Liam Hoofe reviews the fourth episode of Peaky Blinders season 6…
As far as dark hours of television go – things don’t get much worse than this week’s episode of Peaky Blinders. We went from a child’s funeral to a medical death sentence by way of a Nazi salute and a massacre in what has to be the most nihilistic 60 minutes the show has ever produced.
Picking up with the death of Tommy’s daughter Ruby, the show’s leading man wasted no time in seeking vengeance. We saw Tommy unload a gun into the Romani family that had supposedly cursed his family in what was one of the quickest open and shut storylines in the show. Of course, the curse story was never meant to be more than a way to remind Tommy, and the audience, of his demons, and it definitely achieved that.
In fact, the whole episode was just a deep dive into his demons. Shelby is often seen as some sort of icon, and this episode served as a stark reminder that there is nothing worth idolising about this man and his actions. We saw him sink to new depths this week, and the show’s final moments also dealt him a serious hammer blow.
Tommy was informed that he has a tuberculoma on his brain. The doctor then informs Tommy he has a year – 18 months before he is totally incapable of looking after himself. It was a stunning revelation, and one of the season’s best moments. What was so powerful about this was that, in many ways, it felt like a release. It didn’t feel like sad news. In fact, it felt as though Tommy’s burdens were being lifted, and he could now focus on what is really important. Polly’s voice echoed the words ‘kill kill kill’ as the episode closed, foreshadowing what is to come.
It also presents Tommy with the chance for a hugely redemptive arc. In this episode, we saw Tommy hit his lowest when he raised his hand in a nazi salute. As disingenuous as that may have been, it showed us that Tommy will bend his morals to get business done. The whole sequence with the fascists at the table was brilliant television. Amber Anderson continues to shine as Diana Mitford. She is one of the most repulsive characters on TV right now, and Anderson is excelling in the role.
What does this mean now is that Tommy won’t see the outbreak of the Second World War. Many, myself included, assumed that was the show’s endpoint, and it may well be still, but Tommy won’t be around for it. So where does that leave us with two episodes to go?
Tommy working behind the scenes to stop the rise of fascism in England and America, and becoming an unseen hero of the war would be a fitting end for his character. Of course, seeing him lose his ability to do anything for himself would certainly not be a fitting end, which will probably set up Michael as the man who finally brings an end to Tommy. In many ways, his story is the show’s most fascinating, and his looming presence in this season will probably come to a head in the finale. The potential clash between him and Moseley over Gina now also sets up some interesting moments in the next few weeks.
One more interesting moment in this episode come courtesy of Esme. She revealed to Tommy that he has a son – a full-grown man who he fathered just before the war. Where this storyline goes is anybody’s guess, and he could even be the focal point for the movie that wraps the show up later down the line.
Tommy has been the focus this season, and the consequences of his actions become increasingly severe as it rages on. Seeing Arthur ruined has been tough during the season, and it also seems as though he is going to ruin Lizzy’s life if he is not careful. Ada is also being abused by fascists, and her brother, despite his final intentions, is doing nothing to help her cause. His actions are catching up with him and those around him, and things are not going to end well.
Peaky Blinders season 6 is becoming the show’s most emotionally complex and powerful to date. Cillian Murphy deserves a lot of recognition for his role as Tommy Shelby over the years, and this episode really highlighted what an incredible actor he can be. This was a difficult watch, but a necessary reminder of Tommy’s true colours and a fascinating set-up for the final two episodes.
Liam Hoofe
