As this episode of Peaky Blinders begins, Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) remembers what Polly told him about there being a war as well as Michael saying he has been too busy to punish the people who killed her. Soon, his car pulls up in front of the house where Lizzie (Natascha O’Keeffe) and the kids greet him. He hugs Ruby (Orla McDonagh) while Charles (Billy Jenkins) stands nearby. Charles asks about presents while Lizzie reveals that Ruby is feeling better now. Before they do anything else, Tommy wants to take them for a drive for Dr. Robert can have a look at Ruby. Ruby is taken to the Shelby Sanatorium For Sick Children. He goes outside to throw up before Lizzie comes out to say everything is all clear. They agree that is a relief. Then, Lizzie asks when he last slept. Tommy admits he hasn’t got much sleep since the last time they spoke on the phone.

Before he sleeps, he wants to speak to Johnny and Esmeralda. Lizzie believes they could be on vacation in America, but Tommy says he has to meet with a guy who is coming to London. Although there is one last deal to be done and difficulties should be expected, he is confident that they will escape. Lizzie questions whether he feels anything because he talks like he is watching everything on a screen. Tommy offers to go to bed with her when they get home and give the kids to Frances. She feels like she is just another item on his list. Later that night, Lizzie wakes up when she hears glass shatter nearby. She contemplates grabbing the gun, but finds it is Tommy having a seizure in the bathroom. Tommy sees himself fighting with someone before he finally comes through.

When he gets up, Lizzie begins cleaning the cuts on his back while he tells her it has been four years, one month, and six days since he had a drink. He says his head is clear and he is himself. He confirms it happened on the ship back too, but it wasn’t as bad. She recommends he see a doctor. He says he can’t because he has work to do. Tommy says they have to keep going until the Boston business is resolved. He says the Peaky Blinders can rest after that. Next, Thomas is introduced to a crowd at a Birmingham Labour Party meeting. He holds up a sign that says silence while revealing he has a message or instruction from Westminster. They must be silent and say nothing about the present situation in this city. They shouldn’t say anything about hunger, job, or pay.

While those in greener pastures can talk and get loud, the socialists must hush. Although the king wants them to be silent, they’ll be the ones suffering the cuts in wages, welfare, and dignity. Tommy says he will not be silent while ripping up the paper and throwing the pieces to the ground. He has heard their voices and will take them with him to Westminster. Laura McKee (Charlene McKenna) with the IRA arrives outside and enters the building as Tommy continues speaking. He tells them to be silent and save their voices because they’re going to need them when they rally together on Saturday at the Bull Ring Market. Once he exits the stage, he approaches Laura McKee who says she is a Battalion Commander with Fermanagh IRA. She says they both have reasons to hate her and want to seek revenge for her killing their people.

Arthur (Paul Anderson) stops her and says it is Gypsy tradition not to mention the name of the dead in their company. Tommy says business comes before issues of vengeance in the Shelby family because those who passed would understand. She reminds them they agreed to meet in a crowded place, but Tommy says there is no need since they need her alive. When Tommy and Laura sit down together, she says they’ve been doing business for a while, yet they haven’t met. She goes on to say he spoke with passion and compassion. Laura has heard from many reputable sources that he has a reputation for moral turpitude. He jokes that is a good name for a racehorse. He knows what that means, but insists he is changing as is his organization. Laura wants to know what happened in Boston.

He explains that Jack Nelson said no. When she asks if they’re going to accept that answer, Tommy shows her letters written to and from Nelson including one from the President of the United States. He says his racehorse, Moral Turpitude, is one of the many in his stables. He’ll take her out for a run if there is a good cause that requires her services. Officially, Jack is coming to London to buy liquor import licenses. Unofficially, he is on a fact-finding mission to gauge the support for fascism in Britain before reporting back to the President. In a letter to his son, Jack expresses strong support for fascism. He says some interesting things about Jews in a letter to a friend in Berlin. He believes Jack is coming to find proof that fascism will prevail and they’re going to help him in that task.

