A entertaining episode, but a bit anticlimactic. Coming in with the the baby on the stroller was a little corny.
14 Reviews
Very good
Kubrickfan157 February 2021
Filled with emotions and tension!
and_mikkelsen24 April 2023
This was a great way to conclude the first season! It was all about The Guns, the rival gangs, campbell's schemes and the family, and this episode captures that as well as the role of Grace and her relationship with Tomy! This episode captures these elements by rounding them up, but also leaving room for continuation!
There were some great emotional scenes spiced up by tension! I was so invested at times that time just flew by! It was exciting to see how things would pan out! I loved the gang-confrontation as well as the conversation between Grace and Polly! That cliffhanger ending was shocking and well shot and edited!
There were some great emotional scenes spiced up by tension! I was so invested at times that time just flew by! It was exciting to see how things would pan out! I loved the gang-confrontation as well as the conversation between Grace and Polly! That cliffhanger ending was shocking and well shot and edited!
So good it hurts!!
alwaysaishy21 January 2021
Season 1: Heavy on style, decent on narrative, light on substance
bob the moo14 November 2014
There was a certain amount of hype when this show first aired the other year, but I let it go past me at the time, even though I had intended to give it a try. Seeing the show return for a second season made me more inclined to give it a go, plus some friends had said it was really good. The series focuses on inner-city Birmingham just after the turn of the century, where the Shelby family control several areas, through their gang known as the Peaky Blinders (because they keep razor blades across the rim of their caps, to slash and blind others. In the season we see the gang try to grow into something larger and with added legitimacy, at the same time as other gangs and the police threaten their survival.
The opening scene sees the lead brother of the gang (Tom) slowly riding his horse through the rough streets of post-WWI Birmingham, getting no trouble from anyone, before getting slow-motion red powder blown in the horse's face as part of a betting scheme. It is a scene that tells us a lot; in terms of the narrative, it tells us that this fellow is not to be messed with and that even the police don't cross him; however it is not really in terms of the story that it is most telling. Actually the scene works as a microcosm for the whole season. You see it is clear that money has been spent, the locations are well done, the style is heavy, the mix of time periods (in terms of music, slickness etc) is happening but it is fine with it, and generally it engages – but mostly because of these qualities. Reading comments about how this British show is great because it lacks American gloss, is not only nationalistic but also a ridiculous thing to say about a show that looks like it is about 3 paces from being the new Guy Richie film.
I quite liked the season for what it did, but I am quite surprised to hear and read people praising it as one of the best shows they have ever seen. I find this surprising because the show really is quite unremarkable in terms of substance and story. The structure and direction feels all very familiar; it is very professionally and stylishly delivery, and I do think that this is what makes it come across as better than it is – if it had to stand up on only the strength of characters, dialogue and events, then probably it would not fare so well. The plot itself is okay because it has forward motion to support the delivery, but below the surface there is really not too much to talk about. Characters are thinly drawn and events unfold with a certain lack of spark or impact, and while I was not bored, I was surprised that there was not more character to the piece.
This feeling was perhaps added to by me previously watching the final season of Boardwalk Empire; a show that is similarly mounted with class and resources but yet I always felt that it lacked heart. Well, compared to Peaky Blinders, Boardwalk looks much deeper than it did when I watched it, just by contrast. There isn't really one thing at fault here, because the focus on style and slickness is everywhere – from the haircuts and attitudes feeling very modern, the music, and so on, all of them push this to the fore. The cast follow suit – plenty of famous faces and names looking good, but few have much beyond this. The accents are surprisingly variable – and as someone born in Belfast who lived or worked in Birmingham for the past 15 years, I had more than enough to chuckle at.
That said, it does somehow manage to work by virtue of having a very strong base of style, high production values, and slickness. It builds a decent amount of plot on top of that, and then leaves the substance out almost totally. I guess doing the latter might have undercut the regular superficiality of it; for me though it was quite enjoyable but too much about this side of things and with very little else to it.
The opening scene sees the lead brother of the gang (Tom) slowly riding his horse through the rough streets of post-WWI Birmingham, getting no trouble from anyone, before getting slow-motion red powder blown in the horse's face as part of a betting scheme. It is a scene that tells us a lot; in terms of the narrative, it tells us that this fellow is not to be messed with and that even the police don't cross him; however it is not really in terms of the story that it is most telling. Actually the scene works as a microcosm for the whole season. You see it is clear that money has been spent, the locations are well done, the style is heavy, the mix of time periods (in terms of music, slickness etc) is happening but it is fine with it, and generally it engages – but mostly because of these qualities. Reading comments about how this British show is great because it lacks American gloss, is not only nationalistic but also a ridiculous thing to say about a show that looks like it is about 3 paces from being the new Guy Richie film.
