Peaky Blinders is a crime drama series that aired on BBC Two and BBC One from September 2013 to April 2022. The series had six seasons with 36 episodes.
Steven Knight created the crime drama series, which aired on Netflix globally, causing a rise in the show’s popularity.
Cast
Peaky Blinders has an ensemble cast with Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson, Sophie Rundle, and Joe Cole in the roles of the gang’s senior members.
The other cast members include Annabelle Wallis, Sam Neill, Charlotte Riley, Iddo Goldberg, Paddy Considine, Tom Hardy, Aidan Gillen, Adrien Brody, Sam Claflin, and Anya Taylor-Joy, James Frecheville, Stephen Graham, and Amber Anderson.
Premise
Peaky Blinders is set in Birmingham and follows the shenanigans of a crime gang called Peaky Blinders after the First World War. An actual urban youth gang active in Birmingham from the 1880s to 1910s is the inspiration behind the fictional Peaky Blinders in the series.
The story of Peaky Blinders revolves around the criminal gang of the same name headed by Tommy Shelby, portrayed by Cillian Murphy. A detective chief inspector named Major Chester Campbell, played by Sam Neill, is commissioned by Winston Churchill to rid the city of criminal gangs.
Season one focuses on how the Peaky Blinders devise a plan to take over the betting pitches of the Worcester Races. In contrast, the second season showcases how the Peaky Blinders expand their gang and maintain a stronghold in Birmingham.
The series’ third season saw the gang expanding internationally and featured new characters of Father John Hughes, Ruben Oliver, Tatiana Petrovna, and Linda Shelby.
Tommy gets elected as a Member of Parliament in the fourth season. The fifth season of the series begins after a gap of two years and features the details of a rally led by Sir Oswald Mosley, the British Union of Fascists leader.
The sixth and final season focuses on the prohibition repeal in the United States. It also showcases the Nazi Party gaining power in Germany.
Reception
The critics’ response to Peaky Blinders has been primarily positive, with them applauding the cast members for their performances, depiction of the English history, and cinematography.
Some critics compared Peaky Blinders to the American hit series Boardwalk Empire.
The show was popular among other celebrities, too. The third season of the series featured David Bowie’s music and a song written by Leonard Cohen.
The final season of the show received universal acclaim.
Accolades
Thanks to its popularity, Peaky Blinders has received several awards and nominations over its six seasons.
The most significant nominations for the series include the BAFTA Television Awards, the Crime Thriller Awards UK, the RTS Programme Awards, the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Awards, the National Television Awards, and the TV Choice Awards, to name a few.
The series has won awards for its direction, photography, and lighting at the BAFTA Television Craft Awards. It won the best drama series award and best actor award for Cillian Murphy at the TV Choice Awards.
Apart from these, Helen McCrory has also won a few awards for her role as Elizabeth Gray. The show won several awards for its music and production design.