He says in politics it is more like a circle. If you go far enough left, you’ll eventually find someone who has gone far enough right to meet you. He says working-class socialists like him and working-class nationalists like her create national socialism. He claims he is in the middle and a man who just trying to make an honest living in a very dark world. Tommy knows she has friends fighting for a fascist Ireland and that she is acting on their behalf. When Jack comes to London, Thomas can give him access to Oswald Mosley and fascist sympathizers in the House of Commons and House of Lords. He can offer Jack Dublin with Laura’s help and that might allow them to ship their product to Boston. All she has to do is sit with Jack, talking to him about a new golden age, and let him put a pin in the map of Ireland for the President of the United States.

Seconds later, Ada Shelby (Sophie Rundle) interrupts to say she found Arthur in Garrison Lane with a syringe in his hand. Laura admits this meeting isn’t what she expected, but she will help Tommy change the world. Ada says it never is and the answer is always yes. He tells her she can let herself out through the back door and to tell her friends that he has changed. Outside, Ada says the syringe was empty when she found Arthur. Tommy insists it is all under control, but Ada isn’t satisfied with that answer and reminds him that she isn’t him or Polly even though she is trying to be. She is more worried about Tommy although he insists this is their way out. They agree he’ll make a lot of money along the way and Ada will get her fair share. He argues he will be able to undermine the fascists by being among them.

He suspects Polly would approve because she was a solid socialist beneath everything. She brings up the fact that they used to come here to get beer for their father. He says look at us now. Ada encourages him to look at themselves because one isn’t going to be here for very long. Tommy admits he wouldn’t blame her if she doesn’t want to help him carry the bucket. Regardless, this is his mission and he won’t have any limitations. She asks Tommy where he is since he used to stop to laugh once in a while. Although he is alive, Ada believes he is still looking for trouble big enough to kill him. She tells him he’ll have to carry this bucket on his own because she has children to worry about. Next, Tommy visits Alfie Solomons (Tom Hardy) and learns he doesn’t allow smoking in his presence anymore.

Alfie tells Tommy what he thinks about opera now and how it reminds him of killing Italian soldiers. He admits he is somewhat haunted by it ever since his own death. He has decided to write these voices down and turn them into an opera of his own. Tommy lights a cigarette while saying he was told that Alfie spends his days alone obsessing about opera singers, but Alfie insists opera isn’t singing. He tells Alfie that a member of his family has died since he has been sitting here writing his opera. It was his uncle Charles Solomons who ran all the narcotics, bootlegging, prostitution, and gambling syndicates out of east Boston. Charlie was shot in the cotton club last January by people Alfie knows. Alfie gets mad and says his opera is called America and it is his masterpiece.

Tommy says his uncle is dead, Boston is gone, and Alfie can’t even extinguish another man’s cigarette let alone his life. He thinks Alfie needs favors, but Alfie claims he needs a final act. Tommy believes he has written his final act so he encourages him to sit down and listen. Once Alfie sits down, Thomas says he has five tons of pure, refined opium, safe storage off Canada, and men willing to distribute it in Toronto, Quebec, New York, and Boston. The income would be immediate while the balance of power would be shifted back in favor of the Solomons family. In the final act, it will be Alfie who will take revenge. Tommy is willing to sell because the Irish are being difficult, the Italians are not an option, and Alfie is his friend.

Tommy refuses to take credit, but he will take Alfie’s half of the warehouses in Camden. He’ll knock them down and build houses for the needy. Alfie admits the Irish have always been difficult. He once saw one arguing with the statue of Oliver Cromwell in Parliament Square. He eventually got so angry that he punched the statue and broke his hand. Then, he asks how much a ton is. Gina Gray (Anya Taylor-Joy) visits Michael Gray (Finn Cole) to say Jack claims he’ll be free in a few more weeks. She is leaving for London tomorrow so she came to say goodbye. He recommends staying away from the devil and blocking her eyes if she has to. Gina tells Michael that she’ll be with him. She insists she has only been thinking of Michael and reassures him that he doesn’t have to worry about Thomas Shelby because she has no interest in a dead man.

