As the finale of Peaky Blinders begins, Michael Gray (Finn Cole) is released from the Norfolk Prison in Boston. He tells his comrade he wants to see his wife first. Lizzie (Natasha O’Keeffe) tells Thomas (Cillian Murphy) the smoke from his daughter’s funeral is still on his clothes. She complains that he slept with every enemy they’ve ever had in one woman. When he tries to explain, she tells him he doesn’t lie so good nowadays. Tommy wants to know where she is going to go when he travels to Canada. Lizzie claims he is cursed to never understand the limits that other people accept. Her rings are already away so she asks Tommy to leave her to say goodbye to Ruby.
Thomas tells his son Charles (Billy Jenkins) he is going away although the boy already knows and knows why too. Lizzie joins them to tell Charles she is going to a motel before Thomas gets her a house. Charles tells Lizzie he’d rather go with her. Although she isn’t his mom, she is more like his mom than Thomas is a father because he is never here. Lizzie doesn’t think his dad would allow that, but Thomas does. Thomas knows a place where they go can and take the horse. He explains he has been buying up land and he was going to knock the place down, but they can stay there instead. Charlie Strong (Ned Dennehy) shows Duke (Conrad Khan) the Peaky Blinders armory.
He says they have a good relationship with the BSA factory on Armoury Road. He tells Duke about the weapons there while explaining they’re for the eventualities like the one that is about to occur. Duke is going to be a general someday so Charlie wants to know what he has fired. Duke tells him before he is asked if he ever killed. Duke is questioned about running away from the betting shop. When he says it was unfair, Charlie explains fairness is not a soldier’s concern. Duke says he has already killed a man fair and square. After Charlie says Tommy is always right, Duke begins telling him they were outside a hospital in Bridgnorth. His mother was dying, but the orderly wouldn’t give her a bed.
She was a Gypsy without any insurance. She never saw the sunrise and neither did the man who denied her a bed. Charlie says there is one more thing they need to know about him. He asks if he can keep a secret. Then, Arthur (Paul Anderson) lets Thomas know he stole his key and found out about the tuberculoma. Thomas still has time to do what he needs to do, but he doesn’t want anyone to know. Thomas says he doesn’t need anything. He argues they’ve been dead for a long time so at least he’ll have a certificate now. Thomas claims it is funny after all those bullets missed. Although he doesn’t want Arthur to weep, his brother isn’t happy. When everyone is taken care of financially, Thomas will take himself away on his own.
He doesn’t want anyone who loves him to see him crawl or grow insane and helpless. By the time people know the truth, he will be gone. Arthur asks about Lizzie, but Tommy won’t say anything about that. Instead, he tells his brother he is working with the housing minister and wants Arthur to sign some paperwork. Thomas explains the Shelby Company will continue earning money although Arthur doesn’t care about any of that. He tells Arthur about the 5 million pounds he will be picking up in Canada. He will share the money with his family and it will be his legacy. He claims he is only money to a lot of people. Arthur demands he stand up. He eventually forces Tommy to stand up only to be pushed around and stopped.
Thomas instructs Arthur not to tell anyone until he is gone. When the time comes, he will call him and there will be a wagon. Arthur is asked to bring Charlie, Curly, and no one else. He will be responsible for lighting the flame. Arthur curses Thomas and his plans. While pouring a drink, he looks at John’s painting above him. He begins breaking down so Thomas comforts him. Arthur says he is clean now that the dragon is gone. Tommy tells him to pull himself together because they got work to do. Seconds later, Finn (Harry Kirton) brings Billy Grade (Emmett Scanlan) to the meeting with Thomas and the others.
Finn refuses a drink since Mary won’t let him until after six. Charlie enters to tell Tommy that Duke says he feels okay about it. Then, Thomas says those who know the truth will know to be cautious. Billy doesn’t know it while Finn never bothered to learn it. Thomas says he brought men here he can trust because he is going away. He explains he has to collect payment from the South Boston Irish. Johnny Dogs (Packy Lee) has already sailed for Canada and Michael will be there. Michael is family so he will be his guarantee of safety. While he is away, he wants them to go to Arrow house. Since he is going to be leaving Arrow House for good, he needs them to remove important stuff, including money, information about important people, and bodies buried on the grounds.
