The opening episode of series 4 is an excellent return to form for this excellent series. All of the elements that make this show great are here front and centre from excellent performances, tight script with comical asides that make it so great, superb cinematography and insanely good plotting. Nothing is wasted and each character is very well written; this is not the kind of show where you could redistribute lines from one character among the others. The wonderful way a discussion about what time the guests will arrive for lunch can turn into a gruesome bloodbath is a highlight of the episode which is immediately topped by the next scene. Peaky Blinders is a very special show and this is a very special episode. The 6 episode format is totally right for this because the amount of care put in and the calibre of the cast would make a longer run an impossibility. Even if it ends after the 5th series we will be left with 30 hours of some of the highest quality TV in years.
20 Reviews
Seriously?! Where is Cillian Murphy's BAFTA?
wbuttle7 March 2019
I had watched every episode of this show and thought "wow, Cillian Murphy is brilliant in this show" and then I saw this episode and thought how hasn't he won an award for his performances. This is one of his best episodes of the show
Back with a Bang!
pcvacdm16 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
After a gap of 1 year, Peaky Blinders is back with a Bang. I think it's a fantastic decision casting Adrien Brody as Luca Changretta. The entire episode was beautifully directed and the unexpected twist at the end will keep you hungry for the next episode! Solid Episode, 10/10. Amazing way to start off season 4!! Dying to find out what happens in Episode 2!
Peaky Blinders Are Here!!!
sameartist17 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Hell yeah it's excellent. what a start! Italian Mafia is super cool and How on the earth would i not give 10 stars when i see Adrien Brody? It's not a TV series it's an art. Tommy looks super cool, that new sunglasses and new style is really cool. and ending was really good, but i felt very sad, because johnny boy was my favorite.
Peaky Blinders The Noose
duncan-5197620 November 2017
Never watch TV these days apart from news and sport. Soaps dominate the air time in what has become a sad epitaph for a once great institution. Then, unexpectedly I'm off work indisposed with illness following an operation. "Watch Peaky Blinders on iplayer" said a close friend "Peaky What" Never watch TV these days - but out of sheer boredom and curiosity, I did. From the very start of this episode, the dawning realization that I was not only watching a TV drama, I was enjoying what I can only describe as a work of art. The acting, the script, the story-line was brilliant but far better left for others more competent than me to review. From a technical point, this was sheer creative excellence to the highest degree. The use of lighting to enhance the scenes - brilliant, sublime. The dark modern music to complement this period piece was risky to say the least but worked unbelievably well. The costume, make-up, sets and properties, all presented so meticulously, so precisely, so professionally. The film and sound editors need to be given the highest accolades available. Never since Bladrunner in the 1980's have I seen such cinematic creative brilliance. I hate watching TV these days, but this one will go down in History as one to remember.
insanely amazing episode
agate-1441321 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Thomas Shelby rocks again like always. last minute rescue is heart attacking but in prediction, while in the end john Michael shot dead what a shock!..love to see mafia against Shelby's! though john and other bros don't look like Romani blood at all-_-.Just feeling like that TS is going to get laid with the Eden girl.
Damm so much pain
woutdedroog-3465525 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This episode was an actual masterpiece, so much things happens good humor and the ending plot twist: John.... This was really so sad. Great introduce of the new season it's a following episode it continues in Episode 2.
Love the series, but a bad faux pas this episode...
rsvp3214 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I don't want to nit pick, but to me, there is a blatant misstep in this episode, of which I'd blame the director.
Remember that the Shelby's are WWl front line veterans, a fact very heavy within the series, so we can assume that all three have fired hundreds of rounds there, let alone before and after the war.
When the mafia arrive at John's home and John goes to the ready with the bolt action rifle he's carrying, he puts his left thumb over the barrel, thereby obscuring the sights - no way a soldier could make this mistake.
The first shot he fires - not only does he not lean forward in prep, but the gun but isn't braced against his shoulder, either!
The next camera angle facing John straight on shows that he's actually holding the rifle almost centre chest, like a child would hold a stick straight out with his arms, and again not bracing the rifle against anything, so when it fires it's going to recoil back pretty hard.
I only mention this bad shoot scene because in the first three seasons they didn't get so sloppy (not that I saw). They've obviously used firearms expertise in the past...what happened here?!
Remember that the Shelby's are WWl front line veterans, a fact very heavy within the series, so we can assume that all three have fired hundreds of rounds there, let alone before and after the war.
