Peaky Blinders Season 2 (2014) Review 

It may have taken a bit longer then I expected but I have now had the chance to watch the second season of Peaky Blinders and here is my review for it. The premise of the season sees The Peaky Blinders looking to expand their empire to London, this causes different factions to come into conflict and cause problems for Tommy Shelby. 

Main Character

Cillian Murphy is back as Tommy Shelby and once again he is fantastic. It is just so much fun to root for this anti hero as he is put in these awkward positions but his charisma and confidence makes you always feel like he is in control. Murphy feels like a real star here and he crafts out this wonderful character that is the poster boy of this great show. 

Supporting Characters

There is a huge cast of supporting characters which means I may not to get everybody but just my favourites. Paul Anderson plays Arthur Shelby and he is probably my favourite character to watch, they continue his character arc from the first season and he is just really entertaining and messed up to watch. Sam Neil is back as Detective Campbell and he is even more vicious this season and kind of becomes more like the characters that he detested from the first season of the show and he is a great character to watch. Tom Hardy makes his anticipated debut as Alfie Solomons and for me he is a show stealer, he is just so intense and adds this real wrinkle into Tommy Shelby's life and he also adds some real star power to this already star studded cast. The late Helen McCrory gets so much shine as Polly in season 2 and her character is taken into some darker places and it brings her into conflict with others and it shows just how great she is in this role. The others in the cast are also really great and everybody really does a great job. 

Story  

The story is really good, it shows how the world is expanding and how The Peaky Blinders go about their business. They are blending between the illegal and legal parts of business and I think it is handled well and shows the balancing act for all of the characters. The only issue is that there is so much going on in this season and not all of it gets resolved so it feels like setup for future seasons that I am sure will be great but for here it made it feel like the ending didn't exactly pack the great punch. 

Script 

The script is really good, it is intense and explosive for sure. The blend between humour and drama is balanced really well and it makes these characters feel like actual people and it makes you care about the drama that they are in. 

Style

The show looks amazing, the backgrounds feel really authentic and gives you a feel of exactly the Birmingham that we are a part of. The music is something that does adds so much to the show and just raises the cool value up loads. The violence is always there and action is intense enough to really make it feel like a brutal show. 

Overall

Overall, Peaky Blinders Season 2 is a fantastic show and another season to sink your teeth into and keep me going on my way to the current 6th season. 

Peaky Blinders Season 1 (2013) Review

The final season of the vastly popular show Peaky Blinders is coming next week and I have actually never watched the show, so what better time to start then now. So here is my review for the first season of the show. The premise of the season sees a crime family looking to grow their business against competitors and the police. 

Main Character

The great Cillian Murphy plays Tommy Shelby and he is amazing in this role. He was built for this role and I really enjoyed seeing him as the leader of the family and how he wasn't just this gruff guy and had a real personality. Despite his many flaws it became pretty easy to root for him and the Peaky Blinders in the activities that they are doing. 

Supporting Characters

The legendary Sam Neill plays the police officer sent after the Peaky Blinders and he is also fantastic. He comes in with a strong will and determination to take down the group but he isn't your squeaky clean police officer and seeing his methods is an interesting comparison to the opposition group. Paul Anderson plays Arthur Shelby and he might be my favourite character on the show, there is just a charm for the loveable idiot which he is and Anderson plays it up really well. Joe Cole plays John Shelby and he fits the group really well too, he is the youngest of the trio and is more hot headed. He also had plenty of charm and is just really likeable. The late Helen McCrory plays Polly and she is a really strong female character, she is the matriarch of The Peaky Blinders and she owns it completely. The group just mesh really well together and it feels like a true family which is a good credit to the actors. Annabelle Wallis plays Grace, at first she seems like a fairly superficial character but as she gets more screen time you learn there is more about her and she is effective in her role. 

Story 

The story is really good, seeing the rise of this group and the issues that they have with other criminal organisations and the police. It ebbs and flows well and shows just how much Tommy Shelby has to deal with as the leader of this group. All of the characters have their time to shine and character development which is great to see. Though my only slight criticism is just how much is put into the first season of the show and one particular arc that happened in the last few episodes that felt a bit out of place in my eyes. 

Script 

The script is fantastic, it really feels natural and creates a group of interesting characters. It is obviously a pretty serious show and the drama is handled really well. But there are those bits of humour that are really strong and made the show feel truly great. 

Style 

The show looks amazing, it is filmed fantastically and I just loved how it was shot and how it really feels like its own special style. The use of music is also great and add so much to the show, it gets you amped for the fight scene we are watching and the show as a whole. 

Overall 

Overall, The First Season of Peaky Blinders is fantastic and is a must watch. This is a great start and is a show that should be watched for sure. 

Rating - 9/10