Thomas puts Isiah (Daryl McCormack) in charge. He says they can drink from the wine cellar. Duke speaks in code while saying he knows the truth. Billy asks if he can bring girls only to be told no. Thomas tells him the party will be next Sunday. Arthur says he’ll be having drinks with his wife while they’re digging holes since it is their anniversary. Thomas encourages Finn to have a whiskey and not listen to Mary. Gina (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Michael have sex. He turns down a drink so he can have a clear head before the phone rings. After the call, she says the informant in Birmingham says the Shelby men will be together on Sunday, but Arthur will be having dinner with his wife at the Garrison Tavern.
She suspects they’ll be sitting near the window so her people can just do a drive-by and kill them. Michael doesn’t want Arthur involved in this, but Gina insists there is no other choice. Once he kills Thomas, Arthur will come after him so Arthur has to die too. Michael believes Arthur will be drinking meaning he’ll die without pain. He learns members of the IRA will kill Arthur. When she mentions Tommy’s son, Michael says they don’t kill women or kids. The informant also mentioned Duke. Michael warns her it could be a bloodbath. He knew about the new boy and decided the illegitimate son is not a threat. He says it will only be Arthur. Gina says it has all been agreed.
She questions how many men they killed with bullets and blades. That is how Tommy became king and how Michael will become king in three days’ time. Gina claims Arthur and Tommy want to be dead anyway so they’ll give them what they want. Diana Mitford (Amber Anderson) meets with Tommy and says Oswald was called away. Thomas says he is planning on bringing his housing bill before Parliament. He wants a list of land-owning families with debts and addictions so he can make offers to buy the surplus land using Treasury bonds. Dina asks if they can have sex on the benches in Parliament and insists they wouldn’t be the first.
Tommy reveals his associates broke into some of her pal’s houses to steal paperwork such as letters, bills, and bank statements. He gives her a list of land-owning families facing foreclosure. He says he isn’t upset his wife left. If she wants to have sex, they can but she’ll have to cross the floor because he won’t do it on Tory benches. Oswald Mosley (Sam Claflin) enters to give Thomas an invitation to his wedding to Diana in Berlin where they’re going to get married in front of the Fuhrer. Tommy refuses because he is going to be in Canada. Oswald threatens to have Thomas killed if he looks in her direction after the wedding. Tommy says nothing before they leave. Next, we’re taken to Miquelon Island as Michael and the others arrive with a bomb in a bag.
Frances (Pauline Turner) meets Isiah and the others when they arrive at Arrow House. She says they’re hearing many rumors as to what will happen to the house. Isiah says her second best trait after her baking is not asking questions. She is asked to get everyone away from the house until Monday. As Michael and the others go inside, the bartender tells them there is only one guest so they can use the other rooms if they want. A man drinking nearby claims Thomas might already be dead if he is coming by plane because of a storm last night. Thomas rides in the airplane alone as he remembers everything that has happened and what Polly said.
Meanwhile, Duke and others wait for someone else at Arrow House. Finn and Billy join them and immediately asks about the booze. Arthur goes to the pub and asks where Jeremiah Jesus (Benjamin Zephaniah) is. Billy and Finn are told they don’t need girls when they’re in a house bound for hell. Duke begins shooting randomly before saying they can do whatever they want in the house since it has a death sentence. Finn asks if they’re going to dig up the bodies, but Duke says you have to wait until they’re all buried first. Finn questions what that means and says he is a Shelby only for Duke to remind him he is a Shelby too. Michael steps outside for a smoke and immediately suspects Thomas is here.
Michael takes the bomb inside so it can be set up. Captain Swing (Charlene McKenna) arrives at the pub where Arthur is drinking inside. He gets up and goes into the side room. Michael is told that the bomb is set to blow in 30 minutes at 16:20. He agrees to do it with his own hand since this is between him and Tommy. Michael carries the bomb outside and places it in the car’s trunk. He is told it is a shame he didn’t have the courage to shoot him face to face. Michael explains his mother was a Gypsy who said it wouldn’t be a bullet that would kill Tommy Shelby. Billy is bleeding from the face. Duke tells Finn that Arthur said to take the gun and do it or he can leave this family for good.
