From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thomas Shelby | |
---|---|
Peaky Blinders character | |
First appearance | ‘Episode 1’ (2013) |
Created by | Steven Knight |
Portrayed by | Cillian Murphy |
In-universe information | |
Full name | Thomas Michael Shelby |
Nickname |
|
Title | Member of Parliament |
Occupation |
|
Affiliation | Peaky Blinders Labour Party British Union of Fascists |
Family | Elizabeth «Polly» Gray (aunt; deceased) Arthur Shelby Sr. (father; deceased) Michael Gray (cousin; deceased) Arthur Shelby (brother) John Shelby (brother; deceased) Finn Shelby (brother) Ada Shelby Thorne (sister) Freddie Thorne (brother in-law; deceased) |
Spouse | Lizzie Shelby (1926-) Grace Shelby (1924; deceased) |
Children | Erasmus “Duke” Shelby (from pre-WW1 relationship with a woman called Zelda) Charles Shelby (from Grace) Ruby Shelby (from Lizzie; deceased) |
Religion | Atheist/Agnostic |
Nationality | British |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | British Army |
Years of service | 1914–1918 |
Rank | Sergeant Major[Minute 32 1] |
Unit | Birmingham Rifles |
Battles/wars | First World War
|
Awards |
|
Thomas Michael Shelby OBE DSM MM MP is a fictional character, and the protagonist of the British period crime drama Peaky Blinders. He is played by Irish actor Cillian Murphy, who has won an Irish Film & Television Award and National Television Award for his portrayal of Shelby. The character has received critical acclaim.
Director Steven Knight cast Murphy for the role of Tommy Shelby. The character is introduced as a First World War veteran from a family with Romani ancestry, whose criminal enterprise is centred in Birmingham. The narrative begins in 1919, and largely revolves around Shelby’s romance with Grace and his conflict with Inspector Campbell. As the series progresses, Shelby’s relationship with mob boss Alfie Solomons is a key element in many of the storylines.
Casting and background[edit]
Cillian Murphy had expressed an interest in doing more television roles, «Those iconic American shows had been on and we watched them and everyone was kind of conscious of that. I think the BBC were conscious of that and so I was keen to read some good scripts and they [Peaky Blinders] were the first TV scripts I got sent». Murphy admitted that he was not aware of who the Peaky Blinders were when he was initially presented with the script.[1] Jason Statham was initially preferred for the role by director Steven Knight, who explains «I met them both in LA to talk about the role and opted for Jason. […] Cillian, when you meet him, isn’t Tommy, obviously, but I was stupid enough not to understand that». Knight then opted to cast Murphy instead after receiving a text message from Murphy that read «Remember, I’m an actor».[2]
Although many characters in the series are based on real-life historical figures, most of the Peaky Blinders are entirely fictional and were created by Knight.[3] Tommy Shelby is from a Romani family based in Birmingham.[4][5] Murphy spent time with Romani people to prepare himself for the role.[6] Shelby is a veteran of the First World War and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his experiences during the war; something that is a recurring theme throughout the series.[7] Shelby sports an undercut hairstyle and this has led to a resurgence in its popularity.[8]
Fictional biography[edit]
Early life[edit]
Thomas Michael Shelby was born in Birmingham, England, around 1890 to an Irish Traveller and
Romani family and grew up in the Small Heath neighbourhood of Birmingham. He dated Greta Jurossi, a woman of Italian descent during his 20s, but she died of tuberculosis. His experiences as a sergeant major during the First World War have resulted in him suffering from PTSD and it is implied he returned from it as a changed man.
Storylines[edit]
Series 1[edit]
In 1919, Tommy leads the Peaky Blinders into appropriating a consignment of guns from the Birmingham Small Arms factory. Inspector Campbell (Sam Neill) is tasked by Winston Churchill (Andy Nyman) to find the guns and, unbeknownst to Tommy, his new barmaid Grace Burgess (Annabelle Wallis) is working undercover for Inspector Campbell. Tommy is also involved with fixing horse races, which has potential for conflict with Billy Kimber (Charlie Creed-Miles), who runs the races. Inspector Campbell instructs Grace to get close to Tommy so that he can find the location of the guns; Grace attends the Cheltenham races as Tommy’s date and Tommy saves Grace from harm after initially offering her to Kimber as part of a deal for the Peaky Blinders to become the security at Kimber’s establishment. Tommy obtains a betting licence for his business and hires Grace as his brother Arthur Shelby’s (Paul Anderson) secretary at the Garrison, which the Peaky Blinders own. Tommy and Grace become romantically involved and Grace tells Inspector Campbell, if she gives him the location of the guns, he has to leave Tommy and his family alone. Grace gives up the location to Inspector Campbell and resigns service to the crown. As she has resigned, and the guns found, with the exception of one, Inspector Campbell proposes marriage, which Grace rejects. Tommy gathers the Peaky Blinders and another family, the Lees, and they take on Kimber’s men; this leads to a confrontation where Tommy shoots Kimber dead. Tommy meets Grace and she tells him she loves him and will go to London for a few days. Tommy meets with his aunt Polly Gray (Helen McCrory) and she informs him that Grace is the reason Inspector Campbell found the guns. The series ends with a gunshot as Inspector Campbell confronts Grace at the railway station.
Series 2[edit]
Grace is revealed to have shot Inspector Campbell but Inspector Campbell survives. Tommy, Arthur and their brother John Shelby (Joe Cole) decide to get familiar with the London scene and cause a scene at Darby Sabini’s (Noah Taylor) club. In retaliation, Sabini has his thugs kidnap and attempt to rape Tommy’s sister Ada Thorne (Sophie Rundle), as well as beat Tommy up. Inspector Campbell intervenes before Sabini and his men can finish him off. Inspector Campbell has agreed with Churchill (Richard McCabe) that Tommy will be useful to them. Tommy discharges himself from hospital early and takes a barge down to London. Tommy meets with gang leader Alfie Solomons (Tom Hardy) there. Tommy has a hard time convincing Alfie that he should align with the Peaky Blinders against Sabini. Tommy and John meet with Billy Kitchen (Paul Bullion), of the Black Country Boys, who fought with them in the war. Tommy tells Billy to round up his men for them to go to work in Camden Town for Alfie. Tommy becomes romantically involved with horse trainer May Carleton (Charlotte Riley). Alfie and Sabini meet and form an alliance against the Peaky Blinders. Alfie deceives Arthur and has him sent to prison. Tommy finds his fledgling empire crumbling before him, as his power-base in London is obliterated. Tommy further complicates his love life, by escorting the returning Grace to a passionate date, though still stringing May along, who had earlier expressed her feelings for him. Tommy attempts to end his romantic relationship with May, though he still wants her to continue training his horse. Alfie gets Arthur out of prison. Derby Day then arrives. Tommy collects the Peaky Blinders and gives them their mission at the races. Without firing a shot, they are to collect and burn the licences of Sabini’s bookies and steal the bets. Tommy runs into Grace who informs him she’s pregnant. Tommy tells her after the race, they will talk. Inspector Campbell’s men from Northern Ireland, members of the Ulster Volunteers, kidnap Tommy and take him to an empty field while Polly meets with Inspector Campbell and shoots him. Tommy is let go with a message from Churchill promising future contact.
Series 3[edit]
Two years later, in 1924, Tommy and Grace get married. Meanwhile, a refugee from Russia, named Anton Kaledin (Richard Brake), makes contact with the Peaky Blinders, offering the code «Constantine» as confirmation for the money-exchange meeting with Grand Duchess Tatiana Petrovna (Dina Korzun). Tommy informs her that Kaledin provided the wrong code name, meaning the man must be killed. In the end, Arthur kills the impostor. Tommy inspects armoured vehicles for a business deal with Father John Hughes (Paddy Considine). He meets with Mr. Romanov, who pays him for murdering Kaledin with a sapphire. Tommy later finds a card under his son Charles’ pillow, which reads «Charles Shelby – R.I.P.». Grace wears the sapphire, which Tommy gave her, to the Shelby Charity Foundation dinner. Father Hughes informs Tommy that the Russians want to inspect the vehicles. Tatiana tells Tommy that the sapphire Grace is wearing was cursed. Tommy attempts convincing Grace to take off the necklace when a man shouts «For Angel!» and shoots Grace dead. Tommy travels to Wales with the sapphire necklace, where he confers with a Romani woman named Bethany Boswell, whom he asks whether it is cursed. He returns home with some sense of normality having left the necklace with Boswell. Arthur and John have procured a man called Vicente Changretta (Kenneth Colley), an Italian American Mafia member who Tommy threatens to torture, but Arthur shoots him in the head as an act of mercy. Tatiana sees Tommy to his car; he tells her that Father Hughes is betraying them to the Soviets and offers to kill him for free. Easter arrives and Tommy announces a plan to Arthur and John: they will have been hired to provide the Russians with weapons for a rebellion stolen from a train and will, in turn, be paid in jewels but, believing the Russians will betray him, Tommy plans to break into their vault. Polly goes to church while drunk and during confession she inadvertently reveals Tommy’s plan to assassinate Father Hughes to the priest, who tells Father Hughes about it. Knowing he is the target, Father Hughes foils Tommy’s attempt on his life and watches him being seriously injured by his minders. Father Hughes then makes Tommy go tell the Russians that he was misinformed about Father Hughes betraying them. Three months later, Tommy has recovered and the planned massive heist involving the Russians is drawing near. Tommy enlists Alfie to appraise the Russian’s jewels. Charles is kidnapped. Father Hughes reveals to Tommy that he knows about his subterfuge. He demands the jewels as payment and for Tommy himself to blow up the train, which must kill six people, in exchange for the safe return of Charles. Tommy agrees unconditionally. After some investigation he discovers that Alfie divulged the plans to Father Hughes. During a confrontation, Polly’s son Michael Gray (Finn Cole) kills Alfie’s associate, but Michael talks Tommy out of killing Alfie. Tommy figures out where Charles is being held and sends Michael to retrieve him and kill Father Hughes. At the same time Arthur and John set off to carry out the train bombing in case Michael cannot rescue Charles in time. Even though Michael is successful, word does not reach the family in time, and the train is blown up. Tommy returns home to distribute the loot to his accomplices, but at the end of the meeting announces that the police are at the residence to arrest everyone. The rest of the Peaky Blinders and the family are taken away in handcuffs.
Series 4[edit]
As Arthur, John, Michael and Polly prepare to hang for their crimes, Tommy’s reprieve comes just in time to save their lives. A year later, the family is scattered and estranged from one another. Each of the Shelbys receives a letter from Vincente’s son Luca Changretta (Adrien Brody), a leader in New York’s Italian American Mafia, marking him or her for death in retribution for the murder of Vincente and Changretta’s brother Angel. Tommy and Ada attempt to convince the others to meet on Boxing Day, believing that they will be safer if they come back together. However, when Tommy discovers and kills a mafia agent among his staff, he realises the assassination attempts are due to take place on Christmas Day and gets word to the rest of the family. Michael goes to collect John and his wife Esme Shelby (Aimee-Ffion Edwards), with whom Tommy could not get in contact. A cart pulls up, and John and Michael are shot several times. Michael survives his injuries but John is killed. In the wake of his death, Tommy and the rest of the family agree to put their differences aside while they deal with the mafia threat. Tommy suggests contacting Aberama Gold (Aidan Gillen), a contract killer. Changretta visits Tommy in his office at the factory by using a fake name to get into the factory, Tommy goes to his jacket to grab his gun and shoots Changretta, but Changretta already took the bullets out and sets them on the table, stating that each is for a member of the family. He plans to keep Tommy alive until the rest are dead but insists that their vendetta be an honourable one, with Tommy agreeing not to involve the police or the death of children or civilians. The Peaky Blinders are lured by the Changrettas into a chase on the streets of Birmingham, where it becomes clear that the Changrettas are outmatched. Tommy has figured out Polly and Michael have betrayed him but goes to the meeting Polly has set for him and finds himself engaged in a shootout with Changretta’s men. After Tommy kills Changretta’s men, he confronts Changretta himself, but the police arrive and break up the fight. The family gather to find out what happened, Tommy explains what happened, it appears he had been in on it with Polly, he does not tell the family of Michael’s betrayal. Alfie arranges a boxing match between Aberama Gold’s son Bonnie Gold (Jack Rowan) and Alfie’s protégé. It is a trap, however, as Alfie has made a deal to let the Changrettas kill the Peaky Blinders, in exchange for the Changrettas to transport and sell Alfie’s London-made bootleg liquor in New York. At the day of the match, Arthur is seriously wounded and appears to have died. Luckily, Tommy finds Arthur in time to save his life, but tells Polly to inform everyone that he has died as a part of Tommy’s elaborate plan. At Arthur’s funeral, the widow Changretta approaches with a white flag. Later at the family home, she reveals the vendetta will be over if Tommy signs over all his assets to Changretta. Changretta and his men meet with the remaining Shelbys in Tommy’s basement distillery to sign the documents. Tommy reveals to Changretta that he has sent Michael to America to negotiate with Al Capone and turn Changretta’s men against him. Realising he has been outmanoeuvred, Changretta attacks Tommy, and a fight ensues. As Tommy is getting the upper hand, Arthur enters the distillery and shoots Changretta. It is revealed that Tommy had Arthur fake his death to lure Changretta into the trap. The family celebrate the end of the vendetta at Tommy’s countryside estate, and it is announced that Tommy will take a holiday from the business. Tommy confronts Alfie for his betrayal, who reveals he did so knowing Tommy would track him down and kill him, and that he has cancer. Tommy then shoots Alfie and proceeds to take his holiday. During the holiday, Tommy continues to sleep with Lizzie Stark (Natasha O’Keeffe), and Lizzie become pregnant with Tommy’s child. When he returns, he starts a campaign for Member of Parliament, an election which Tommy wins.
Series 5[edit]
In 1929, Tommy goes up to a phone booth on Lickey Hills where on the phone Arthur reads a letter from «Angels of Retribution» which states that they have never even heard of Peaky Blinders and therefore are not scared of their threats. Meanwhile, Michael who runs the Shelby company in the United States gets a message that Wall Street has crashed and leaves for Birmingham with his wife Gina Gray (Anya Taylor-Joy). Tommy gets the news from Arthur about the Stock Market crash and becomes furious after learning that Michael held on even after being instructed not to do so. It is also revealed that Tommy is now married to Lizzie. Later, the family have a meeting at the Garrison, where Tommy reveals that Aberama and Isaiah Jesus (Daryl McCormack) were sent to kill a pimp, who was blackmailing a senior member of House of Lords. During the assassination mission Tommy’s younger brother Finn Shelby (Harry Kirton) was shot in the arm even though he was instructed by Tommy to stay back and let the other two men do the killing. At the House of Commons, Tommy meets Sir Oswald Mosley (Sam Claflin) and later threatens Lord Suckerby (Tim Woodward) (a senior member who was being threatened) for not being paid the amount he was promised. Mr. Levitt (Elliot Cowan), a journalist, conducts an interview with Tommy and asks him questions about his past with a view to damaging his image as MP, but Tommy outmanoeuvres him with personal and sensitive information he has on him. At the end of the episode, Mr. Levitt is killed by unknown assailants. At his mansion, Tommy gets a call from Captain Swing (Charlene McKenna), who informs that she captured Michael from cabin of the men who supposedly wants to kill Tommy and asks whether to spare him or kill him and, as per Tommy’s request, Michael walks free. At the Garrison, Arthur and Tommy warn Finn not to get involved with guns and Tommy tells Arthur that he doesn’t sleep because he dreams that someone wants his crown and that it might be Michael. Tommy and Ada meets with Mosley, where Tommy tells Mosley that Ada advised against meeting him as he seems to be moving in direction of fascism. At a ballet event, Mosley announces to everyone his and Tommy’s involvement in the new British fascism movement. Tommy visits an asylum to meet Barney Thomason (Cosmo Jarvis), an old comrade from the First World War. Barney agrees to join the Peaky Blinders and Tommy plans to have him assassinate Mosley. Tommy visits Alfie, who survived being shot by Tommy, to organise a riot to cover up the assassination of Mosley. The plan to assassinate Mosley is foiled as both Barney and Aberama are killed in the ensuing events and Polly was assassinated offscreen by the IRA. Tommy leaves for home with Arthur and walks off into a field; a hallucination of Grace tells him «the work’s all done» and Tommy screams and points a gun at his own head.[9]
Series 6[edit]
Following Tommy’s suicide attempt, he receives a call from Captain Swing who takes credit for foiling the attempted assassination of Mosley. She returns the bodies of Barney, Aberama and Polly who was also killed during the assassination attempt. The entire Shelby family gather for Polly’s funeral with Michael swearing revenge on Tommy for his role in Polly’s death. In 1933, Tommy, now sober, sets up a meeting with an estranged Michael and business associates of Jack Nelson (James Frecheville), a south Boston gang leader and Gina’s uncle on Miquelon Island. Following unsuccessful talks to re-enter into business, Tommy lands Michael in prison for possession of opium. Later, Tommy is phoned by Lizzie who announces she, Charles (Billy Jenkins) and Ruby (Orla McDonagh) cannot travel to Canada due to Ruby’s sudden illness. Believing her sickness is a message and gypsy related, Tommy decides to return to Britain. Tommy, still a Labour MP, returns to the United Kingdom and is informed Ruby is recovering. He has a seizure in the bathroom and Lizzie urges him to see a doctor, but he refuses. While on a diplomatic mission for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Nelson expresses interest to meet the fascists. Tommy sees an opportunity to ally himself with Captain Swing. He visits Alfie and announces the death of his uncle on the Cotton Club at the hands of Nelson’s gang. After a tense meeting with Mosley and his fiancé Lady Diana Mitford (Amber Anderson), Tommy meets Nelson and agrees to feed information about England’s political goings to his gang in exchange for opium. Tommy is informed that Ruby is sick again and decides to contact Esme. As Ruby falls sick with consumption and treated with gold flakes, Tommy goes in search of the source of the curse that he believes has been laid upon his family and eventually reunites with Esme. Ada takes over Tommy’s role in Birmingham. Tommy discovers that Bethany Boswell had given the cursed sapphire that once belonged to Grace, who died after Tommy gifted it to her, to Evadne Barwell who had a daughter that died at the age of 7, prompting Tommy to believe that it was Barwell who had cursed Ruby in revenge. Tommy returns to Birmingham and goes straight to the hospital where Ruby is. Lizzie meets him at the entrance to tell him that the gold salts treatment didn’t work, and that Ruby had died. As the family mourns, Tommy enacts revenge as he murders the Barwell family who cursed Ruby. Distraught in grief, Tommy ignores letters from his personal doctor as his relationship with Lizzie strains even further. The meeting between Tommy, Mosley, Diana, Captain Swing and Nelson takes place: Nelson agrees to let Tommy trade opium in Boston as he gains information from Mosley about the political future of England and agrees with Captain Swing that the Irish working class can be turned. Tommy finally meets with Doctor Holford (Aneurin Barnard) and is told that due to coming into contact with Ruby while she was ill, he has developed inoperable tuberculoma and that he now only has between 12 and 18 months left to live. Tommy deals with the Chinese business that got Arthur hooked on opium by walking into their shop, taking their remaining drugs and throwing them into the canal with a bomb. He introduces his newly found son, Erasmus «Duke» Shelby (Conrad Khan), at a family meeting, to Lizzie’s disliking. Tommy sleeps with Diana as a payment for her cause. Eventually she arrives at the family home with Mosley and tells Lizzie that Tommy was disloyal to her in an act purely devised to split her and Tommy away from each other with Mosley believing that Tommy deserves better if he is to move up in the world. Lizzie finally leaves Tommy after his affair with Diana, taking Charles. Tommy sets the rest of the Peaky Blinders to dismantle his house, and gives false information to the informant Billy Grade (Emmett J. Scanlan) to lure the IRA into a trap. On Miquelon Island, Tommy meets Michael, who has been released from prison. His friend Johnny Dogs (Packy Lee) switches a car-bomb intended for Tommy, which after the meeting kills Michael’s associates. Tommy then kills Michael, fulfilling Polly’s prediction. With Nelson’s business partners defeated, Alfie and Tommy agree to coordinate a take-over of his business in Boston with Alfie staying in America permanently to oversee operations. A month after saying goodbye to his family, an alone Tommy prepares to shoot himself. But after seeing a vision of Ruby, and Doctor Holford pictured with Mosley in a partially-burnt newspaper, Tommy realizes he had been given a false diagnosis of inoperable tuberculoma. Tommy goes off to kill Holford, but realises he has finally changed and ends up sparing his life. After returning and watching his wagon and remaining possessions burn, Tommy rides away.
Critical reception[edit]
For his portrayal of Tommy Shelby, Murphy has received widespread critical acclaim and won the Irish Film & Television Academy in 2018 for Best Actor in a Lead Role in Drama.[10] In 2020, Murphy was awarded a National Television Award for Best Drama Performance for the same role, beating the likes of Jodie Comer and Idris Elba to the award.[11]
Emily VanDerWerff praised the character, «to call Murphy magnetic might be underselling his presence, and even though the rest of Blinders is quite good, the show can’t help but sag a little whenever Murphy’s not around.»[12] Morgan Jeffery praises the ‘movie-star charisma’ of the character while Maureen Ryan says «Tommy Shelby may not be a good man, but he’s a phenomenally watchable one.»[13][14]
References[edit]
- ^ Anderson, Hayley (19 August 2020). «Peaky Blinders: What is the real reason why Cillian Murphy took on Tommy Shelby role?». Daily Express. Archived from the original on 30 August 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ White, Adam (3 June 2020). «Peaky Blinders: Jason Statham lost Tommy Shelby role over text message, Steven Knight reveals». The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ Bley Griffiths, Eleanor (30 August 2019). «How historically accurate is Peaky Blinders – and was Tommy Shelby a real person?». Radio Times. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ «A Blinding Bit Of Telly». Travellers Times. 15 November 2014. Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ Newland, Christina (12 June 2018). «10 great films about Gypsies and Travellers». BFI. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ «Cillian Murphy lived with gypsies to prepare for new drama Peaky Blinders». Entertainment.ie. Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ Moore, Paul. «Peaky Blinders director explains what actually happened during that finale». Joe. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ «PSA: Cillian Murphy, The Man Who Plays Tommy Shelby Himself, Hates That Damn Hair Cut». GQ. Archived from the original on 18 May 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Mozafari, Laurence (22 September 2019). «Peaky Blinders season 5 ending explained – what was Tommy Shelby’s finale about, eh?». Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Rodger, James (17 February 2018). «Cillian Murphy wins Best Actor at IFTAs for Peaky Blinders role». Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Jeffery, Morgan (29 January 2020). «Cillian Murphy wins best Drama Performance award at the National Television Awards». Radio Times. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ VanDerWerff, Emily (30 November 2014). «Peaky Blinders is the perfect Netflix weekend binge». Vox. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Ryan, Maureen (9 March 2015). «‘Peaky Blinders’ Should Be Your Next Netflix Binge». Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Jeffery, Morgan (2 October 2014). «Peaky Blinders returns: Series 2 opener reviewed». Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ «Peaky Blinders». Netflix. Netflix. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thomas Shelby | |
---|---|
Peaky Blinders character | |
First appearance | ‘Episode 1’ (2013) |
Created by | Steven Knight |
Portrayed by | Cillian Murphy |
In-universe information | |
Full name | Thomas Michael Shelby |
Nickname |
|
Title | Member of Parliament |
Occupation |
|
Affiliation | Peaky Blinders Labour Party British Union of Fascists |
Family | Elizabeth «Polly» Gray (aunt; deceased) Arthur Shelby Sr. (father; deceased) Michael Gray (cousin; deceased) Arthur Shelby (brother) John Shelby (brother; deceased) Finn Shelby (brother) Ada Shelby Thorne (sister) Freddie Thorne (brother in-law; deceased) |
Spouse | Lizzie Shelby (1926-) Grace Shelby (1924; deceased) |
Children | Erasmus “Duke” Shelby (from pre-WW1 relationship with a woman called Zelda) Charles Shelby (from Grace) Ruby Shelby (from Lizzie; deceased) |
Religion | Atheist/Agnostic |
Nationality | British |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | British Army |
Years of service | 1914–1918 |
Rank | Sergeant Major[Minute 32 1] |
Unit | Birmingham Rifles |
Battles/wars | First World War
|
Awards |
|
Thomas Michael Shelby OBE DSM MM MP is a fictional character, and the protagonist of the British period crime drama Peaky Blinders. He is played by Irish actor Cillian Murphy, who has won an Irish Film & Television Award and National Television Award for his portrayal of Shelby. The character has received critical acclaim.
