10 Best Peaky Blinders Episode Starring Cillian Murphy As Movie Gets Announced (2024)

Cillian Murphy is all set to return to his most beloved character Tommy Shelby for Peaky Blinders' upcoming movie. Here are 19 best episodes to watch of the hit series.

Cillian Murphy (PC:- Getty Images)

Peaky Blinders fans have some great news. For a while, there have been rumors going around that the hit TV show would have a movie. Recently, Netflix made the much-anticipated announcementthat Peaky Blinders, a movie starring Cillian Murphy, would release on Netflix very soon. As we await more details about the movie, let’s take a look back at some of the best episodes from the series.

Cillian Murphy's Oscar-winning performance in Oppenheimer is complex but lacks the magnetism and danger of Tommy Shelby. In Peaky Blinders, Murphy plays the boss of a half-Irish, half-gypsy crime family in early 20th-century Birmingham. In his quest for power, he confronts cops, rival gangs, and even the IRA. The tale of Peaky Blinders overlaps with British history, as Tommy contends with events such as the Great Depression and the advent of fascism.

He's a broken, multifaceted guy capable of both immense cruelty and surprising generosity. He lives in a perilous world yet adheres to his own moral code. Even if he frequently falls short of it, Murphy plays Tommy Shelby with grace and panache, elevating him to the ranks of TV's greatest leading men. He is supported by an impressive ensemble of supporting characters, all of whom are brought to life by series creator Steven Knight's superb writing. These are the show's 10 best episodes to watch:

ALSO READ:Peaky Blinders Movie: 6 Theories About Cillian Murphy's Thomas Shelby That Could Unfold in the Film

Peaky Blinders: Season 2, Episode 6

The second season finale takes place on Derby Day, where chaos abounds owing to the king's arrival and the presence of cops and gangsters. Tommy suddenly encounters Grace, who reveals that she is pregnant with his child. Meanwhile, his plan to use Lizzie (Natasha O'Keeffe) as bait fails, and she is assaulted. Polly has her revenge on Campbell, and Tommy is later kidnapped by three Ulster Volunteers. Instead of executing him, they assign him a mission.

The episode alternates between scenes of furious action and calmer, more reflective periods. The most unforgettable is the one in which Tommy faces a certain death. After achieving his objectives, he approaches his execution with a mix of courage and remorse. Rather than rage against the passing of the light, he resignedly smoked what he believed to be his last cigarette. We're as astonished as he is when one of his potential executioners is killed in his place. Tommy Shelby must once again confront life head-on.

Peaky Blinders: Season 3, Episode 6

The season's conclusion is bittersweet. Michael becomes a true Shelby after killing one of Alfie's (Tom Hardy) cronies, while Tommy completes a tunnel and penetrates the Russian vault, stealing countless treasures. Tommy returns home and splits the remaining booty among his colleagues before announcing the arrival of the police, resulting in the arrest of the other Peaky Blinders. It's the first event to cause a significant rift in his friendship with Michael, with ramifications that are only felt in season 6.

One of Tommy's main aims this season was to put his humble beginnings behind him and embrace high society, potentially even going entirely legitimate with his firm. However, he has a fantastic monologue in which he claims that the upper crust will never accept individuals like him. Instead of seeking their acceptance, he embraces his own personality, warts and all. He is not a lord or gentleman. He's a crime leader, and he's eager to do his part.

Peaky Blinders: The Company, Season 4, Episode 6

After the sadness of Season 4, it was fantastic to see the Peaky Blinders triumph. Tommy accepts an offer to halt the vengeance if he surrenders all of his possessions to Changretta. They meet, and Tommy confesses that he has sent Michael to the United States to deal with American Mafiosi while turning Changretta's own men against him. Arthur, who had pretended to be dead to trap Changretta, suddenly enters the distillery and shoots him dead.

Arthur's path in this episode is thus the polar opposite of John's tragic one in the first episode. The episode is ambitious, accomplished, and confident, and it hits all of the right notes, from the performances and writing to the magnificent cinematography. It's one of Tommy's most grueling victories, in which he uses his brains and guts to defeat a significantly stronger opponent. Moments like these elevate Tommy Shelby to the ranks of all-time great TV characters.

Peaky Blinders: The Noose, Season 4, Episode 1

The fourth season begins with Arthur, John, Michael, and Polly just moments away from being executed for their crimes. Tommy's respite arrives just in time to save them, but it doesn't remove Michael and Polly's dislike for him. A year later, the Peaky Blinders are dispersed and separated from one another. This vulnerability is exploited by Luca Changretta (Adrien Brody), an American thug with a score to settle.

The climax is a surprise hit for John. He's shot down in seconds, and the Peaky Blinders' sense of invulnerability is shattered. It's one of the most dramatic scenes in the series, owing to its unexpected nature. The episode has thus far lulled the spectator into a false feeling of security with many comic moments, such as Arthur's touching encounter with a goose on Christmas Eve. The peace is swept away, and we find ourselves in the heart of the season's driving drama.

Peaky Blinders: Lock and Key, Season 6, Episode 6

The show's last episode included stunning reversals. Tommy murders Michael before disappearing into the hills, certain that he will die shortly. However, a visit from Ruby's spirit reveals a startling twist: Tommy's doctor is photographed with Mosley and Diana (Amber Anderson) on their wedding day, implying a bogus diagnosis. Tommy is enraged and sets out to confront him, but in the end, he chooses peace over revenge. Tommy returns to see his last goods burn and rides away, leaving this saga behind.