Finn asks what he knows about family since he is the son of a hoe. Duke tells him to take the gun. Once he takes the gun, Billy encourages him to use it on them. Finn tries shooting Duke only to learn that the gun is empty. Duke knocks him to the ground and says Charlie told him to make sure the first two chambers are empty when he gives Finn the gun. Billy tries to attack him, but Duke swings around and quickly shoots him. Duke tells Finn he is no longer a member of this family. Finn threatens that he will come for him. Captain Swing and two men prepare to enter the pub and kill Arthur. As they enter, the phone inside begins ringing. They grab the phone and hang up on the caller.
When the man confronts Arthur, he finds Charlie sitting there instead. Arthur sneaks up behind Swing and holds her at gunpoint. While taking them outside, Swing asks if they’d shoot them like dogs. Arthur says he shoots fascists, but not dogs. They hear gunfire from above so everyone scatters to find cover. After a stalemate, Charlie kills one of Swing’s men. Then, Arthur screams to the chosen one that it is time to reveal himself. A guy up top shoots nonstop until one falls from a balcony. Then, they hear a little girl. She runs over and picks up a bullet before her mother forces her to leave. Arthur tells Jeremiah to show them the old keepsake from Passchendaele. They put on gas masks and throw mustard gas.
Jeremiah quickly kills Laura’s man leaving her alone. Arthur puts the mask on her briefly before saying her name was Elizabeth Gray and she was his Aunt Polly. Laura says vengeance is for the lord, but Arthur shoots her anyway. He says it isn’t in Small Heath and tells Polly to rest in peace. When they sit down, Arthur tells Charlie to leave them because they’re still in France. Thomas finally arrives at the pub with Michael and the others. As Thomas begins drinking, Michael tells him they want him to take them where the opium is being stored. Then, he’ll receive a banker’s draft for the full amount. They agree to go with Michael saying he’ll ride with Tommy. However, he goes back in after claiming he forgot his cigarettes.
Thomas wipes something from the door and gets inside. While Tommy sits alone, the others keep waiting for the bomb to go off. Once it does, Michael tells her mother it is done. Outside, we see that the other car exploded and not the one Tommy was in. Michael walks outside as Thomas yells for Johnny who says he switched the ticker like he said. Johnny wants to know he has done a good thing here. He tells Michael goodbye. Michael says goodbye and tells Johnny he is a good man. Once Johnny leaves, Thomas asks Michael to speak to him. Michael claims Thomas killed Polly although he says Polly made her own choices. Michael says nobody close to him makes a choice without his opinion.
His lethal hand is always on their shoulders. Thomas says Polly was half of him. She still visits him in his dreams. However, she will visit him no more. Thomas shoots and kills Michael. He says he has no limitations. Then, he goes inside for a drink and cigarette. Alfie (Tom Hardy) yells he smells roasted Irishman as he comes out and joins Thomas. He says he owns half of Boston and only his wife Edna gets to smoke in front of him. He asks Thomas to put his cigarette out. They talk about his wedding and his eyesight. Alfie says he can see that Tommy’s nephew is ascending and will be forgiven. As for Tommy, he will likely be screwed on judgment day.
Thomas tells him he is dying anyway despite so many people going to so much effort to kill him. They talk about whether Tommy is going to die in his bed and the fact that good people die in their beds all the time. Tommy claims he has crossed the line before mentioning Michael, Polly, and Ruby. Alfie encourages him to express profound emotion to someone who cares or someone getting paid to pretend to care. He recommends it as someone who has been dead for a number of years. Thomas believes Alfie’s opera is now complete. He says they should go and witness the final act. Later, Thomas leaves his house and blows it up. He meets with the family later. He says he is one of those rare politicians who makes good on his promises.
He shows them the country estate that has been requisitioned to make way for houses for working people. After blowing up his home, he is back where he began with horses and caravans. They share a toast to family. Charles sits down as Thomas says he is planning on going away for a bit. He says Ada (Sophie Rundle) was the one to be a politician in the family and not him so she should run when a seat becomes available. He asks about Arthur before Linda (Kate Phillips) says he went for a walk because he isn’t good with farewells. She reads a note from Arthur saying he’ll be there with Thomas soon wherever he may be. Ada asks how Arthur knows where he is going, but Thomas won’t answer. He tells Charles to look after his mother as he nearly breaks down.