Director Steven Knight cast Murphy for the role of Tommy Shelby. The character is introduced as a First World War veteran from a family with Romani ancestry, whose criminal enterprise is centred in Birmingham. The narrative begins in 1919, and largely revolves around Shelby’s romance with Grace and his conflict with Inspector Campbell. As the series progresses, Shelby’s relationship with mob boss Alfie Solomons is a key element in many of the storylines.
Casting and background[edit]
Cillian Murphy had expressed an interest in doing more television roles, «Those iconic American shows had been on and we watched them and everyone was kind of conscious of that. I think the BBC were conscious of that and so I was keen to read some good scripts and they [Peaky Blinders] were the first TV scripts I got sent». Murphy admitted that he was not aware of who the Peaky Blinders were when he was initially presented with the script.[1] Jason Statham was initially preferred for the role by director Steven Knight, who explains «I met them both in LA to talk about the role and opted for Jason. […] Cillian, when you meet him, isn’t Tommy, obviously, but I was stupid enough not to understand that». Knight then opted to cast Murphy instead after receiving a text message from Murphy that read «Remember, I’m an actor».[2]
Although many characters in the series are based on real-life historical figures, most of the Peaky Blinders are entirely fictional and were created by Knight.[3] Tommy Shelby is from a Romani family based in Birmingham.[4][5] Murphy spent time with Romani people to prepare himself for the role.[6] Shelby is a veteran of the First World War and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his experiences during the war; something that is a recurring theme throughout the series.[7] Shelby sports an undercut hairstyle and this has led to a resurgence in its popularity.[8]
Fictional biography[edit]
Early life[edit]
Thomas Michael Shelby was born in Birmingham, England, around 1890 to an Irish Traveller and
Romani family and grew up in the Small Heath neighbourhood of Birmingham. He dated Greta Jurossi, a woman of Italian descent during his 20s, but she died of tuberculosis. His experiences as a sergeant major during the First World War have resulted in him suffering from PTSD and it is implied he returned from it as a changed man.
Storylines[edit]
Series 1[edit]
In 1919, Tommy leads the Peaky Blinders into appropriating a consignment of guns from the Birmingham Small Arms factory. Inspector Campbell (Sam Neill) is tasked by Winston Churchill (Andy Nyman) to find the guns and, unbeknownst to Tommy, his new barmaid Grace Burgess (Annabelle Wallis) is working undercover for Inspector Campbell. Tommy is also involved with fixing horse races, which has potential for conflict with Billy Kimber (Charlie Creed-Miles), who runs the races. Inspector Campbell instructs Grace to get close to Tommy so that he can find the location of the guns; Grace attends the Cheltenham races as Tommy’s date and Tommy saves Grace from harm after initially offering her to Kimber as part of a deal for the Peaky Blinders to become the security at Kimber’s establishment. Tommy obtains a betting licence for his business and hires Grace as his brother Arthur Shelby’s (Paul Anderson) secretary at the Garrison, which the Peaky Blinders own. Tommy and Grace become romantically involved and Grace tells Inspector Campbell, if she gives him the location of the guns, he has to leave Tommy and his family alone. Grace gives up the location to Inspector Campbell and resigns service to the crown. As she has resigned, and the guns found, with the exception of one, Inspector Campbell proposes marriage, which Grace rejects. Tommy gathers the Peaky Blinders and another family, the Lees, and they take on Kimber’s men; this leads to a confrontation where Tommy shoots Kimber dead. Tommy meets Grace and she tells him she loves him and will go to London for a few days. Tommy meets with his aunt Polly Gray (Helen McCrory) and she informs him that Grace is the reason Inspector Campbell found the guns. The series ends with a gunshot as Inspector Campbell confronts Grace at the railway station.
Series 2[edit]
Grace is revealed to have shot Inspector Campbell but Inspector Campbell survives. Tommy, Arthur and their brother John Shelby (Joe Cole) decide to get familiar with the London scene and cause a scene at Darby Sabini’s (Noah Taylor) club. In retaliation, Sabini has his thugs kidnap and attempt to rape Tommy’s sister Ada Thorne (Sophie Rundle), as well as beat Tommy up. Inspector Campbell intervenes before Sabini and his men can finish him off. Inspector Campbell has agreed with Churchill (Richard McCabe) that Tommy will be useful to them. Tommy discharges himself from hospital early and takes a barge down to London. Tommy meets with gang leader Alfie Solomons (Tom Hardy) there. Tommy has a hard time convincing Alfie that he should align with the Peaky Blinders against Sabini. Tommy and John meet with Billy Kitchen (Paul Bullion), of the Black Country Boys, who fought with them in the war. Tommy tells Billy to round up his men for them to go to work in Camden Town for Alfie. Tommy becomes romantically involved with horse trainer May Carleton (Charlotte Riley). Alfie and Sabini meet and form an alliance against the Peaky Blinders. Alfie deceives Arthur and has him sent to prison. Tommy finds his fledgling empire crumbling before him, as his power-base in London is obliterated. Tommy further complicates his love life, by escorting the returning Grace to a passionate date, though still stringing May along, who had earlier expressed her feelings for him. Tommy attempts to end his romantic relationship with May, though he still wants her to continue training his horse. Alfie gets Arthur out of prison. Derby Day then arrives. Tommy collects the Peaky Blinders and gives them their mission at the races. Without firing a shot, they are to collect and burn the licences of Sabini’s bookies and steal the bets. Tommy runs into Grace who informs him she’s pregnant. Tommy tells her after the race, they will talk. Inspector Campbell’s men from Northern Ireland, members of the Ulster Volunteers, kidnap Tommy and take him to an empty field while Polly meets with Inspector Campbell and shoots him. Tommy is let go with a message from Churchill promising future contact.
Series 3[edit]
Two years later, in 1924, Tommy and Grace get married. Meanwhile, a refugee from Russia, named Anton Kaledin (Richard Brake), makes contact with the Peaky Blinders, offering the code «Constantine» as confirmation for the money-exchange meeting with Grand Duchess Tatiana Petrovna (Dina Korzun). Tommy informs her that Kaledin provided the wrong code name, meaning the man must be killed. In the end, Arthur kills the impostor. Tommy inspects armoured vehicles for a business deal with Father John Hughes (Paddy Considine). He meets with Mr. Romanov, who pays him for murdering Kaledin with a sapphire. Tommy later finds a card under his son Charles’ pillow, which reads «Charles Shelby – R.I.P.». Grace wears the sapphire, which Tommy gave her, to the Shelby Charity Foundation dinner. Father Hughes informs Tommy that the Russians want to inspect the vehicles. Tatiana tells Tommy that the sapphire Grace is wearing was cursed. Tommy attempts convincing Grace to take off the necklace when a man shouts «For Angel!» and shoots Grace dead. Tommy travels to Wales with the sapphire necklace, where he confers with a Romani woman named Bethany Boswell, whom he asks whether it is cursed. He returns home with some sense of normality having left the necklace with Boswell. Arthur and John have procured a man called Vicente Changretta (Kenneth Colley), an Italian American Mafia member who Tommy threatens to torture, but Arthur shoots him in the head as an act of mercy. Tatiana sees Tommy to his car; he tells her that Father Hughes is betraying them to the Soviets and offers to kill him for free. Easter arrives and Tommy announces a plan to Arthur and John: they will have been hired to provide the Russians with weapons for a rebellion stolen from a train and will, in turn, be paid in jewels but, believing the Russians will betray him, Tommy plans to break into their vault. Polly goes to church while drunk and during confession she inadvertently reveals Tommy’s plan to assassinate Father Hughes to the priest, who tells Father Hughes about it. Knowing he is the target, Father Hughes foils Tommy’s attempt on his life and watches him being seriously injured by his minders. Father Hughes then makes Tommy go tell the Russians that he was misinformed about Father Hughes betraying them. Three months later, Tommy has recovered and the planned massive heist involving the Russians is drawing near. Tommy enlists Alfie to appraise the Russian’s jewels. Charles is kidnapped. Father Hughes reveals to Tommy that he knows about his subterfuge. He demands the jewels as payment and for Tommy himself to blow up the train, which must kill six people, in exchange for the safe return of Charles. Tommy agrees unconditionally. After some investigation he discovers that Alfie divulged the plans to Father Hughes. During a confrontation, Polly’s son Michael Gray (Finn Cole) kills Alfie’s associate, but Michael talks Tommy out of killing Alfie. Tommy figures out where Charles is being held and sends Michael to retrieve him and kill Father Hughes. At the same time Arthur and John set off to carry out the train bombing in case Michael cannot rescue Charles in time. Even though Michael is successful, word does not reach the family in time, and the train is blown up. Tommy returns home to distribute the loot to his accomplices, but at the end of the meeting announces that the police are at the residence to arrest everyone. The rest of the Peaky Blinders and the family are taken away in handcuffs.
Series 4[edit]
As Arthur, John, Michael and Polly prepare to hang for their crimes, Tommy’s reprieve comes just in time to save their lives. A year later, the family is scattered and estranged from one another. Each of the Shelbys receives a letter from Vincente’s son Luca Changretta (Adrien Brody), a leader in New York’s Italian American Mafia, marking him or her for death in retribution for the murder of Vincente and Changretta’s brother Angel. Tommy and Ada attempt to convince the others to meet on Boxing Day, believing that they will be safer if they come back together. However, when Tommy discovers and kills a mafia agent among his staff, he realises the assassination attempts are due to take place on Christmas Day and gets word to the rest of the family. Michael goes to collect John and his wife Esme Shelby (Aimee-Ffion Edwards), with whom Tommy could not get in contact. A cart pulls up, and John and Michael are shot several times. Michael survives his injuries but John is killed. In the wake of his death, Tommy and the rest of the family agree to put their differences aside while they deal with the mafia threat. Tommy suggests contacting Aberama Gold (Aidan Gillen), a contract killer. Changretta visits Tommy in his office at the factory by using a fake name to get into the factory, Tommy goes to his jacket to grab his gun and shoots Changretta, but Changretta already took the bullets out and sets them on the table, stating that each is for a member of the family. He plans to keep Tommy alive until the rest are dead but insists that their vendetta be an honourable one, with Tommy agreeing not to involve the police or the death of children or civilians. The Peaky Blinders are lured by the Changrettas into a chase on the streets of Birmingham, where it becomes clear that the Changrettas are outmatched. Tommy has figured out Polly and Michael have betrayed him but goes to the meeting Polly has set for him and finds himself engaged in a shootout with Changretta’s men. After Tommy kills Changretta’s men, he confronts Changretta himself, but the police arrive and break up the fight. The family gather to find out what happened, Tommy explains what happened, it appears he had been in on it with Polly, he does not tell the family of Michael’s betrayal. Alfie arranges a boxing match between Aberama Gold’s son Bonnie Gold (Jack Rowan) and Alfie’s protégé. It is a trap, however, as Alfie has made a deal to let the Changrettas kill the Peaky Blinders, in exchange for the Changrettas to transport and sell Alfie’s London-made bootleg liquor in New York. At the day of the match, Arthur is seriously wounded and appears to have died. Luckily, Tommy finds Arthur in time to save his life, but tells Polly to inform everyone that he has died as a part of Tommy’s elaborate plan. At Arthur’s funeral, the widow Changretta approaches with a white flag. Later at the family home, she reveals the vendetta will be over if Tommy signs over all his assets to Changretta. Changretta and his men meet with the remaining Shelbys in Tommy’s basement distillery to sign the documents. Tommy reveals to Changretta that he has sent Michael to America to negotiate with Al Capone and turn Changretta’s men against him. Realising he has been outmanoeuvred, Changretta attacks Tommy, and a fight ensues. As Tommy is getting the upper hand, Arthur enters the distillery and shoots Changretta. It is revealed that Tommy had Arthur fake his death to lure Changretta into the trap. The family celebrate the end of the vendetta at Tommy’s countryside estate, and it is announced that Tommy will take a holiday from the business. Tommy confronts Alfie for his betrayal, who reveals he did so knowing Tommy would track him down and kill him, and that he has cancer. Tommy then shoots Alfie and proceeds to take his holiday. During the holiday, Tommy continues to sleep with Lizzie Stark (Natasha O’Keeffe), and Lizzie become pregnant with Tommy’s child. When he returns, he starts a campaign for Member of Parliament, an election which Tommy wins.
Series 5[edit]
In 1929, Tommy goes up to a phone booth on Lickey Hills where on the phone Arthur reads a letter from «Angels of Retribution» which states that they have never even heard of Peaky Blinders and therefore are not scared of their threats. Meanwhile, Michael who runs the Shelby company in the United States gets a message that Wall Street has crashed and leaves for Birmingham with his wife Gina Gray (Anya Taylor-Joy). Tommy gets the news from Arthur about the Stock Market crash and becomes furious after learning that Michael held on even after being instructed not to do so. It is also revealed that Tommy is now married to Lizzie. Later, the family have a meeting at the Garrison, where Tommy reveals that Aberama and Isaiah Jesus (Daryl McCormack) were sent to kill a pimp, who was blackmailing a senior member of House of Lords. During the assassination mission Tommy’s younger brother Finn Shelby (Harry Kirton) was shot in the arm even though he was instructed by Tommy to stay back and let the other two men do the killing. At the House of Commons, Tommy meets Sir Oswald Mosley (Sam Claflin) and later threatens Lord Suckerby (Tim Woodward) (a senior member who was being threatened) for not being paid the amount he was promised. Mr. Levitt (Elliot Cowan), a journalist, conducts an interview with Tommy and asks him questions about his past with a view to damaging his image as MP, but Tommy outmanoeuvres him with personal and sensitive information he has on him. At the end of the episode, Mr. Levitt is killed by unknown assailants. At his mansion, Tommy gets a call from Captain Swing (Charlene McKenna), who informs that she captured Michael from cabin of the men who supposedly wants to kill Tommy and asks whether to spare him or kill him and, as per Tommy’s request, Michael walks free. At the Garrison, Arthur and Tommy warn Finn not to get involved with guns and Tommy tells Arthur that he doesn’t sleep because he dreams that someone wants his crown and that it might be Michael. Tommy and Ada meets with Mosley, where Tommy tells Mosley that Ada advised against meeting him as he seems to be moving in direction of fascism. At a ballet event, Mosley announces to everyone his and Tommy’s involvement in the new British fascism movement. Tommy visits an asylum to meet Barney Thomason (Cosmo Jarvis), an old comrade from the First World War. Barney agrees to join the Peaky Blinders and Tommy plans to have him assassinate Mosley. Tommy visits Alfie, who survived being shot by Tommy, to organise a riot to cover up the assassination of Mosley. The plan to assassinate Mosley is foiled as both Barney and Aberama are killed in the ensuing events and Polly was assassinated offscreen by the IRA. Tommy leaves for home with Arthur and walks off into a field; a hallucination of Grace tells him «the work’s all done» and Tommy screams and points a gun at his own head.[9]
Series 6[edit]
Following Tommy’s suicide attempt, he receives a call from Captain Swing who takes credit for foiling the attempted assassination of Mosley. She returns the bodies of Barney, Aberama and Polly who was also killed during the assassination attempt. The entire Shelby family gather for Polly’s funeral with Michael swearing revenge on Tommy for his role in Polly’s death. In 1933, Tommy, now sober, sets up a meeting with an estranged Michael and business associates of Jack Nelson (James Frecheville), a south Boston gang leader and Gina’s uncle on Miquelon Island. Following unsuccessful talks to re-enter into business, Tommy lands Michael in prison for possession of opium. Later, Tommy is phoned by Lizzie who announces she, Charles (Billy Jenkins) and Ruby (Orla McDonagh) cannot travel to Canada due to Ruby’s sudden illness. Believing her sickness is a message and gypsy related, Tommy decides to return to Britain. Tommy, still a Labour MP, returns to the United Kingdom and is informed Ruby is recovering. He has a seizure in the bathroom and Lizzie urges him to see a doctor, but he refuses. While on a diplomatic mission for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Nelson expresses interest to meet the fascists. Tommy sees an opportunity to ally himself with Captain Swing. He visits Alfie and announces the death of his uncle on the Cotton Club at the hands of Nelson’s gang. After a tense meeting with Mosley and his fiancé Lady Diana Mitford (Amber Anderson), Tommy meets Nelson and agrees to feed information about England’s political goings to his gang in exchange for opium. Tommy is informed that Ruby is sick again and decides to contact Esme. As Ruby falls sick with consumption and treated with gold flakes, Tommy goes in search of the source of the curse that he believes has been laid upon his family and eventually reunites with Esme. Ada takes over Tommy’s role in Birmingham. Tommy discovers that Bethany Boswell had given the cursed sapphire that once belonged to Grace, who died after Tommy gifted it to her, to Evadne Barwell who had a daughter that died at the age of 7, prompting Tommy to believe that it was Barwell who had cursed Ruby in revenge. Tommy returns to Birmingham and goes straight to the hospital where Ruby is. Lizzie meets him at the entrance to tell him that the gold salts treatment didn’t work, and that Ruby had died. As the family mourns, Tommy enacts revenge as he murders the Barwell family who cursed Ruby. Distraught in grief, Tommy ignores letters from his personal doctor as his relationship with Lizzie strains even further. The meeting between Tommy, Mosley, Diana, Captain Swing and Nelson takes place: Nelson agrees to let Tommy trade opium in Boston as he gains information from Mosley about the political future of England and agrees with Captain Swing that the Irish working class can be turned. Tommy finally meets with Doctor Holford (Aneurin Barnard) and is told that due to coming into contact with Ruby while she was ill, he has developed inoperable tuberculoma and that he now only has between 12 and 18 months left to live. Tommy deals with the Chinese business that got Arthur hooked on opium by walking into their shop, taking their remaining drugs and throwing them into the canal with a bomb. He introduces his newly found son, Erasmus «Duke» Shelby (Conrad Khan), at a family meeting, to Lizzie’s disliking. Tommy sleeps with Diana as a payment for her cause. Eventually she arrives at the family home with Mosley and tells Lizzie that Tommy was disloyal to her in an act purely devised to split her and Tommy away from each other with Mosley believing that Tommy deserves better if he is to move up in the world. Lizzie finally leaves Tommy after his affair with Diana, taking Charles. Tommy sets the rest of the Peaky Blinders to dismantle his house, and gives false information to the informant Billy Grade (Emmett J. Scanlan) to lure the IRA into a trap. On Miquelon Island, Tommy meets Michael, who has been released from prison. His friend Johnny Dogs (Packy Lee) switches a car-bomb intended for Tommy, which after the meeting kills Michael’s associates. Tommy then kills Michael, fulfilling Polly’s prediction. With Nelson’s business partners defeated, Alfie and Tommy agree to coordinate a take-over of his business in Boston with Alfie staying in America permanently to oversee operations. A month after saying goodbye to his family, an alone Tommy prepares to shoot himself. But after seeing a vision of Ruby, and Doctor Holford pictured with Mosley in a partially-burnt newspaper, Tommy realizes he had been given a false diagnosis of inoperable tuberculoma. Tommy goes off to kill Holford, but realises he has finally changed and ends up sparing his life. After returning and watching his wagon and remaining possessions burn, Tommy rides away.
Critical reception[edit]
For his portrayal of Tommy Shelby, Murphy has received widespread critical acclaim and won the Irish Film & Television Academy in 2018 for Best Actor in a Lead Role in Drama.[10] In 2020, Murphy was awarded a National Television Award for Best Drama Performance for the same role, beating the likes of Jodie Comer and Idris Elba to the award.[11]
Emily VanDerWerff praised the character, «to call Murphy magnetic might be underselling his presence, and even though the rest of Blinders is quite good, the show can’t help but sag a little whenever Murphy’s not around.»[12] Morgan Jeffery praises the ‘movie-star charisma’ of the character while Maureen Ryan says «Tommy Shelby may not be a good man, but he’s a phenomenally watchable one.»[13][14]
References[edit]
- ^ Anderson, Hayley (19 August 2020). «Peaky Blinders: What is the real reason why Cillian Murphy took on Tommy Shelby role?». Daily Express. Archived from the original on 30 August 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ White, Adam (3 June 2020). «Peaky Blinders: Jason Statham lost Tommy Shelby role over text message, Steven Knight reveals». The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ Bley Griffiths, Eleanor (30 August 2019). «How historically accurate is Peaky Blinders – and was Tommy Shelby a real person?». Radio Times. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ «A Blinding Bit Of Telly». Travellers Times. 15 November 2014. Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ Newland, Christina (12 June 2018). «10 great films about Gypsies and Travellers». BFI. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ «Cillian Murphy lived with gypsies to prepare for new drama Peaky Blinders». Entertainment.ie. Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ Moore, Paul. «Peaky Blinders director explains what actually happened during that finale». Joe. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ «PSA: Cillian Murphy, The Man Who Plays Tommy Shelby Himself, Hates That Damn Hair Cut». GQ. Archived from the original on 18 May 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Mozafari, Laurence (22 September 2019). «Peaky Blinders season 5 ending explained – what was Tommy Shelby’s finale about, eh?». Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Rodger, James (17 February 2018). «Cillian Murphy wins Best Actor at IFTAs for Peaky Blinders role». Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Jeffery, Morgan (29 January 2020). «Cillian Murphy wins best Drama Performance award at the National Television Awards». Radio Times. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ VanDerWerff, Emily (30 November 2014). «Peaky Blinders is the perfect Netflix weekend binge». Vox. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Ryan, Maureen (9 March 2015). «‘Peaky Blinders’ Should Be Your Next Netflix Binge». Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Jeffery, Morgan (2 October 2014). «Peaky Blinders returns: Series 2 opener reviewed». Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ «Peaky Blinders». Netflix. Netflix. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- «The one minute. The soldier’s minute. In a battle, that’s all you get. One minute of everything at once, and anything before is nothing. Everything after, nothing. Nothing in comparison to that one minute.«
- —Thomas Shelby
Thomas Michael ‘Tommy’ Shelby OBE DCM MM MP is the son of Arthur and Mrs. Shelby, brother of Arthur, John, Ada and Finn Shelby, father of Charles and Ruby Shelby, as well as being the husband of Grace and Lizzie Shelby. He is the leader of the Birmingham criminal gang, the Peaky Blinders and the patriarch of the Shelby Family.
Thomas served in World War I with the rank of Sergeant Major and was decorated for bravery (Though he dumped them in a canal after returning from the war). His experiences in World War I left him disillusioned and beset with ongoing nightmares, and he becomes determined to move his family up in the world so that the powers who had always mistreated them could no longer touch them.
After the vendetta with the New York Mafia, and during the year of the Wall Street Crash, Thomas Shelby became a Member of Parliament as a member of the Labour Party, while lending the chair of the legal business to his older brother, Arthur Shelby.
Character History
1890-1919
Thomas Michael Shelby was born in 1890, to Arthur and Mrs. Shelby. He was born on a boat, in a barge called ‘The January’ and had an elder brother, Arthur Shelby, who he was extremely close with as a child. Over the years, Thomas’ parents welcomed three more children, John, Ada and Finn Shelby.
Thomas’ parents were both Gypsies, making him and all of his siblings full-blooded Gypsies as well. It is implied by Thomas’ paternal aunt, Polly Gray, that the Lee Family are the Shelby Family’s kin, through their mother. They also have Irish Traveller ancestry, this is because Polly mentioned that alongside Romani, they should not speak Shelta around Karl Thorne, which is the language spoken by Irish Travellers. It is also heavily implied that their father was a partial Irish Traveller.
While growing up in Small Heath, Birmingham, Thomas carried a razorblade and a screwdriver on him and would tell the other children in the area that he could lay curses, so they were afraid of him and didn’t pick on or tease him because of it. Thomas and his siblings would have to get their fathers beer from The Garrison. However, because they were so little, it would take two of them to carry one bucket back to their house. Thomas would also fight with his brothers over cigarettes and one time, when Thomas was 9 and Arthur was 12, they got into a massive physical argument. Thomas pinned Arthur against the ground and began hitting him several times over the head, later winning the fight, although Thomas acknowledged that Arthur let him win. Their mother had a close friend, Charlie Strong, who was around a lot during their upbringing, which resulted in them looking up to him as their ‘uncle’.
In 1909, when the youngest Shelby sibling was still an infant, their mother became severely depressed and contemplated suicide. Their father was no help, so Charlie intervened and convinced her to go on the road, so she left Birmingham and travelled to Worcester. When she returned from her trip, she bought back a white pony and gifted it to Thomas. She watched Thomas ride the pony around for a few weeks, seemingly in a much better mindset than she was before her trip. Charlie believed she was better, however he was wrong. Shortly after her return, Mrs. Shelby jumped into the canal and committed suicide, like her own father before her. Charlie had the job of removing Mrs. Shelby’s body from the canal, which broke his heart, as he was secretly in love with her.
