Peaky Blinders – The Enemy

Then there are the enemies of Thomas Shelby, which are numerous in numbers

• Inspector Chester Campbell
• Darby Sabini
• Billy Kimber
• Alfie Solomons
• Luca Changretta
• Oswald Mosley
• Father John Hughes
• Grand Duke Leon Petrovna
• Jimmy McCavern

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Out of all the nemesis Thomas Shelby had, I liked Inspector Campbell, Luca Changretta and Jimmy McCavern, for their ruthlessness and bending of rules. Jimmy McCavern’s smirk is something I really like; with the devil may care attitude. Whereas Oswald Mosley , another notable character certainly has been portrayed well, as the devil with the black shade.

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Inspector Campbell and Luca Changretta are both driven by the principles, one to serve the nation to utmost devotion and other having loyalty towards his family, Italian- Sicilian thing. They are without doubt two characters who push Thomas to the wall, he seems to be loosing to them, till the last moment, when he pulls out the trump card. Inspector Campbell has been assigned the task to identify and collect the lost ammunition, whereas Luca Changretta is out to avenge the death of his father and kin.

Inspector Campbell can be accused of soliciting the prostitutes and coercing Aunt Polly into having sex with him (to get Michael released from prison). However, it must be noted that situations do create most ‘deviant of souls’ to honorable personalities. He pushes Thomas to do killings on behalf of the crown, uses and manipulates IRA to get his work done. Cleans the police force in Birmingham of the corrupt police officers. Here, we have an audience romanticising a character Thomas Shelby who is serial killer, drug peddler, master manipulator, smuggler, killer of lover’s husband, financial exploiter, regular among prostitutes and pathological lawbreaker. Whereas an honest cop is being shown as an exploiter and negatively for doing his job.

Luca Changretta is no different from Thomas Shelby, both value family, have illegal business, ruthless men who kill, seek revenge, violent yet calculated and money oriented. The difference is Luca is more organised till, his most of blood loyal kin are killed and then money outweighs his life. Thomas Shelby gets him killed by buying all the men with him, smart move. Out of all the gangsters which I saw in this series, Luca Changretta takes the cake. The way he just walked into Thomas Shelby’s office and showed the ease of getting job done was nicely portrayed in the scene. In order to show “hero” in good light, you need have a strong villain character. But, If we look in the series, there are no hero or villains just ‘Anti-Heroes‘ which is the reality of the world. Someone maybe a good son like Luca Changretta but then can be a lousy husband, bad student, or killer of other people’s sons. Same could be said about all the Shelby brothers, it is just animal kingdom rule to fullest, strongest of all, taking everything.

Till now, by season 1-5 which I have binged watched, Thomas Shelby has become MP from Birmingham and has for OBE (Order of British Empire), will see more seasons 6 and 7, since Netflix has renewed it contract till then. A possible movie is also in pipeline for this series.

I can’t help notice a similarity of the character in latest Bollywood action packed drama movie- KGF. Character’s rise from bottom, ruthlessness in killings, great ambition, need for public recognition, womanizer, poverty a catalyst in getting into Organized crime, asked to kill powerful personalities, and becoming leader of masses. The Bollywood flicks just make a shock and awe spectacle, but most of the logic among stories seem to be same. I recommend people to watch it.

References

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2442560/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt

https://screenrant.com/peaky-blinders-show-term-explained/

https://screenrant.com/peaky-blinders-true-story-real-gang-explained/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peaky_Blinders_(TV_series)

https://peaky-blinders.fandom.com/wiki/Peaky_Blinders_Wiki

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b045fz8r

https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-49405924

The Real Thomas Shelby of Peaky Blinders

https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1283694/Peaky-Blinders-cast-who-is-Billy-Kimber-real-person-Birmingham-Boys-gangster

Peaky Blinders – Love Interest

Let’s address the women in Thomas Shelby’s life which is the focal point of discussion

