Peaky Blinders is a British crime drama set in post-World War I Birmingham, England. The story follows the Shelby family, led by the ambitious and cunning Thomas Shelby, who runs the Peaky Blinders gang. The gang is known for sewing razor blades into the peaks of their caps and for their growing influence in the criminal underworld. After returning from the war, Thomas is determined to expand his family’s power and turn their small-time bookmaking operation into a national empire.
Throughout the series, Thomas faces opposition from rival gangs, the law, and political forces. His intelligence and ruthlessness help him outmaneuver many enemies, but his ambitions often put him at odds with his family and test his personal relationships. Inspector Chester Campbell is initially sent by Winston Churchill to bring law and order to Birmingham and becomes one of Thomas’s main adversaries. As the series progresses, the Shelbys climb the ranks of British society, getting involved in politics, business, and international intrigue, but their rise comes with a heavy cost.
Themes of loyalty, trauma, class struggle, and power run through the show, as well as the long-lasting impact of war on the characters. The series is known for its stylish cinematography, sharp dialogue, and dark, atmospheric tone. Across its six seasons, Peaky Blinders explores how ambition and violence shape both personal destinies and the world around them, culminating in a tense and emotional final season where past choices come back to haunt the Shelbys.
Peaky Blinders – TV Series – Season 5 – Summary
In Peaky Blinders Season 5, the story picks up in 1929, during the aftermath of the Wall Street Crash, which causes massive financial strain on the Shelby Company. Tommy Shelby, now a Member of Parliament, is trying to balance his criminal empire with his growing political responsibilities. The economic collapse hits the family hard, forcing Tommy to take riskier decisions to maintain power and influence.
As the political landscape in Britain begins to shift, Tommy is approached by Oswald Mosley, a rising fascist leader who wants to use Tommy’s influence to further his own movement. Mosley is charismatic but dangerous, and Tommy quickly realizes that aligning with him could have catastrophic consequences. While pretending to cooperate, Tommy secretly begins plotting Mosley’s downfall. At the same time, Tommy is haunted by visions of his late wife Grace, and his mental health begins to deteriorate under the pressure of leadership, guilt, and isolation.
Within the family, tensions continue to grow. Michael Gray proposes taking the business in a new direction focused on the United States, but Tommy doesn’t trust his ambition. This sparks a power struggle, especially as Michael’s wife Gina, an outsider with her own agenda, pushes him to take control. Arthur, meanwhile, battles with addiction and rage, while Polly becomes increasingly disillusioned with Tommy’s decisions.
The season builds toward a grand assassination plot in which Tommy plans to kill Mosley during a public rally. He assembles a team and meticulously prepares for the moment, but the plan is foiled at the last second by an unknown betrayer. The failure leaves Tommy devastated and questioning everyone around him. The season ends with Tommy alone in a field at dawn, overwhelmed by grief and paranoia, with a gun to his head, on the edge of breaking completely.