Shortly after Mrs. Shelby’s death, Thomas’ father began finding it hard to cope, raising five children on his own. He eventually abandoned them all in the care of his sister, and left Birmingham. Polly was left alone to raise her niece and nephews, and became the head of the house, as well as their mother figure. This resulted in the Shelby siblings gaining immense respect for Polly as they got older since they were extremely grateful for all she had done for them.
Sometime before 1914, Thomas fell deeply in love with an Italian girl, Greta Jurossi. Her parents didn’t approve of a Gypsy boy dating their daughter, but Thomas eventually won them over with his charm and sweetness. A few months later, Greta became extremely ill with consumption and although the disease was contagious, Thomas stayed by her bedside for three months, holding her hand. Greta eventually died from her illness, which broke Thomas’ heart.
In May 1914, Thomas met a Romani girl called Zelda, while at the Appleby Fair. Zelda stole Thomas’ watch and chain, but despite this, later that day they had sex underneath a hazel tree. Zelda became pregnant with Thomas’ child and when her father found out, he shot Thomas in the chest with a squirrel gun. Her father wanted to kill Thomas, but before he could do so, Thomas was sent away to fight in WWI, along with two of his brothers.
In early 1915, while Thomas was in France fighting in WWI, Zelda gave birth to their child, a son called Erasmus Shelby. Although Thomas returned from war in 1918, he never tried to contact Zelda and she raised their son alone. When Erasmus became older, he asked his mother who his father was and Zelda told him a false story. Zelda still had the watch she had stollen from Thomas, which had the words “Saxon Shore” carved on the back, so she told Erasmus that his father was the Duke of the Saxon Shore. As a result, Erasmus changed his name to ‘Duke’ and doesn’t like people using his birth name.
It is implied that Thomas had a drastic personality shift, before and after his experiences in the WWI, during which he was a Tunneller or Sapper (a volunteer covertly digging treacherous tunnels in order to place enormous amounts of explosives beneath enemy lines – a tactic used several times in the war to devastating effect). After the War, he began experiencing symptoms of PTSD and would often experience frightening nightmares, flashbacks, and hallucinations, all of which he kept to himself.
Shelby in 1919.
Thomas is shown to be a member of the Small Heath Rifles at the rank of sergeant major – a non-commissioned officer in charge of well-being, morale and training of the entire unit (all other sergeants and corporals answer to him as well as to the actual commanding officers). His flawless conduct in this role (made even more difficult on account of his youth at the time) earned him unwavering respect both from members of his unit and other veterans alike and cemented his reputation in the streets.
As to his heritage, Thomas claims that he is related to the Lee family on his mother’s side and Johnny Dogs claims that Thomas’s grandfather was a «king», most likely a King of the Gypsies. He is the second of the Shelby siblings.
World War One
Shelby (left) with his brothers Arthur and John, in their soldier’s uniforms during World War I, in 1914.
Shelby is a former British soldier and his war record states that he fought bravely at the Battle of Verdun and the Battle of Somme. His actions at Mons reportedly saved thousands of allied lives, for which he received medals of honour after the War, including the Military Medal and the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Series 1 · 1919
Shelby rides a big black horse into the Chinese quarters in Birmingham, where the horse is subjected to a «powder trick» in an attempt to rig a horse race. It is revealed that the horse is named «Monaghan Boy». He then returns to the Shelby residence for a family meeting. Upon learning that a new policeman is about to be stationed in Birmingham following the loss of a consignment of guns from the BSA factory, Polly Shelby takes Thomas aside and questions him on the matter. He reveals to her that his men accidentally acquired the wrong crate during a routine pick-up, instead taking a crate that contained Lewis machine guns, ammunition, semi-automatic rifles, and pistols with shells.
Seemingly heeding Polly’s advice, Thomas says he’ll dump the guns as soon as the full moon wanes, in the hope that the policemen won’t pursue the matter further. After Arthur Shelby Jr. is forcibly taken to meet Inspector Campbell, and reveals that Campbell might want to work together with them to recover the missing consignment, Thomas, after a moment’s pause, leaves the room without any further discussion of the matter. Some time after, as Curly and Charlie Strong (Thomas’s uncle) are preparing to drop the guns off, Thomas changes his mind about leaving the guns for the police to find, and has Curly drop the guns off at the old tobacco wharf, where the Peaky Blinders keep contraband cigarettes—all in favour of some alternative strategy.
Later, it is revealed that the new barmaid at The Garrison Pub, Grace, is an undercover agent working to recover the missing guns, when she meets with Campbell. She then informs Campbell that the leader of the Peaky Blinders is not Arthur, but Thomas.
Not long later, Shelby, Arthur and John Shelby are in the countryside for the fair — also at the fair is the gypsy Lee Family. An insult dealt to their mother by one of the Lee brothers results in a brawl, led by Thomas. On their return, Polly takes Shelby aside to tell him that Inspector Campbell wants to meet him. In return for the unwelcome police raid in Birmingham, Thomas instructs and orchestrates a mass burning of the pictures of the King, and gets a reporter to cover this incident, drawing the attention and displeasure of Winston Churchill to Inspector Campbell.
Later, while collecting his horse from Curly, Charlie presents a bullet with Thomas’s name engraved on it — a declaration of war from the Lee clan. While on the streets, he is stopped by Grace when she tosses a bucket of spit before his horse, and he invites her to the Cheltenham Races.
On his return to the Shelby home, Polly informs him of his sister Ada’s pregnancy, and he storms off to find Ada at the cinema, demanding the identity of the father of her child.
Shelby during the First World War.
The fixed race with the horse Monaghan Boy pays off, and the Peaky Blinders make a fortune. However, Thomas had fixed the race without the permission of Billy Kimber, the man who controls all the bookmaking sites at racecourses, and Polly chides him for it.
Afterwards, Shelby reveals his plan to take over Billy Kimber’s business when he meets Inspector Campbell and offers him a deal: in return for Inspector Campbell’s (and the policemen’s) non-interference with the work of the Peaky Blinders and the impending takeover of Billy Kimber’s business, Thomas promises the removal of Freddie Thorne from the city as well as the missing guns to Campbell. Thomas ensures his own safety by telling Campbell that if he is taken into police custody, the guns will be dropped off at Liverpool, brought to Belfast and sold to the IRA. Campbell seemingly agrees to the deal, and Thomas leaves after making a snide remark at Campbell’s deferment from the war.
One night, while in the throes of a nightmare, Curly wakes Thomas up and tells Thomas that the horse he bought from the fair is cursed, and the curse will soon spread to the heart of the horse. After Charlie deduces that this is the work of the Lee family, Thomas shoots his horse, then heads to the now-empty Garrison Pub for a drink, where he is served by Grace. He then reveals to her that, contrary to what she has said about her past, he knows she’s never worked in any pub in Dublin, then goes on to (incorrectly) guess that she was a pregnant runaway, but promises Grace to keep it a secret.
The following day, Billy Kimber storms into The Garrison Pub, demanding to see «any man named Shelby». The Shelby brothers, and Thomas in particular, receive the wrath of Billy Kimber, who accuses Thomas of fixing the races, and subsequently threatens to shoot them. Thomas, however, politely offers to strike a deal with him; given that both Thomas and Billy Kimber are at war with the Lee family, Thomas proposes to work with Billy Kimber to beat the Lee family to both their advantages. Though Kimber doesn’t accept their offer immediately, they come to a truce because of Thomas’s overly respectful appearance.
The following day, Grace asks Thomas for two more shillings to pay for her dress; he tells her to buy something coloured red. Meanwhile, two IRA members meet with Thomas at The Garrison Pub, telling him they would pay good money for the stolen guns from the BSA factory, should the Peaky Blinders gang be or come into possession of them. Thomas confronts Freddie Thorne — who still hasn’t left the city — telling him that his marriage to Ada will not last. Meanwhile Sergeant Moss threatens Thomas, telling him that Ada will be thrown in jail for sedition if Thomas does not deliver Freddie to the police.
Shelby in the Shelby Home
As a gesture to gaining his trust, Shelby also warns Billy Kimber that the Lee family is going to be at the Cheltenham races, and that they are planning on robbing Kimber’s bookies.
Thomas has another nightmare of the war, and the next day heads to Cheltenham with Grace. After taking back Kimber’s money from the Lees, he makes a deal with Kimber, offering members of the Peaky Blinders to be used as security for Kimber. Kimber agrees, on the condition that he gets to spend a few hours with Grace. Initially Thomas agrees, but he heads to Kimber’s mansion and interrupts them, lying to Kimber that Grace has the clap, thereby saving her.
Thomas leaves the Shelby home unattended (except for Scudboat) as John calls a family meeting. Upon re-arriving at the home, Thomas and his family find the place trashed, and they find wire cutters, indicating that somewhere a hand grenade is hidden. Thomas realizes the hand grenade is for him, and finds his brother Finn playing with his car. He saves Finn and throws the grenade, and tells Finn to never pretend to be him, as his life is in constant danger.
Thomas goes to the Lee family to settle the dispute between the Lees and the Shelbys once and for all, claiming that he is related to the Lee family on his mother’s side, Thomas tells them that he will be betraying Billy Kimber, and that he needs men to help. In exchange, he marries his brother John to a Lee family member named Esme to join their families.
Thomas delivers to Inspector Campbell the address of Stanley Chapman, a communist, instead of Freddie Thorne. Billy Kimber meanwhile hands Thomas the Shelby Company Limited’s first legal racetrack pitch.
Thomas brings Grace to the Catholic Church, knowing that she is a liar and confronts her about it. He also offers her a job and compliments her, telling her she has an air of class, and he kisses her. He gives Grace her first job, telling her to invite Ada to John’s wedding with Esme. After the wedding ceremony, Thomas allows Freddie to see his newborn son, but Grace reveals Freddie’s location to the police and Freddie is taken into custody.
Shortly after Freddie is arrested, Thomas tells Grace to mark a specific date on the business calendar—‘Black Star Day’, the day in which he will take out Billy Kimber and his men at the races.
An Irishman named Malacki Byrne visits Thomas at The Garrison Pub, claiming that he is the cousin of one of the IRA men who had visited previously was shot and killed. He threatens Thomas, so Thomas admits that he has the stolen machine guns, but that he will sell them to him for the right price. Thomas later tells Inspector Campbell of Malacki’s situation and makes a deal so that he can give Byrne to the police.
Malacki and Maguire enter the pub, where Grace is hidden at the back with a gun. Thomas speaks with them, and they tell him that they will kill him. Grace reveals herself and shoots Maguire dead, while Thomas fights with Malacki until finally killing him. The police enter far later than they had promised to Thomas, and take away the bodies.
After Inspector Campbell finds the machine guns in the fake grave of Danny Whizz-Bang, he hunts for Thomas at The Garrison Pub, but Grace takes Thomas to her home, thereby saving his life. At Grace’s small home, they have sex and Thomas asks her if she’ll stay with him.
Thomas comforts his brother Arthur after Arthur attempts suicide, despite the fact that Arthur had stolen money from the Shelby family for their father. He informs Arthur that he is now an equal shareholder of the Shelby Company Limited, and that he owns 1/3 of the company, as do Thomas and John.
Thomas informs the Peaky Blinders that today is ‘Black Star Day’, the day in which they take out Kimber and the Lee clan. He discovers Grace’s betrayal, and faces Billy Kimber alone in front of The Garrison Pub with his gang of Peaky Blinders and their machine gun and rifles. Billy Kimber manages to shoot Thomas in the chest, but Thomas is able to shoot him in the head, killing him instantly and ending the short war between the two gangs. Thomas leads a goodbye ceremony to Danny Whizz-Bang, who was killed during the event by Kimber’s men.
Thomas writes a letter to Grace telling her that he will give her his decision (whether or not to leave the city with her) in three days.
Series 2 · 1922
Thomas, along with his aunt Polly, find The Garrison Pub destroyed as a result of bombs with confetti. Thomas is called for at the Black Lion, where he is taken to a back room and threatened by an IRA woman named Irene O’Donnell and another man. He is told by them that he is to carry out an assassination.
Thomas calls a family meeting, informing everyone that he is planning on expanding the family business to London. He heads to London with his brothers John and Arthur, visiting a jazz club run by Darby Sabini.
Back in Birmingham, Thomas is held and beaten by Sabini’s men, while his sister Ada is abducted. Sabini’s men attempt to kill Thomas but he is saved by Chester Campbell.
Having saved him earlier from Sabini’s men, Inspector Campbell meets Thomas in the hospital, where he further threatens him. Thomas discharges himself out of the hospital, and with the medical help of Curly , heads to Camden Town to meet with Alfie Solomons . Upon his return, he informs Ada that he bought her a house in London, and proceeds to buy Polly Shelby another house in Birmingham, as her birthday present.
Thomas writes a letter to Campbell’s handler Winston Churchill , asking for an export licence in return for going along with Campbell’s plan for an assassination.
Thomas is also able to discover what happened to Polly’s children. The girl died of spring fever, but he locates the boy, Michael Gray . After meeting the boy, Thomas tells Polly that she must wait until he’s 18 years of age to meet him, otherwise the boy will be taken from her again.
Thomas also receives a letter from Grace, but burns the letter before reading it.
Now in better shape, thanks to Curly, Thomas and his new recruits head to Camden Town with aims of starting work with Alfie Solomons and his new army of bootleg distillers — who pose as bakers amid fears of being exposed. The Peaky Blinders take interim leadership from Billy Kitchen, the «Head Baker».
Thomas meets up with Major Campbell, pointing out that the Birmingham police have amusingly put him up in a hostel run by a semi-retired prostitute and brothel owner, indicating that they know of Campbell’s secret activities.
Along with his brothers John and Arthur, Thomas hires men to get themselves arrested overnight on purpose. One of their recruits is the Digbeth Kid, and the plan goes wrong when the boy gets murdered in his cell by Darby Sabini’s men. Thomas calls a family meeting about the incident, and informs his family of his plan to buy a racehorse, thus giving them a credible reason to infiltrate the race courses dominated by Sabini’s men.
At the auctions, Thomas meets the aristocratic May Carleton and sees in her an opportunity to move up in the world.
After their plan goes south, leading to the death of one of their own, Thomas attends the funeral of the Digbeth Kid, only to get a slap in the face from a mourner, before paying off the family for their trouble.
He then makes his way to meet Inspector Campbell, who needs him to carry out another assassination, this time of Field Marshal Henry Russell. Upon arrival, he realises Campbell and the pro-Treaty Irish Republicans have been working together all along. Thomas informs Campbell that Donal Henry is a spy reporting every word Campbell tells him back to the anti-treat Paddies, and that he’ll carry out the assassination is if Donal is killed. Henry’s body is soon found in a pile of coal, and Thomas starts planning the assassination.
In London, Arthur, whose cocaine habit is scaring his younger brother, leads the Blinders in tearing up the Eden Club belonging to Italian ganglord Darby Sabini.
The Blinders are in need of a new accountant, and thus Thomas ends up arguing with Polly over whether or not he’ll hire Michael for the job. They eventually come to an agreement.
Thomas has hired May Carleton to train his new horse, whose name is Grace’s Secret. He invites himself over to May Carleton’s mansion to see just how the other half live and get a progress report on his horse. Thomas then later ends up having sex with May later that night.
On Thomas’s return to Birmingham he receives the details of his assignment from Campbell. Thomas assures Campbell that if he is killed, he’ll have Campbell killed as well.
In Thomas’s office, he pulls out a letter, dials a number, asks to be connected to the Ritz Hotel in London, and waits. On the other end, a spiffy dude with a New York accent picks up. Thomas doesn’t say anything and disconnects from the line.
Not too long after, Thomas is caught by surprise when his powerbase in London is obliterated, and when his brother Arthur Shelby Jr. and cousin Michael Gray are thrown in jail.
Thomas holds a family meeting to figure out how many losses the gang and their connections have taken due to the coppers raiding their bars and business setups. He meets with Inspector Campbell at The Catholic Church. Campbell simply informs Thomas that his reason for throwing Arthur and Michael in jail was to motivate Thomas to properly carry out his task of killing Henry Russell.
Thomas takes Grace Burgess to see Charlie Chaplin in person and ends up spending the night with her, where she tells him that she has been trying to have a baby with her husband, but has fears that she may be the cause of her infertility issues. Thomas urges her to tell her husband the truth.
Thomas visits May Carleton and informs her that he can no longer continue their relationship as he still has feelings for Grace.
He also meets with Inspector Campbell to inform him of the new location of Henry Russell’s assassination, which will take place at the Epsom racetrack on Derby day.
After being threatened several times, Thomas writes a letter to the editor of the New York Times, explaining that Winston Churchill is having him perform a high-profile assassinations on behalf of the crown. He names Chester Campbell and gives the sealed envelope to his sister Ada Shelby, who is ordered to mail it if Thomas fails to return from the Epsom races, where the Derby is being held.
Thomas heads to Camden Town, along with Ada’s housemate James, to meet with Alfie Solomons, where he agrees to hand over 30% of his company (instead of Alfie’s proposed 100%) by telling Alfie that he has a grenade rigged to explode.
Before they get to the races, Thomas explains to the Peaky Blinders and their gypsy allies that they must take over Darby Sabini’s race track licences, and that he will be creating a diversion to distract the police from their actions.
At the races, Thomas speaks with May Carleton and informs her that they will meet when his duties are over at the end of the day. While doing business, Thomas is stopped by Grace Burgess who says she needs to speak with him as it is an important matter. Though Thomas seems slightly rushed and agitated he allows her to speak, Grace reveals that she still loves him and is pregnant, and that the child she is carrying is his. Thomas informs her that he will come and find her after the race.
Thomas enlists the help of Peaky Blinders member Lizzie Stark, to help him carry out his plan by taking Henry Russell to somewhere private at the races.
Thomas’s plan, however, does not go to plan, finding himself delayed in getting to Lizzie, who is sexually assaulted by the Field Marshal Henry Russell. When Thomas does arrive, his gun jams, but he grabs his target’s own pistol and shoots Russell dead.
Thomas’s smug showdown with a supposedly defeated Darby Sabini is ruined when Campbell’s hired men of The Red Right Hand rush and kidnap Thomas, placing him in a vehicle and driving off.
Thomas is carted out to an abandoned field where he faces certain death. He faces his execution with a mixture of anger at the approaching end to his weary acceptance that death has stalked him much of his life. But after Thomas enjoys his final cigarette, one of the three would-be assassins shoots the other two in the head and leaves Thomas lying in a grave, confused and alive. The man says, “At some point in the near future, Mr. Churchill will want to speak to you in person, Mr. Shelby. He has a job for you.” He tells Thomas to go home.
Back in his office, Thomas speaks with Michael Gray, who wishes to work for him as the Shelby Company expands. Thomas makes an announcement that he’s planning on getting married, though he does not state to whom.
Series 3 · 1924
Thomas, Grace and Charles Shelby
Series 3 starts with the marriage of Thomas and Grace. After they are married, it’s revealed that Thomas now owns a large house in the country, possibly to do with marrying Grace and his gradual increase in success in his business. His family and Grace’s both come back to the house afterwards, where they have a party, with the Shelby men and the Irish family bonding slightly.
Thomas is waiting for his businessman to make contact with him (who we later find out are Russians) and they do at his wedding. This ends with Arthur Shelby killing a man.
Despite living in the country now, Thomas frequently visits his home in Birmingham city and business is good, although he has initial reservations about Arthur’s wife.
Grace and Thomas Shelby
When Grace is shot, he is heartbroken and returns to his much colder demeanour, initially not wanting to speak to his family very much and being very withdrawn from family life, and more so caught up in business with the Russians.
When he gets a tip-off that the Priest is working for the Russian family is a double-agent, he attempts to assassinate him but is found out and attacked because of something Polly admitted in confession. He is very badly injured, with a suspected fractured skull and a haemorrhage. He is sent in this state to the home of the Romanovs and apologises to Father Hughes in front of them.
He is also in a sexual relationship with Tatiana Petrovna, the niece of Leon Petrovich Romanov, the Russian man Thomas is doing business with. In an episode in Thomas’ house in which Tatiana nearly shoots herself playing a frantic and sexualised game of Russian roulette, he breaks down as she keeps mentioning Grace, a tactic to get him to presumably break.
The initial business he had with Leon was to export large artillery vehicles, which he will get to the destination by having an explosion, implying that the vehicles got blown up when really they will be on a different train- although this gets changed when he finds out that the R
When Thomas deviates from the plan and Father Hughes finds out about the tunnel they are digging to retrieve the jewels from the Russian household, he kidnaps Thomas’s son, and in return, Thomas has to blow up the train and frame certain people, and at least 6 people have to die.
Thomas gets Arthur and John to blow up the train, but in the meantime, Michael finds Father Hughes and cuts his throat with a knife, after Thomas ordered him to kill him.
Thomas then returns the jewellery and such to Tatiana, who is waiting to presumably make a getaway somewhere, and informs him that a man is waiting for her. In exchange for the goods, she gives him a large case of money and kisses him, and then asks for money for the sex they had and for helping him get over Grace’s death. He rebuffs her, saying, «You didn’t even come close.»
The season ends with Thomas paying each of his family members and closest workers a sum of money for their problems, with most of his family angered or annoyed at him for interfering with Russian business in the first place, which he remarks in regard to Arthur, «You were right.» He confesses to having made many mistakes and requests them to accept the money that he pays as a means of his apology.
However, as Arthur is saying goodbye (as he plans to leave for New York) Thomas comments, «You won’t get far.» and then proceeds to tell them they will all be arrested for their various crimes and should comply with the police force, reminding them to trust him as he made a deal with people even more powerful than their enemies. They are all angered, and Thomas watches as Arthur, John, Michael and Polly are all handcuffed and taken away.
Series 4 · 1925-1926
The series begins around Christmas-time, where we discover that he is largely alienated from his family. However, the whole Shelby family is being hunted down by the Italian mafia from New York, which Luca Changretta, the son of Vincenzo Changretta, is the leader of. Luca Changretta plans to kill every Shelby family member as vengeance for his father’s death.
Aberama and his son, Bonnie
Tommy’s life becomes increasingly difficult when his younger brother, John Shelby is killed by Changretta and his men, marking the start of the war between the two families. Grieving from the loss, Tommy enlists the help of Aberama Gold — a hitman for hire — to protect his family and take out Changretta. Tommy agrees to let Aberama’s son, Bonnie fight for him in Shelby controlled fights with the assumption that he would fix the fights to better the Shelby’s.
Meanwhile, Tommy engages in a long struggle with Jessie Eden over the gender pay-gap between male and female workers in Shelby factories. Tommy sarcastically remarks that he will fix the problem by cutting male wages, with Jessie remarking that revolution is in the air. Eventually, Jessie is able to convince Tommy to revoke the wage cut and ensure equal pay between the genders in all his factories.
Tensions also begin to rise between Tommy and Arthur, who is angry that Tommy replaced him in the company while he was away recovering from drug abuse. However Arthur promises to prove himself, taking back his position within the company.
Due to Changretta’s threat, Michael decides to give up Tommy in return for Changretta ensuring that his mother is not harmed. Much to Michael’s surprise, he is unaware that Tommy is aware of what Michael has done and is leading Changretta into a trap. Shooting matches between Changretta and Tommy surmount and Tommy realises that he no longer has the support of Sergeant Moss and the Birmingham Police force.
The war between the Changretta’s and Shelby’s eventually comes to an end when Audrey Changretta visits Tommy announcing that the Changretta’s consider the vendetta won, demanding that all Shelby property be signed over to them. Tommy agrees, much to the Shelby families dismay. The following day, Changretta visits Tommy with paperwork pertaining to the release of Shelby property to his family. However Tommy reveals that he has been in contact with many families in the US who wish to take control of Changretta business, including Alphonse Capone. He reveals that he contacted the men Changretta has brought with him and offered them a higher price to stand by while Changretta is killed. Changretta is killed not long after by Arthur.
Series 5 · 1929
1929 is a hard year for Tommy as he and Charles still struggle from the death of Grace. However the crash of Wall St means that Tommy is quickly dragged back to Earth. Tommy alerts the Shelby Company board that not all is lost as they have investments in America that are safe. Meanwhile, Tommy brings hope to the small town of Small Heath, giving away free drinks to the locals and inciting them to ignore what they have heard about economic downturn as the Peaky Blinders will take care of them.
