Blackness in Peaky Blinders plus—a binge guide to the series!
The Shelby Family would have loved an LLC
The Cinehunni Diaries is $5 a month so think about becoming a paid subscriber ‘kay?
This post has some spoilers for Peaky Blinders series 1-6, not in some huge way but bits and pieces!
I love Peaky Blinders. I have always loved, and this is going to sound INSANE, a deep peek into a very violent, yet loving and deeply problematic family, a category The Bridgertons also falls under but we don’t wanna talk about that.
My dad loves mafia films and his all-time favorite film(s) are The Godfather Trilogy.
So I grew up watching him watch these movies, and even though I have YET to watch that particular trilogy myself, I became fascinated with that dynamic. A family in the underworld that came from nothing and now controls everything.
Scarface, BMF, The Goodfellas, Hoodlum, American Gangster, Casino, Belly….they all give a look into fame, fortune, and the families—chosen or blood—that built it all.
Then I became high-key obsessed with learning about the actual families a lot of this stuff was based on, and STILL AM.
Enter, The Shelby Family. THEY TOOK MY BIRMINGHAM BREATH AWAYYYYYYYYY!!!
Loved them since I first saw Tommy Shelby light that cigarette and roll it on his lips. The series uses the story of the real-life Sheldon Family as inspiration. Steven Knight, who created the series, is of blood relation to the gang family who were mainly causing chaos during the tail end of the 19th century into the top of the 20th.
Of course, the show focuses on the family and all the ABSOLUTELY WILD SHIT THAT HAPPENS WITH THEM ALL, and some of that, say….extended family, includes some Black folks who were also based on some real people.
I’ll immediately say this, the way Blackness is woven into the series feels genuine and also realistic. Most of the Black folks in their orbit come from one specific moment in Tommy’s life (World War 1) and grew from there.
It’s not like they were childhood friends (like their children and younger siblings would eventually be), but instead they, well, trauma-bonded and stayed homies when they got back home.
Peaky Blinders takes place in 1919-1934, this is pre The Windrush Generation, which was one of the big moments where West Indian folks started coming to the UK for work. World War Deux had duh, knocked out a lot of the workforce, so there was a massive opportunity to fill the void.
Yes, obviously, there were Black folks in the UK during the time Peaky Blinders takes place, but finding A WHOLE LOT OF INFORMATION ON THAT IS HARD.
EYE HAVE TRIED! BUT, the Black characters’ presence still makes sense.
Jermiah Jesus played by Benjamin Zephaniah (who passed away in 2023), was based on a real person.
In the series, Jermiah and Tommy are friends from serving together in WWI (he also served with John), and they just…stayed friends. Jermiah went the Jesus route and Tommy—did not. Jermiah was very much Team Shelby and puts his bible down to tussle here and there, but he’s mostly (unfortunately) magical negro adjacent.
He has a son, Isiah Jesus, who grew up around The Shelby Family and eventually became a certified Peaky Blinder. He’s besties with Finn Shelby (they are a few years apart), and you literally see him grow up in the show, which I LOVE. When he was younger he was played by Jordan Bolger:
then when he’s older he’s played by Daryl McCormack, who I ADORE from Bad Sisters.
Also, Also, Finn later marries a Black woman named Mary, played by Abbie Hern.
It’s dope right, because they keep Blackness in this world in a way that makes sense. It becomes generational; you start to see just how it becomes a part of The Shelby Family’s world.
When I watch certain shows that are mostly white, I understand and don’t fully expect to see Blackness. Usually, when it happens, and some sort of Black story or character comes into play, it’s so weird. It’s hyperclear that it’s a checkbox and like—EYE DONUT NEED OR WANT THAT!
I’d rather you do it in an intentional way that leaves space for some sort of true longevity and an actual story, or like, leave us out entirely.
*****START OF SPOILER ALERT SECTION FOR A MAJOR S5 PLOT POINT******
There is also Mr. Ben Younger, played by THEE Kingsley Ben-Adir. First, honesty hour….I often mix Kingsley and Regé-Jean Page from Bridgerton up—I AM TRYING TO DO BETTER.
Anyway, he comes in towards the end of the series as a love interest and (Spoiler Alert) becomes the father of Elizabeth Younger, his daughter with Ada Shelby.
and then SHIT GETS A LITTLE DICCCEEEYYYYY. Because THE CALL (RACISM) IS COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSEEEEEEE!
Her older brother Karl, Ada’s son from an earlier marriage, calls her “that thing” and says her literal presence is going to get them killed. He also says that she is going to eventually get sent back to Africa.
WHERE IS THE NEAREST REFORMATORY BECAUSE LOCK HIS ASS UP NOW!
*****END OF SPOILER ALERT SECTION FOR A MAJOR S5 PLOT POINT******
Ada isn’t having it but…she doesn’t do enough for me. If you think Black children born into white families where there is no other Black presence need to be protected now—imagine it then.
