Review — Peaky Blinders Series 1 (one), Episode 1 (one)
Post war Birmingham, England. A city left scared and beaten from the years before and in desperate need for somebody to help it back up to its prior glory. The rich being in the few yet the poor rising at an expediential rate, resulting in a vacancy of power. More needed now than ever before the war. Will it be filled by those who wish to do harm and give false hope to the poor, or by those who wish to expand and evolve parallel to the city. Stephen Knight promises to deliver a gripping series playing out the shift in power and the lives of those involved. The opening episode delivers everything that the viewers would want and promises more to follow in its footsteps.
The aftermath of World War One is clearly apparent throughout the pilot and is shown on the streets of Birmingham, showing the fresh wounds within each character shown. Whether it be socially, mentally, physically, or economically. The damage is clear, and in desperate need for aid. Where there is a need, shortly follows the answer. The response in this situation being the vital months in the Peaky Blinders existence. During the war the organisation was ran by the women of the Shelby family, but now the men have returned could this spark new fires in the engine room. Possibly resulting in the Shelby company name transforming from a mere backstreet betting shop to the ruling law of Birmingham.
With this comes hand in hand the organised chaos of their dominance. But as people say, with great power comes great responsibility, and the repercussions of said responsibility were starting to show on the gang leader, Arthur. Despite it only being the first episode of the series, his anger and rash decision-making nature were beginning to show and take surface. Could this be the start of his undoing or could his beast like presence be used in his favour. Either way this most likely will be a foreshadowing ploy and will be mirrored throughout the remainder of the show, making Arthurs highs and lows the centre point of his own destruction.
The shows magnetic tension manages to tinker with Romeo and Juliet esc romances between Aida and Freddie. But the main possible one being Tommy and Grace, two sides on a coin that somehow see eye to eye. Along with the long-lasting stares, could the simple line by Harry the pubs landlord also be a sign of changes to come within Tommy’s lifestyle. But like all great love stories, there needs to be a twist in the tail before they set off happily ever after. But surely this isn’t a love story. Or is it?
The shipment commandeered by the Peaky Blinders was just the thing needed to kick start the series and their rise to royalty, a cargo container holding almost three hundred guns, both automatic, and non. Falling into the hands of Thomas Shelby, appears to create him more problems than those it resolves. Yes, it may shoot fear into his enemies, knowing his men are so well armed, and hope into those who put their faith in the Peaky Blinders false promises. But when a dog is scared it either runes or bites. In this scenario it bites, and bites hard indeed. By deploying an army on the doorstep of The Garrison, and a mob waiting in the back alley. Knight leaves the episode giving away no spoilers by teasing every outcome.