Furthermore, Tommy settles into his new role as the MP for South Birmingham, and is met by a new face, Oswald Mosley who admits that he has heard all about Tommy and is surprised to see him in such a position considering his past.Things begin to heat up when Tommy is targeted by Jimmy McCavern and the Billy Boys — a rival gang to the Peaky Blinders who have had enough of their tyrannical control. McCavern’s attack on Aberama’s son causes tensions between Aberama and Tommy, who he believes to be partially responsible. Further tensions begin to rise between Tommy and Michael, who Tommy believes to be responsible for losing Shelby Company Limited huge profits and that he is a traitor, conspiring to overthrow Tommy as head of the company. His fears are later proven true as in the last episode of series 5 Michael, who is being manipulated by his wife Gina proposes restructuring the company, with him and his wife Gina in charge of the company and the rest of the Shelby family retiring from the company. Tommy angrily rejects Michael’s proposal and throws it in the fireplace, Gina presses Michael to reveal that the American’s no longer wish to associate with the Peaky Blinders. Tommy said he gave Michael an opportunity to redeem himself but instead betrayed him and he banishes Michael and Gina from the family telling them to leave and never come back before warning Gina not to ‘fuck with the Peaky Blinders;’
Despite the economic downturn, Tommy opens several orphanages and increases charitable donations. Tommy attempts to increase the amount of children under Peaky care by confronting the sisters of St. Hilda’s orphanage who are known to be abusing children. He threatens them and demands that all children under their car be released to Shelby orphanages.
Tommys role as MP for Birmingham begins to escalate as he feels threatened by Mosley. Tommy begins relaying information about Mosley to the British Government, before finally deciding to take action himself. He formulates a plan to assassinate Mosley, however is unsuccessful when the plan is foiled and Aberama is killed. These events seemingly strain Tommy’s already rocked mental health, with hallucinations of Grace becoming more frequent as Tommy becomes distant with his family and series 5 ends with Tommy screaming in the field near his country home with a gun to his head after seeing yet another hallucination of Grace.
Series 6 — 1934
Series Six for Tommy picks up straight at the end of series five with Tommy pointing a gun to his head and failing with a suicide attempt as Arthur emptied all of the bullets out of Tommy’s gun beforehand. Tommy collapses in the mud before his wife Lizzie tells him he has a call waiting for him. Tommy receives a call from IRA agent Captain Swing who takes credit for foiling the attempted assassination of Oswald Mosley. She returns the bodies of Barney Thompson, Aberama Gold and Polly Shelby (Helen McCrory) who were also killed during the assassination attempt. The entire Shelby family gather for Polly’s funeral with Michael swearing revenge on Thomas for his role in Polly’s death. Four years later in 1933 Thomas, now sober, sets up a meeting with an estranged Michael and business associates of Jack Nelson, a south Boston gang leader and uncle of his wife Gina Grey on Miquelon Island. Following unsuccessful talks to re-enter into business, Thomas lands Michael in prison for possession of opium after tipping off the American authorities. Afterwards Tommy pays Gina a visit in her house where she is seen drinking now legal whiskey and listening to jazz music. Gina smugly tells Tommy that the offer he gave to her uncle has been rejected. Tommy then threatens to sell the opium to the Jewish gang which would start a gang war for control, wiping the smug look from Gina’s face. Later, Thomas is phoned by Lizzie who announces she and the children cannot travel to Canada due to Ruby’s sudden illness. Believing her sickness is a message and gypsy related, Tommy decides to return to Britain.
Tommy, still a Labour MP, returns to the United Kingdom and is informed Ruby is recovering. He has a seizure in the Shelby bathroom and Lizzie urges him to see a doctor, but he refuses. After Jack Nelson expresses interest to meet the fascists, Tommy sees an opportunity in an alliance with Captain Swing. He visits Alfie Solomons and announces the death of Charlie Solomons, Alfie’s uncle, on the Cotton Club at the hands of Nelson’s gang. After a tense meeting with Mosley and Diana Mitford, Tommy meets Nelson and agrees to feed information about England’s political goings to his gang in exchange for opium. Tommy is informed that Ruby is sick again and decides to contact Esme Shelby, the former wife of John. As Ruby falls sick with consumption and treated with gold, Tommy goes in search of the source of the curse that he believes has been laid upon his family and eventually reunites with Esme, the widow of his late brother John. Ada takes over Tommy’s role in Birmingham and meets with Oswald Mosley, his mistress Diana, Jack Nelson, and Gina. Tommy discovers that the person who he gave the cursed Sapphire that once belonged to his late wife, Grace, who died after Tommy gifted it to her, had a daughter that died at the age of 7, prompting Tommy to believe that it was this woman who had cursed Ruby in revenge. Tommy returns to Birmingham and goes straight to the hospital where Ruby is. His wife Lizzie meets him at the entrance to tell him that the gold salts treatment didn’t work, and that Ruby had died.
As the Shelby family mourns, Tommy enacts revenge as he murders the family of the woman who cursed his daughter. Distraught in grief, Tommy ignores letters from his personal doctor as his relationship with Lizzie strains even further. Tommy is then told by Esme about a son he never knew he had by the name of Duke Shelby. The meeting between Captain Swing of the IRA, Oswald Mosley and Diana Mitford, Jack Nelson and Tommy takes place: Jack agrees to let Tommy trade opium in Boston as he gains information from Mosley about the political future of England and agrees with Captain Swing that the Irish working class can be turned. After Tommy sees Mosley leave Gina’s apartment. Tommy walks in and tells her straight away that he knows about her affair with Mosley and blackmails her into getting information about Mosley and Uncle Jack when they go to Germany to meet the senior member of the German government in a couple of weeks, otherwise he will tell Michael and her uncle and she will be disowned by him for cheating on her husband, since Jack is a Catholic and it is forbidden for wives to cheat on their husbands. Tommy asks Gina what Michael’s intention towards him are and he will know if she lies to him. Gina tells Tommy that all Michael wants is to get this opium business finished and they will part ways once again. Tommy then walks off smirking clearly able to tell Gina was lying. Tommy finally meets with his doctor and is told that due to coming into contact with his daughter while she was ill, he has developed inoperable tuberculoma and that he now only has between 1 year and 18 months left to live. Tommy talks to his late Aunt Polly asking her to give him the time he needs to do what he must do. Tommy deals with the Chinese business that got Arthur hooked on Opium by walking into their shop, taking their remaining drugs and throwing them into the canal with a bomb. He introduces his newly found son, Duke, at a family meeting, to Lizzie’s disliking. Tommy sleeps with Diana Mitford as a payment for Diana’s cause. Eventually she arrives at the Shelby family home with Oswald and tells Lizzie that her husband was disloyal to her in an act purely devised to split her and Tommy away from each other with Mosley believing that Tommy deserves better if he is to move up in the world.
Lizzie finally leaves Tommy after his affair with Diana, taking her stepson Charles. Tommy finally admits to Arthur that he is dying after Arthur finds his X-Ray. Tommy sets the rest of the Peaky Blinders to dismantle his house, and gives false information to the IRA informant Billy Grade to lure the IRA into a trap; Duke eventually kills Billy after Finn refuses to do so. Captain Swing and other IRA assassins go to the Garrison to kill Arthur, but are killed after a shootout in Garrison Lane, with Arthur personally killing Captain Swing and avenging Polly’s death. On Miquelon Island, Tommy meets Michael, who has finally been released from prison. Johnny Dogs switches a car-bomb intended for Tommy, which after the meeting explodes and kills Michael’s associates. Michael goes outside thinking he has killed Tommy but upon seeing his associates car in flames and Tommy coming out of the car unharmed realises he is about to die. He says one last goodbye to Johnny Dogs before berating Tommy one last time that he killed his mother Polly Gray when he tried to kill Oswald Mosley, Tommy says Polly made her own choices but Michael says nobody makes a decision without his opinion, not Ada, not Arthur and not Michael himself, nobody can escape his lethal hand. Tommy says Polly visits him in his dreams but she will no longer before shooting Michael in the head for trying to kill him and betraying his family taking care of Michael as a threat once and for all and winning their war fulfilling Polly’s prediction. Tommy then says to Michael’s corpse that he has ‘no limitations’. Tommy holds one last feast near his newly demolished house where he says goodbye to his family. A month after saying goodbye to his family, an alone Tommy prepares to shoot himself. But after seeing a vision of his late daughter Ruby, and his personal doctor pictured with Oswald Mosley in a partially-burnt newspaper, Tommy realizes he had been given a false diagnosis of inoperable tuberculoma. Tommy goes off to kill his doctor, but ends up sparing his life. After returning and watching his wagon and remaining possessions burn, Tommy rides away.
Shelby Company Limited
- Main article: Shelby Company Limited
Thomas is instrumental in the success of the Shelby family business, which became a Limited Company under Thomas’s ownership, as well as the first Shelby family company to have a legal racetrack pitch.
Series 2 revealed that Shelby Company Limited is making over 100 pounds a day, on average. Thomas pushes the company further by expanding it south to London, as well as by sending crates of cars (with hidden bottles of single malt Scotch Whisky inside—these bottles are then sold in North America in order to bring in profits for the company).
In Series 3, it is shown that thanks to the actions of Thomas and the family over the past few years, the company is even more successful than it had been in the previous series, as it continues to expand and grow, as well as thanks to the cash provided by Winston Churchill.
Personality
Unlike the Shelby siblings, Thomas is a very calm and observant man, showcasing his wit and ruthlessness to anyone who threatens him or his family. He is widely respected among his local community and is seen as a dangerous foe by his enemies. Under his leadership, the Peaky Blinders have risen from a local Birmingham street gang to a national enterprise that has gone toe-to-toe with the New York Mafia. His experiences in World War 1 have made him fearless and almost impossible to intimidate. Though being a ruthless gangster, Tommy is not heartless, as he has shown great remorse for his actions. By Season 5, Tommy has become severely depressed and unhappy in life and to be suicidal, as he almost kills himself several times in Season 5
Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Living… in post-WWI Birmingham, England, with his five siblings and his aunt Polly. It’s a full house and the Shelbys have plenty to do. As important members of the Peaky Blinders, a local criminal gang, “Tommy” and his relatives navigate the treacherous social landscape to solidify their power within the city.
Profession… boss of the Peaky Blinders. His brother Arthur may be older and brawnier, but Tommy has the brains and initiative. Dissatisfied with the group’s current status, he’ll do whatever it takes to dominate. His gang acknowledges his immense efforts: “It is Tommy that has given this family strength and power. You have to be as bad as them in order to survive.”
Interests… smoking, drinking, and gambling. Thomas Shelby indulges in the hobbies of a typical gangster of almost any era. He conducts business with a cigar in his mouth and a glass of whiskey in his hand. He also has a strong interest in horses, largely in part to his Gypsy heritage and businesses in racetracks and gambling.
Relationship Status… single. Warmth and romance aren’t his strengths. If the relationship isn’t strategically valuable, Tommy isn’t interested.
Challenge… holding onto power. With the arrival of Major Campbell – a police chief inspector – and the tireless scrutiny of Sir Winston Churchill, organized crime is facing some tough opposition. Tommy and his Peaky Blinders plan on circumventing the crackdown, but it’s not going to be easy.
Personality… stoic, intelligent, ruthless, calculating, and ambitious. Tommy is one man you don’t want to cross. Everyone in town knows that “it’s not a good idea to look at Tommy Shelby the wrong way.” He also suffers symptoms of PTSD ever since coming back from France. Tommy is a master tactician, a war hero, gangster, businessman, politician. He’s turned his trauma into relentless ambition to improve his standing among London society.
Relationships
Grace Shelby
Thomas first meets Grace shortly after she begins working at his local pub, The Garrison, and quickly grows fond of her. This mutual attraction eventually leads to love, however the relationship is rocked when Thomas discovers that Grace was secretly operating as an agent for the Crown. Despite her mission, she too fell in love with him and urged him to run away to New York with her, escaping both the Crown and the life of a Peaky Blinder. Despite his feelings for Grace, he thankfully declines, opting to stay in Birmingham and lead the Peaky Blinders.
Grace returns two years later, but is married to a wealthy American. Thomas is at first sardonic by her reappearance, but they end up spending the night together, a clear indicator that neither has lost feelings for one another. In the second series finale, Grace tells Thomas that she is pregnant with his child and that it’s him, not her husband, who she loves.
Another two years passes and Grace has given birth to a healthy boy, Charles Shelby, and she and Thomas have married and now live in a country estate. However, her life with Thomas does not come without risk, as Grace is shot and shortly dies, leaving their son solely in the care of Thomas, who remains grieving long after her death and hallucinating her ghost. Photos and paintings of her are kept all around his house in her memory.
Lizzie Stark
Thomas and Lizzie Stark
Series 1 sees Lizzie engaged to be married to John. Thomas, upon finding out about the marriage, proceeds to test Lizzie, offering her money to sleep with him one last time. She is reluctant at first but takes the money. Thomas tells John of the event, leading to the marriage being called off, but not before John found out Thomas was one of Lizzie’s regular clients after he arrived back from the war in France.
In Series 2, Lizzie is next seen after having sex with Thomas, telling him she wishes just once he wouldn’t pay her, like normal people. He doesn’t take much interest in the conversation but is next seen back in his office with Lizzie once again, telling her to close her eyes. He offers her a job as his secretary, telling her she would no longer do her other work as a prostitute, this time with «no exceptions».
In episode 6, she is escorted to the Epsom Derby by Jeremiah Jesus to Thomas, who has a job for her. After they take a seat, he explains to her he needs her to distract a soldier, by taking him to a ‘quiet place’. She instantly knows that he is implying she seduces him, but retorts using his own words, telling him that he said there would be no exceptions. He continues that he promises to get there before ‘it’ starts, and Lizzie eventually accepts. Once with the soldier, he becomes violent when she tries to slow things down, and Thomas doesn’t arrive until after the soldier is raping Lizzie. Thomas pulls his gun and begins to fight with the man until he is able to shoot him with his own gun. Lizzie is shakily pointing his gun at him, crying and screaming where he was. He attempts to comfort her, but she angrily pushes him away and leaves.
By the end of Series 4, Lizzie had gotten pregnant and given birth to Thomas’ child.
Greta Jurossi
In Series 4, Thomas turns up at out of blue at Jessie Eden’s home looking for knowledge of the Italian family trying to kill the Shelby’s. She was under the false impression that he came with an “improved offer” on the pay wage for his factory workers. During a conversation with Eden, she recalls the knowledge of a past lover of his, Greta Jurossi, daughter of Italians who “died at age 19 of consumption.”
Greta’s sister, Kitty Jurossi, and friend of Eden said Thomas was “at her bedside for three months. Every day, holding her hand,” and shortly after went to war. Kitty Jurossi claimed he was a sweet boy before the war and was a member of the Communist Party. Eden returns a photo to Thomas from Kitty of he and Greta at Blackpool beach. On it was written “Wild Rovers beside the seaside. June 15th, 1915”.
In the same episode, Tommy takes Lizzie to a dock beneath a bridge he had “not been in a long time” where a girl “would wait for hours for me when I couldn’t make it… and I’d wait for her if her family kept her in.” At this point, he hints that it was Greta by mentioning that it was “Some girl… some girl before France.” presumably for sex.
Polly Shelby
Polly and Thomas share a close relationship, both within the Peaky Blinders and family. Within the Shelby family, Polly has looked after Thomas since they were young. When Thomas found out about Polly’s search for her children, he aided her in finding them, however was reluctant to reveal their location, fearing that her anger would ruin the relationship between the two before it had begun.
Within the Peaky Blinders, Polly is one of his most trusted advisers, often advising him on gang business as the treasurer for the gang. In series 1, Thomas places Polly as interim leader while he is away on gang business, stating that she become permanent leader if he did not return.
Arthur Shelby
Arthur is Thomas’ elder brother and the two have a close but complex and strained relationship. Thomas uses the Peaky Blinders wealth and persuasion to purchase the Garrison, to which he entrusts to Arthur’s management. He further involves his brother as 1/3 owner of Shelby Company Limited, proving the relationship between the two to be a strong and trustful one.
Despite their closeness, Thomas shows no love for Arthur’s actions and attempts at suicide. While he forgives Arthur for giving their father £500 of the Peaky Blinder’s money, he expresses contempt at Arthur’s failed attempt to hang himself, sarcastically suggesting that next time he shoot himself. Furthermore, during Thomas’ wedding where he prevents Arthur from saying his best mans’ speech.
John Shelby
Like Arthur, John is Thomas’ brother and a close and trusted ally. He is also entrusted 1/3 of Shelby Company Limited and is initially the bookkeeper for the Peaky Blinders, believing himself to be better than his brothers.
Tensions arise between the brothers when John announces he is to marry Lizzie Stark, someone that — unknown to him — Thomas has been sleeping with since his return from the war. Not wanting to see his brother hurt, Thomas reveals this information to John, causing complications in their relationships and leading to John calling off the engagement. Thomas does, however believe John to be an important member of the Shelby family, arranging for his marriage to Esme Lee, a member of a large gypsy clan. Thomas believes the marriage between the two to be an important way to unify the two clans against Billy Kimber and the Birmingham Boys. In the end, John seems to enjoy his marriage to Esme.
In 1926, Thomas warns John about the incoming attack from the Changretta Family, however John misses the call and is later shot dead by the family, much to Thomas’ sadness.
Ada Shelby
As his sister, Ada and Thomas initially share a close relationship. Tensions between the two, however, begin to grow as she engages in a relationship with Freddie Thorne, an old friend turned enemy of Thomas’ and the Peaky Blinders. The relationship between Ada and Thomas becomes further strained as Ada falsely believes Thomas to be the one who turned Freddie over to the police — something that is rectified at the end of series 1, leading to the two becoming close again.
Later, after the passing of Freddie, Thomas uses the wealth amassed by the Peaky Blinders to purchase a house for Ada and her child, proving his love for her. He further believes her to be the only one capable of talking sense into Polly over her son, Michael Gray. She later becomes an important figurehead in the family company, Shelby Company Limited.
May Carleton
May and Thomas Shelby
Thomas and May Carleton’s relationship is that they’re both quite lonely in their own ways. Thomas is probably the first man that she feels passion for since her husband passed away.
Tatiana Petrovna
His sexual interest in series 3, he sleeps with her on a few occasions, as she was «offered» by her Aunt to help close the deal with the family. Although he may harbour some feelings of love for her, they don’t come close at all to his feelings for Grace and he rebuffs her coldly at the end of series 3, as she leaves the city and presumably the country.
Quotes
- «Do I look like a man, who wants a simple life?»
- «Everyone’s a whore, Grace, we just sell different parts of ourselves.»
- «I am a horse.»
- «He looked at me the wrong way. It’s not a good idea to look at Tommy Shelby the wrong way.»
- «Whiskey’s good proofing water. Tells you who’s real and who isn’t.»
- «I still prefer The Garrison.»
- «He told fortunes and stole horses. Often he would tell a man that his horse would be stolen and they would marvel at his powers when it was.»
- «I’m chosen? I’m chosen. Can the chosen one smoke?»
- «Lizzie, I want it known, that money was for you because, some nights, it was you who stopped my heart from breaking. No one else.”
- «Why not?»
- «I know what it is… it’s just myself talking to myself about myself. «
- «All this death, Lizzie. Fuck, let’s have some life, eh?»
Appearances
Series 1 Appearances | |||||
Episode 1.1 | Episode 1.2 | Episode 1.3 | Episode 1.4 | Episode 1.5 | Episode 1.6 |
Series 2 Appearances | |||||
Episode 2.1 | Episode 2.2 | Episode 2.3 | Episode 2.4 | Episode 2.5 | Episode 2.6 |
Series 3 Appearances | |||||
Episode 3.1 | Episode 3.2 | Episode 3.3 | Episode 3.4 | Episode 3.5 | Episode 3.6 |
Series 4 Appearances | |||||
The Noose | Heathens | Blackbird | Dangerous | The Duel | The Company |
Series 5 Appearances | |||||
Black Tuesday | Black Cats | Strategy | The Loop | The Shock | Mr Jones |
Series 6 Appearances | |||||
Black Day | Black Shirt | Gold | [[]] | [[]] | [[]] |
Image Gallery
Thomas Shelby, Polly Gray and Shelbys
Thomas, Arthur, Finn Shelby and the Peaky Blinders
Thomas Shelby
Promotional image
Series 4 promotional image
Series 5 promotional image
Series 5 promotional image
- «The one minute. The soldier’s minute. In a battle, that’s all you get. One minute of everything at once, and anything before is nothing. Everything after, nothing. Nothing in comparison to that one minute.«
- —Thomas Shelby
Thomas Michael ‘Tommy’ Shelby OBE DCM MM MP is the son of Arthur and Mrs. Shelby, brother of Arthur, John, Ada and Finn Shelby, father of Charles and Ruby Shelby, as well as being the husband of Grace and Lizzie Shelby. He is the leader of the Birmingham criminal gang, the Peaky Blinders and the patriarch of the Shelby Family.
Thomas served in World War I with the rank of Sergeant Major and was decorated for bravery (Though he dumped them in a canal after returning from the war). His experiences in World War I left him disillusioned and beset with ongoing nightmares, and he becomes determined to move his family up in the world so that the powers who had always mistreated them could no longer touch them.
After the vendetta with the New York Mafia, and during the year of the Wall Street Crash, Thomas Shelby became a Member of Parliament as a member of the Labour Party, while lending the chair of the legal business to his older brother, Arthur Shelby.
Character History
1890-1919
Thomas Michael Shelby was born in 1890, to Arthur and Mrs. Shelby. He was born on a boat, in a barge called ‘The January’ and had an elder brother, Arthur Shelby, who he was extremely close with as a child. Over the years, Thomas’ parents welcomed three more children, John, Ada and Finn Shelby.
Thomas’ parents were both Gypsies, making him and all of his siblings full-blooded Gypsies as well. It is implied by Thomas’ paternal aunt, Polly Gray, that the Lee Family are the Shelby Family’s kin, through their mother. They also have Irish Traveller ancestry, this is because Polly mentioned that alongside Romani, they should not speak Shelta around Karl Thorne, which is the language spoken by Irish Travellers. It is also heavily implied that their father was a partial Irish Traveller.
While growing up in Small Heath, Birmingham, Thomas carried a razorblade and a screwdriver on him and would tell the other children in the area that he could lay curses, so they were afraid of him and didn’t pick on or tease him because of it. Thomas and his siblings would have to get their fathers beer from The Garrison. However, because they were so little, it would take two of them to carry one bucket back to their house. Thomas would also fight with his brothers over cigarettes and one time, when Thomas was 9 and Arthur was 12, they got into a massive physical argument. Thomas pinned Arthur against the ground and began hitting him several times over the head, later winning the fight, although Thomas acknowledged that Arthur let him win. Their mother had a close friend, Charlie Strong, who was around a lot during their upbringing, which resulted in them looking up to him as their ‘uncle’.
In 1909, when the youngest Shelby sibling was still an infant, their mother became severely depressed and contemplated suicide. Their father was no help, so Charlie intervened and convinced her to go on the road, so she left Birmingham and travelled to Worcester. When she returned from her trip, she bought back a white pony and gifted it to Thomas. She watched Thomas ride the pony around for a few weeks, seemingly in a much better mindset than she was before her trip. Charlie believed she was better, however he was wrong. Shortly after her return, Mrs. Shelby jumped into the canal and committed suicide, like her own father before her. Charlie had the job of removing Mrs. Shelby’s body from the canal, which broke his heart, as he was secretly in love with her.
Shortly after Mrs. Shelby’s death, Thomas’ father began finding it hard to cope, raising five children on his own. He eventually abandoned them all in the care of his sister, and left Birmingham. Polly was left alone to raise her niece and nephews, and became the head of the house, as well as their mother figure. This resulted in the Shelby siblings gaining immense respect for Polly as they got older since they were extremely grateful for all she had done for them.
Sometime before 1914, Thomas fell deeply in love with an Italian girl, Greta Jurossi. Her parents didn’t approve of a Gypsy boy dating their daughter, but Thomas eventually won them over with his charm and sweetness. A few months later, Greta became extremely ill with consumption and although the disease was contagious, Thomas stayed by her bedside for three months, holding her hand. Greta eventually died from her illness, which broke Thomas’ heart.
In May 1914, Thomas met a Romani girl called Zelda, while at the Appleby Fair. Zelda stole Thomas’ watch and chain, but despite this, later that day they had sex underneath a hazel tree. Zelda became pregnant with Thomas’ child and when her father found out, he shot Thomas in the chest with a squirrel gun. Her father wanted to kill Thomas, but before he could do so, Thomas was sent away to fight in WWI, along with two of his brothers.
In early 1915, while Thomas was in France fighting in WWI, Zelda gave birth to their child, a son called Erasmus Shelby. Although Thomas returned from war in 1918, he never tried to contact Zelda and she raised their son alone. When Erasmus became older, he asked his mother who his father was and Zelda told him a false story. Zelda still had the watch she had stollen from Thomas, which had the words “Saxon Shore” carved on the back, so she told Erasmus that his father was the Duke of the Saxon Shore. As a result, Erasmus changed his name to ‘Duke’ and doesn’t like people using his birth name.
