Peaky Blinders Season 1: A Razor-Sharp Beginning to Birmingham’s Most Notorious Gang
When Peaky Blinders premiered in 2013, few could have predicted the global phenomenon it would become. Created by Steven Knight and set in post-WWI Birmingham, the show’s first season was a slow-burning introduction to a brutal world of crime, ambition, and family — all anchored by a charismatic anti-hero: Thomas Shelby.
Season 1 sets the foundation not just for a crime saga, but for a character-driven epic filled with style, violence, and political intrigue.
The Setting: Grit and Glamour in 1919 Birmingham
The year is 1919, and Britain is still reeling from the effects of the First World War. Industrial cities like Birmingham are boiling pots of unrest — economic hardship, rising socialism, and the trauma of returning soldiers.
Against this backdrop, the Peaky Blinders, a gang led by the Shelby family, run the streets. They deal in gambling, protection, and slowly, larger ambitions. Their name comes from the razor blades sewn into their caps — a poetic touch for a group that cuts down anyone in their way.
Thomas Shelby: War Hero Turned Crime Lord
At the heart of it all is Tommy Shelby, played with icy brilliance by Cillian Murphy. A former soldier haunted by trench warfare, Tommy is cold, calculating, and quietly tormented. He returns from war with a plan: to take the family business to the top of Birmingham’s criminal underworld.
Season 1 follows Tommy’s attempt to expand power — starting with a risky scheme involving illegal betting, a stolen crate of guns, and a web of enemies that includes Inspector Chester Campbell (Sam Neill), sent from Belfast to “clean up” the city.
Tommy isn’t just trying to survive — he’s trying to rise.
Characters That Define the World
- Arthur Shelby: Tommy’s older brother, volatile and emotional, still broken by war.
- Polly Gray: The matriarch of the Shelby family, wise and strong-willed, played by the legendary Helen McCrory.
- Grace Burgess: A barmaid with a secret — she’s an undercover agent working for Campbell, but slowly drawn to Tommy.
- Freddie Thorne: A revolutionary and Tommy’s old war comrade, romantically involved with his sister Ada.
The dynamic between family loyalty and personal ambition adds constant tension. No one is ever fully trusted, yet blood ties keep everyone circling one another.
Style That Cuts Deep
What makes Peaky Blinders stand apart isn’t just its story — it’s the style. The show fuses gritty realism with cinematic flair:
- Dark, smoky back alleys and pubs.
- Stylish three-piece suits and flat caps.
- A modern soundtrack (Nick Cave’s “Red Right Hand,” Arctic Monkeys, The White Stripes) that electrifies every scene.
It’s historical fiction made cool, sharp, and hypnotically violent.
Themes and Impact
Season 1 lays the groundwork for many of the show’s signature themes:
- Trauma and masculinity: How war damages men and reshapes them into something dangerous.
- Power and politics: The rise of Tommy Shelby is just beginning — but it’s already clear he doesn’t want to stay a small-time gangster.
- Gender and control: Polly and Grace offer a counterbalance to the male-dominated world, showing intelligence, strength, and strategy.
Final Verdict
Peaky Blinders Season 1 is a powerful opener — not flashy for the sake of it, but purposeful and atmospheric. It draws you in slowly, rewards patience with depth, and ends with a feeling that something far bigger is coming.
Tommy Shelby isn’t just trying to win battles — he’s building an empire. And by the end of Season 1, it’s clear he’ll stop at nothing to do it.
