In the world of Peaky Blinders, it is increasingly likely that any close association with the Blinders gang will put you in jeopardy. And as the stakes and problems continue to rise for the Shelby family, so does the quality of the series. The other violent moment of the episode comes during a botched assassination attempt on Tommy. Arthur springs to his brother’s rescue, and beats his would-be murderer to a bloody pulp. It mirrors the death of a young lad at Arthur’s hands in the previous episode and serves to highlight how much of a loose cannon Arthur has become amid his trauma. The character has become the embodiment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and the way the series has handled the issue feels honest. At times brutally so. Paul Anderson deserves great credit for his portrayal of Arthur. The burgeoning relationship between Polly and her estranged son Michael creates much of the episode’s drama. The awkward, tentative exchanges are played out well, and deliver a nice change of pace and intensity. Helen McCrory handles her part well, but the true surprise is from Finn Cole, making his acting debut as her son Michael. Cole tackles the role with an assuredness and confidence of a more experienced actor, and that puts him in good stead for future roles. His part is particularly well written, as his ambition and desire to escape his mundane village life gradually becomes clear. Coming into the episode apathetic about the reunion, this writer is now keen to see how it develops. My one acting grumble would be with Noah Taylor, playing Shelby nemesis Sabini. His performance is certainly committed, but he chews the scenery just a little too much during his brief appearance. I enjoyed Taylor’s work on Game Of Thrones, and he conveys Sabini’s psychotic rage well enough. He could certainly tone it down a little though. Production values and the soundtrack also continue to be as high as ever, with the series a delight on both the eyes and the ears. Read Tom’s review of the previous episode, here. Follow our Twitter feed for faster news and bad jokes right here. And be our Facebook chum here.