It is implied that Thomas had a drastic personality shift, before and after his experiences in the WWI, during which he was a Tunneller or Sapper (a volunteer covertly digging treacherous tunnels in order to place enormous amounts of explosives beneath enemy lines – a tactic used several times in the war to devastating effect). After the War, he began experiencing symptoms of PTSD and would often experience frightening nightmares, flashbacks, and hallucinations, all of which he kept to himself.
Shelby in 1919.
Thomas is shown to be a member of the Small Heath Rifles at the rank of sergeant major – a non-commissioned officer in charge of well-being, morale and training of the entire unit (all other sergeants and corporals answer to him as well as to the actual commanding officers). His flawless conduct in this role (made even more difficult on account of his youth at the time) earned him unwavering respect both from members of his unit and other veterans alike and cemented his reputation in the streets.
As to his heritage, Thomas claims that he is related to the Lee family on his mother’s side and Johnny Dogs claims that Thomas’s grandfather was a «king», most likely a King of the Gypsies. He is the second of the Shelby siblings.
World War One
Shelby (left) with his brothers Arthur and John, in their soldier’s uniforms during World War I, in 1914.
Shelby is a former British soldier and his war record states that he fought bravely at the Battle of Verdun and the Battle of Somme. His actions at Mons reportedly saved thousands of allied lives, for which he received medals of honour after the War, including the Military Medal and the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Series 1 · 1919
Shelby rides a big black horse into the Chinese quarters in Birmingham, where the horse is subjected to a «powder trick» in an attempt to rig a horse race. It is revealed that the horse is named «Monaghan Boy». He then returns to the Shelby residence for a family meeting. Upon learning that a new policeman is about to be stationed in Birmingham following the loss of a consignment of guns from the BSA factory, Polly Shelby takes Thomas aside and questions him on the matter. He reveals to her that his men accidentally acquired the wrong crate during a routine pick-up, instead taking a crate that contained Lewis machine guns, ammunition, semi-automatic rifles, and pistols with shells.
Seemingly heeding Polly’s advice, Thomas says he’ll dump the guns as soon as the full moon wanes, in the hope that the policemen won’t pursue the matter further. After Arthur Shelby Jr. is forcibly taken to meet Inspector Campbell, and reveals that Campbell might want to work together with them to recover the missing consignment, Thomas, after a moment’s pause, leaves the room without any further discussion of the matter. Some time after, as Curly and Charlie Strong (Thomas’s uncle) are preparing to drop the guns off, Thomas changes his mind about leaving the guns for the police to find, and has Curly drop the guns off at the old tobacco wharf, where the Peaky Blinders keep contraband cigarettes—all in favour of some alternative strategy.
Later, it is revealed that the new barmaid at The Garrison Pub, Grace, is an undercover agent working to recover the missing guns, when she meets with Campbell. She then informs Campbell that the leader of the Peaky Blinders is not Arthur, but Thomas.
Not long later, Shelby, Arthur and John Shelby are in the countryside for the fair — also at the fair is the gypsy Lee Family. An insult dealt to their mother by one of the Lee brothers results in a brawl, led by Thomas. On their return, Polly takes Shelby aside to tell him that Inspector Campbell wants to meet him. In return for the unwelcome police raid in Birmingham, Thomas instructs and orchestrates a mass burning of the pictures of the King, and gets a reporter to cover this incident, drawing the attention and displeasure of Winston Churchill to Inspector Campbell.
Later, while collecting his horse from Curly, Charlie presents a bullet with Thomas’s name engraved on it — a declaration of war from the Lee clan. While on the streets, he is stopped by Grace when she tosses a bucket of spit before his horse, and he invites her to the Cheltenham Races.
On his return to the Shelby home, Polly informs him of his sister Ada’s pregnancy, and he storms off to find Ada at the cinema, demanding the identity of the father of her child.
Shelby during the First World War.
The fixed race with the horse Monaghan Boy pays off, and the Peaky Blinders make a fortune. However, Thomas had fixed the race without the permission of Billy Kimber, the man who controls all the bookmaking sites at racecourses, and Polly chides him for it.
Afterwards, Shelby reveals his plan to take over Billy Kimber’s business when he meets Inspector Campbell and offers him a deal: in return for Inspector Campbell’s (and the policemen’s) non-interference with the work of the Peaky Blinders and the impending takeover of Billy Kimber’s business, Thomas promises the removal of Freddie Thorne from the city as well as the missing guns to Campbell. Thomas ensures his own safety by telling Campbell that if he is taken into police custody, the guns will be dropped off at Liverpool, brought to Belfast and sold to the IRA. Campbell seemingly agrees to the deal, and Thomas leaves after making a snide remark at Campbell’s deferment from the war.
One night, while in the throes of a nightmare, Curly wakes Thomas up and tells Thomas that the horse he bought from the fair is cursed, and the curse will soon spread to the heart of the horse. After Charlie deduces that this is the work of the Lee family, Thomas shoots his horse, then heads to the now-empty Garrison Pub for a drink, where he is served by Grace. He then reveals to her that, contrary to what she has said about her past, he knows she’s never worked in any pub in Dublin, then goes on to (incorrectly) guess that she was a pregnant runaway, but promises Grace to keep it a secret.
The following day, Billy Kimber storms into The Garrison Pub, demanding to see «any man named Shelby». The Shelby brothers, and Thomas in particular, receive the wrath of Billy Kimber, who accuses Thomas of fixing the races, and subsequently threatens to shoot them. Thomas, however, politely offers to strike a deal with him; given that both Thomas and Billy Kimber are at war with the Lee family, Thomas proposes to work with Billy Kimber to beat the Lee family to both their advantages. Though Kimber doesn’t accept their offer immediately, they come to a truce because of Thomas’s overly respectful appearance.
The following day, Grace asks Thomas for two more shillings to pay for her dress; he tells her to buy something coloured red. Meanwhile, two IRA members meet with Thomas at The Garrison Pub, telling him they would pay good money for the stolen guns from the BSA factory, should the Peaky Blinders gang be or come into possession of them. Thomas confronts Freddie Thorne — who still hasn’t left the city — telling him that his marriage to Ada will not last. Meanwhile Sergeant Moss threatens Thomas, telling him that Ada will be thrown in jail for sedition if Thomas does not deliver Freddie to the police.
Shelby in the Shelby Home
As a gesture to gaining his trust, Shelby also warns Billy Kimber that the Lee family is going to be at the Cheltenham races, and that they are planning on robbing Kimber’s bookies.
Thomas has another nightmare of the war, and the next day heads to Cheltenham with Grace. After taking back Kimber’s money from the Lees, he makes a deal with Kimber, offering members of the Peaky Blinders to be used as security for Kimber. Kimber agrees, on the condition that he gets to spend a few hours with Grace. Initially Thomas agrees, but he heads to Kimber’s mansion and interrupts them, lying to Kimber that Grace has the clap, thereby saving her.
Thomas leaves the Shelby home unattended (except for Scudboat) as John calls a family meeting. Upon re-arriving at the home, Thomas and his family find the place trashed, and they find wire cutters, indicating that somewhere a hand grenade is hidden. Thomas realizes the hand grenade is for him, and finds his brother Finn playing with his car. He saves Finn and throws the grenade, and tells Finn to never pretend to be him, as his life is in constant danger.
Thomas goes to the Lee family to settle the dispute between the Lees and the Shelbys once and for all, claiming that he is related to the Lee family on his mother’s side, Thomas tells them that he will be betraying Billy Kimber, and that he needs men to help. In exchange, he marries his brother John to a Lee family member named Esme to join their families.
Thomas delivers to Inspector Campbell the address of Stanley Chapman, a communist, instead of Freddie Thorne. Billy Kimber meanwhile hands Thomas the Shelby Company Limited’s first legal racetrack pitch.
Thomas brings Grace to the Catholic Church, knowing that she is a liar and confronts her about it. He also offers her a job and compliments her, telling her she has an air of class, and he kisses her. He gives Grace her first job, telling her to invite Ada to John’s wedding with Esme. After the wedding ceremony, Thomas allows Freddie to see his newborn son, but Grace reveals Freddie’s location to the police and Freddie is taken into custody.
Shortly after Freddie is arrested, Thomas tells Grace to mark a specific date on the business calendar—‘Black Star Day’, the day in which he will take out Billy Kimber and his men at the races.
An Irishman named Malacki Byrne visits Thomas at The Garrison Pub, claiming that he is the cousin of one of the IRA men who had visited previously was shot and killed. He threatens Thomas, so Thomas admits that he has the stolen machine guns, but that he will sell them to him for the right price. Thomas later tells Inspector Campbell of Malacki’s situation and makes a deal so that he can give Byrne to the police.
Malacki and Maguire enter the pub, where Grace is hidden at the back with a gun. Thomas speaks with them, and they tell him that they will kill him. Grace reveals herself and shoots Maguire dead, while Thomas fights with Malacki until finally killing him. The police enter far later than they had promised to Thomas, and take away the bodies.
After Inspector Campbell finds the machine guns in the fake grave of Danny Whizz-Bang, he hunts for Thomas at The Garrison Pub, but Grace takes Thomas to her home, thereby saving his life. At Grace’s small home, they have sex and Thomas asks her if she’ll stay with him.
Thomas comforts his brother Arthur after Arthur attempts suicide, despite the fact that Arthur had stolen money from the Shelby family for their father. He informs Arthur that he is now an equal shareholder of the Shelby Company Limited, and that he owns 1/3 of the company, as do Thomas and John.
Thomas informs the Peaky Blinders that today is ‘Black Star Day’, the day in which they take out Kimber and the Lee clan. He discovers Grace’s betrayal, and faces Billy Kimber alone in front of The Garrison Pub with his gang of Peaky Blinders and their machine gun and rifles. Billy Kimber manages to shoot Thomas in the chest, but Thomas is able to shoot him in the head, killing him instantly and ending the short war between the two gangs. Thomas leads a goodbye ceremony to Danny Whizz-Bang, who was killed during the event by Kimber’s men.
Thomas writes a letter to Grace telling her that he will give her his decision (whether or not to leave the city with her) in three days.
Series 2 · 1922
Thomas, along with his aunt Polly, find The Garrison Pub destroyed as a result of bombs with confetti. Thomas is called for at the Black Lion, where he is taken to a back room and threatened by an IRA woman named Irene O’Donnell and another man. He is told by them that he is to carry out an assassination.
Thomas calls a family meeting, informing everyone that he is planning on expanding the family business to London. He heads to London with his brothers John and Arthur, visiting a jazz club run by Darby Sabini.
Back in Birmingham, Thomas is held and beaten by Sabini’s men, while his sister Ada is abducted. Sabini’s men attempt to kill Thomas but he is saved by Chester Campbell.
Having saved him earlier from Sabini’s men, Inspector Campbell meets Thomas in the hospital, where he further threatens him. Thomas discharges himself out of the hospital, and with the medical help of Curly , heads to Camden Town to meet with Alfie Solomons . Upon his return, he informs Ada that he bought her a house in London, and proceeds to buy Polly Shelby another house in Birmingham, as her birthday present.
Thomas writes a letter to Campbell’s handler Winston Churchill , asking for an export licence in return for going along with Campbell’s plan for an assassination.
Thomas is also able to discover what happened to Polly’s children. The girl died of spring fever, but he locates the boy, Michael Gray . After meeting the boy, Thomas tells Polly that she must wait until he’s 18 years of age to meet him, otherwise the boy will be taken from her again.
Thomas also receives a letter from Grace, but burns the letter before reading it.
Now in better shape, thanks to Curly, Thomas and his new recruits head to Camden Town with aims of starting work with Alfie Solomons and his new army of bootleg distillers — who pose as bakers amid fears of being exposed. The Peaky Blinders take interim leadership from Billy Kitchen, the «Head Baker».
Thomas meets up with Major Campbell, pointing out that the Birmingham police have amusingly put him up in a hostel run by a semi-retired prostitute and brothel owner, indicating that they know of Campbell’s secret activities.
Along with his brothers John and Arthur, Thomas hires men to get themselves arrested overnight on purpose. One of their recruits is the Digbeth Kid, and the plan goes wrong when the boy gets murdered in his cell by Darby Sabini’s men. Thomas calls a family meeting about the incident, and informs his family of his plan to buy a racehorse, thus giving them a credible reason to infiltrate the race courses dominated by Sabini’s men.
At the auctions, Thomas meets the aristocratic May Carleton and sees in her an opportunity to move up in the world.
After their plan goes south, leading to the death of one of their own, Thomas attends the funeral of the Digbeth Kid, only to get a slap in the face from a mourner, before paying off the family for their trouble.
He then makes his way to meet Inspector Campbell, who needs him to carry out another assassination, this time of Field Marshal Henry Russell. Upon arrival, he realises Campbell and the pro-Treaty Irish Republicans have been working together all along. Thomas informs Campbell that Donal Henry is a spy reporting every word Campbell tells him back to the anti-treat Paddies, and that he’ll carry out the assassination is if Donal is killed. Henry’s body is soon found in a pile of coal, and Thomas starts planning the assassination.
In London, Arthur, whose cocaine habit is scaring his younger brother, leads the Blinders in tearing up the Eden Club belonging to Italian ganglord Darby Sabini.
The Blinders are in need of a new accountant, and thus Thomas ends up arguing with Polly over whether or not he’ll hire Michael for the job. They eventually come to an agreement.
Thomas has hired May Carleton to train his new horse, whose name is Grace’s Secret. He invites himself over to May Carleton’s mansion to see just how the other half live and get a progress report on his horse. Thomas then later ends up having sex with May later that night.
On Thomas’s return to Birmingham he receives the details of his assignment from Campbell. Thomas assures Campbell that if he is killed, he’ll have Campbell killed as well.
In Thomas’s office, he pulls out a letter, dials a number, asks to be connected to the Ritz Hotel in London, and waits. On the other end, a spiffy dude with a New York accent picks up. Thomas doesn’t say anything and disconnects from the line.
Not too long after, Thomas is caught by surprise when his powerbase in London is obliterated, and when his brother Arthur Shelby Jr. and cousin Michael Gray are thrown in jail.
Thomas holds a family meeting to figure out how many losses the gang and their connections have taken due to the coppers raiding their bars and business setups. He meets with Inspector Campbell at The Catholic Church. Campbell simply informs Thomas that his reason for throwing Arthur and Michael in jail was to motivate Thomas to properly carry out his task of killing Henry Russell.
Thomas takes Grace Burgess to see Charlie Chaplin in person and ends up spending the night with her, where she tells him that she has been trying to have a baby with her husband, but has fears that she may be the cause of her infertility issues. Thomas urges her to tell her husband the truth.
Thomas visits May Carleton and informs her that he can no longer continue their relationship as he still has feelings for Grace.
He also meets with Inspector Campbell to inform him of the new location of Henry Russell’s assassination, which will take place at the Epsom racetrack on Derby day.
After being threatened several times, Thomas writes a letter to the editor of the New York Times, explaining that Winston Churchill is having him perform a high-profile assassinations on behalf of the crown. He names Chester Campbell and gives the sealed envelope to his sister Ada Shelby, who is ordered to mail it if Thomas fails to return from the Epsom races, where the Derby is being held.
Thomas heads to Camden Town, along with Ada’s housemate James, to meet with Alfie Solomons, where he agrees to hand over 30% of his company (instead of Alfie’s proposed 100%) by telling Alfie that he has a grenade rigged to explode.
Before they get to the races, Thomas explains to the Peaky Blinders and their gypsy allies that they must take over Darby Sabini’s race track licences, and that he will be creating a diversion to distract the police from their actions.
At the races, Thomas speaks with May Carleton and informs her that they will meet when his duties are over at the end of the day. While doing business, Thomas is stopped by Grace Burgess who says she needs to speak with him as it is an important matter. Though Thomas seems slightly rushed and agitated he allows her to speak, Grace reveals that she still loves him and is pregnant, and that the child she is carrying is his. Thomas informs her that he will come and find her after the race.
Thomas enlists the help of Peaky Blinders member Lizzie Stark, to help him carry out his plan by taking Henry Russell to somewhere private at the races.
Thomas’s plan, however, does not go to plan, finding himself delayed in getting to Lizzie, who is sexually assaulted by the Field Marshal Henry Russell. When Thomas does arrive, his gun jams, but he grabs his target’s own pistol and shoots Russell dead.
Thomas’s smug showdown with a supposedly defeated Darby Sabini is ruined when Campbell’s hired men of The Red Right Hand rush and kidnap Thomas, placing him in a vehicle and driving off.
Thomas is carted out to an abandoned field where he faces certain death. He faces his execution with a mixture of anger at the approaching end to his weary acceptance that death has stalked him much of his life. But after Thomas enjoys his final cigarette, one of the three would-be assassins shoots the other two in the head and leaves Thomas lying in a grave, confused and alive. The man says, “At some point in the near future, Mr. Churchill will want to speak to you in person, Mr. Shelby. He has a job for you.” He tells Thomas to go home.
Back in his office, Thomas speaks with Michael Gray, who wishes to work for him as the Shelby Company expands. Thomas makes an announcement that he’s planning on getting married, though he does not state to whom.
Series 3 · 1924
Thomas, Grace and Charles Shelby
Series 3 starts with the marriage of Thomas and Grace. After they are married, it’s revealed that Thomas now owns a large house in the country, possibly to do with marrying Grace and his gradual increase in success in his business. His family and Grace’s both come back to the house afterwards, where they have a party, with the Shelby men and the Irish family bonding slightly.
Thomas is waiting for his businessman to make contact with him (who we later find out are Russians) and they do at his wedding. This ends with Arthur Shelby killing a man.
Despite living in the country now, Thomas frequently visits his home in Birmingham city and business is good, although he has initial reservations about Arthur’s wife.
Grace and Thomas Shelby
When Grace is shot, he is heartbroken and returns to his much colder demeanour, initially not wanting to speak to his family very much and being very withdrawn from family life, and more so caught up in business with the Russians.
When he gets a tip-off that the Priest is working for the Russian family is a double-agent, he attempts to assassinate him but is found out and attacked because of something Polly admitted in confession. He is very badly injured, with a suspected fractured skull and a haemorrhage. He is sent in this state to the home of the Romanovs and apologises to Father Hughes in front of them.
He is also in a sexual relationship with Tatiana Petrovna, the niece of Leon Petrovich Romanov, the Russian man Thomas is doing business with. In an episode in Thomas’ house in which Tatiana nearly shoots herself playing a frantic and sexualised game of Russian roulette, he breaks down as she keeps mentioning Grace, a tactic to get him to presumably break.
The initial business he had with Leon was to export large artillery vehicles, which he will get to the destination by having an explosion, implying that the vehicles got blown up when really they will be on a different train- although this gets changed when he finds out that the R
When Thomas deviates from the plan and Father Hughes finds out about the tunnel they are digging to retrieve the jewels from the Russian household, he kidnaps Thomas’s son, and in return, Thomas has to blow up the train and frame certain people, and at least 6 people have to die.
Thomas gets Arthur and John to blow up the train, but in the meantime, Michael finds Father Hughes and cuts his throat with a knife, after Thomas ordered him to kill him.
Thomas then returns the jewellery and such to Tatiana, who is waiting to presumably make a getaway somewhere, and informs him that a man is waiting for her. In exchange for the goods, she gives him a large case of money and kisses him, and then asks for money for the sex they had and for helping him get over Grace’s death. He rebuffs her, saying, «You didn’t even come close.»
The season ends with Thomas paying each of his family members and closest workers a sum of money for their problems, with most of his family angered or annoyed at him for interfering with Russian business in the first place, which he remarks in regard to Arthur, «You were right.» He confesses to having made many mistakes and requests them to accept the money that he pays as a means of his apology.
However, as Arthur is saying goodbye (as he plans to leave for New York) Thomas comments, «You won’t get far.» and then proceeds to tell them they will all be arrested for their various crimes and should comply with the police force, reminding them to trust him as he made a deal with people even more powerful than their enemies. They are all angered, and Thomas watches as Arthur, John, Michael and Polly are all handcuffed and taken away.
Series 4 · 1925-1926
The series begins around Christmas-time, where we discover that he is largely alienated from his family. However, the whole Shelby family is being hunted down by the Italian mafia from New York, which Luca Changretta, the son of Vincenzo Changretta, is the leader of. Luca Changretta plans to kill every Shelby family member as vengeance for his father’s death.
Aberama and his son, Bonnie
Tommy’s life becomes increasingly difficult when his younger brother, John Shelby is killed by Changretta and his men, marking the start of the war between the two families. Grieving from the loss, Tommy enlists the help of Aberama Gold — a hitman for hire — to protect his family and take out Changretta. Tommy agrees to let Aberama’s son, Bonnie fight for him in Shelby controlled fights with the assumption that he would fix the fights to better the Shelby’s.
Meanwhile, Tommy engages in a long struggle with Jessie Eden over the gender pay-gap between male and female workers in Shelby factories. Tommy sarcastically remarks that he will fix the problem by cutting male wages, with Jessie remarking that revolution is in the air. Eventually, Jessie is able to convince Tommy to revoke the wage cut and ensure equal pay between the genders in all his factories.
Tensions also begin to rise between Tommy and Arthur, who is angry that Tommy replaced him in the company while he was away recovering from drug abuse. However Arthur promises to prove himself, taking back his position within the company.
Due to Changretta’s threat, Michael decides to give up Tommy in return for Changretta ensuring that his mother is not harmed. Much to Michael’s surprise, he is unaware that Tommy is aware of what Michael has done and is leading Changretta into a trap. Shooting matches between Changretta and Tommy surmount and Tommy realises that he no longer has the support of Sergeant Moss and the Birmingham Police force.
The war between the Changretta’s and Shelby’s eventually comes to an end when Audrey Changretta visits Tommy announcing that the Changretta’s consider the vendetta won, demanding that all Shelby property be signed over to them. Tommy agrees, much to the Shelby families dismay. The following day, Changretta visits Tommy with paperwork pertaining to the release of Shelby property to his family. However Tommy reveals that he has been in contact with many families in the US who wish to take control of Changretta business, including Alphonse Capone. He reveals that he contacted the men Changretta has brought with him and offered them a higher price to stand by while Changretta is killed. Changretta is killed not long after by Arthur.
Series 5 · 1929
1929 is a hard year for Tommy as he and Charles still struggle from the death of Grace. However the crash of Wall St means that Tommy is quickly dragged back to Earth. Tommy alerts the Shelby Company board that not all is lost as they have investments in America that are safe. Meanwhile, Tommy brings hope to the small town of Small Heath, giving away free drinks to the locals and inciting them to ignore what they have heard about economic downturn as the Peaky Blinders will take care of them.
Furthermore, Tommy settles into his new role as the MP for South Birmingham, and is met by a new face, Oswald Mosley who admits that he has heard all about Tommy and is surprised to see him in such a position considering his past.Things begin to heat up when Tommy is targeted by Jimmy McCavern and the Billy Boys — a rival gang to the Peaky Blinders who have had enough of their tyrannical control. McCavern’s attack on Aberama’s son causes tensions between Aberama and Tommy, who he believes to be partially responsible. Further tensions begin to rise between Tommy and Michael, who Tommy believes to be responsible for losing Shelby Company Limited huge profits and that he is a traitor, conspiring to overthrow Tommy as head of the company. His fears are later proven true as in the last episode of series 5 Michael, who is being manipulated by his wife Gina proposes restructuring the company, with him and his wife Gina in charge of the company and the rest of the Shelby family retiring from the company. Tommy angrily rejects Michael’s proposal and throws it in the fireplace, Gina presses Michael to reveal that the American’s no longer wish to associate with the Peaky Blinders. Tommy said he gave Michael an opportunity to redeem himself but instead betrayed him and he banishes Michael and Gina from the family telling them to leave and never come back before warning Gina not to ‘fuck with the Peaky Blinders;’
Despite the economic downturn, Tommy opens several orphanages and increases charitable donations. Tommy attempts to increase the amount of children under Peaky care by confronting the sisters of St. Hilda’s orphanage who are known to be abusing children. He threatens them and demands that all children under their car be released to Shelby orphanages.
Tommys role as MP for Birmingham begins to escalate as he feels threatened by Mosley. Tommy begins relaying information about Mosley to the British Government, before finally deciding to take action himself. He formulates a plan to assassinate Mosley, however is unsuccessful when the plan is foiled and Aberama is killed. These events seemingly strain Tommy’s already rocked mental health, with hallucinations of Grace becoming more frequent as Tommy becomes distant with his family and series 5 ends with Tommy screaming in the field near his country home with a gun to his head after seeing yet another hallucination of Grace.