• Grace Burgess/Shelby – His 1^st wife from an aristocratic family
• Lizzie Starke/Shelby – 2^nd Wife (ex-prostitute, but later employed in Shelby Corporation)
• May Carleton (Rich Horse trainer)
• Princess Tatiana Petrovna (Mad Russian royalty)
• Jessie Eden (Communist Leader of the Unions)

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• Grace Burgess/Shelby comes as an undercover cop to get information on Shelby brothers and instead falls for Thomas Shelby. Inspector Campbell who was trying to woo her, losses her to Thomas Shelby. At the end of season 1, She goes away and then comes back into Thomas Shelby’s life in season 2. Shelby’s get her husband killed (make it look like an accident so that Grace and Thomas can marry) and make a widow ready to be taken. She eventually marries him, but her illustrious family of Cavalrymen wears uniform on the wedding day, to show case their achievement, much to the dismay of Gypsy Shelby’s who loathed the World War I, where they were the infantrymen. She tries to legitimize the Shelby business via Foundations and all, but gets killed. Thomas Shelby has a son through her.

• Lizzie Starke/Shelby – She is prostitute when Thomas meets her. At one point his brother John wanted to marry her, Thomas doesnot give permission, since she is a public woman and been sleeping with him. He later employs her in his office as a secretory, asks her to stop being with other men for money but uses her to honey trap and kill senior army man. She eventually becomes pregnant with his girl child, then he marries her.  Not entirely a fairy-tale love story, Lizzie is a matter of convenience for Thomas Shelby.

• May Carleton is pure fascination, a high society woman with whom Thomas Shelby enjoys a fling or two, while she is training his horse for the race. She has got class and statue, I believe above Grace Burgess, but seems to be looking for some companionship. She is the most level-headed of the lot, not letting feeling mixed much, keeping it to the point. Very mature in handling unwanted situations.

• Princess Tatiana Petrovna is a work and pleasure situation. Aristocratic Russians need to get a job done and they are willing to give princess also, to ensure its success. She has a wild side which is brought out and pushes Thomas to the edge, post their fling she updates him that there is man waiting for her in Europe. Thomas rightly puts, “poor man“, since having such a woman around permanently is an undesirable situation.

• Jesse Eden – It is surprising that Thomas Shelby did not marry her, as she seems to be a genuine soul, I liked her the most. Thomas Shelby uses her completely to get more information on communist and at the same time bed her to make a more intimidate connection. She has knowledge of his past and tries to leverage into using it against him. However, Thomas uses information about her past to get her in his side, she had a boyfriend who had PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from world war I and shot himself dead. Jesse seemed to have compassion and empathy for a long-lasting relationship, along with feistiness to fight for her rights.

Now if you wish to marry such a guy, then either you will die or you will be used your entire life, like Lizzie is being done to. Not sure what is the female fascination or attraction, I have tried to list down few based on my understanding

• The ultimate bad boy fantasy
• One who cannot be tamed
• One who will not share anything or thoughts with you ladies, hides emotions well.
• He may manipulate you to get what he wants from you, and women love that thrill.
• Self made man, Money via self-effort (but then men who follow rules and earn well should considered)
• Women Wish to sin with the sinner
• Desire to reform the sinner
• Social climber
• Cold and calculated
• Grabs the opportunity when it comes
• Loyalty towards family
• Some women have Fascination towards violent men
• Automatic protection from unwanted attention, by being in relationship with such men.
• Liking for Alpha men.

References

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2442560/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peaky_Blinders_(TV_series)

https://peaky-blinders.fandom.com/wiki/Peaky_Blinders_Wiki

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b045fz8r

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/2l9cwTRRfqrFkXKs8C18lyr/jessie-eden

The Real Thomas Shelby of Peaky Blinders

Peaky Blinders – The Family

For the longest time, I had seen advertisements and memes of this show on many social networking sites, but it was the recommendation of a close friend which made me intrigued and convinced to watch the British show which started in 2013.

