The sixth and last season of Peaky Blinders is here! If you didn’t already know, Peaky Blinders is a Historical fiction and Crime Drama series based on a gangster group by the same name in the Midlands in the late nineteenth century. That’s not it! Interestingly, there are many other characters and incidents on the show taken straight out of real life. One of the most loved Netflix series for its realistic, old Britain storyline and Cillian Murphy!
In the ‘Peaky Blinders’, we are following the Shelby family. Thomas or Tommy Shelby is the main character of the story. He and his family were the most dangerous gang in Birmingham in 1919. With major highs and lows, this family servers through the underworld and politics, spreading their power like wildfire!
‘Peaky Blinders’ is set up post-WWI, and throughout the series, Tommy and his brothers are suffering from War PTSD and attempting to regain themselves. In the opening scene of season 5, we witness a symbolic representation of the upcoming seasons. A solitary new sapling growing on barren wasteland represents Tommy’s growth.
So, let’s take a look back on Season 5 before starting the new season. If you are yet to binge on the last season, don’t read because of SPOILERS ahead!
A Quick Recap of Season 5!
The story of Season 5 begins with a two-year leap. The Shelby Family has scattered. Tommy is living in the countryside with his son. Aunty Polly is in Monte Carlo and Michael is at the American headquarters of the Shelby Company. The family gets back together in Birmingham after a major stock market crash (referring to the 1929 Wall Street Crash).
Apart from this crisis, the Shelby family is also dealing with some long-lost enemies, Billy Boys being one of them. A protestant street gang led by Jimmy McCavern adamantly bent on waging war against the Peaky Blinders. The Billy Boys kill and crucify Aberama’s son Bonnie, Brutal! And leave Aberama to send a message to the peaky blinders. Another Fascist political figure Oswald Mosley is introduced this season. He is the Cabinet adviser to The Prime Minister of Great Britain and MP of Thomas Shelby’s neighboring constituency, Smethwick and the leader of the British Union of Fascists.
Last season, Tommy was elected as a Member of Parliament. In season 5, Tommy and Mosley encounter each other at the House of Commons. Mosley is fairly impressed by Thomas’s speech, and he approaches him, hinting to work together. Meanwhile, Tommy is in touch with the British Government. Upon recognizing that Mosley is a threat, Winston Churchill asks Tommy to spy on Mosley and conduct his assassination. The season finale leads up to Mosley’s assassination, but unfortunately, the plan flopped last moment!
On the other hand, Tommy strikes a deal with Chinese Opium supplier Brilliant Chang and manages to involve The Billy Boys in the deal creating a truce! The Billy Boys are sort of quiet now but who knows for how long. Mosley initially countersigned the truce, but now when they find out Tommy double-crossed him, it can get tricky. Both the party unanimously against the Shelby family? It will be quite a fun watch how they get through this time.
What Happened to the other MVPs in Season 5?
Well, Tommy, of course, is in shock and denial after the hit-and-miss assassination incident. By the end of season 5, we see him running with a gun on his head, meanwhile hallucinating his dead wife, Grace. He is a mess!
Tommy’s sister Ada is pregnant again with Colonel Ben Younger’s child. But sadly, Ben is killed in a blast caused by someone unknown as of yet. This happened because Ben had solid evidence against Mr. Mosley, and someone wanted it gone. Michael was handing the American headquarters of The Shelby Company but returned to Birmingham after the Wall Street Crash. He thinks he is completely Americanized now, calling the Peaky Blinders “an old-fashioned backstreet razor gang”.
Even though he is accused of double-crossing the Shelbys and costs the company a lot of money, he still wants Tommy’s power. He is pretty ungrateful for someone who got everything on a silver spoon!
Relationships are tricky in this show, Arthur and Linda are on a rocky road in their relationship. Two people with completely different beliefs, fans never really saw love blossoming between them. In contrast, it felt strange that they were together. Fans thought the Arthur & Linda split was a long time coming.
Polly Gray (Tommy’s aunt and Michael’s mother) is the Matriarch of the Shelby family. The audience liked her character since the show’s beginning as she was the backbone of the gang. As we know, Polly is fierce and protects her family at all costs. So it was not a bolt from the blue when she shot Linda to protect Arthur (Tommy’s brother). In season 5, she is engaged to Aberama, and they make a fairly good pair.
However, Aberama dies in the final episode. And yeah, she also resigns Peaky Blinders in the finale of season 5! Hellen McCrory passed away on 16th April 2021 due to cancer, leaving the fans numb and stunned. The iconic Polly Gray is the missed in the last and final season!
The Mysterious Hint of Season 5 Finale
Finally, we have the youngest brother of the lot, Finn Shelby. Who befriends Billy Grade and, in his naiveness, tells him about the assassination plan. Peaky Blinder season 5 completely turns around at the climax when the assassination fails. The obvious hint left by the makers is that it is Billy Grade who leaked Thomas’s plan.
Now that Mosley is not dead, he will figure out Tommy’s plan for his assassination. The Billy Boys are also in support of Mosley, and so are the IRA. This triple threat is leering over the Shelby family now! Now potentially, with Polly out of the scene, Tommy will lack that strong force behind him. Struggling from his opium addiction and the death of his wife Grace, Tommy looked pretty distraught in the finale scene.
Do you think Thomas can figure this out, too, like he always does? Or the new season will be the worst of everything Shelbys ever witnessed? There seems to be a lot of hints about a potential War! Mosley’s Fascist beliefs against the British Government. Even Polly says there is a war coming, she’ll have to choose between Tommy and Michael.
Well, the sixth and last season is going to be intense! We have to wait and watch to see things unfold.
Fan theories and more
With new episodes of Season 6 releasing every Sunday, let’s take you through some interesting fan theories!
The Black Cat Theory:
Throughout season 5 of Peaky Blinders, Tommy is feeling his life is threatened. He once said, “When I sleep, I dream. And in my dream, someone wants my crown.”
Tommy is already suffering PTSD and hallucinating Grace, calling him on the “other side” which shows that he is mentally unstable and close to committing suicide. It is clear that he is losing trust, even in his near and dear ones, hence the dream.
Fans believe that ‘the Black Cat’ is non-other than Michael Gray. Michael has a motive to go against Tommy. In fact, in Season 5, Michael proposes a bold offer suggesting that the older Shelbys step down and younger ones take charge. Tommy dismisses the proposal, but apparently, there is a plan B. It could mean that Michael and Gina (his wife) will cross Tommy and take power with force. This theory has a huge potential to be true!
Mosley is the MVP:
Another fan theory suggests that Mosley already knew about the assassination and that it would be unsuccessful. Given that Mosley has more supporters than Peaky Blinders, it can definitely be possible.
Peaky Blinder: Where to Watch the Series?
Suppose you are intrigued by the storyline or have heard about it a lot. Why not hop on the bandwagon? It’s an intriguing series, and you’ll not be disappointed! Peaky Blinders Season 1 to 5 is available on Netflix worldwide. You can take the monthly subscription for Rs 199 in India or Rs 149 mobile-only plan. The standard plan is available at Rs 499 and Premium at Rs 649.
Also read: How To Watch Peaky Blinders Season 6 Episode 1 in USA, UK & Australia?