They agree that Tommy Shelby has to die and Michael will be the one to do it. In return, he can collect the cash that Tommy won’t, five million dollars. They talk about having sex every night and their souls coming together. Tommy enters the building where Oswald Mosley (Sam Claflin) is set to speak to a large crowd while people outside call him a traitor. Inside, Oswald tries to get the perfect spotlight for his speech as Diana (Amber Anderson) helps him. When she gives him a bottle of wine, he throws it up and lets it crash to the ground before saying to launch the ship. He says it is a long and terrible journey so she shouldn’t let him down. A journalist for the Daily Mirror asks Thomas why he would attend this speech. Thomas says Mosley’s constituency borders his own, they’ve worked together in the past, and Mosley was once a socialist too.

He is there to act as a bridge between ideologies. He is there to remind his friend that the way of the British people is compromise. Then, he tells Lizzie that Mosley’s wife died six months ago so he will be with his mistress who is a lady of some standing. When Arthur arrives, Tommy quickly realizes that he broke his promise since he is already intoxicated. Johnny Dogs (Packy Lee) insists he tried his best, but Arthur hid some stuff in his sock. They take Arthur to a private spot so he can change shirts with Johnny because he is wearing black like Mosley requested. Thomas blames himself since he is the one who voted to get involved in the opium trade while Arthur said no. Arthur has been hanging out with Mosley in his big, beautiful house. While they give him respect, Thomas believes Arthur gives them snow from the company.

Thomas slaps him before explaining he has to remain unresolved in everything. Johnny is worried that they’ll take a picture of him in the black shirt though. They talk about Ada having to make a decision whether she wants to work with them. Johnny takes Lizzie to her seat as Tommy requested. While they’re alone, Tommy tells Arthur that he sent Linda a letter before he went to America to ask if she believes in forgiveness since she is a Christian woman. He shows Arthur the return letter which confirms that Linda does. Tommy isn’t a Christian although he believes in forgiveness too. He offers to write another letter to Linda if Arthur can stay clean for two weeks because he knows where she is. However, he needs his brother back first.

Arthur tells Tommy it has been so long since he has smiled. Tommy wants to go see what this bastard has to say. They begin fighting with the black shirts. Lizzie tells him they should go home now that he has had his fun, but Tommy says they have business. Johnny is told to get Arthur home and check his socks this time. Lizzie tells Tommy they should get out and that they have enough. He doesn’t think so though. Lady Diana comes down the stairs to introduce Oswald who she calls the future Prime Minister. A protestor throws a bottle inside as Tommy begins focusing solely on Lady Diana. Lizzie says she looks terrible. Tommy says she looks beautiful, but he needs to impress this woman so he is going to act like she is beautiful as well. They’re introduced to Diana Mitford seconds later as she says she is Oswald’s most recent and last mistress ever.

They talk about Paris which Diana says she hates. They prefer Berlin and intend to get married there. When Tommy suggests going to a private spot to discuss business, Diana and Oswald make it clear that Diana is going to be involved because she is the engine of Oswald’s enterprise. Lizzie says she knows and will join the meeting as well as company director. Diana pulls her away. In another room, Oswald gets three drinks since he knows Tommy doesn’t drink anymore. That is one thing Tommy has in common with their friend in Berlin. Tommy tells him about Jack Nelson coming to London to buy import licenses. Oswald believes he is Roosevelt’s envoy unofficially. Diana asks Lizzie if she knows why the bridge to Roosevelt is so important. She admits she doesn’t although she has screwed Diana’s future husband and knows lots of things about him.

