The series is renowned for its contemporary soundtrack, featuring artists like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey, and Arctic Monkeys, which adds a modern edge to the historical setting.
The first series is set in 1919, shortly after the end of World War I. The Shelby family, led by the ambitious and haunted Tommy Shelby, runs a successful illegal betting shop in Birmingham. Their lives are upended when Tommy accidentally acquires a shipment of guns stolen from a local arms factory. This draws the attention of Chief Inspector Chester Campbell, a ruthless detective sent from Belfast by Winston Churchill to recover the weapons and purge the city of crime and communist agitators. Tommy must navigate the pressures from the police, rival gangs, and his own family while trying to legitimize the family business. The series is renowned for its contemporary soundtrack,
Set during the Great Depression in 1929, the fifth series sees Tommy Shelby entering the world of politics as a Member of Parliament. He is approached by Oswald Mosley, a charismatic politician with a dangerous fascist agenda. Tommy must balance his responsibilities as a political leader with his role as the head of a criminal empire, all while dealing with internal betrayals and his deteriorating mental health. Their lives are upended when Tommy accidentally acquires
Netflix, under a deal with Harvey Weinstein's company and Endemol, acquired the rights to release the show in the United States and around the world. In January 2021, it was announced that series six would be the last, followed by a spin-off film. The final series was aired in 2022. Background and Inspiration Set during the Great Depression in 1929, the
Steven Knight, the creator of the series, was inspired by stories he heard from his father about the gang. Knight's father's uncles, the Sheldons, were reportedly members of the Peaky Blinders. Knight wanted to create a mythologized version of Birmingham's history, blending historical facts with fictional elements to tell a compelling story of family, power, and ambition. Plot Summary