By order of the Peaky Blinders, the hit show is back
BBC1, SUN25/MON 26 AUGUST, 9PM/9.30PM
Striding back on to the screen in one of their exquisitely shot signature slo-mo walking sequences, the Peaky Blinders are back. And not only that, they’ve gone up in the world – the new series is on BBC1, after the show steadily grew from being a cult BBC2 series to a bona-fide TV phenomenon, winning a BAFTA last year for Best Drama.
At the start of the fifth series,
the charming and quietly sinister Tommy (Cillian Murphy) has been an MP for two years, as well as still heading up the numerous Shelby criminal enterprises. But when Michael (Finn Cole) disobeys an order from Tommy (never a good idea), the family lose loads of money in the Wall Street Crash.
NEW THREATS
As anyone who watches the epic gangster saga knows, the Shelbys – and Tommy’s psychotic older brother Arthur (Paul Anderson) in particular – don’t take too kindly to losing anything, but it’s far from their only problem. The Peakys are under attack from quite possibly their most dangerous enemies yet – the ultra-violent (yep, even by the Blinders’ standards) Billy Boys from Glasgow are determined to get a slice of the Shelby empire. And, blimey, are they ruthless, as everyone finds out in the second of two episodes this week. The first is more of a scene-setter, but it’s the second that explodes into action with some truly stunning moments, as well as giving more screen time to Arthur, who’s well over his brief Jesus-loving phase and is back to shouting, swearing and shooting a lot.
OLD HABITS
Meanwhile, in London, neither Tommy or sister Ada (Sophie
Rundle) are impressed by meeting Oswald Mosley (a perfectly cast Sam Claflin), and Polly (Helen Mccrory) is worried for son Michael’s safety when he returns from America minus the family fortune and plus a wife. Welcome back, then, Peaky effing Blinders: you beautifully filmed, brilliantly acted, big beast of a drama. And we’re not just saying that so Arthur doesn’t come round and shoot us.