Liam Hoofe reviews the series 4 premiere of Peaky Blinders…
This review contains major spoilers.
As recent British exports go, Peaky Blinders has to rank as one of the highest. The show, based around the notorious Midlands gangster group the Peaky Blinders – has become one of the most popular British shows in recent memory, thanks to some excellent writing, stylish production, an awesome cast and a big boost internationally thanks to Netflix. The show returned for its fourth series last night, and it looks set to be the show’s most exciting yet.
Picking up where last series left off, the episode opened with an ominous shot of the hangman’s noose, a stark reminder of the potential consequences facing the Blinders after Tommy’s apparent betrayal at the end of last series. It isn’t long before every member of the group has that noose around their neck, and the show already has us biting our nails before the opening credits play. Better late than never, though, and Tommy calls in a royal ‘favour’ to get his family pardoned just as the hangman is ready to pull the lever.
The show then jumps forward a year to the following Christmas, where we find Tommy (with a new hairdo), as a result of his actions, looking at facing the festive period alone. While Tommy has problems in his business to contend with over the holidays, an even bigger problem rears its head. It turns out that the Italian Mafia is out to take down The Shelbys, sending every member of the clan a Christmas card with a black hand printed on the inside.
Continuing its trend of dragging in big stars for a BBC show, the episode saw the arrival of Adrien Brody’s Luca Changretta, the man seemingly tasked with taking out the Blinders once for and all. While Brody was only given a brief moment in this first episode, it was enough to suggest that he is going to be one hell of an addition to the show’s already impressive cast.
Following the delivery of the cards, Tommy wasted no time in sending out a reply to the Mafia, brutally killing a sous chef assassin in his workforce with a butcher’s hook in the show’s most exhilarating, testosterone-fuelled scene. After 4 years of playing the character, Cillian Murphy has nailed down his performance as Tommy Shelby, the man who may well be the coolest character on television right now.
The episode also ending with a devastating final scene, with two of the show’s main characters, John and Michael Shelby being brutally gunned down by the Italians on Christmas Day. It was a shocking end to the episode and one that cements as the best series premiere of 2017.
By this point in the show, you already know whether you like Peaky Blinders or not, and series 4’s premiere delivered more of the same slickly produced, cool as anything, testosterone-fuelled madness we have grown accustomed to. Series 4 looks set to be the show’s most exciting yet, and this episode may go down as one of the show’s finest.
What did you think of Peaky Blinders series 4 premiere? Let us know in the comments below, and let Liam know on Twitter @liamhoofe
Originally published November 16, 2017. Updated April 18, 2018.
