At the start of the episode, Churchill (Neil Maskell) meets with Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy). They speak about Tommy’s alliance with the fascist. However, Churchill knows that Thomas is spying on Oswald Mosley (Sam Claflin). Thomas explains that he intends to assassinate Oswald. He admits to Churchill that he doesn’t see the point in carrying on sometimes. Thomas is reminded that he owns beautiful things and that is enough to keep living. Before the conversation ends, Thomas is asked about the death of Campbell. He confesses that it was Polly (Helen McCrory) who dealt with him. Meanwhile, Finn (Harry Kirton) does drugs with Billy Grade (Emmett J Scanlan). Arthur (Paul Anderson) gets involved.

He goes nutty and begins harassing Billy. Arthur does a line and makes a mess all over Billy’s suit. He tries to convince Finn that he shouldn’t tell Billy about their business. After that, everyone has a sit down with Michael (Finn Cole) and Gina (Anya Taylor-Joy). Thomas lays out his plan and Michael has something to offer too. He suggests expanding the drug trade to America. He knows people in New York, Boston, and other places. He explains that they do not want to do business with Thomas. Michael can run the business and Thomas can have a part in its anonymously as a Mr. Jones. Thomas doesn’t want to listen to his plan. He throws the paperwork into the fire.

He tells Michael to be gone when he gets back. When everyone leaves, Michael and Gina agree that they’ll have to go to plan B. Thomas is forced to calm down Barney (Cosmo Jarvis) who has gone nuts in the streets. Thomas tells Charlie (Ned Dennehy), Aberama Gold (Aidan Gillen), and the others about his plan to kill Mosley. Gold is surprised that Thomas would sacrifice an old comrade for this purpose. Thomas explains that Barney will not realize any difference. He’ll believe that he was out on vacation and will end up in the asylum. Gold is told that this will be his opportunity to get Jimmy McCavern. Charlie will deal with the Chinese during this time.

Next, Thomas and Arthur meet with Mickey Gibbs (Peter Campion). They know that he has been spilling secrets on the gang thanks to Paddy Rose. He is killed after a drawn-out conversation. Arthur pleads with Tommy for help. He doesn’t get any help or any sympathy from Thomas. Next, Tommy meets up with Alfie Solomons (Tom Hardy). They speak for the longest time about nothing really. Ultimately, Alfie agrees to convince the Jews to get out there and protest Oswald Mosley during his speech. This will create a scene and help Thomas pull off the assassination without being caught. After that, Thomas meets with Polly. She tells him that there is going to be a war and one of them will die. She cannot say which.

Thomas explains that he will kill Aberama if he takes Michael’s side. Polly gives Thomas her resignation and leaves. Tommy tries to call Arthur, Ada (Sophie Rundle), and Finn. Nobody answers so he meets up with Charlie. He convinces Charlie to tell him about his mother’s death. Thomas’ mother killed herself and Charlie was in love with her. Charlie explains that suicide seems to run in the family sometimes. He encourages Thomas to stray from that path. The following day, we see that Barney still knows how to fire his sniper rifle. Everyone begins preparing for Oswald’s speech. Finn tells Billy about Mosley coming to town and the assassination. Finn gives him money to buy beer and women. When Finn leaves, Billy picks up the phone and not the money.

Jessie Eden (Charlie Murphy) and the others protest outside of Mosley’s venue. Thomas stops her from being arrested and invites her inside. He tells her that he can do more damage from the inside. Jimmy and the others begin checking out the venue. Barney is put into place and told to shoot ten seconds after Thomas checks his watch. Thomas and Jessie speak about danger in the dressing room. Thomas encourages her to go home before the speech begin because he is going to do a good thing. Jimmy tells Oswald about the Jews coming up from Digbeth. Oswald makes Jimmy give hi the sign and say Perish Judah before he can leave the dressing room.

Alfie turns on the radio as Mosley begins his speech. It continues on and the crowd loves it. The Jews break in and Thomas pulls out the pocket watch. Before Barney can fire, he is shot and killed by someone behind him. Gold tries to sneak up on Jimmy but he ends up dead as well. Arthur almost dies but he does not. Oswald tells Thomas that it might be time to get off the stage. Thomas meets up in the dressing room with Arthur, Johnny (Packy Lee), and Jessie. He admits he doesn’t know what happened. They wonder who has been squealing on them. Arthur believes that it has to be Michael. We jump forward and find ourselves at Thomas’ house. He tells Arthur that he might have found the man he can’t defeat.

He goes for a walk on his own. He sees Grace and she encourages him to kill himself. He runs through the fog, pulls out the gun, puts it to his head, and screams. The episode ends like that.

 

Peaky Blinders Review

This was a lackluster season of Peaky Blinders. The finale wasn’t much better. It could have been great but it fell short. Around this time, I was hoping things wouldn’t work out for Thomas. It didn’t. That was satisfying but the writers didn’t take it far enough. They killed off Aberama Gold but that wasn’t a big deal. Gold has never been a major character. Breaking Barney out, which we didn’t see, was all for naught. It was pathetic to bring back Alfie too. I couldn’t listen to him mumble for 30 minutes so I skipped through much of that conversation.

The finale was slow until the last 20 minutes. It felt like a complete waste. The only thing that would have made it satisfying was the death of Arthur but they weren’t going to allow that to happen. The show isn’t willing to off major characters like it used to. This is evident in the resurrection of Alfie. It wasn’t a total disaster though. At the very least, we know what is going to happen next season, which I am hesitant to watch at this point.

Are they going to ignore Jimmy and Mosley? Will they focus solely on the battle between Thomas Shelby and Michael Gray? When Michael was making his proposal, I was half hoping Thomas would accept and the series would just end. As long as it goes on, it is only going to get worse I am afraid. Adding Hollywood actors and actresses to the mix isn’t going to help either. I wish it wasn’t so but I am afraid we’ve hit a turning point here.

I’ll watch the next season with very low expectations. The finale wasn’t great. It scores a 6.5 out of 10. No. I am not bashing anyone personally. These are my personal opinions on the matter. Some people may have loved it but I did not. Take it for what it is. Other Peaky Blinders recaps are available on Reel Mockery!