When the mafia arrive at John's home and John goes to the ready with the bolt action rifle he's carrying, he puts his left thumb over the barrel, thereby obscuring the sights - no way a soldier could make this mistake.
The first shot he fires - not only does he not lean forward in prep, but the gun but isn't braced against his shoulder, either!
The next camera angle facing John straight on shows that he's actually holding the rifle almost centre chest, like a child would hold a stick straight out with his arms, and again not bracing the rifle against anything, so when it fires it's going to recoil back pretty hard.
I only mention this bad shoot scene because in the first three seasons they didn't get so sloppy (not that I saw). They've obviously used firearms expertise in the past...what happened here?!
Esme was eventually going to get John killed
Fargomoviecritic19 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
It was the mafia who killed John but Esme was a piece of filth who was the reason John wasn't ready for the Mafia. She was ignorant and the downfall of a great brother. All the wives of the brothers Don't understand what it means to be in a family like the Shelbys. John was the reason this Italian fight was happening. He was the one who cut the son. So good riddance!
Polly should have been the one to die! She is disloyal and will hopefully leave this Series. She deserves to die a horrible death! I hate her! Ada is also a piece of crap communist! The women in this show are The weakness of the Shelbys!
Polly should have been the one to die! She is disloyal and will hopefully leave this Series. She deserves to die a horrible death! I hate her! Ada is also a piece of crap communist! The women in this show are The weakness of the Shelbys!
Not a Bad start for Season 4 !
nicofreezer8 July 2021
Pretty Solid episode, entertaining from A to Z, and thats rare enough in Peaky blinders to notice.
But still so unrealistic on how women act in this show. Never a woman in 1930' Era would have talk like this to a man, i understand it is fan service to please femalr viewers but it make the show unrealistic from that period ! In the 30' Women got no power no leadership and couldnt talk to a man with such arrogance, and you got to respect that when you made a show from the 30'.
Still I give an 8/10.
But still so unrealistic on how women act in this show. Never a woman in 1930' Era would have talk like this to a man, i understand it is fan service to please femalr viewers but it make the show unrealistic from that period ! In the 30' Women got no power no leadership and couldnt talk to a man with such arrogance, and you got to respect that when you made a show from the 30'.
Still I give an 8/10.
Brilliant! Netflix app left me shortchanged. previous title:" But the voice-over...please stop"
DocJD22 March 2019
**Update-Sorry to readers of my reviews**
This is an update on my review. For some reason the Netflix iOS app had narrative voice over settings in place, which contributed to my frustration. So please read my review with this in mind. I work in the industry and at first I accepted what was presented to me, but within 5 mins of posting my review below, I thought this just can't be right. And in fact after tracking down the app settings for the visually impaired being in place, I turned them off. Low and behold my beloved Peaky Blinders returned! So apologies to the small following who read my reviews, and to the cast and crew. My mistake...mmm or Netflix.
***orginal review below***
I'm a die hard fan of this production and enthusiastically embrace some of the truly innovative approaches to storytelling. Most of them work, not as a novel approach to storytelling, but because they endure throughout the production to become the style and feel that supports the main narrative.
But I'm truly struggling with this voice-over narration that starts as a recap for the audience to recall after the hiatus. But it's the voice-over is of the entire script excluding the character dialogue. I'm half way through this (S4E1) episode, and after the almost constant voice-over explanation of the character's actions, it has become excruciatingly redundant. It's annoying, unnecessary, frustrating, and clouds the storytelling of what is a brilliant script...
Don't get me wrong, this is quality television, and compelling viewing, but at 30 mins in (yep I lasted that long)...I wish I didn't have to shout at the screen, "Please stop!", "For goodness sakes, I can see what's going on!"
This is an update on my review. For some reason the Netflix iOS app had narrative voice over settings in place, which contributed to my frustration. So please read my review with this in mind. I work in the industry and at first I accepted what was presented to me, but within 5 mins of posting my review below, I thought this just can't be right. And in fact after tracking down the app settings for the visually impaired being in place, I turned them off. Low and behold my beloved Peaky Blinders returned! So apologies to the small following who read my reviews, and to the cast and crew. My mistake...mmm or Netflix.
***orginal review below***
I'm a die hard fan of this production and enthusiastically embrace some of the truly innovative approaches to storytelling. Most of them work, not as a novel approach to storytelling, but because they endure throughout the production to become the style and feel that supports the main narrative.