I quite liked the season for what it did, but I am quite surprised to hear and read people praising it as one of the best shows they have ever seen. I find this surprising because the show really is quite unremarkable in terms of substance and story. The structure and direction feels all very familiar; it is very professionally and stylishly delivery, and I do think that this is what makes it come across as better than it is – if it had to stand up on only the strength of characters, dialogue and events, then probably it would not fare so well. The plot itself is okay because it has forward motion to support the delivery, but below the surface there is really not too much to talk about. Characters are thinly drawn and events unfold with a certain lack of spark or impact, and while I was not bored, I was surprised that there was not more character to the piece.
This feeling was perhaps added to by me previously watching the final season of Boardwalk Empire; a show that is similarly mounted with class and resources but yet I always felt that it lacked heart. Well, compared to Peaky Blinders, Boardwalk looks much deeper than it did when I watched it, just by contrast. There isn't really one thing at fault here, because the focus on style and slickness is everywhere – from the haircuts and attitudes feeling very modern, the music, and so on, all of them push this to the fore. The cast follow suit – plenty of famous faces and names looking good, but few have much beyond this. The accents are surprisingly variable – and as someone born in Belfast who lived or worked in Birmingham for the past 15 years, I had more than enough to chuckle at.
That said, it does somehow manage to work by virtue of having a very strong base of style, high production values, and slickness. It builds a decent amount of plot on top of that, and then leaves the substance out almost totally. I guess doing the latter might have undercut the regular superficiality of it; for me though it was quite enjoyable but too much about this side of things and with very little else to it.
Amazing start of s1
vivekgkp8 February 2020
A complete story.
souravJdasgupta13 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
What a series. It started slow but the ending was just perfect. What stood out for me was the character Thomas Shelby portrayed beautifully by Murphy. As they say "Hard times create strong men" and we get to see that man to the point in this series. Loved it!
A Perfect Finish!
gab-147123 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The season's finale is a perfect ending for this hit BBC series. Season finales tend to be divisive, but I think most can agree that director Tom Harper and writer Steven Knight put together a winner. This is a bittersweet ending. Tommy almost completed his redemption arc for it to fall apart in the very last scenes. On the flip side, Inspector Campbell had a falls-from-grace arc as he goes from Bible-thumping agent to murderous prostitute killer. That final scene where he pulls a gun on Grace came out of nowhere and completed Campbell's season one story.
Each of the characters had a chance to shine this episode as they had all season. Cillian Murphy has undoubtedly been the season's MVP. In addition, Helen McCrory is majestic as Aunt Polly who fought her own demons. Annabelle Wallis gave Grace a sense of guile and delicacy. Sam Neill made sure you were invested in every single line of dialogue. Everyone delivered strong performances. Sophie Rundle's Ada even got to join in the finale's fun.
The episode begins with Campbell telling Churchill Grace should be commended in finding the missing guns. However, Polly is aware of Grace's secret and tells her to stay away. The Peaky Blinders, using one of the held-back machine guns, created a jailbust to free Freddie. With this, The Blinders and the Lee's were going to overtake Kimber's men, but Kimber is aware of the events, and he takes the Shelby's unaware at their home. During the standoff, Ada bravely intervenes. But death and injury does not escape the Blinders. Grace finally meets with Tommy and tells him his true identity. Tommy goes home to search his feelings and decide his fate over a coin flip. But Campbell, being rejected by Grace, confronts her at the railroad station.
Crazy, crazy episode! All knots are tied up in a timely fashion and I really look forward to what is next with the Peaky Blinders. I was surprised how few deaths there were. The main ones were Kimber and Danny. This season was a wonderful surprise with its unique visual style, excellent performances, the song choice (modern, but fits the show aesthetic so well), and how the story was delivered. Yes, there is many awesome stylistic choices, but this was also an important character study. Steven Knight gave so much substance to his characters. I really recommend the series if you have not seen it yet.
My Grade: A+
Each of the characters had a chance to shine this episode as they had all season. Cillian Murphy has undoubtedly been the season's MVP. In addition, Helen McCrory is majestic as Aunt Polly who fought her own demons. Annabelle Wallis gave Grace a sense of guile and delicacy. Sam Neill made sure you were invested in every single line of dialogue. Everyone delivered strong performances. Sophie Rundle's Ada even got to join in the finale's fun.
The episode begins with Campbell telling Churchill Grace should be commended in finding the missing guns. However, Polly is aware of Grace's secret and tells her to stay away. The Peaky Blinders, using one of the held-back machine guns, created a jailbust to free Freddie. With this, The Blinders and the Lee's were going to overtake Kimber's men, but Kimber is aware of the events, and he takes the Shelby's unaware at their home. During the standoff, Ada bravely intervenes. But death and injury does not escape the Blinders. Grace finally meets with Tommy and tells him his true identity. Tommy goes home to search his feelings and decide his fate over a coin flip. But Campbell, being rejected by Grace, confronts her at the railroad station.
Crazy, crazy episode! All knots are tied up in a timely fashion and I really look forward to what is next with the Peaky Blinders. I was surprised how few deaths there were. The main ones were Kimber and Danny. This season was a wonderful surprise with its unique visual style, excellent performances, the song choice (modern, but fits the show aesthetic so well), and how the story was delivered. Yes, there is many awesome stylistic choices, but this was also an important character study. Steven Knight gave so much substance to his characters. I really recommend the series if you have not seen it yet.
