Peaky Blinders - TV Series Review

Peaky Blinders chronicles the life of the Shelby family under the leadership of the main protagonist, Tommy Shelby. Tommy and his family, being the famous gangsters of Birmingham post World War I, sets his next goal as the control of criminal activity in Birmingham through the use of blades stitched in caps.

Some of the issues depicted on the show include; power, ambition, and the effects of war to societies and persons. Despite its quaint setting and heavy going explorations of post-war realistic social issues and themes, there is a visible worm of tension that runs through it.

The main character, Tommy Shelby, brilliantly played by Cillian Murphy, is confident and heartless; he cannot be overlooked. The rest of the cast, for example, Helen McCrory, playing the matriarch role, Arthur Shelby interpreted by Paul Anderson, and the rest of the participants, all create a very composite and rather interesting series of characters.

Anthony Byrne, Colm McCarthy, and Tim Mielants are the directors of the series that looks fantastic, has focused and well-choreographed action scenes, as well as heartfelt moments that focus on characters. The direction helps to convey the desolation and roughness of 1920s Birmingham which in turn brings added realism to the story.

The musical score is modern artists and it gives the entire series the right feel. The abrupt and exciting music selections do not work as a mere dessert for audiences but as the enhancement of the storyline and contribute to the intrigue of the show itself.

‘The series has a great cinematography, moody look, and so close to the character of a post-war Birmingham’. Every single frame is made to accentuate the style of the show in question—all of it feeling incredibly raw.

Production design is very good as it captures the feel of the industrial environment outside the factories and the interiors of the factories. They loved details due to which the viewers are primarily placed in the universe of Peaky Blinders, costumes, settings, and everything else.

Special effects are used in a rather restrained manner, but this is perfectly proved by the focus on realistic storyline, which allows to strengthen the historic environment of the show.

Cuts are clean, and effectively help to preserve the high level of dramatic and tension, while smoothly transitioning from one character’s development to the other, as well as different kinds of action scenes.

The pacing of the show is slow because the creators want to focus on the characters and the narratives they have to offer. Sometimes it may feel stifling but it has the potential to erupt into dramatic moments.

Language in Peaky Blinders is fantastic where dialogue takes vivid account of the accents and the way of public speaking of that period. Some dialogue is subtle threat mixed with aggression or simple tension, which adds some extra dimension to the discussions.

However, for all the superb execution of Peaky Blinders , certain episodes may seem slower than others, to some audience members at least. Nevertheless, its engaging plot and great character development somehow make up for that.

In conclusion, Peaky Blinders is definitely an engaging program that submerges the viewer in the world of crime and influence. The portrayal by Cillian Murphy and other cast members, outstanding production values make it a must see especially for lovers of historical drama and gangster films.