, led by Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory, and Paul Anderson starring as Tommy Shelby, Elizabeth "Polly" Gray, and Arthur Shelby, the gang's senior members. Joe Cole, Annabelle Wallis, Sam Neill, Tom Hardy, Paddy Considine, Adrien Brody, Aidan Gillen, Charlotte Riley, Sam Claflin, Amber Anderson, James Frecheville, and Stephen Graham also star. It premiered on 12 September 2013, telecast on BBC Two until the fourth series (with repeats on BBC Three), then moved to BBC One for the fifth and sixth series.