Series 6 — 1934
Series Six for Tommy picks up straight at the end of series five with Tommy pointing a gun to his head and failing with a suicide attempt as Arthur emptied all of the bullets out of Tommy’s gun beforehand. Tommy collapses in the mud before his wife Lizzie tells him he has a call waiting for him. Tommy receives a call from IRA agent Captain Swing who takes credit for foiling the attempted assassination of Oswald Mosley. She returns the bodies of Barney Thompson, Aberama Gold and Polly Shelby (Helen McCrory) who were also killed during the assassination attempt. The entire Shelby family gather for Polly’s funeral with Michael swearing revenge on Thomas for his role in Polly’s death. Four years later in 1933 Thomas, now sober, sets up a meeting with an estranged Michael and business associates of Jack Nelson, a south Boston gang leader and uncle of his wife Gina Grey on Miquelon Island. Following unsuccessful talks to re-enter into business, Thomas lands Michael in prison for possession of opium after tipping off the American authorities. Afterwards Tommy pays Gina a visit in her house where she is seen drinking now legal whiskey and listening to jazz music. Gina smugly tells Tommy that the offer he gave to her uncle has been rejected. Tommy then threatens to sell the opium to the Jewish gang which would start a gang war for control, wiping the smug look from Gina’s face. Later, Thomas is phoned by Lizzie who announces she and the children cannot travel to Canada due to Ruby’s sudden illness. Believing her sickness is a message and gypsy related, Tommy decides to return to Britain.
Tommy, still a Labour MP, returns to the United Kingdom and is informed Ruby is recovering. He has a seizure in the Shelby bathroom and Lizzie urges him to see a doctor, but he refuses. After Jack Nelson expresses interest to meet the fascists, Tommy sees an opportunity in an alliance with Captain Swing. He visits Alfie Solomons and announces the death of Charlie Solomons, Alfie’s uncle, on the Cotton Club at the hands of Nelson’s gang. After a tense meeting with Mosley and Diana Mitford, Tommy meets Nelson and agrees to feed information about England’s political goings to his gang in exchange for opium. Tommy is informed that Ruby is sick again and decides to contact Esme Shelby, the former wife of John. As Ruby falls sick with consumption and treated with gold, Tommy goes in search of the source of the curse that he believes has been laid upon his family and eventually reunites with Esme, the widow of his late brother John. Ada takes over Tommy’s role in Birmingham and meets with Oswald Mosley, his mistress Diana, Jack Nelson, and Gina. Tommy discovers that the person who he gave the cursed Sapphire that once belonged to his late wife, Grace, who died after Tommy gifted it to her, had a daughter that died at the age of 7, prompting Tommy to believe that it was this woman who had cursed Ruby in revenge. Tommy returns to Birmingham and goes straight to the hospital where Ruby is. His wife Lizzie meets him at the entrance to tell him that the gold salts treatment didn’t work, and that Ruby had died.
As the Shelby family mourns, Tommy enacts revenge as he murders the family of the woman who cursed his daughter. Distraught in grief, Tommy ignores letters from his personal doctor as his relationship with Lizzie strains even further. Tommy is then told by Esme about a son he never knew he had by the name of Duke Shelby. The meeting between Captain Swing of the IRA, Oswald Mosley and Diana Mitford, Jack Nelson and Tommy takes place: Jack agrees to let Tommy trade opium in Boston as he gains information from Mosley about the political future of England and agrees with Captain Swing that the Irish working class can be turned. After Tommy sees Mosley leave Gina’s apartment. Tommy walks in and tells her straight away that he knows about her affair with Mosley and blackmails her into getting information about Mosley and Uncle Jack when they go to Germany to meet the senior member of the German government in a couple of weeks, otherwise he will tell Michael and her uncle and she will be disowned by him for cheating on her husband, since Jack is a Catholic and it is forbidden for wives to cheat on their husbands. Tommy asks Gina what Michael’s intention towards him are and he will know if she lies to him. Gina tells Tommy that all Michael wants is to get this opium business finished and they will part ways once again. Tommy then walks off smirking clearly able to tell Gina was lying. Tommy finally meets with his doctor and is told that due to coming into contact with his daughter while she was ill, he has developed inoperable tuberculoma and that he now only has between 1 year and 18 months left to live. Tommy talks to his late Aunt Polly asking her to give him the time he needs to do what he must do. Tommy deals with the Chinese business that got Arthur hooked on Opium by walking into their shop, taking their remaining drugs and throwing them into the canal with a bomb. He introduces his newly found son, Duke, at a family meeting, to Lizzie’s disliking. Tommy sleeps with Diana Mitford as a payment for Diana’s cause. Eventually she arrives at the Shelby family home with Oswald and tells Lizzie that her husband was disloyal to her in an act purely devised to split her and Tommy away from each other with Mosley believing that Tommy deserves better if he is to move up in the world.
Lizzie finally leaves Tommy after his affair with Diana, taking her stepson Charles. Tommy finally admits to Arthur that he is dying after Arthur finds his X-Ray. Tommy sets the rest of the Peaky Blinders to dismantle his house, and gives false information to the IRA informant Billy Grade to lure the IRA into a trap; Duke eventually kills Billy after Finn refuses to do so. Captain Swing and other IRA assassins go to the Garrison to kill Arthur, but are killed after a shootout in Garrison Lane, with Arthur personally killing Captain Swing and avenging Polly’s death. On Miquelon Island, Tommy meets Michael, who has finally been released from prison. Johnny Dogs switches a car-bomb intended for Tommy, which after the meeting explodes and kills Michael’s associates. Michael goes outside thinking he has killed Tommy but upon seeing his associates car in flames and Tommy coming out of the car unharmed realises he is about to die. He says one last goodbye to Johnny Dogs before berating Tommy one last time that he killed his mother Polly Gray when he tried to kill Oswald Mosley, Tommy says Polly made her own choices but Michael says nobody makes a decision without his opinion, not Ada, not Arthur and not Michael himself, nobody can escape his lethal hand. Tommy says Polly visits him in his dreams but she will no longer before shooting Michael in the head for trying to kill him and betraying his family taking care of Michael as a threat once and for all and winning their war fulfilling Polly’s prediction. Tommy then says to Michael’s corpse that he has ‘no limitations’. Tommy holds one last feast near his newly demolished house where he says goodbye to his family. A month after saying goodbye to his family, an alone Tommy prepares to shoot himself. But after seeing a vision of his late daughter Ruby, and his personal doctor pictured with Oswald Mosley in a partially-burnt newspaper, Tommy realizes he had been given a false diagnosis of inoperable tuberculoma. Tommy goes off to kill his doctor, but ends up sparing his life. After returning and watching his wagon and remaining possessions burn, Tommy rides away.
Shelby Company Limited
- Main article: Shelby Company Limited
Thomas is instrumental in the success of the Shelby family business, which became a Limited Company under Thomas’s ownership, as well as the first Shelby family company to have a legal racetrack pitch.
Series 2 revealed that Shelby Company Limited is making over 100 pounds a day, on average. Thomas pushes the company further by expanding it south to London, as well as by sending crates of cars (with hidden bottles of single malt Scotch Whisky inside—these bottles are then sold in North America in order to bring in profits for the company).
In Series 3, it is shown that thanks to the actions of Thomas and the family over the past few years, the company is even more successful than it had been in the previous series, as it continues to expand and grow, as well as thanks to the cash provided by Winston Churchill.
Personality
Unlike the Shelby siblings, Thomas is a very calm and observant man, showcasing his wit and ruthlessness to anyone who threatens him or his family. He is widely respected among his local community and is seen as a dangerous foe by his enemies. Under his leadership, the Peaky Blinders have risen from a local Birmingham street gang to a national enterprise that has gone toe-to-toe with the New York Mafia. His experiences in World War 1 have made him fearless and almost impossible to intimidate. Though being a ruthless gangster, Tommy is not heartless, as he has shown great remorse for his actions. By Season 5, Tommy has become severely depressed and unhappy in life and to be suicidal, as he almost kills himself several times in Season 5
Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Living… in post-WWI Birmingham, England, with his five siblings and his aunt Polly. It’s a full house and the Shelbys have plenty to do. As important members of the Peaky Blinders, a local criminal gang, “Tommy” and his relatives navigate the treacherous social landscape to solidify their power within the city.
Profession… boss of the Peaky Blinders. His brother Arthur may be older and brawnier, but Tommy has the brains and initiative. Dissatisfied with the group’s current status, he’ll do whatever it takes to dominate. His gang acknowledges his immense efforts: “It is Tommy that has given this family strength and power. You have to be as bad as them in order to survive.”
Interests… smoking, drinking, and gambling. Thomas Shelby indulges in the hobbies of a typical gangster of almost any era. He conducts business with a cigar in his mouth and a glass of whiskey in his hand. He also has a strong interest in horses, largely in part to his Gypsy heritage and businesses in racetracks and gambling.
Relationship Status… single. Warmth and romance aren’t his strengths. If the relationship isn’t strategically valuable, Tommy isn’t interested.
Challenge… holding onto power. With the arrival of Major Campbell – a police chief inspector – and the tireless scrutiny of Sir Winston Churchill, organized crime is facing some tough opposition. Tommy and his Peaky Blinders plan on circumventing the crackdown, but it’s not going to be easy.
Personality… stoic, intelligent, ruthless, calculating, and ambitious. Tommy is one man you don’t want to cross. Everyone in town knows that “it’s not a good idea to look at Tommy Shelby the wrong way.” He also suffers symptoms of PTSD ever since coming back from France. Tommy is a master tactician, a war hero, gangster, businessman, politician. He’s turned his trauma into relentless ambition to improve his standing among London society.
Relationships
Grace Shelby
Thomas first meets Grace shortly after she begins working at his local pub, The Garrison, and quickly grows fond of her. This mutual attraction eventually leads to love, however the relationship is rocked when Thomas discovers that Grace was secretly operating as an agent for the Crown. Despite her mission, she too fell in love with him and urged him to run away to New York with her, escaping both the Crown and the life of a Peaky Blinder. Despite his feelings for Grace, he thankfully declines, opting to stay in Birmingham and lead the Peaky Blinders.
Grace returns two years later, but is married to a wealthy American. Thomas is at first sardonic by her reappearance, but they end up spending the night together, a clear indicator that neither has lost feelings for one another. In the second series finale, Grace tells Thomas that she is pregnant with his child and that it’s him, not her husband, who she loves.
Another two years passes and Grace has given birth to a healthy boy, Charles Shelby, and she and Thomas have married and now live in a country estate. However, her life with Thomas does not come without risk, as Grace is shot and shortly dies, leaving their son solely in the care of Thomas, who remains grieving long after her death and hallucinating her ghost. Photos and paintings of her are kept all around his house in her memory.
Lizzie Stark
Thomas and Lizzie Stark
Series 1 sees Lizzie engaged to be married to John. Thomas, upon finding out about the marriage, proceeds to test Lizzie, offering her money to sleep with him one last time. She is reluctant at first but takes the money. Thomas tells John of the event, leading to the marriage being called off, but not before John found out Thomas was one of Lizzie’s regular clients after he arrived back from the war in France.
In Series 2, Lizzie is next seen after having sex with Thomas, telling him she wishes just once he wouldn’t pay her, like normal people. He doesn’t take much interest in the conversation but is next seen back in his office with Lizzie once again, telling her to close her eyes. He offers her a job as his secretary, telling her she would no longer do her other work as a prostitute, this time with «no exceptions».
In episode 6, she is escorted to the Epsom Derby by Jeremiah Jesus to Thomas, who has a job for her. After they take a seat, he explains to her he needs her to distract a soldier, by taking him to a ‘quiet place’. She instantly knows that he is implying she seduces him, but retorts using his own words, telling him that he said there would be no exceptions. He continues that he promises to get there before ‘it’ starts, and Lizzie eventually accepts. Once with the soldier, he becomes violent when she tries to slow things down, and Thomas doesn’t arrive until after the soldier is raping Lizzie. Thomas pulls his gun and begins to fight with the man until he is able to shoot him with his own gun. Lizzie is shakily pointing his gun at him, crying and screaming where he was. He attempts to comfort her, but she angrily pushes him away and leaves.
By the end of Series 4, Lizzie had gotten pregnant and given birth to Thomas’ child.
Greta Jurossi
In Series 4, Thomas turns up at out of blue at Jessie Eden’s home looking for knowledge of the Italian family trying to kill the Shelby’s. She was under the false impression that he came with an “improved offer” on the pay wage for his factory workers. During a conversation with Eden, she recalls the knowledge of a past lover of his, Greta Jurossi, daughter of Italians who “died at age 19 of consumption.”
Greta’s sister, Kitty Jurossi, and friend of Eden said Thomas was “at her bedside for three months. Every day, holding her hand,” and shortly after went to war. Kitty Jurossi claimed he was a sweet boy before the war and was a member of the Communist Party. Eden returns a photo to Thomas from Kitty of he and Greta at Blackpool beach. On it was written “Wild Rovers beside the seaside. June 15th, 1915”.
In the same episode, Tommy takes Lizzie to a dock beneath a bridge he had “not been in a long time” where a girl “would wait for hours for me when I couldn’t make it… and I’d wait for her if her family kept her in.” At this point, he hints that it was Greta by mentioning that it was “Some girl… some girl before France.” presumably for sex.
Polly Shelby
Polly and Thomas share a close relationship, both within the Peaky Blinders and family. Within the Shelby family, Polly has looked after Thomas since they were young. When Thomas found out about Polly’s search for her children, he aided her in finding them, however was reluctant to reveal their location, fearing that her anger would ruin the relationship between the two before it had begun.
Within the Peaky Blinders, Polly is one of his most trusted advisers, often advising him on gang business as the treasurer for the gang. In series 1, Thomas places Polly as interim leader while he is away on gang business, stating that she become permanent leader if he did not return.
Arthur Shelby
Arthur is Thomas’ elder brother and the two have a close but complex and strained relationship. Thomas uses the Peaky Blinders wealth and persuasion to purchase the Garrison, to which he entrusts to Arthur’s management. He further involves his brother as 1/3 owner of Shelby Company Limited, proving the relationship between the two to be a strong and trustful one.
Despite their closeness, Thomas shows no love for Arthur’s actions and attempts at suicide. While he forgives Arthur for giving their father £500 of the Peaky Blinder’s money, he expresses contempt at Arthur’s failed attempt to hang himself, sarcastically suggesting that next time he shoot himself. Furthermore, during Thomas’ wedding where he prevents Arthur from saying his best mans’ speech.
John Shelby
Like Arthur, John is Thomas’ brother and a close and trusted ally. He is also entrusted 1/3 of Shelby Company Limited and is initially the bookkeeper for the Peaky Blinders, believing himself to be better than his brothers.
Tensions arise between the brothers when John announces he is to marry Lizzie Stark, someone that — unknown to him — Thomas has been sleeping with since his return from the war. Not wanting to see his brother hurt, Thomas reveals this information to John, causing complications in their relationships and leading to John calling off the engagement. Thomas does, however believe John to be an important member of the Shelby family, arranging for his marriage to Esme Lee, a member of a large gypsy clan. Thomas believes the marriage between the two to be an important way to unify the two clans against Billy Kimber and the Birmingham Boys. In the end, John seems to enjoy his marriage to Esme.
In 1926, Thomas warns John about the incoming attack from the Changretta Family, however John misses the call and is later shot dead by the family, much to Thomas’ sadness.
Ada Shelby
As his sister, Ada and Thomas initially share a close relationship. Tensions between the two, however, begin to grow as she engages in a relationship with Freddie Thorne, an old friend turned enemy of Thomas’ and the Peaky Blinders. The relationship between Ada and Thomas becomes further strained as Ada falsely believes Thomas to be the one who turned Freddie over to the police — something that is rectified at the end of series 1, leading to the two becoming close again.
Later, after the passing of Freddie, Thomas uses the wealth amassed by the Peaky Blinders to purchase a house for Ada and her child, proving his love for her. He further believes her to be the only one capable of talking sense into Polly over her son, Michael Gray. She later becomes an important figurehead in the family company, Shelby Company Limited.
May Carleton
May and Thomas Shelby
Thomas and May Carleton’s relationship is that they’re both quite lonely in their own ways. Thomas is probably the first man that she feels passion for since her husband passed away.
Tatiana Petrovna
His sexual interest in series 3, he sleeps with her on a few occasions, as she was «offered» by her Aunt to help close the deal with the family. Although he may harbour some feelings of love for her, they don’t come close at all to his feelings for Grace and he rebuffs her coldly at the end of series 3, as she leaves the city and presumably the country.
Quotes
- «Do I look like a man, who wants a simple life?»
- «Everyone’s a whore, Grace, we just sell different parts of ourselves.»
- «I am a horse.»
- «He looked at me the wrong way. It’s not a good idea to look at Tommy Shelby the wrong way.»
- «Whiskey’s good proofing water. Tells you who’s real and who isn’t.»
- «I still prefer The Garrison.»
- «He told fortunes and stole horses. Often he would tell a man that his horse would be stolen and they would marvel at his powers when it was.»
- «I’m chosen? I’m chosen. Can the chosen one smoke?»
- «Lizzie, I want it known, that money was for you because, some nights, it was you who stopped my heart from breaking. No one else.”
- «Why not?»
- «I know what it is… it’s just myself talking to myself about myself. «
- «All this death, Lizzie. Fuck, let’s have some life, eh?»
Appearances
Series 1 Appearances | |||||
Episode 1.1 | Episode 1.2 | Episode 1.3 | Episode 1.4 | Episode 1.5 | Episode 1.6 |
Series 2 Appearances | |||||
Episode 2.1 | Episode 2.2 | Episode 2.3 | Episode 2.4 | Episode 2.5 | Episode 2.6 |
Series 3 Appearances | |||||
Episode 3.1 | Episode 3.2 | Episode 3.3 | Episode 3.4 | Episode 3.5 | Episode 3.6 |
Series 4 Appearances | |||||
The Noose | Heathens | Blackbird | Dangerous | The Duel | The Company |
Series 5 Appearances | |||||
Black Tuesday | Black Cats | Strategy | The Loop | The Shock | Mr Jones |
Series 6 Appearances | |||||
Black Day | Black Shirt | Gold | [[]] | [[]] | [[]] |
Image Gallery
Thomas Shelby, Polly Gray and Shelbys
Thomas, Arthur, Finn Shelby and the Peaky Blinders
Thomas Shelby
Promotional image
Series 4 promotional image
Series 5 promotional image
Series 5 promotional image
“ | «Одна минута. Солдатская минута. В бою это всё, что у тебя есть. Одна минута на всё сразу, и всё, что было до — ничто. Всё, что после — ничто. Ничто в сравнении с этой минутой.» | ” |
— Томас Шелби
|
Томас Майкл Шелби (англ. Thomas Michael Shelby) — сын Артура старшего и миссис Шелби, брат Артура, Джона, Эйды и Финна Шелби, отец Чарльза и Руби Шелби.
После вендетты с нью-йоркской мафией и в год краха на Уолл-стрит Томас Шелби становится членом парламента от Лейбористской партии, при этом передав кресло руководителя юридического бизнеса своему старшему брату Артуру Шелби.
История персонажа[]
Биография[]
1890-1919[]
Томас Майкл Шелби родился в 1890 году в семье Артура и миссис Шелби. Он родился на корабле, в барже под названием «Январь», и у него был старший брат, Артур Шелби, с которым он был очень близок в детстве. Со временем у родителей Томаса появилось ещё трое детей — Джон, Эйда и Финн Шелби.
Родители Томаса были цыганами, поэтому он и все его братья и сестры также были полнокровными цыганами. Тётя Томаса по отцовской линии, Полли Грей, намекает, что семья Ли — родственники семьи Шелби через их мать. Они также имеют происхождение от ирландских тревеллеров, потому что Полли упомянула, что наряду с цыганами они не должны говорить на языке шельта рядом с Карлом Торном, на котором говорят ирландские тревеллеры. Также подразумевается, что их отец был частично ирландским тревеллером.
Когда Томас рос в Смолл Хит, Бирмингем, он носил с собой нож и отвертку и говорил другим детям в округе, что он может накладывать проклятия, поэтому они боялись его и не придирались и не дразнили его из-за этого. Томасу и его братьям и сестрам приходилось покупать отцовское пиво в «Гарнизоне». Однако поскольку они были такими маленькими, им приходилось вдвоем нести одно ведро к себе домой. Томас также дрался со своими братьями из-за сигарет, а однажды, когда Томасу было 9 лет, а Артуру 12, они сильно повздорили. Томас прижал Артура к земле и начал бить его несколько раз по голове, впоследствии выиграв бой, хотя Томас признал, что Артур позволил ему победить. У их матери был близкий друг Чарли Стронг, который часто бывал рядом с ними во время их воспитания, в результате чего они считали его своим «дядей».
В 1909 году, когда младший из братьев Шелби был ещё младенцем, их мать впала в тяжелую депрессию и подумывала о самоубийстве. Их отец ничем не мог помочь, поэтому Чарли вмешался и убедил ее отправиться в путь, и она покинула Бирмингем и отправилась в Вустер. Вернувшись из поездки, она купила белого пони и подарила его Томасу. В течение нескольких недель она наблюдала, как Томас катается на пони, и казалось, что его настроение намного лучше, чем было до поездки. Чарли считал, что она стала лучше, однако он ошибался. Вскоре после ее возвращения миссис Шелби прыгнула в канал и покончила с собой, как и ее собственный отец до нее. Чарли было поручено извлечь тело миссис Шелби из канала, что разбило ему сердце, так как он был тайно влюблен в нее.
Вскоре после смерти миссис Шелби отцу Томаса стало трудно справляться с трудностями, воспитывая пятерых детей в одиночку. В конце концов он оставил их всех на попечение своей сестры и уехал из Бирмингема. Полли осталась одна воспитывать своих племянников и племянниц и стала главой дома, а также их матерью. Это привело к тому, что с возрастом братья Шелби стали относиться к Полли с огромным уважением, поскольку были чрезвычайно благодарны за все, что она для них сделала.
Где-то до 1914 года Томас сильно влюбился в итальянку Грету Юросси. Ее родители не одобряли, что цыган встречается с их дочерью, но Томас в конце концов покорил их своим обаянием и миловидностью. Через несколько месяцев Грета тяжело заболела чахоткой, и хотя болезнь была заразной, Томас три месяца не отходил от ее постели, держа ее за руку. В конце концов Грета умерла от болезни, что разбило сердце Томаса.
В мае 1914 года, находясь на ярмарке в Эпплби, Томас встретил цыганку по имени Зельда. Зельда украла у Томаса часы и цепочку, но, несмотря на это, позже в тот же день они занялись сексом под орешником. Зельда забеременела ребенком Томаса, и когда ее отец узнал об этом, он выстрелил Томасу в грудь из беличьего ружья. Ее отец хотел убить Томаса, но прежде чем он смог это сделать, Томас был отправлен воевать в Первую мировую войну вместе с двумя своими братьями.
В начале 1915 года, когда Томас находился во Франции, участвуя в Первой мировой войне, Зельда родила их ребенка, сына, которого назвали Эразмус Шелби. Хотя Томас вернулся с войны в 1918 году, он никогда не пытался связаться с Зельдой, и она воспитывала их сына одна. Когда Эразмус подрос, он спросил у матери, кто его отец, и Зельда рассказала ему ложную историю. У Зельды все еще были часы, которые она украла у Томаса, с вырезанными на задней крышке словами «Саксонский берег», поэтому она сказала Эразмусу, что его отец — герцог Саксонского берега. В результате Эразм изменил свое имя на «герцог» и не любит, когда люди используют его родовое имя.
Подразумевается, что у Томаса произошла резкая смена личности до и после его участия в Первой мировой войне, во время которой он был туннелером или сапером (добровольцем, скрытно копающим коварные туннели, чтобы заложить огромное количество взрывчатки под вражескими линиями — тактика, которая несколько раз использовалась во время войны с разрушительным эффектом). После войны он начал испытывать симптомы посттравматического стрессового расстройства и часто переживал пугающие кошмары, воспоминания и галлюцинации, все это он держал при себе.
Шелби в 1919-м году.
Первая мировая война[]
Томас (слева) со своими братьями Артуром (в центре) и Джоном (справа) в солдатской форме во время Первой мировой войны, 1914 год.
Шелби — бывший британский солдат, в его военном билете указано, что он храбро сражался в «Битве при Вердене» и «Битве на Сомме». Его действия при Монсе, как сообщается, спасли тысячи жизней союзников, за что после войны он получил почетные медали, включая «Воинскую медаль» и Орден «За выдающиеся заслуги».