My Grade: A+
Series 1 Review
atkinsonlouise-738738 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I'm a bit late to the party, but as a Brummie it was kinda my duty to watch this show. Series 1 was pretty great and very enjoyable to watch. I liked the gritty and murky nature of the show, showing the depravity of life back then in Birmingham and overall the accents are ok. As for the cast, Cillian Murphy is an intimidating presence as Tommy Shelby and is a great lead, who is flawed and cold, but a human being who you know has done wrong, but you still root for him. Helen McCrory is great as Polly and works well as the tough as boots Mother figure. Other highlights include Sam Neil as the head of the police who is deep down as flawed as the criminals he tries to arrest and Arthur played by Paul Anderson is a flawed enforcer who is held back by his demons. Grace is also a great fem fatale, who keeps our protagonist in his place. The plot is well paced and leads up to a great finale that leaves you wanting more. The series also felt very grounded and not over the top, with the conflicts not too unrealistic. Overall, I really enjoyed series 1 and can't wait to watch the rest of the show. Series Score: 8.5/10.
good end for S1
Hossein_70s11 October 2021
Brilliant episode
asifrahman-7690929 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this episode only last month, on Iplayer.
I was very entertained. Everything reaches a satisfying end. The excitement and building to the climax is excellent.
I really love Cillian Murphy in this episode. His acting is amazing - he conveys so much with his tone and facial expressions. The funeral scene is good too.
Special mention to Helen Mccroy, she really was tremendous in this episode, especially during her conversation with Grace and telling her that she knows about her betrayal and conspiring with Major Campbell (even if she has changed her allegiance). It is so intense and really well scripted.
Occasionally a little too violent such as the scene when Lee Kimber gets shot when the gangs come face to face. But it was a really good end to the season.
I was very entertained. Everything reaches a satisfying end. The excitement and building to the climax is excellent.
I really love Cillian Murphy in this episode. His acting is amazing - he conveys so much with his tone and facial expressions. The funeral scene is good too.
Special mention to Helen Mccroy, she really was tremendous in this episode, especially during her conversation with Grace and telling her that she knows about her betrayal and conspiring with Major Campbell (even if she has changed her allegiance). It is so intense and really well scripted.
Occasionally a little too violent such as the scene when Lee Kimber gets shot when the gangs come face to face. But it was a really good end to the season.
Fantastic show. It keeps getting better.
Neptune16517 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I think this episode really shows how similar Ada and Freddie were. They have a stance about the greater good and are absolutely ready to put their loved ones on the line if they think the gamble will pay off. Just like Tommy does for his family in his schemes, though he cloaks it in military maneuver and they do in politics. Arthur was willing to do it to have a chance at a loving relationship with his father, and John was willing to do it to find a mom for his kids he was ill equipped to handle. As Polly said, the women kept everything running when the men were away. The women now know they have power/strength and now the men have to realize that things have changed. Aida's bravery/truth in facing down the two sides was one of the most telling in this episode.
A bit weak After 2 good one
nicofreezer11 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The ending of that very short Season 1 is a bit weak , nothing really great happen, the grace secret is reveal to the family in a very dissapointed way, the battle is just not interesting and the Guy who survivre in emiso 1 die 5 episodes latter ? Stupid.
I feel like this show have potentiel, but why they had to finish all the mystery and interesting Arc now ?
But not a Bad episode I give 7.75 /10.
I feel like this show have potentiel, but why they had to finish all the mystery and interesting Arc now ?
But not a Bad episode I give 7.75 /10.
It'll sort itself out
Calicodreamin24 November 2021
Some Of The Best Goddamn Television I've Ever Seen
madelynmcfly-202746 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This is some of the best goddamn television I've ever seen. And this finale... Encapsulates that so well. Every character was so well-acted, and seeing their layers was great. Even small characters like Jeremiah and Curly were utilized well. Polly revealing why she hasn't seen her children was heartbreaking, Ada came through, and I can already see her character evolving, and John and Arthur were great as always, adding lots of balance and depth. I honestly felt for Grace, and I personally hope that she didn't die by the end of the episode, but I'm prepared if she did. However, her character was really good, and I wouldn't mind if they continue with her into the future. Inspector Campbell is such a slimy, underhanded man, so to see him in a low spot... It worked. Danny's death was sad, but almost poetic, I suppose. I'm also happy that Billy Kimber is out of the show, he was annoying, and I think his death will be one of the stepping-stones for Tommy and the Peaky Blinders. As for Tommy... I feel like every bit of his character was showcased in this episode... How he's a badass, yet still a human. A boss, but still a brother... It was so well acted, and is one of the best characters I've ever watched. And this soundtrack... I understand why it's advertised and praised.... It's so good and has fit every scene it's in. This finale was great, and I cannot wait for season two. Such a exceptional episode of an exceptional show.
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