Peaky blinders, a BBC and Netflix production is a part real and part fiction, post world war I based show. Before 2nd World War, there were many gangs working in the United Kingdom and some in the late 1890s. This story is inspired by them. It is written by Steven Knight, a veteran writer but Peaky blinders being the most famous show for him. It is highly rated in the IMDB around 8.8, so that does suffices the need to watch it.

My main curiosity was female attraction to the character and things this TV show and timelines symbolizes.  Main protagonist is Thomas Shelby, a decorated world war I war veteran with PTSD syndrome, although I doubt it was diagnosed such in those days (1919). He is a gypsy and has 3 brothers, 1 sister, 1 Aunt, 1 cousin (who gets later added) and 1 Uncle help him run the Shelby corporation.

It is a bookmaking, gambling, pub owning corporation which has hidden influences and interest in rioting and public control, acts as a cut throat Birmingham street gang, working for the powerful elite in United Kingdom in return for huge sums of money.  Thomas Shelby is good at manipulating people, making deals and has entrepreneur streak. His ambition for himself and his family makes them earn more money and get himself public recognition.

The series represents a character which is seen as an underdog and comes from humble beginnings, such characters are a favorite of masses as they represent class struggle and individuals who wish to rise up the ladder of socials class (either way, by out-maneuvering others and taking risks, getting involved in illegal activities) and at the same time exposing obnoxious behavior of ruling elites.

The Shelby family Characters list are as follows

• Arthur Shelby – Hot headed Eldest Bother
• Thomas Shelby
• John Shelby – 3^rd Brother
• Ada Shelby/Thorne – Head strong sister
• Finn Shelby – Youngest Brother
• Elizabeth ‘Polly’ Grace – Aunt, confidant.
• Michael Gray – Son of Aunt Polly
• Charlie Strong – Uncle Figure to Thomas Shelby
• Linda Shelby – Arthur’s wife (I really find her fascinating, how she tries to steer her husband into right direction)
• Esme Shelby – Wife of John Shelby

Thomas Shelby appears to play a man, who can do everything on his own. He thinks out of a bad situation, his luck plays a part, he is shrewd and intelligent, pits his enemy against each other etc. However, if you look closely, he is nothing without the support of his family.

His brothers Arthur and John work as enforcers for him, doing most of the thug work and killings. Arthur being the more emotional and ruthless one takes control of the things, which Thomas Orders, Arthur is a good executioner. John works alongside to support Arthur. It is Arthur’s temperamental behavior which prevents him from carrying on as the head of Shelby family corporation and Thomas Shelby takes over. Linda and Esme Shelby play minor role in influencing their husbands, but I really liked Linda’s approach to get more for her husband and guiding him towards “proper path”.  She negotiated more money for Arthur and herself from Thomas, that scene is truly pleasing, her intelligence was well shown, she outfoxed Thomas Shelby.

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His Aunt Polly Grace is his emotional support, in the times when he needs a confidant, Thomas reaches out to her. Aunt Polly is also the treasurer of the company so deals with everything financial, a reason she is aware of the money. Aunt Polly’s son Michael runs the finance of the company, but during the 1932 Crash losses everything of the family (for not listening to Thomas).

Ada Shelby an equally head strong woman like her aunt, pushes Thomas in seeing things differently but gets work done for him. She is not as influential as Aunt Polly but is next in line of succession. Ada is marries Freddie Thorne a known communist leader, against the wishes of Thomas Shelby and has his baby.

Charlie Strong who gives him advice as uncle on the risks associated with the business and giving him an outside perspective. He cautions Tommy but seems to be a silent spectator for most lot since, he is getting paid money for doing is job.

Any General is as strong as his army, Thomas Shelby’s family is his army. Imagine you have every idea but no one listen, nothing can be achieved.

References

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2442560/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt

https://screenrant.com/peaky-blinders-show-term-explained/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peaky_Blinders_(TV_series)

https://peaky-blinders.fandom.com/wiki/Peaky_Blinders_Wiki