Сезон 1 — 1919 год[]
Шелби приезжает на большой черной лошади в китайский квартал в Бирмингеме, где лошадь подвергается «пороховому трюку» в попытке подстроить скачки. Выясняется, что лошадь зовут «Монаганский мальчик». Затем он возвращается в дом Шелби для семейной встречи. Узнав, что в Бирмингеме скоро появится новый полицейский после пропажи партии оружия с завода BSA, Полли Шелби отводит Томаса в сторону и расспрашивает его об этом. Он рассказывает ей, что его люди случайно взяли не тот ящик во время обычного осмотра, вместо него был взят ящик, в котором находились пулеметы Льюиса, боеприпасы, полуавтоматические винтовки и пистолеты с патронами.
Похоже, прислушавшись к совету Полли, Томас говорит, что выбросит оружие, как только наступит полнолуние, в надежде, что полицейские не будут продолжать это дело. После того, как Артура Шелби-младшего насильно отводят на встречу с инспектором Кэмпбеллом и сообщают, что Кэмпбелл, возможно, захочет работать вместе с ними, чтобы вернуть пропавший груз, Томас, после минутной паузы, покидает комнату без дальнейшего обсуждения этого вопроса. Спустя некоторое время, когда Керли и Чарли Стронг (дядя Томаса) готовятся отвезти оружие, Томас меняет свое решение оставить оружие полиции для поиска, и просит Керли отвезти оружие на старую табачную пристань, где «Острые Козырьки» хранят контрабандные сигареты — все это в пользу альтернативной стратегии.
Позже, во время встречи с Кэмпбеллом, выясняется, что новая барменша в пабе «Гаррисон» Грейс — агент под прикрытием, работающий над возвращением пропавших пистолетов. Затем она сообщает Кэмпбеллу, что лидером «Острых Козырьков» является не Артур, а Томас.
Вскоре после этого Томми, Артур и Джон Шэлби приезжают в деревню на ярмарку, где также присутствует цыганская семья Ли. Оскорбление, нанесенное их матери одним из братьев Ли, приводит к драке, которую возглавляет Томас. По возвращении Полли отводит Шэлби в сторону и сообщает ему, что с ним хочет встретиться инспектор Кэмпбелл. В ответ на нежелательный полицейский рейд в Бирмингеме Томас инструктирует и организует массовое сожжение фотографий короля, а также привлекает репортера для освещения этого инцидента, что привлекает внимание и вызывает недовольство Уинстона Черчилля и инспектора Кэмпбелла.
Позже, забирая свою лошадь у Керли, Чарли вручает пулю с выгравированным на ней именем Томаса — объявление войны кланом Ли. На улице его останавливает Грейс, когда она бросает ведро с плевками перед его лошадью, и он приглашает ее на Челтенхемские скачки.
По возвращении в дом Шелби, Полли сообщает ему о беременности его сестры Ады, и он отправляется на поиски Ады в Украину, требуя назвать отца ее ребенка.
Томас Шелби во время Первой мировой войны.
Подстроенные скачки с лошадью Монаган Бой окупаются, и острые козырьки зарабатывают целое состояние. Однако Томас поставил на скачки без разрешения Билли Кимбера, человека, контролирующего все букмекерские конторы на ипподромах, и Полли укоряет его за это.
После этого Шелби раскрывает свой план захвата бизнеса Билли Кимбера при встрече с инспектором Кэмпбеллом и предлагает ему сделку: в обмен на невмешательство инспектора Кэмпбелла (и полицейских) в работу Острый козырэй и предстоящий захват бизнеса Билли Кимбера, Томас обещает убрать Фредди Торна из города, а также передать Кэмпбеллу пропавшие пистолеты. Томас обеспечивает свою безопасность, говоря Кэмпбеллу, что если его возьмут под стражу, оружие будет высажено в Ливерпуле, доставлено в Белфаст и продано ИРА. Кэмпбелл вроде бы соглашается на сделку, и Томас уходит, ехидно заметив, что Кэмпбелл получил отсрочку от войны.
Однажды ночью, во время кошмара, Керли будит Томаса и говорит ему, что лошадь, которую он купил на ярмарке, проклята, и проклятие скоро распространится на сердце лошади. После того как Чарли догадывается, что это дело рук семьи Ли, Томас пристреливает лошадь, а затем отправляется в пустующий паб Гаррисона, чтобы выпить, где его обслуживает Грейс. Затем он сообщает ей, что, вопреки ее рассказам о своем прошлом, он знает, что она никогда не работала ни в одном пабе Дублина, после чего (ошибочно) догадывается, что она была беременной беглянкой, но обещает Грейс сохранить это в тайне.
На следующий день Билли Кимбер врывается в паб «Гаррисон», требуя встречи с «любым человеком по имени Шелби». Братья Шелби, и особенно Томас, попадают под гнев Билли Кимбера, который обвиняет Томаса в подтасовке результатов скачек и впоследствии угрожает застрелить их. Томас, однако, вежливо предлагает заключить с ним сделку; учитывая, что и Томас, и Билли Кимбер находятся в состоянии войны с семьей Ли, Томас предлагает сотрудничать с Билли Кимбером, чтобы выиграть у семьи Ли оба преимущества. Хотя Кимбер не сразу принимает их предложение, они приходят к перемирию из-за слишком почтительного вида Томаса.
На следующий день Грейс просит у Томаса еще два шиллинга, чтобы заплатить за платье; он советует ей купить что-нибудь красное. Тем временем два члена ИРА встречаются с Томасом в пабе «Гаррисон» и говорят ему, что готовы заплатить хорошие деньги за украденные с завода BSA пистолеты, если они окажутся у банды «Peaky Blinders» или попадут в их руки. Томас сталкивается с Фредди Торном, который все еще не покинул город, и говорит ему, что его брак с Адой не продлится долго. Тем временем сержант Мосс угрожает Томасу, говоря ему, что Ада будет брошена в тюрьму за подстрекательство, если Томас не доставит Фредди в полицию.
Томас Шелби в доме Шелби.
В качестве жеста, чтобы завоевать его доверие, Шелби также предупреждает Билли Кимбера, что семья Ли будет на скачках в Челтенхеме и что они планируют ограбить букмекерскую контору Кимбера.
Томасу снова снится кошмар о войне, и на следующий день он отправляется в Челтнем вместе с Грейс. Забрав деньги Кимбера у Лисов, он заключает сделку с Кимбером, предлагая членам группы «Острых Козырьков» использовать его в качестве охраны. Кимбер соглашается при условии, что он проведет несколько часов с Грейс. Поначалу Томас соглашается, но затем отправляется в особняк Кимбер и прерывает их, солгав Кимбер, что у Грейс хлопок, тем самым спасая ее.
Томас оставляет дом Шелби без присмотра (кроме Скадбота), так как Джон созывает семейное собрание. Вернувшись в дом, Томас и его семья обнаруживают, что там все разгромлено, и находят кусачки, указывающие на то, что где-то спрятана ручная граната. Томас понимает, что ручная граната предназначена для него, и находит своего брата Финна, играющего с машиной. Он спасает Финна, бросает гранату и говорит Финну, чтобы тот никогда не выдавал себя за него, так как его жизнь находится в постоянной опасности.
Томас отправляется к семье Ли, чтобы раз и навсегда разрешить спор между Ли и Шелби, утверждая, что он родственник семьи Ли по материнской линии, Томас говорит им, что он предаст Билли Кимбера, и что ему нужны люди для помощи. В обмен он женит своего брата Джона на представительнице семьи Ли по имени Эсме, чтобы присоединиться к их семьям.
Томас передает инспектору Кэмпбеллу адрес коммуниста Стэнли Чепмена вместо Фредди Торна. Тем временем Билли Кимбер передает Томасу первый легальный ипподром компании Shelby Company Limited.
Томас приводит Грейс в католическую церковь, зная, что она лгунья, и сталкивает ее с этим. Он также предлагает ей работу и делает ей комплимент, говоря, что у нее есть класс, и целует ее. Он дает Грейс ее первую работу, велев ей пригласить Аду на свадьбу Джона и Эсме. После свадебной церемонии Томас позволяет Фредди увидеть своего новорожденного сына, но Грейс раскрывает полиции местонахождение Фредди, и Фредди берут под стражу.
Вскоре после ареста Фредди Томас говорит Грейс отметить в деловом календаре определенную дату — «День чёрной звезды», день, когда он расправится с Билли Кимбером и его людьми на скачках.
Ирландец по имени Малаки Бирн приходит к Томасу в паб «Гаррисон», утверждая, что он двоюродный брат одного из людей ИРА, который ранее был застрелен. Он угрожает Томасу, и Томас признается, что у него есть украденные пулеметы, но что он продаст их ему за подходящую цену. Позже Томас рассказывает инспектору Кэмпбеллу о ситуации с Малаки и заключает сделку, чтобы тот выдал Бирна полиции.
Малаки и Магуайр входят в паб, где Грейс прячется в задней части с пистолетом. Томас разговаривает с ними, и они говорят ему, что убьют его. Грейс раскрывает себя и стреляет в Магуайра, а Томас борется с Малацки, пока наконец не убивает его. Полиция приезжает гораздо позже, чем обещала Томасу, и забирает тела.
После того как инспектор Кэмпбелл находит пулеметы в фальшивой могиле Дэнни Визз-Банга, он охотится за Томасом в пабе «Гаррисон», но Грейс забирает Томаса к себе домой, тем самым спасая ему жизнь. В маленьком доме Грейс они занимаются сексом, и Томас спрашивает ее, останется ли она с ним.
Томас утешает своего брата Артура после того, как Артур пытается покончить с собой, несмотря на то, что Артур украл деньги у семьи Шелби для их отца. Он сообщает Артуру, что теперь является равноправным акционером компании Shelby Company Limited, и что ему принадлежит 1/3 компании, как и Томасу и Джону.
Томас сообщает «Острым Козырькам», что сегодня «День чёрной звезды», день, в который они уничтожат Кимбера и клан Ли. Он узнает о предательстве Грейс и встречается с Билли Кимбером один на один перед пабом «Гаррисон» со своей бандой «Слепых» и их пулеметом и винтовками. Билли Кимберу удается выстрелить Томасу в грудь, но Томас успевает выстрелить ему в голову, мгновенно убив его и положив конец короткой войне между двумя бандами. Томас проводит церемонию прощания с Дэнни Визз-Бэнгом, который был убит во время мероприятия людьми Кимбера.
Томас пишет письмо Грейс, в котором сообщает, что даст ей свое решение (уехать с ней из города или нет) через три дня.
Сезон 2 — 1922 год[]
Томас вместе со своей тетей Полли находят паб «Гаррисон» разрушенным в результате взрыва бомбы с конфетти. Томаса вызывают в «Чёрный лев», где его отводят в заднюю комнату и угрожают женщина из ИРА по имени Ирен О’Доннелл и еще один мужчина. Они говорят ему, что он должен совершить убийство.
Томас созывает семейное собрание и сообщает всем, что планирует расширить семейный бизнес до Лондона. Он отправляется в Лондон вместе со своими братьями Джоном и Артуром, посещая джаз-клуб, которым руководит Дарби Сабини.
Вернувшись в Бирмингем, Томас попадает в руки людей Сабини и подвергается избиению, а его сестра Ада похищена. Люди Сабини пытаются убить Томаса, но его спасает Честер Кэмпбелл.
Спасший его ранее от людей Сабини, инспектор Кэмпбелл встречает Томаса в больнице, где угрожает ему. Томас выписывается из больницы и с медицинской помощью Керли отправляется в Кэмден Таун, чтобы встретиться с Альфи Соломонсом. По возвращении он сообщает Аде, что купил ей дом в Лондоне, и продолжает покупать Полли Шелби другой дом в Бирмингеме в качестве подарка на день рождения.
Томас пишет письмо куратору Кэмпбелла Уинстону Черчиллю с просьбой выдать ему лицензию на экспорт в обмен на согласие с планом убийства Кэмпбелла.
Томасу также удается узнать, что случилось с детьми Полли. Девочка умерла от весенней лихорадки, но он находит мальчика, Майкла Грея. После встречи с мальчиком Томас говорит Полли, что она должна дождаться 18-летнего возраста, чтобы встретиться с ним, иначе мальчика снова заберут у нее.
Томас также получает письмо от Грейс, но сжигает его, прежде чем прочитать.
Теперь, благодаря Керли, Томас и его новобранцы отправляются в Кэмден Таун, чтобы начать работу с Альфи Соломонсом и его новой армией бутлегерских дистилляторов, которые выдают себя за пекарей, опасаясь разоблачения. «Острые Козырьки» принимает временное руководство от Билли Китчена, «главного пекаря».
Томас встречается с майором Кэмпбеллом, отмечая, что полиция Бирмингема забавно поселила его в общежитии, которым управляет полупенсионерка-проститутка и владелица борделя, что свидетельствует о том, что они знают о тайной деятельности Кэмпбелла.
Вместе со своими братьями Джоном и Артуром Томас нанимает людей, чтобы те специально арестовывали их на ночь. Один из них — Дигбет Кид, и план срывается, когда мальчика убивают в камере люди Дарби Сабини. Томас собирает семейное собрание по поводу этого инцидента и сообщает семье о своем плане купить скаковую лошадь, тем самым давая им убедительную причину проникнуть на ипподромы, где доминируют люди Сабини.
На аукционе Томас знакомится с аристократкой Мэй Карлетон и видит в ней возможность продвинуться в мире.
После того как их план срывается и приводит к смерти одного из них, Томас посещает похороны Дигбета Кида, где получает пощечину от одного из погорельцев, а затем расплачивается с семьей за свои неприятности.
Затем он отправляется на встречу с инспектором Кэмпбеллом, которому нужно, чтобы он совершил еще одно убийство, на этот раз фельдмаршала Генри Рассела. Прибыв на место, он понимает, что Кэмпбелл и ирландские республиканцы, выступающие за заключение договора, все это время работали вместе. Томас сообщает Кэмпбеллу, что Донал Генри — шпион, доносящий каждое слово Кэмпбелла в Пэдди, выступающие против договора, и что он совершит убийство, если Донал будет убит. Тело Генри вскоре находят в куче угля, и Томас начинает планировать убийство.
В Лондоне Артур, чья привычка к кокаину пугает его младшего брата, возглавляет отряд Блиндеров, разгромивших клуб «Иден», принадлежащий итальянскому гангстеру Дарби Сабини.
Блиндерам нужен новый бухгалтер, и Томас спорит с Полли о том, стоит ли нанимать Майкла на эту работу. В конце концов они приходят к соглашению.
Томас нанял Мэй Карлетон для тренировки своей новой лошади, которую зовут Секрет Грейс. Он приглашает себя в особняк Мэй Карлетон, чтобы посмотреть, как живет вторая половина, и получить отчет о состоянии лошади. Позже Томас занимается сексом с Мэй в ту же ночь.
По возвращении Томаса в Бирмингем он получает от Кэмпбелла подробности своего задания. Томас заверяет Кэмпбелла, что если его убьют, то он прикажет убить и Кэмпбелла.
В офисе Томас достает письмо, набирает номер, просит соединить его с отелем «Ритц» в Лондоне и ждет. На другом конце трубку берет шикарный парень с нью-йоркским акцентом. Томас ничего не говорит и отключается от линии.
Вскоре после этого Томас оказывается застигнут врасплох, когда его властная база в Лондоне уничтожена, а его брат Артур Шелби-младший и кузен Майкл Грей брошены в тюрьму.
Томас проводит семейное собрание, чтобы выяснить, сколько потерь понесла банда и их связи из-за налетов полицейских на их бары и бизнес. Он встречается с инспектором Кэмпбеллом в католической церкви. Кэмпбелл просто сообщает Томасу, что причина, по которой он бросил Артура и Майкла в тюрьму, заключалась в том, чтобы мотивировать Томаса на надлежащее выполнение задания по убийству Генри Рассела.
Томас берет Грейс Берджесс, чтобы лично увидеть Чарли Чаплина, и в итоге проводит с ней ночь, где она рассказывает ему, что пытается завести ребенка со своим мужем, но опасается, что причиной бесплодия может быть она сама. Томас убеждает ее рассказать мужу правду.
Томас посещает Мэй Карлетон и сообщает ей, что больше не может продолжать их отношения, так как у него остались чувства к Грейс.
Он также встречается с инспектором Кэмпбеллом, чтобы сообщить ему о новом месте убийства Генри Рассела, которое произойдет на ипподроме в Эпсоме в день Дерби.
После нескольких угроз Томас пишет письмо редактору газеты «Нью-Йорк Таймс», в котором объясняет, что Уинстон Черчилль поручает ему совершить громкое убийство от имени короны. Он называет имя Честера Кэмпбелла и отдает запечатанный конверт своей сестре Аде Шелби, которой поручает отправить его по почте, если Томас не вернется с Эпсомских скачек, где проходит Дерби.
Вместе с соседом Ады по дому Джеймсом Томас отправляется в Кэмден-Таун на встречу с Альфи Соломонсом, где соглашается передать 30% акций своей компании (вместо предложенных Альфи 100%), сказав Альфи, что у него есть граната, заряженная взрывчаткой.
Перед тем, как отправиться на скачки, Томас объясняет Пики Блиндерс и их союзникам-цыганам, что они должны захватить лицензии Дарби Сабини на ипподром, и что он устроит диверсию, чтобы отвлечь полицию от их действий.
На ипподроме Томас разговаривает с Мэй Карлетон и сообщает ей, что они встретятся в конце дня, когда закончатся его обязанности. Пока он занимается делами, Томаса останавливает Грейс Берджесс, которая говорит, что ей нужно поговорить с ним, так как это важное дело. Хотя Томас выглядит немного торопливым и взволнованным, он позволяет ей поговорить. Грейс рассказывает, что все еще любит его и беременна, и что ребенок, которого она носит, — его. Томас сообщает ей, что придет и найдет ее после скачек.
Томас обращается за помощью к участнице «Острых Козырьков» Лиззи Старк, чтобы она помогла ему осуществить его план и увезла Генри Рассела в укромное место на скачках.
Однако план Томаса не удается, он задерживается, чтобы добраться до Лиззи, которая подвергается сексуальному насилию со стороны фельдмаршала Генри Рассела. Когда Томас прибывает на место, его пистолет заклинивает, но он хватает собственный пистолет своей цели и стреляет в Рассела.
Самодовольная схватка Томаса с якобы побежденным Дарби Сабини разрушается, когда наемники Кэмпбелла из «Красной правой руки» бросаются на Томаса, похищают его, сажают в машину и уезжают.
Томаса вывозят на заброшенное поле, где ему грозит верная смерть. Он встречает казнь со смесью злости на приближающийся конец и усталого признания того, что смерть преследовала его большую часть жизни. Но после того, как Томас наслаждается последней сигаретой, один из трех потенциальных убийц стреляет двум другим в голову и оставляет Томаса лежать в могиле, растерянного и живого. Мужчина говорит: «В какой-то момент в ближайшем будущем мистер Черчилль захочет поговорить с вами лично, мистер Шелби. У него есть для вас работа». Он велит Томасу идти домой.
Вернувшись в свой кабинет, Томас разговаривает с Майклом Греем, который хочет работать на него в связи с расширением компании Шелби. Томас объявляет, что собирается жениться, хотя не уточняет на ком.
Сезон 3 — 1924 год[]
Томас, Грейс и Чарльз Шелби.
3 сезон начинается со свадьбы Томаса и Грейс. После свадьбы выясняется, что Томас теперь владеет большим домом в деревне, что, возможно, связано с женитьбой на Грейс и постепенным ростом его успеха в бизнесе. После этого его семья и семья Грейс возвращаются в дом, где устраивают вечеринку, на которой мужчины Шелби и ирландская семья немного сближаются.
Томас ждёт, когда его бизнесмен установит с ним контакт (позже мы узнаем, что это русские), и это происходит на его свадьбе. Все заканчивается тем, что Артур Шелби убивает человека.
Несмотря на то, что Томас теперь живет в деревне, он часто навещает свой дом в Бирмингеме, и дела у него идут хорошо, хотя у него есть первые сомнения по поводу жены Артура.
Грейс и Шелби.
Когда в Грейс стреляют, он убит горем и возвращается к своему гораздо более холодному поведению, поначалу не желая разговаривать с семьей и отстраняясь от семейной жизни, а еще больше погружаясь в дела с русскими.
Когда он получает наводку, что священник, работающий на русскую семью, является двойным агентом, он пытается убить его, но его обнаруживают и нападают на него из-за того, в чем Полли призналась на исповеди. Он очень тяжело ранен, с подозрением на пролом черепа и кровоизлиянием. В таком состоянии его отправляют в дом Романовых, и он просит прощения у отца Хьюза перед ними.
Он также состоит в сексуальных отношениях с Татьяной Петровной, племянницей Леона Петровича Романова, русского человека, с которым Томас ведет дела. В эпизоде в доме Томаса, где Татьяна Петровна чуть не застрелилась, играя в безумную и сексуально окрашенную игру в русскую рулетку, он ломается, когда она постоянно упоминает Грейс — тактика, чтобы заставить его предположительно сломаться.
Первоначальный бизнес, который он имел с Леоном, заключался в экспорте больших артиллерийских машин, которые он доставит в пункт назначения, устроив взрыв, подразумевая, что машины были взорваны, хотя на самом деле они будут в другом поезде — хотя это меняется, когда он узнает, что R
Когда Томас отклоняется от плана, а отец Хьюз узнает о туннеле, который они роют, чтобы забрать драгоценности из русского дома, он похищает сына Томаса, а взамен Томас должен взорвать поезд и подставить определенных людей, причем как минимум 6 человек должны умереть.
Томас заставляет Артура и Джона взорвать поезд, но тем временем Майкл находит отца Хьюза и перерезает ему горло ножом, после того как Томас приказал ему убить его.
Затем Томас возвращает драгоценности и прочее Татьяне, которая ждет его, чтобы предположительно куда-то сбежать, и сообщает ему, что ее ждет мужчина. В обмен на товары она дает ему большой чемодан денег и целует его, а затем просит денег за секс, который у них был, и за то, что она помогла ему пережить смерть Грейс. Он отказывает ей, говоря: «Ты даже близко не подошла».
Сезон заканчивается тем, что Томас выплачивает каждому из членов своей семьи и ближайших сотрудников денежную сумму за их проблемы, при этом большинство членов его семьи возмущены или раздражены тем, что он вообще вмешался в русский бизнес, на что он замечает в отношении Артура: «Ты был прав». Он признается, что совершил много ошибок, и просит их принять деньги, которые он платит, как средство своего извинения.
Однако, когда Артур прощается с ними (он собирается уехать в Нью-Йорк), Томас говорит: «Далеко вы не уедете», а затем сообщает им, что все они будут арестованы за различные преступления и должны подчиниться полиции, напоминая, что они должны доверять ему, так как он заключил сделку с людьми еще более могущественными, чем их враги. Все они возмущены, и Томас наблюдает, как на Артура, Джона, Майкла и Полли надевают наручники и уводят.
Серия 4 — 1925-1926 гг.[]
Серия начинается на Рождество, когда мы узнаем, что он в значительной степени отчужден от своей семьи. Однако за всей семьей Шелби охотится итальянская мафия из Нью-Йорка, главарем которой является Лука Чангретта, сын Винченцо Чангретты. Лука Чангретта планирует убить всех членов семьи Шелби, чтобы отомстить за смерть отца.
Аберама и его сын Бонни.
Жизнь Томми становится все сложнее, когда его младший брат Джон Шелби убит Чангреттой и его людьми, что знаменует начало войны между двумя семьями. Огорченный потерей, Томми обращается за помощью к Абераме Голду — наемному убийце — чтобы защитить свою семью и уничтожить Чангретту. Томми соглашается позволить сыну Аберамы, Бонни, сражаться за него в боях, контролируемых Шелби, предполагая, что он будет исправлять бои, чтобы улучшить положение Шелби.
Тем временем Томми вступает в длительную борьбу с Джесси Иден по поводу разницы в оплате труда мужчин и женщин на фабриках Шелби. Томми язвительно замечает, что он решит проблему, сократив зарплату мужчин, а Джесси замечает, что революция уже в воздухе. В конце концов, Джесси удается убедить Томми отменить сокращение заработной платы и обеспечить равную оплату труда мужчин и женщин на всех своих фабриках.
Напряженность также начинает расти между Томми и Артуром, который злится, что Томми заменил его в компании, пока он был в отъезде и лечился от наркотической зависимости. Однако Артур обещает доказать свою правоту и вернуть свое место в компании.
