Peak of perfection: The ongoing exploits of the Peaky Blinders.
James Rampton takes a look at the ongoing exploits of the Peaky Blinders as season four returns to UKTV.
If anyone is in any doubt about the global popularity of Peaky
Blinders, Steven Knight’s drama about the Shelby crime family in Birmingham in the wake of World War I, then they should take a look at the sheer range of fan art.
Some aficionados have gone so far as to demonstrate their passion for Peaky Blinders by having tattoos done of their favourite characters. Now, that is true devotion to the cause.
Joe Cole – who plays John Shelby, the junior member of the Peaky Blinders’ crime syndicate which is led by his charismatic older brother, Tommy (Cillian Murphy) – reflects on why Peaky Blinders has chimed with audiences to such a degree.
“I think the appeal of the series comes from the look and style and general swagger of the Peaky Blinders,” he says.
“Steve has written the characters as lovable anti-heroes. Each character is multi-layered and has their own individual complexities and darkness about them.”
In the fourth series, the Peaky Blinkers, who are no strangers to danger, are in their greatest peril yet. There are severe consequences after what happened at the conclusion of the third series when the Shelbys murdered a rival gangster, who just happened to be a Mafia don.
To make matters worse, Tommy then went on to turn the rest of the family into the authorities and acrimoniously split up the Shelbys.
Tommy’s bold tactical move, carried out to save the family, has caused enormous fissures within the clan. His indomitable aunt Polly (Helen McCrory) is especially devastated by what she sees as a complete betrayal.
Murphy details the risks faced this season by the Peaky Blinders, who started as small-time gangsters in the Birmingham slum of Small Heath before growing into Britain’s most powerful crime family.
“At the beginning of series four, the family are fractured,” says Murphy. “Tommy is isolated, understandably, after what went down at the end of series three.
“Time has elapsed and they’re
all getting on with their lives, but not in the way that we normally associate with the Peaky Blinders.
“Suddenly all of them get a letter with a Black Hand, which is a mark of warning from the Italian Mafia. It basically means they’re coming to get the family.”
This threat to the Shelbys concentrates Tommy’s mind and forces him to vacate the grand country house where he has been living in splendid isolation.
Murphy explains that, “Most pressing is the fact that the whole family are going to get annihilated if they don’t come together. In order for them to survive, they need to retreat back to Small Heath.
“Tommy’s plan is to get the family back to the mean streets of Birmingham, in order to protect them, and close ranks. That’s the practical way of dealing with the situation. Emotionally, the family have to try to put the recent past behind them and find a way of reconnecting, particularly with what has happened between Tommy and Polly.”
The Mafioso pursuing the family is the ruthless Luca Changretta (played by Oscar-winner Adrien Brody). Murphy continues that, “The Peaky Blinders are in a position where they’re the top gang in the UK at this time. But Tommy and the family are met this series with a serious threat to their existence. This threat initiated by the arrival of a Black Hand is terrifying.
“This warning means the mafia will come after you and they will not stop until they have tracked you down and killed you.
“Luca Changretta represents Tommy’s arch nemesis for this year. You know that there will be a head-to-head showdown by the end of the series, which is inevitable. It’s just whether or not the Peaky Blinders can survive until then.”
Knight closes by sketching in the subject of Peaky Blinders fan art.
“I find all the Peaky fan art mind-blowing,” exclaims the show’s creator. “I’m really flattered and honoured on behalf of the series that people put their skill and expertise into creating some wonderful pieces of art.
“I love seeing the street graffiti, and I saw that someone had painted their truck with the Shelby family all over it. It’s just exciting that Peaky has got a real army of followers who are very loyal to the show.”