My Sneak-Peek To The Peaky Blinders

How I ended up watching one episode (by an accident), loved it, and why I am not going to see any more of it. Ever again.

Is anyone familiar with the show?

Basically it’s ‘one big hurrah’ drama series here in the UK, and maybe even more now during the lockdown, monitoring the early after-war years post 1919 in Birmingham, England. And the adventures of the gipsy criminal Shelby Family who became rich and successful within less than a generation. Out of which the main character, the leader of the clan and the absolute boss with the respect and arrogance that amounts to Big Ben, is the young Thomas Shelby.

And by the way, it is somewhat based on a real story which makes the series even more exciting to follow. The title, ‘Peaky Blinders’ actually represents a street gang that in reality operated in Birmingham in the same era.

How did I end up watching?

It’s all a fault of my flatmate who put this on last night when I walked into the living room with my laptop and an intention to pen or finish an existing article. And there it was. The first thing that immediately caught my attention was the music. And for the next almost an hour, I became petrified to my seat with a constant ‘whoa’ on my face, mostly because I am totally in love with the 1920s period. All from the dress-code, art design, architecture, culture, music, even people’s attitudes and lifestyle (except for that of the Shelbys’ but more on that later).

What have I observed?

I do believe that this work of Steven Knight, the director, is an exceptional piece of art! It surely has a lot to keep you and your mind totally engaged not doubting a single scene and wanting more. What makes it so believable is the brilliant choice of actors, strong dialogues as well as the scenery and costumery. Music choices within it are also beyond terrific. So, if you are outside of the UK and interested to get a fair picture of how the country looked like and functioned in the 1920s to 1930s, I do recommend you do your own little peek on the show!

So here’s my next one. I was able to understand the whole show (basically) within that one episode of what I was told was a 5th season (it’s over Netflix). Including the main plot, people’s personalities, intentions, and lead character profiles. I may cause spoilers if I get into what kept happening in that episode, and for the purpose of this article, it ain’t really relevant.

What is interesting is the motive of the whole setting. So, we’ve got this Shelby gang who because of their persistent crime activities (and trading gin), in the expanding area of the UK, acquires quite a bit of wealth in a very short time span. As their past was all significantly driven by a lack (of money, power, influence, and prejudice to their origin) and having to fight for survival through crime and mafia practices, none of these changes as they grow bigger, the furthermore, it becomes their power-station.

I have to say, it’s been really entertaining to watch these seemingly strong characters acting out their egos, desires, and revenge. Often without a reason relevant enough. But, it’s not been enough to keep me engaged again.

Before I’d had a chance to revisit and share any of this with my flatmate, I got introduced to the fact that she’s very much in love with the main character. As she summarized, he’s the classic example of the ‘bad’ loner boy with somewhat of a good heart. I have given him a chance in those 40 minutes to show me so and persuade me. And, he failed.

The Character Profile of ‘famous’ Tommy Shelby

And why I believe there’s nothing much to admire about him. (And why some think there is.)

My flatmate was fairy right about Tom’s general description.

It surely is true that the choice of actor, Cillian Murphy, contributes to making Tommy rather magnetically attractive, puzzling and desirable. That’s to talk on the outside. On the inside though, there’s a lot of going on, a lot that this still young Tommy is missing out on and psychologically speaking, a lot of inner-shit-to work through and resolve.

So, Tommy chooses to portray his importance and influence to others by acts of power and violence often (such as killing a healthy wild horse for it been wild or getting a journalist brutally killed only because he dared to challenge Tom’s early family business activities and other affiliations), all this drama only to silence the inner emptiness and insecurity he must be battling with.

It might feel somehow tempting and inviting, especially for us women, to associate with the vulnerability of this young troubled and aloof gangster (which we as women can always sense somehow), thinking all he needs is just a bit of TLC, but that is a very dangerous game to play.

Why? Because in reality, as well as in this show, there does not seem to be any easy fix for this kind of man. And giving ourselves to accepting that some of Tom’s qualities and behaviour are actually tolerable, or even something to desire for or admire on a man may make it challenging to distinguish and pick well between the deeply insecure and troubled men (that actually require therapy) and the healthy ones that are ready for an interdependent relationship — in real life. (I know many women who fell into this bad-behaviour but a good-heart-man trap in their lives which soon turned into a misery, until one day they understood, sought help, and walked away from their ‘Mother Theresa’ roles.)

Tom likes to take advantage of people, particularly women, and does not really love them. And they again and easily fall into the same trap. He lost his first wife to a shooting accident which left him with a son to remind him of what seemed to have been a true gangsters’ love. However, it doesn’t seem he ever worked through this loss properly to see ahead and be in the present. At least sometimes with his growing son - he seems to miss out on too many moments.

If I were to do a proper personality profile for Tommy (which I may try at some point if there was an interest), it would reveal deeper and deeper layers of his personality and its roots in trauma from childhood and life experiences. But not to make this too complex, the main reasons why Thomas should not be admired as a hero, are:

1. he doesn’t have his values right, 2. he doesn’t have his inner shit together, 3. bridge burner within a blink of an eye — he can easily get rid of people that don’t fit his picture anymore and without guilt, 4. as long as the reasons serve the motives — meaning, if the reason to lie, blackmail, manipulate or kill someone is good enough, then the act is well justified, 5. he’s knowingly doing the wrong things and is OK with that, 6. he’s just not present, and so 7. always after external validation through things to fill his (inner) blank spaces — that they never will. (As the cure is also inside.)

Eventually…

Why Peaky Blinders don’t do for me?

Before going there, I think it’s fair to say that Peaky Blinders as a package actually did hold my attention since last night around 11 pm until now, a day after, 4,30 pm UTC time. Mostly because I got quite fascinated with the concept, the catchy name (I couldn’t get out of my mind) including the Shelbys’, to even writing about it.

Putting all the previous points together though, and despite the fact that the show obviously has a lot to offer — from the cinematic arts to the art of human psychology — it is not the one for me.

The truth is that my time — however ‘relative’ its concept — is super important and valuable. Second, I always look at what the impact of the thing is for me (basically ‘any’ thing — that’s the perk and liability of being a Coach). So I evaluated shortly that there’s not much of a value gained or a significant impact if I continue watching the show and trade my time for it. And third, if there was a time, and even a value, the impact this may over time have on me won’t be that great. Why? Because I am a (mind-emotional) sponge and I’d tend to take something out of the characters anyway which I’d start using (even unconsciously) in my own life. And just by seeing that one episode, I realistically assume that it won’t be a quality to be proud of. And even that I could be wrong, I don’t need to take that risk.

You know, we eventually become one of those 3–5 people we spend the most time with. As well as one of those ‘few things’ that we spend the most time doing.

That’s why I keep writing. For instance.

So here I am, leaving the Peaky Blinders to those who can’t resist them. And honestly, if you can’t, I don’t judge, blame or even object. I may get your reasons just fine. On the other hand, I hope I didn’t trigger someone to just finding their new obsession. (You’re welcome.)

Thanks for being with me till the end.

Lucy ❤

This is what I do when I am not accidentally watching Netflix or writing. Feel free to Connect With Me for a personal conversation.

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