Peaky Blinders

Set in Birmingham in 1919, Peaky Blinders follows Thomas "Tommy" Shelby, a shrewd and ambitious gang boss who leads a small, tight-knit criminal outfit known for stitching razor blades into their caps. Returning soldiers, factory hands, and the unstable postwar economy form the backdrop as Tommy pushes to expand his family's influence into legal and political arenas while managing rivals, the police, and fraying household loyalties. The show spends time on planning and small, tense moments as much as on action, so schemes unfurl slowly and characters' motives take time to surface. He often balances brutality with cold calculation, and those closest to him pay a heavy price.

Created by Steven Knight, the show debuted on BBC Two in 2013 and later moved to BBC One, with Cillian Murphy leading the cast and a strong ensemble supporting the series. International audiences surged after it became widely available on streaming platforms.

Across its run the series earned numerous award nominations and some wins within British television circles, with recognition often highlighting acting, costume design, and production values; individual cast members received industry nods for strong performances. Production design, sound and cinematography were often singled out.

The show left a cultural mark, from the throwback tailoring and peaked caps influencing fashion to its unexpected soundtrack mixing modern rock and hip-hop with period visuals. Phrases and imagery from the series became memes, and streaming exposure helped make it a global reference point for gritty period drama.

Critics and audiences have generally rated it highly, reflected in an 8.525/10 vote average from 10,716 votes. Viewers praise Murphy's lead work, the show's mood and visuals. Recurring themes include family loyalty, class tension, the scars of war, ambition, and the corrupting pull of power, and some disliked violence.