After Lizzie leaves, Diana asks if she can call him Thomas. She also agrees they’d like to meet Nelson and they’re grateful for Tommy’s efforts. Oswald believes Tommy should do something about his wife before this enterprise goes any further. Next, Thomas meets with Jack Nelson (James Frecheville) who says he came early to look at the beautiful church. He hopes meeting in a church would make them more cautious with lies and truth. Tommy doesn’t think anyone will be listening because he doesn’t believe in God. Jack says the way Catholics were treated in his country made him angry and what he is today. He asks Tommy what made him angry. He says slowness in anything because he wanted to have everything already. To avoid being bothered by a man in the shadows, Thomas carried a screwdriver and blade. Plus, everyone believed he had the power to lay curses on others and he says he does. Jack’s first murder victim was a priest.

As for Tommy, he first killed a Prussian boy with green eyes who was already underground. He claims he last killed a man four years. His name was Thomas Shelby and he drank whisky. Jack asks about his desire to be able to sell narcotics that kill people in his city. Thomas tells him about the study by the Vatican he read that said alcohol disproportionately kills more of their Catholic brothers and sisters. As for opium, it is a sedative that is more often selected by Protestants and atheists. In return, there are like-minded people Tommy will put him in touch with. They talk about the import license and Thomas’s alcohol that is favored by the working class. Jack admits he’d like to meet fascists but not the ones in boots and black shirts. Instead, he wants to meet the ones in tuxedos.

Thomas knows men for and against the cost. He explains he has been working with Churchill in many capacities and has his trust. He can offer Jack access to men who support his cause and a report on all of Churchill’s strategies since he opposes it. Thomas access to South Boston. Otherwise, Jack can take on Churchill on his own and he can sell the opium to Jews. When Thomas asks if they have a deal, Jack says he’ll think a great deal about what he just said. Meanwhile, Lizzie goes looking for Ruby and finds some weird drawings. Before long, she discovers Ruby sitting in front of the fireplace saying she can hear voices coming from up the chimney.

She says they’re the gray men. Then, Thomas stands up and tells the other politicians about his prior living conditions and how they would test the morality of even the most virtuous. Churchill (Neil Maskell) listens to him with Oswald sitting nearby too. Lizzie gets a doctor to check on her daughter while Tommy says he intends to put forth a bill that will offer radical reform in housing in this country. He says slums will be cleared and new houses will be built. Diana laughs as Tommy talks about building the houses with high standards and government-owned bricks. Lizzie tries to get in touch with Tommy as Ruby begins coughing up blood. Thomas gets a note from Lizzie asking him to come home because Ruby is sick. He begins hearing “Tickner Maura O Beng O Beng” over and over again.

Ruby says the gray man is coming for her and coming for daddy as well. When Tommy gets to his office, he is attacked from behind. Simultaneously, we see him fighting with someone a mine. He kills both of them, but it wasn’t real. Someone knocks on the door to check on him as he lays on the floor. He gets a call from Lizzie who reveals she has a temperature of 101 and nothing is working so he should return now. When he returns home, Lizzie says the doctor recommended not getting close to her because she is coughing up blood. Tommy picks up the phone and tells Madonna to put him through to Esme Shelby Lee.

 

Peaky Blinders Review

While this season of Peaky Blinders hasn’t been bad, it isn’t as good as some of the earlier seasons. Although there are plenty of episodes left, the season has been a bit anticlimactic for a final season. In some ways, it is just starting to get weird like it is desperate to be different this time around even when it isn’t. About three or four scenes had the camera rotating in a circle for no good reason and it was enough to make viewers nauseous. The whole fascism storyline was covered last season so I was really hoping they wouldn’t rehash it, but they have.

Arthur is still being Arthur, but he might have a reason to clean himself up. Regardless, the once-best character of the series has become an annoyance. I am not sure if Ruby’s voices are supernatural, but I think we can all figure out who the “gray man” is. The series really needs to focus on this a lot more since it seems like the main storyline this season. Jack Nelson is like an American Thomas Shelby, but he is on a different side of the political spectrum.

I am still confident that this could develop into an outstanding season of Peaky Blinders so it might need to be judged as a whole instead of being so harsh on a few episodes. The episode scores a 7 out of 10. Recaps of Peaky Blinders can be found on Reel Mockery here. Learn how to support the Reel Mockery project by following this link.