Home » Streaming Flicks » Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man

During its six season run, PEAKY BLINDERS was one of the best shows on television. Originally airing on BBC, its popularity exploded when it began streaming on Netflix. The historical setting (loosely based on real-life exploits of a nefarious turn-of-the-century gang) was paired with modern music, relevant themes, and a collection of spectacular performances to craft a viewing experience that was both brutal and original.

As a huge fan of the series, I was a little trepidatious about the return of the Shelby family. I thought that the finale wrapped up the saga extremely well and given the fact that many of the main characters were no longer alive, I was at peace with the fact that I had seen the last of their reign. Head writer Steven Knight left the door open to explore more stories in the future, however, and in March, the first PEAKY BLINDERS film, THE IMMORTAL MAN, was released on Netflix.

During World War II, fascist sympathizers, including Nazi agent John Beckett (Tim Roth), devise a plan to bring the United Kingdom to its knees. Aside from obvious tactics like bombing munition depots, they create millions of pounds in fake currency in an effort to flood the banking system and crash the economy. To execute this plan, Beckett enlists the services of Duke Shelby (Barry Keoghan). With his father, Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy), in self-imposed isolation and his uncle Arthur dead, Duke has emerged as the leader of the PEAKY BLINDERS. Unlike his father, he feels no loyalty to home or country and will do anything that suits his insatiable needs. Though his Aunt Ada (Sophie Rundle) attempts to dissuade him from his dastardly ways (at least his father had a code, she implores him) Duke feels no familial pull and her concerns mean nothing to the wily crime boss.

Though many thought him dead, Tommy is living in the countryside with his fiercely loyal assistant, Johnny Dogs (Packy Lee). When he is visited by Kaulo Chiriklo the twin sister of Duke’s mother Zelda (both played by Rebecca Ferguson), she convinces him that he must return home in order to save his son, both spiritually and physically. Reluctantly, Tommy agrees.

Given the huge gaps in time between the release of each season of the original PEAKY BLINDERS, the return felt as natural as it always has. While the world has progressed and war has beset Birmingham, it is an organically natural continuation of the saga. Director Tom Harper had been at the helm of multiple episodes of the series and effectively captures the unique feel that made the BBC series so captivating.

Keoghan is an excellent choice to play the inherent king of the Shelby throne, and Murphy once again taps into the quiet, tortured rage that made Tommy such an iconic character. He is devastated by loss, particularly that of his psychotic brother, Arthur. Admittedly, he (both the character and the performance by Paul Anderson) is sorely missed here, and the send-off he receives isn’t exactly fitting for the powerhouse that he was in the series. His demise is what fuels Tommy’s isolation and despair, which ends up being the catalyst of the entire story, but given the weight he carried through the 6 season run, his dispatch in IMMORTAL MAN is oddly hasty and hollow. This was a series, however, built on loss and shocking moments that proved that no character was safe at any time. That theme continues with the film, which will undoubtedly elate fans and perhaps even inspire those who hadn’t seen the series to discover why it is considered a modern classic.