Peaky Blinders

Birmingham, 1919. The Shelby family has a betting business, a reputation and very little intention of staying where it is. Tommy Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy, sees opportunities that other people would sensibly leave alone. Steven Knight's crime drama follows what happens when the family goes along with him.

The ambition is only half the appeal. Tommy and Arthur have returned from the Great War, and the damage travels into their civilian lives. Murphy's stillness and Paul Anderson's volatility make the brothers a compelling pair. Helen McCrory's Polly has the authority to question both of them. This is a family business in the least peaceful sense of the phrase.

I recently rewatched all six seasons and then The Immortal Man. The series remains one of the best things I've watched. Its confidence is enormous, from the clothes and modern soundtrack to the way it lets two formidable actors sit opposite each other and talk. Tom Hardy's Alfie Solomons is a particular pleasure; Sam Neill's Inspector Campbell gives the early story an opponent worth worrying about.

It is a heightened crime drama, not a documentary about the historical gang. The violence can be harsh, but the family arguments are often what make the consequences matter. If you like a long story with a commanding lead and an ensemble capable of challenging him, this is an easy recommendation.

The six-season series is followed by the 2026 film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, which I enjoyed as a solid final instalment. That is where I regard this story as complete. The announced sequel set in 1953 is a separate prospect for me, rather than part of this recommendation.

Read my full Peaky Blinders review, including my thoughts after the rewatch and film. Boardwalk Empire and Taboo are useful next stops for more period crime.