Whisky, prostitutes, drugs, guns, gambling, fighting, killing and lots of money. If you think those are good ingredients for a TV show, then you’ll like this one.
Peaky Blinders is a masterpiece. This drama follows the exploits of a British crime family in the aftermath of World War I. Their story unfolds in Birmingham, England, where a real gang called the Peaky Blinders were active during that time period. Outside of Tom Hardy (who joins in Season 2) and Adrien Brody (Season 4), you probably won’t recognize the members of this ensemble cast, but they are all remarkably talented.
Thomas Shelby leads the Peaky Blinders, along with his brothers Arthur and John. They operate and grow their illegal businesses (like fixing horse races) under the watchful eye of the British government, and in competition with rival organized crime enterprises. The balance of humanity and violence is similar to The Sopranos. The storylines are about as complex as the stories on The West Wing, but they are way more fun. Best of all, everything evolves quickly, so you never finish an episode feeling disappointed.
There are four seasons available on Netflix, and Season 5 is expected this Summer 2019. That’s 24 episodes of gripping and entertaining television waiting for you.
When I recommend this show to someone who has already seen it, their response is something like “Ooooh, Peaky Blinders. So good, right? So good.”
Give this show a chance. By order of the Peaky F____ng Blinders.