Ada asks how long he is going away. Thomas walks over to hug Curly (Ian Peck). He whispers something to Duke and shakes Charlie’s hand. Ada tries to figure out what is going on while Thomas prepares to leave. We jump ahead one month and see a crow wake up Thomas who is sleeping on the ground. He drinks more and looks at the gun hanging up nearby. He flips a coin that lands on heads. Thomas grabs the gun, goes inside to look at pictures of his family, and takes his ring off. After taking his other jewelry off and smoking a cigarette, he puts one bullet into the clip of the gun. As he prepares to shoot himself, he says in the bleak midwinter. He imagines hearing someone yelling for daddy outside. He goes out and finds Ruby.
He asks whether Polly sent her and whether he is already dead. Ruby says no and he isn’t even sick. She tells him this again and says he let the first go out. He is encouraged to light the fire again to get warm. Then, he will see that he must live. He sits down and looks at a newspaper with Oswald and Diana on the front. He notices that Doctor Holford (Aneurin Barnard) is in the picture with them. Then, we see Holford who curses Gypsies. He goes outside and questions one of the workers if he has thrown the tinkers off the top field yet.
The man went up to the caravan but didn’t see anyone there. Holford instructs him to go back and set fire to it. Then, he asks another worker if they’ve filled the car with petrol. However, it turns out to be Thomas who grabs him and holds him at gunpoint. Thomas asks him how the wedding in Berlin was. Although Holford has been his doctor for three years, Thomas didn’t know he was so well connected. The doctor Holford recommended for a second opinion and had the same set of x-rays was a maid of honor at the same wedding. Thomas forces him to get on his knees. He suspects they figured out that only Thomas Shelby can kill Thomas Shelby.
He told him death was coming and let his nature do the rest. Holford says he might not have tuberculoma, but he is sick with guilt and sick of death at his own hand. He is sick of who he was and is no longer the kind of man who’d kill another man in cold blood. Holford tells him about the journey he has been on from the backstreets to the corridors of power. He doesn’t think he can go back or that a gun belongs in his hand. Thomas says he is back from under the ground before asking Holford to close his eyes. When the bell tolls, Thomas says it is the eleventh hour or Armistice. He says peace at last. He shoots and misses Holford intentionally before walking away.
Holford’s man goes to the caravan to set it on fire. Thomas arrives as the man runs away. He rides away on a white horse as the caravan begins falling apart.
Peaky Blinders Review
Although the last episode of Peaky Blinders had some great moments, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. Then again, I didn’t have high hopes for the finale considering the whole season has been uneventful. Some of the last scenes were best as Thomas tried to say farewells to his loved ones and come to grips with his death. I could see people complaining about the Ruby scenes and how Thomas found out about the doctor because that was unrealistic and a bit cheesy.
A lot of scenes leading up to that didn’t make a lot of sense though. For instance, there was no explanation as to why they suspected Billy Grade or removed Finn from the Peaky Blinders. If this was going to be a pivotal moment, it should’ve been covered a lot more early on instead of sticking with the fascist stuff from last season again. Duke could be a fun character though. Arthur’s assassination attempt turned out to be a mess. What was the phone call about and why would Swing’s guys even answer it?
Once they went outside, it was difficult to determine who was shooting at who and which character or characters were on the balcony. I also don’t see the point of letting a little girl and her family walk into the middle of the shootout to pick up a bullet. What was the significance of that if any unless it was to show that they wouldn’t kill kids? Finally, Michael’s death really fell flat because the outcome was as expected. We needed a lot more build-up to this but there really wasn’t any build-up at all.
The series didn’t have any direction since it wanted to focus on Oswald, Jack Nelson, and Michael simultaneously. Despite some cool moments and songs, I think the finale could’ve been a lot better. It scores a 6.5 out of 10. Recaps of Peaky Blinders can be found on Reel Mockery here. Support Reel Mockery by following this link.