Many big TV episodes end with the death of their main character; thus, it was comforting to see Tommy live to fight another day. The final shot, in particular, is exceptional. Tommy rides away on a white, almost celestial-like horse as the camera looks out from his flaming death wagon. It represents his rebirth as he bravely returns to his family and life. It's reminiscent of The Searchers' classic door frame image, which spoke so much without saying anything.

Peaky Blinders: Mr. Jones, Season 5, Episode 6

Season 5 focused on Tommy's efforts to stop Oswald Mosley (Sam Claflin), the Nazi politician and would-be Prime Minister. It leads up to his attempt to assassinate the man, which ends in disaster and pandemonium. This season, Tommy acted on moral beliefs, but he had little success. After his schemes fail, his mental state deteriorates, and the episode concludes with him alone in a field, haunted by Grace's apparition and holding his gun to his temple. It's a terrifying final image.

This is probably Tommy's lowest hour. Betrayal, loss, and loneliness loom over him, with no clear win in sight. The fatalities of prior seasons muddle his thoughts, and his rivals, particularly Mosley, stay unharmed. He is surrounded by barriers in a way that he has never experienced before. More than that, his desire to fight appeared to be practically gone. It makes his journey in Season 6 much more gratifying.

Peaky Blinders: Season 1, Episode 6

The first season concludes with an hour of confrontations. Tommy gathers the Peaky Blinders and the Lees to fight Billy Kimber's (Charlie Creed-Miles) men at the tracks, but they are ambushed at home, catching them off guard and outnumbered—until Freddie (Iddo Goldberg) tips the scales by pulling out a machine gun. Similarly, Campbell opens up to Grace and is furious at her rejection. He gets murderous, resulting in yet another stressful and confusing ending scene.

It's a polished, painstakingly written climax that highlights the series' superb pacing and three-dimensional characters. Rarely does an ending episode hit all of the right notes, bringing each character's arc to a satisfying close. Writer Steven Knight, in particular, excels at making character behavior shifts that are both startling and, in retrospect, quite predictable. Campbell's slow emergence as a sinner equal to the crooks he hunts is the best example.

Peaky Blinders: Heathens, Season 4, Episode 2

Season 4, Episode 1, concluded on an unexpected cliffhanger, with Michael and Jon gunned down by the Sicilian mafia. This episode reveals that Michael survived, but John (Joe Cole) has died. This is the most heartbreaking death of a significant character since Grace was shot in Season 3. Sophisticated writing and outstanding performances heighten the effect, as each family member deals with the loss in their own unique way.

Esme (Aimee-Ffion Edwards) is devastated and inconsolable; Polly's loss emerges as bitterness; and Arthur communicates his sorrow through tears and fury. Tommy, on the other hand, internalizes his pain and uses it to fuel his anger against Americans. Each performance conveys authenticity and intensity. On a brighter note, the episode is famous for introducing Aberama Gold (Aidan Gillen), the charming, roguish gypsy who will play a larger role in future seasons. He's both charming and dangerous, and Gillen is always enjoyable to watch in the role.

Peaky Blinders: Black Day, Season 6, Episode 1

Season 6 continues right where Season 5 left off, as the aftermath of Polly's (Helen McCrory's) death affects the characters. Tommy is hollower than ever, but he endures like a machine with unflinching determination. His conviction that "every catastrophe is also an opportunity" serves as the season's thesis statement. Michael (Finaly Lewis J. Cole) vows vengeance, setting up their inevitable meeting.

The episode's centerpiece is the opening segment at a cold pub on the island of Miquelon. A few customers annoy a silent Tommy, prompting him to cut one of their faces and scare the others into submission. It's reminiscent of the meanest Western. It's also visually impressive, with the heavy fog and overhanging shadows giving everything an ethereal quality. It's almost as if Tommy is in limbo, and his decisions in the coming episodes will determine whether he remains dead or returns to the living.

Peaky Blinders: Season 1, Episode 5

The final episode of the initial season is a rough one. Ada (Sophie Rundle), experiencing betrayal by Tommy, isolates herself from her family. Arthur Shelby Sr. (Tommy Flanagan), who abandoned his loved ones ten years ago, comes to town, only to mislead Arthur (Paul Anderson). Grace (Annabelle Wallis), who has fallen in love with Tommy, strikes a deal with Inspector Campbell (Sam Neill) to expose and determine the position of the weapons in return for leaving Tommy and the Shelbys alone, but Campbell quickly backs out.

The second-last episode of a season set the tone for the finale and left viewers wanting more. Following a poor fourth episode, this fifth edition accomplishes this purpose wonderfully, raising expectations for the impending final episode. It cleverly weaves together multiple intricate plotlines while increasing tension throughout. It's also visceral, with graphic scenes of violence, such as Tommy brawling with IRA official Byrne (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor). As always, the mayhem is portrayed with stunning cinematography.

ALSO READ:From Peaky Blinders To Oppenheimer; Exploring Cillian Murphy's Journey To Superstardom On His 48th Birthday