But I'm truly struggling with this voice-over narration that starts as a recap for the audience to recall after the hiatus. But it's the voice-over is of the entire script excluding the character dialogue. I'm half way through this (S4E1) episode, and after the almost constant voice-over explanation of the character's actions, it has become excruciatingly redundant. It's annoying, unnecessary, frustrating, and clouds the storytelling of what is a brilliant script...
Don't get me wrong, this is quality television, and compelling viewing, but at 30 mins in (yep I lasted that long)...I wish I didn't have to shout at the screen, "Please stop!", "For goodness sakes, I can see what's going on!"
What a way to start
Calicodreamin30 November 2021
It's good to be back.
madelynmcfly-2027420 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
It's good to be back. But... I sincerely hope that the cliffhanger at the end of this episode won't kill off John. John is my second favorite character, and the most enjoyable charcter in the show, without him, I think the show would be significantly less enjoyable, and they wouldn't kill John off after they *just* saved him from death, would they? Anyway... This episode was kind of bleak, but I can tell that the show continues to get bleaker as the show goes on. The time-jump makes sense, and I also understand the family growing apart. It seems Polly is at her low point, but more of the other characters are at... Mid-points, I guess. John, Arthur, Ada, and Micheal seem like they're doing okay, but missing the family. Esme was quite reasonable, and Linda was a tad bit annoying, but they just want what's best for their families. Tommy was so intriguing in this episode, and I hope that he gets back up in a better place. Charlie is also cute, just a side note. I'm excited to see more of the Changrettas, and see where that'll go. This was a good season premiere, and I can't wait to I see where the show goes next, and I sincerely hope they don't kill of John.
Amazing TV
aletafat28 August 2023
Just started watching this series and have been hooked. It was a slow start for me at season 1 but god this was such a great episode. I mean everything was perfect from start to finish. I even said to myself, wow what an amazing episode. Havent seen such great tv in a long time and this was before i saw the shocking ending to this episode. I have a feeling this show will just get better and better because of the circumstances of the Shelby family. I usually put a review for the whole series after i finish watching it all. This episode pushed it from a 9 to a 10 easily. Just hade to write this before i start episode 2 of season 4.
As usual but...
pm-9800226 January 2022
John getting shot at the end had us all shook
Neptune16524 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This season definitely had the most shocking season premiere of Peaky Blinders thus far. No one expected John to die. BTW the "Black Hand" is a little different than the Italian-American Mafia. They really did exist in real life and the members were all Sicilians, they didn't even allow non Sicilian Italians to join them. They were very brutal and feared especially in NYC. It's also important to keep in mind that "The Black Hand" didn't just decide to go to England and take out the Shelby family for giggles, John killed that Sicilian gangster in season 3 for basically nothing and later when his father sent an assassin to avenge his son, Grace got killed. These guys want revenge for the old man Vicente Changretta and his son ( the one that John killed ). Can't say more than that because it would spoil things but you are in for a treat. This season is one of the best Peaky Blinders seasons in my opinion. Enjoy!
Episode 4.1
Prismark1012 January 2018
Series 3 concluded with the police arresting the Shelby family with Tommy doing some kind of deal with the the police that has created a chasm with his kinship.
The episode begins with the Shelby family heading for the gallows while Tommy puts pressure on the government for a last minute reprieve, which he gets at the last second.
The family now free are at a loose end, Thomas is being cold shouldered and remains distant from the rest of the family even at Christmas. The factories are being threatened by a major strike over equal pay.
However various members of the Shelby family get a black hand, it means a vendetta from the mafia. The message is from Luca Changretta (Adrien Brody) who wants revenge for his father's death.
The Peaky Blinders are back, not yet reunited, Nick Cave's and the Bad Seeds title track, Red Red Hand is used prominently throughout including a cover version. Brody though only makes a fleeting appearance.
The episode begins with the Shelby family heading for the gallows while Tommy puts pressure on the government for a last minute reprieve, which he gets at the last second.
The family now free are at a loose end, Thomas is being cold shouldered and remains distant from the rest of the family even at Christmas. The factories are being threatened by a major strike over equal pay.
However various members of the Shelby family get a black hand, it means a vendetta from the mafia. The message is from Luca Changretta (Adrien Brody) who wants revenge for his father's death.
The Peaky Blinders are back, not yet reunited, Nick Cave's and the Bad Seeds title track, Red Red Hand is used prominently throughout including a cover version. Brody though only makes a fleeting appearance.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
