Peaky Blinders: More than Just a Gangster Drama
Peaky Blinders, a BBC and Netflix exclusive is a gangster family epic set in 1919 Birmingham, England. This British period drama features the Peaky Blinders, a notorious criminal gang and the most powerful gang at that time that was led by the infamous Shelby Family. The Shelby Family is led by none other than Thomas “Tommy” Shelby, a man of ambition and a fair share of trauma caused by the First World War.
Tommy, along with his brother Arthur Shelby, were war veterans who fought in the trenches in France. When the war ended, the nation faced an economic upheaval and criminal gangs were forced to fight for survival. Tommy, a returning war hero, had bigger ambitions than walking the ashen streets of Birmingham. Starting from a missing crate of guns and ammunition, Tommy’s dangerous path continues to tread on.
This series has a total of 6 seasons with the finale released just this year. Peaky Blinders is an exceptional masterpiece portraying a very different view of Britain’s past. It showed just what war can do to a person. Moreover, it tackled the issues of social class and it gets more political as the story progresses. There were guns, deaths, sex, drugs, romance, angst, and tragedy. But it’s so much more than that.
Peaky Blinders is not just about exceptional scriptwriting, acting, and direction. It teaches its viewers serious life lessons in a very thrilling way. The outstanding complexity of the plot and its characters may be the series’ mastery but the impression it leaves its viewers mirrors its overall brilliance.
Why Peaky Blinders is more than just a gangster drama.
- It reminds us of the importance of family.
As a family bonded by tragedy and misery, it is almost unimaginable how they stay strong together. Each soul in the family is damaged in their own way but somehow they still manage to get by, with unconditional support from one another. When things get rough, it is family that will help you get your shit together, just like how it is for Tommy Shelby. You make sacrifices for your family, you protect them at all costs, you keep them warm, and you make them your home. Although this series displays a family of criminals with twisted morals, they still remind us how important is it to have a family and to keep one.
- It shows us the weight of responsibility.
Every action has its consequences that we must always bear in mind. We don’t just do things for the sake of doing them. We think about it, we plan, and we work. Just like Tommy Shelby, he always tries to act rationally and he always has a plan. The decisions he makes are mostly serious ones, sometimes even risking his own or someone else’s life. But of course, although it’s fiction, Tommy is just a human being after all. He can make mistakes, and whatever happens after, he has to deal with them. Peaky Blinders reminds us that being responsible for our own actions is something we must always carve into our character.
- Knowing your limits.
Tommy is a man of ambitions alright and he would pursue them to the ends of the Earth. He is restless and sometimes reckless and he has to learn the hard way before he realizes he has reached his limit. In the same sense, it reminds us that we should always set boundaries for ourselves because going too far may get us lost. Losing your way in the midst of success may be your greatest downfall and that is something we wouldn’t want for ourselves.
- Know who you trust.
In this series, we will witness a lot of trust and betrayal. One wrong person may cost you everything so it is important to know who you trust. Not everyone is your friend and that’s the reality. Being meticulous in assessing the people around you can go a long way. Life can be a game of cards, you only see one side and when you see the other, it may already be too late.
- Never forget what you are and what you have done.
Sometimes with success, we might lose track of our history we forget where we came from, the people who helped us, and those who have wronged us. It is important that we remember this so we won’t end up taking things for granted. Also, what you have done in the past and what you are doing right now reflects on your personality. Knowing yourself will keep you acting rationally and guilt-free. Just like Tommy in this remarkable scene with Alfie Solomons, a quick reality check may be what you need to get yourself together when things get rough.
- Getting your shit together is the only way you can keep things going.
In this series, Tommy has been successful many times but there are also times when he has to accept defeat. Just like most of us, he breaks down emotionally and mentally, even for a gangster. But he always gets back up and collects his thoughts together to make things better and make a comeback. For us normal people, life can still be overwhelming. It is okay not to be okay sometimes but we must learn not to stay that way. Take your time. Get your shit together. And get back on the road.
These are what makes the series even more exceptional.
Although fictional, gives us viewers real-life lessons that come in handy in our daily lives. These life lessons may be considered “common sense” but trust me, oftentimes we forget even the most common of sense. These gentle reminders will keep us from falling apart, especially in the very challenging adulthood we are facing in this era.
Peaky Blinders is streaming in Netflix for non-UK viewers.