And that brings us to today, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man takes place in 1940.
Everyone is older, including all their children. We’re focused on Duke Shelby (also called Erasmus), the illegitimate firstborn of Tommy Shelby. I find it interesting because the Shelby Family is so messy that I didn’t think they would be in the business of labeling legitimacy but hey—that is their Caucasian business!
Anyway, he’s running The Peaky Blinders and it looks like his right-hand man is also Black:
I don’t know his role, I haven’t seen the film yet, but his name is Jay Lycurgo IRL, and whatever his rank is in The Peaky Blinders under Duke’s command feels like it is VV up there.
Ada Shelby (Sophie Rundle) has a gigantic presence in the film. Maybe we’ll see her daughter, maybe we’ll touch on her identity in a world of Naz*s, maybe we’ll see her fathers side of the family, maybe we’ll see Finn’s wife and if they had children, Duke and Isiah were close so maybe we’ll see what he’s up to, maybe this new charcter has a family as well? WHO KNOWS.
This film is so long-awaited by an audience that loves it DEEPLY, so I’d be shocked if we touch on any of those stories in a big way, but I’d also be not so shocked if they actually did. One can only hold onto my razor blade and hope.
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man has a limited theatre release and came out earlier this weekend, but it will be streaming on Netflix for all to watch on March 20th.
If you don’t wanna binge everything, you can watch the essential episodes, but honestly…just do it for the whole Shelby shebang. You can also watch the official recap below!
I live in Chicago, and it is playing in a theatre near me, which means I’ll likely see it before it hits the flix, BUT if you’re waiting and wanting to do a little rewatch (or first watch), I GOT YOU!
A Cinehunni binge guide to the Peaky Blinders series to prep you for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man!
Seasons 1 & 2
When to watch? March 9-12 (Monday-Thursday)
3 episodes a night, 4 days in a row. This is easy peasy Tommy Shelby squeezy. They both move pretty fast and give you the story that you need and background on every character.
Plus, Sunday was daylight savings time-we either lost or gained an hour, I don’t know, and i’m not going to look it up (I STILL DON’T FULLY UNDERSTAND THIS BUT IT’S LIGHT OUT LONGER AND EVERYONE IS HAPPY ABOUT IT) BUT each season is only 6 episodes at just under an hour each!
Things to pay attention to:
how many Shelby’s there are
literally anything Polly says
every person that any Shelby sibling is interested in
the Shelby house
ADA FOOKIN’ SHELBY. PAY ATTENTION TO ADA SHELBY
Season 3
When to watch? March 14 (Saturday)
One season in one day
It’s about to be a lot, and maybe you don’t need that much violence and drama in your life during the work week. So, your Saturday has been planned.
I suggest watching a little something light as a palate cleanser, so you aren’t going to bed having watched one of the Shelbys murder someone because they looked at them weird (this is not a spoiler…it is just a fact). May I suggest an episode of Kimmy Schmidt, Fisk, The Residence, or Queen Charlotte perhaps?
Things to pay attention to:
THE SHELBY HOUSE
Tommy’s style
Arthur Shelllllllbbyyyyy
relationships between the siblings
ANYTHING POLLY SAYS
Season 4
When to watch? March 15 (Sunday)
We’re picking up steam, binge it all today. Order yourself some breakfast in the morning and knock out 3 episodes. Then 3 episodes in the evening (paired with a McDouble, 10-piece nugget, large fry extra salt, and a Dr. Pepper extra ice) to wrap it up.
Things to pay attention to:
Tommy
scottish accents
Ada and her outfits
POLLY
Season 5
When to watch? March 16-17 (Monday-Tuesday)
We’re splitting it into two days babes. Tell your roommate/partner/part-time makeout friend that the TV choice is yours in the evening. They can join, or you can give them headphones, a book, and a cookie to hang out with you on the couch while you watch.
Things to pay attention to:
YOUR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
March 18
TAKE A BREAK BABES, YOU’RE ALMOST THERE!
Season 6
When to watch? March 19-20 (Thursday-Friday)
WE’RE BACK TO THE SPLIT!
3 episodes a day, however you see fit. Watch in the morning with breakfast, watch on company time if you work from home, watch on company time if you don’t work at home (if this results in your firing, I do not take responsibility, I have literally been looking for a job for like a year hunnybaby SO TREADETH THEE LIGHTLY)
THAT’S IT, YOU MADE IT!
Take a break and don’t go right into watching the movie—get some sleep and watch it on the 21st!
The trailer is below and you’ll likely find me on threads chatting about it soon and until then—NO FUCKING FIGHTING!
Etc.
Esme is my second favorite character in the Peaky Blinders universe
raise your hand is the name Sondra Celli rings a bell
i have only been attracted to Tom Hardy when he is playing a very large man with issues that cannot be solved with therapy or like…anything else really
still telling you what to watch on IG so follow me there!
If you liked this post, you might like this one too!
‘KAYTHXBIIII!!