Из-за угрозы Чангретты Майкл решает отдать Томми в обмен на то, что Чангретта проследит за тем, чтобы его матери не причинили вреда. К удивлению Майкла, он не подозревает, что Томми знает о поступке Майкла и заманивает Чангретту в ловушку. Между Чангреттой и Томми возникают перестрелки, и Томми понимает, что больше не пользуется поддержкой сержанта Мосса и полиции Бирмингема.
Война между Чангреттами и Шелби в конце концов подходит к концу, когда Одри Чангретта приходит к Томми и сообщает, что Чангретты считают вендетту выигранной, требуя, чтобы все имущество Шелби перешло к ним. Томми соглашается, к большому огорчению семьи Шелби. На следующий день Чангретта приходит к Томми с документами, касающимися передачи имущества Шелби его семье. Однако Томми рассказывает, что он общался со многими семьями в США, желающими получить контроль над бизнесом Чангретты, включая Альфонса Капоне. Он сообщает, что связался с людьми, которых Чангретта привел с собой, и предложил им более высокую цену за то, чтобы они стояли в стороне, пока Чангретта будет убит. Вскоре после этого Чангретту убивает Артур.
Серия 5 — 1929 год[]
1929 год — тяжелый год для Томми, поскольку он и Чарльз всё ещё переживают смерть Грейс. Однако крах на Уолл-Сент означает, что Томми быстро возвращается на землю. Томми предупреждает совет директоров компании «Шелби», что не все потеряно, поскольку их инвестиции в Америке находятся в безопасности. Тем временем Томми вселяет надежду в маленький городок Смолл Хит, раздавая местным жителям бесплатные напитки и призывая их не обращать внимания на то, что они слышали об экономическом спаде, поскольку «Острые Козырьки» позаботятся о них.
Кроме того, Томми осваивается в новой роли члена парламента от Южного Бирмингема, и его встречает новое лицо, Освальд Мосли, который признается, что слышал все о Томми и удивлен, что он занимает такую должность, учитывая его прошлое. Ситуация начинает накаляться, когда Томми становится мишенью Джимми МакКаверна и «Билли Бойз» — конкурирующей банды «Слепых», которым надоел их тиранический контроль. Нападение МакКаверна на сына Аберамы вызывает напряженные отношения между Аберамой и Томми, которого он считает частично виновным. Далее напряженность начинает расти между Томми и Майклом, которого Томми считает виновным в потере огромной прибыли Shelby Company Limited и предателем, замышляющим свергнуть Томми с поста главы компании. Позже его опасения подтверждаются, так как в последней серии 5-го сезона Майкл, которым манипулирует его жена Джина, предлагает реструктурировать компанию, в результате чего он и его жена Джина становятся во главе компании, а остальные члены семьи Шелби уходят из компании. Томми со злостью отвергает предложение Майкла и бросает его в камин, Джина давит на Майкла, чтобы он рассказал, что американцы больше не хотят сотрудничать с «Острыми Козырьками». Томми говорит, что он дал Майклу возможность искупить свою вину, но вместо этого предал его, и он изгоняет Майкла и Джину из семьи, сказав им, чтобы они уходили и никогда не возвращались, а затем предупреждает Джину, чтобы она «не связывалась с «Острыми козырьками».
Несмотря на экономический спад, Томми открывает несколько детских домов и увеличивает благотворительные пожертвования. Томми пытается увеличить количество детей, находящихся под опекой Пики, вступая в конфликт с сестрами приюта Святой Хильды, которые, как известно, жестоко обращаются с детьми. Он угрожает им и требует, чтобы все дети, находящиеся под их опекой, были переданы в детские дома Шелби.
Роль Томми как члена парламента от Бирмингема начинает обостряться, поскольку он чувствует угрозу со стороны Мосли. Томми начинает передавать информацию о Мосли британскому правительству, а затем решает действовать сам. Он разрабатывает план покушения на Мосли, однако план срывается, и Аберама убивают. Эти события, по-видимому, подрывают и без того расшатанное психическое здоровье Томми, галлюцинации Грейс становятся все более частыми, Томми отдаляется от своей семьи, и пятая серия заканчивается тем, что Томми кричит во весь голос в поле возле своего загородного дома, приставив пистолет к голове после того, как увидел очередную галлюцинацию Грейс.
Shelby Company Limited[]
Томас играет важную роль в успехе семейного бизнеса Шелби, который при Томасе стал компанией с ограниченной ответственностью, а также первой компанией семьи Шелби, имеющей законное поле для ипподрома.
Во втором сезоне стало известно, что Shelby Company Limited зарабатывает в среднем 150 фунтов в день. Томас продвигает компанию дальше, расширяя её на юг до Лондона, а также отправляя ящики с автомобилями (со спрятанными внутри бутылками односолодового шотландского виски — эти бутылки затем продаются в Северной Америке, чтобы принести прибыль компании).
В третьем сезоне показано, что благодаря действиям Томаса и семьи за последние несколько лет компания стала еще более успешной, чем в предыдущих сериях, поскольку она продолжает расширяться и расти, а также благодаря денежным средствам, предоставленным Уинстоном Черчиллем.
Личность[]
В отличие от братьев Шелби, Томас — очень спокойный и наблюдательный человек, проявляющий остроумие и безжалостность к любому, кто угрожает ему или его семье. Он пользуется большим уважением среди местного населения, а его враги считают его опасным противником. Под его руководством «Острые Козырьки» превратились из местной бирмингемской уличной банды в национальное предприятие, которое померялось силами с нью-йоркской мафией.
Анализ персонажей[]
(Избегая спойлеров)
Живёт… в послевоенном Бирмингеме, Англия, со своими пятью братьями и сестрами и тетей Полли. Дом полон, и Шелби есть чем заняться. Как важные члены «Острых Козырьков», местной преступной группировки, «Томми» и его родственники ориентируются в коварном социальном ландшафте, чтобы укрепить свою власть в городе.
Профессия… босс «Острых Козырьков». Его брат Артур может быть старше и мускулистее, но Томми обладает мозгами и инициативой. Недовольный нынешним положением группы, он сделает все возможное, чтобы занять доминирующее положение. Его банда признает его огромные усилия: «Именно Томми дал этой семье силу и власть. Ты должен быть таким же плохим, как они, чтобы выжить».
Интересы… курение, выпивка и азартные игры. Томас Шелби предается увлечениям типичного гангстера практически любой эпохи. Он ведет дела с сигарой во рту и стаканом виски в руке.
Статус отношений… холост. Теплота и романтика не являются его сильными сторонами. Если отношения не представляют стратегической ценности, Томми они не интересуют.
Проблема… Удержание власти. С приходом майора Кэмпбелла — главного инспектора полиции — и неустанным вниманием сэра Уинстона Черчилля организованная преступность сталкивается с жесткой оппозицией. Томми и его «Острые Козырьки» планируют обойти ограничения, но это будет нелегко.
Личность… стоический, расчётливый и амбициозный. Томми — человек, с которым не хочется пересекаться. Все в городе знают, что «не стоит смотреть на Томми Шелби не так».
Отношения[]
Грейс Шелби[]
Томас впервые встречает Грейс вскоре после того, как она начинает работать в его местном пабе «Гаррисон», и быстро влюбляется в нее. Это взаимное влечение в конце концов приводит к любви, однако их отношения рушатся, когда Томас узнает, что Грейс тайно работала агентом Короны. Несмотря на свою миссию, она тоже влюбилась в него и убедила его бежать с ней в Нью-Йорк, спасаясь и от Короны, и от жизни «Острых Козырьков». Несмотря на свои чувства к Грейс, он с благодарностью отказывается, предпочитая остаться в Бирмингеме и возглавить «Острых Козырьков».
Грейс возвращается через два года, но уже замужем за богатым американцем. Томас поначалу сардонически относится к ее появлению, но в итоге они проводят ночь вместе, что является явным признаком того, что ни один из них не утратил чувств друг к другу. В финале второй серии Грейс говорит Томасу, что беременна его ребенком и что она любит именно его, а не своего мужа.
Проходит еще два года, Грейс рожает здорового мальчика Чарльза Шелби, они с Томасом женятся и живут в загородном поместье. Однако ее жизнь с Томасом не обходится без риска: в Грейс стреляют, и вскоре она умирает, оставив их сына на попечение Томаса, который еще долго после ее смерти горюет и видит ее призрак. В память о ней в его доме повсюду хранятся ее фотографии и картины.
Лиззи Старк[]
В первой серии Лиззи обручается с Джоном. Томас, узнав о браке, начинает испытывать Лиззи, предлагая ей деньги, чтобы она переспала с ним в последний раз. Она сначала не соглашается, но берет деньги. Томас рассказывает Джону об этом событии, в результате чего брак отменяется, но не раньше, чем Джон узнает, что Томас был одним из постоянных клиентов Лиззи после его возвращения с войны во Франции.
Во второй серии Лиззи в следующий раз видят после секса с Томасом, когда она говорит ему, что хотела бы, чтобы он хоть раз заплатил ей, как нормальные люди. Он не проявляет особого интереса к этому разговору, но затем снова встречается с Лиззи в своем офисе и просит ее закрыть глаза. Он предлагает ей работу в качестве своего секретаря, говоря ей, что она больше не будет заниматься своей другой работой проститутки, на этот раз «без исключений».
В шестом эпизоде она сопровождает Иеремию Иисуса в Эпсомское дерби к Томасу, у которого есть для нее работа. После того как они усаживаются, он объясняет ей, что она должна отвлечь солдата, отведя его в «тихое место». Она сразу же понимает, что он намекает на то, что она соблазняет его, но отвечает, используя его собственные слова, говоря ему, что он сказал, что исключений не будет. Он продолжает, что обещает добраться туда до того, как «это» начнется, и Лиззи в конце концов соглашается. Оказавшись рядом с солдатом, он становится жестоким, когда она пытается замедлить ход событий, а Томас приезжает только после того, как солдат насилует Лиззи. Томас достает свой пистолет и начинает бороться с мужчиной, пока ему не удается выстрелить в него из своего пистолета. Лиззи дрожа направляет на него пистолет, плачет и кричит, где он был. Он пытается утешить ее, но она со злостью отталкивает его и уходит.
К концу 4-й сезона Лиззи забеременела и родила ребёнка Томаса.
Грета Юросси[]
В 4-й серии Томас неожиданно появляется в доме Джесси Иден в поисках информации об итальянской семье, пытавшейся убить Шелби. У нее сложилось ложное впечатление, что он пришел с «улучшенным предложением» по оплате труда рабочих его фабрики. Во время разговора с Иденом она вспоминает, что знала о его прошлой любовнице Грете Джуросси, дочери итальянцев, которая «умерла в 19 лет от чахотки». Сестра Греты, Китти Юросси, и подруга Иден сказала, что Томас «был у её постели в течение трех месяцев. Каждый день, держа ее за руку», а вскоре после этого ушел на войну. Китти Юросси утверждает, что до войны он был милым мальчиком и состоял в коммунистической партии. Иден возвращает Томасу от Китти фотографию, на которой он и Грета изображены на пляже Блэкпула. На ней было написано: «Дикие Роверы на берегу моря. 15 июня 1915 года».
В том же эпизоде Томми ведет Лиззи на пристань под мостом, где он «давно не был», где девушка «часами ждала меня, когда я не мог прийти… и я ждал бы ее, если бы ее семья не пускала её». В этот момент он намекает, что это была Грета, упоминая, что это была «какая-то девушка… какая-то девушка до Франции», предположительно для секса.
Полли Грей[]
Полли и Томаса связывают близкие отношения, как в «Острых Козырьках», так и в семье. В семье Шелби Полли присматривала за Томасом с самого детства. Когда Томас узнал о том, что Полли ищет своих детей, он помог ей найти их, но не хотел раскрывать их местонахождение, боясь, что ее гнев разрушит отношения между ними, не успев начаться.
В «Острых Козырьках» Полли — один из самых доверенных советников, часто консультирующий его по делам банды в качестве её казначея. В первой серии Томас назначает Полли временным лидером на время своего отсутствия по делам банды, заявляя, что она станет постоянным лидером, если он не вернется.
Артур Шелби[]
Артур — старший брат Томаса, у них близкие, но сложные и напряженные отношения. Томас использует богатство и уговоры «Острых Козырьков», чтобы купить «Гаррисон», управление которым он поручает Артуру. Он также привлекает своего брата в качестве 1/3 владельца компании Shelby Company Limited, доказывая, что отношения между ними крепкие и доверительные.
Несмотря на их близость, Томас не проявляет любви к поступкам и попыткам самоубийства Артура. Хотя он прощает Артура за то, что тот дал их отцу 500 фунтов из денег «Острых Козырьков», он выражает презрение к неудачной попытке Артура повеситься, саркастически предлагая ему в следующий раз застрелиться. Кроме того, во время свадьбы Томаса он мешает Артуру произнести речь шафера.
Джон Шелби[]
Как и Артур, Джон — брат Томаса, близкий и надежный союзник. Ему также доверена 1/3 компании Shelby Company Limited, и поначалу он работает бухгалтером в «Острых Козырьках», считая себя лучше своих братьев.
Между братьями возникает напряженность, когда Джон объявляет, что собирается жениться на Лиззи Старк, с которой — неизвестно для него — Томас спал после возвращения с войны. Не желая видеть боль своего брата, Томас открывает эту информацию Джону, что приводит к осложнениям в их отношениях и заставляет Джона отменить помолвку. Однако Томас считает Джона важным членом семьи Шелби и организует его брак с Эсме Ли, членом большого цыганского клана. Томас считает, что брак между ними — это важный способ объединить два клана против Билли Кимбера и Бирмингемских парней. В конце концов, Джон, кажется, наслаждается своим браком с Эсме.
В 1926 году Томас предупреждает Джона о готовящемся нападении со стороны семьи Чангретта, однако Джон пропускает звонок и впоследствии застрелен семьей, к большому огорчению Томаса.
Эйда Торн[]
Будучи его сестрой, Ада и Томас поначалу поддерживают близкие отношения. Однако напряженность между ними начинает расти, когда она вступает в отношения с Фредди Торном, старым другом, ставшим врагом Томаса и группы «Острых Козырьков». Отношения между Адой и Томасом становятся еще более напряженными, так как Ада ошибочно считает Томаса тем, кто сдал Фредди полиции, что исправляется в конце первой серии, в результате чего они снова становятся близки.
Позже, после смерти Фредди, Томас использует богатство, накопленное Peaky Blinders, чтобы купить дом для Ады и ее ребенка, доказывая свою любовь к ней. Он также считает ее единственной, кто способен образумить Полли в отношении ее сына, Майкла Грея. Позже она становится важной фигурой в семейной компании Shelby Company Limited.
Мэй Карлетон[]
Отношения Томаса и Мэй Карлетон складываются так, что они оба по-своему одиноки. Томас, вероятно, первый мужчина, к которому она испытывает страсть после смерти мужа.
Татьяна Петровна[]
Его сексуальный интерес в третьей серии, он спит с ней несколько раз, так как она была «предложена» тётей, чтобы помочь заключить сделку с семьей. Хотя он может испытывать к ней некоторые чувства любви, они не идут ни в какое сравнение с его чувствами к Грейс, и он холодно отказывает ей в конце третьей серии, когда она покидает город и, предположительно, страну.
Галерея[]
Томас «Томми» Шелби | |
---|---|
Острые козырьки персонаж | |
Первое появление | Серия 1, Эпизод 1 (2013) |
Сыграл | Киллиан Мерфи |
Информация во вселенной | |
Полное имя | Томас Шелби |
Семья | Полли Грей (тетя). Майкл Грей (двоюродный брат). Артур Шелби (брат). Джон Шелби (брат). Финн Шелби (брат). Ада Торн (сестра) |
Супруг | Грейс Шелби. Лиззи Старк |
Дети | Чарльз Шелби. Руби Шелби |
Национальность | Британец |
Томми Шелби — вымышленный персонаж, которого играет Киллиан Мерфи в криминальной драме британского периода Острые козырьки. Мерфи получил ирландскую премию кино и телевидения и национальную телевизионную премию за роль Шелби.
Содержание
- 1 Состав и предыстория
- 2 Сюжетные линии
- 2.1 Серия 1
- 2.2 Серия 2
- 2.3 Серия 3
- 2.4 Серия 4
- 2.5 Серия 5
- 3 Критический прием
- 4 отзыва
Кастинг и биография
Киллиан Мерфи выразил заинтересованность в том, чтобы играть больше ролей на телевидении: «Эти культовые американские шоу шли, мы их смотрели, и все отчасти осознавали Я думаю, BBC осознавали это, и поэтому я очень хотел прочитать несколько хороших сценариев, и они [Острые козырьки] были первыми телевизионными сценариями, которые мне прислали ». Мерфи признался, что не знал, кто такие Острые козырьки, когда ему впервые представили сценарий. Джейсон Стэтхэм изначально был выбран на роль режиссером Стивеном Найтом, который объясняет: «Я встретил их обоих в Лос-Анджелесе, чтобы обсудить роль, и выбрал Джейсона. […] Киллиан, когда вы встретите его, очевидно, не Томми, но я был достаточно глуп, чтобы не понять этого. » Затем Найт решил взять на роль Мерфи, получив текстовое сообщение от Мерфи, в котором говорилось: «Помни, я актер».
Хотя многие персонажи в сериале основаны на реальных исторических персонажах, семья Шелби полностью вымышлены и созданы Найтом. Томми Шелби из цыганской семьи из Бирмингема. Мерфи проводил время с цыганами, чтобы подготовиться к роли. Шелби — ветеран Первой мировой войны и страдает посттравматическим стрессовым расстройством в результате пережитого им во время войны; то, что является повторяющейся темой на протяжении всей серии. У Шелби прическа подрез, и это привело к возрождению ее популярности.
Сюжетные линии
Серия 1
В 1919 году Томми возглавляет группу Peaky. Шоры в присвоении партии оружия с местного оружейного завода. Инспектору Кэмпбеллу Уинстон Черчилль поручено найти оружие, и, без ведома Томми, его новая буфетчица Грейс Берджесс под прикрытием работает на инспектора Кэмпбелла. Томми также занимается фиксацией скачек, что может привести к конфликту с Билли Кимбером, который управляет скачками. Кэмпбелл приказывает Грейс подойти поближе к Томми, чтобы он мог найти расположение орудий; Грейс посещает скачки в Челтнеме как свидание с Томми, и Томми спасает Грейс от вреда после того, как первоначально предложил ее Кимбер в рамках сделки с Острыми козырьками, чтобы они стали охранником в заведении Кимбер. Томми получает букмекерскую лицензию для своего бизнеса и нанимает Грейс своим секретарем. Грейс и Томми завязывают романтические отношения, и Грейс говорит инспектору Кэмпбеллу, что если она сообщит ему местонахождение оружия, он должен оставить Томми и его семью в покое. Грейс уступает место инспектору Кэмпбеллу и оставляет службу короне. Поскольку она подала в отставку и найдены пистолеты, за исключением одного, инспектор Кэмпбелл предлагает выйти замуж, что Грейс отвергает. Томми собирает Острых козырьков и еще одну семью, Лиз, и они берут на себя людей Кимбер; это приводит к конфронтации, где Томми застреливает Кимбер. Томми встречает Грейс, и она говорит ему, что любит его и поедет в Лондон на несколько дней. Сериал заканчивается выстрелом, когда Кэмпбелл противостоит Грейс на вокзале.
Серия 2
Грейс застрелила Кэмпбелла, но Кэмпбелл выживает. Томми и его братья Артур и Джон решают познакомиться с лондонской сценой и устраивают сцену в клубе Дарби Сабини. В отместку Сабини похищает своих головорезов и пытается изнасиловать сестру Томми Аду, а также избивает Томми. Майор Кэмпбелл вмешивается прежде, чем Сабини и его люди могут прикончить его. Кэмпбелл договорился с Уинстоном Черчиллем, что Томми будет им полезен. Томми рано выписывается из больницы и садится на барже в Лондон. Там Томми встречается с лидером банды Альфи Соломонс. Томми с трудом удается убедить Альфи в том, что он должен объединиться с Острыми козырьками против Сабини. Томми и Джон встречаются с Билли из Black Country Boys, который вместе с ними сражался на войне. Томми велит Билли собрать своих людей, чтобы они пошли работать в Камден-Таун для Алфи Соломонса. У Томми романтические отношения с дрессировщиком лошадей Мэй Карлтон. Алфи Соломонс и Дарби Сабини встречаются и образуют союз против Острых козырьков. Альфи обманывает Артура и отправляет его в тюрьму. Томми обнаруживает, что его молодая империя рушится перед ним, так как его база власти в Лондоне уничтожена. Томми еще больше усложняет свою любовную жизнь, сопровождая возвращающуюся Грейс на страстное свидание, но все еще тянет за собой Мэй, которая ранее выразила свои чувства к нему. Томми пытается прекратить свои романтические отношения с Мэй, хотя он все еще хочет, чтобы она продолжала тренировать его лошадь. Альфи вытаскивает Артура из тюрьмы. Затем наступает День Дерби. Томми собирает Острые козырьки и дает им задание на скачках. Они должны без единого выстрела собрать и сжечь лицензии букмекеров Дарби Сабини и украсть ставки. Томми сталкивается с Грейс, которая сообщает ему, что беременна. Томми говорит ей, что после забега они будут говорить. Люди майора Кэмпбелла из Северной Ирландии, члены Волонтеров Ольстера, похищают Томми и уводят его на пустое поле, в то время как тетя Полли встречается с майором Кэмпбеллом и стреляет в него. Томми отпускается с сообщением от Уинстона Черчилля, обещающим будущий контакт.
Серия 3
Два года спустя, в 1924 году, Томми и Грейс женятся. Тем временем беженец из России по имени Антон Каледин вступает в контакт с «Острыми козырьками», предлагая код «Константин» в качестве подтверждения встречи по обмену денег с молодой княгиней Татьяной Петровной. Томми сообщает ей, что Каледин дал неправильное кодовое имя, а это значит, что мужчину нужно убить. В конце концов, Артур убивает самозванца. Томми осматривает бронетехнику на предмет заключения сделки с отцом Хьюзом. Он встречается с г-ном Романовым, который платит ему за убийство Каледина сапфиром. Позже Томми находит под подушкой сына карточку с надписью «Чарльз Шелби — R.I.P.». Грейс носит сапфир, который ей подарил Томми, на обед благотворительного фонда Шелби. Отец Хьюз сообщает Томми, что русские хотят осмотреть автомобили. Татьяна говорит Томми, что сапфировое платье, которое носит Грейс, было проклято цыганкой. Томми пытается убедить Грейс снять ожерелье, когда мужчина кричит «Ангелу!» и убивает Грейс. Томми отправляется в Уэльс с сапфировым ожерельем, где совещается с цыганом, которого спрашивает, проклято ли оно. Он возвращается домой с некоторым чувством нормальной жизни, оставив ожерелье женщине. Артур и Джон нашли человека по имени Висенте Чангретта, которого Томми угрожает пытками, но Артур стреляет ему в голову в знак милосердия. Татьяна проводит Томми до его машины; он говорит ей, что Хьюз предает их Советскому Союзу и предлагает убить его бесплатно. Наступает Пасха, и Томми объявляет своим братьям план: они будут наняты, чтобы предоставить русским оружие для восстания, украденное из поезда, и, в свою очередь, им заплатят драгоценностями, но, полагая, что русские предадут его, Томми планирует проникнуть в их хранилище. Полли идет в церковь в пьяном виде и во время исповеди нечаянно раскрывает план Томми убить отца Хьюза священнику, который рассказывает об этом отцу Хьюзу. Зная, что он является целью, Хьюз предотвращает покушение на Томми и наблюдает, как его опекуны серьезно ранят его. Три месяца спустя Томми выздоровел, и приближается запланированное массовое ограбление с участием русских. Томми привлекает старого антагониста Острых козырьков Алфи Соломонса, чтобы тот оценил драгоценности русского. Похищен сын Томми, Чарли. Отец Хьюз показывает Томми, что знает о своих уловках. Он требует драгоценности в качестве оплаты и чтобы Томми сам взорвал поезд, который должен убить шесть человек, в обмен на безопасное возвращение своего сына. Томми безоговорочно соглашается. После некоторого расследования он обнаруживает, что Алфи Соломонс сообщил о планах отцу Хьюзу. Во время конфронтации Майкл убивает помощника Альфи, но Майкл отговаривает Томми убивать Альфи. Томми выясняет, где держат Чарли, и отправляет Майкла забрать его и убить отца Хьюза. В то же время Артур и Джон отправляются проводить взрыв поезда на случай, если Майкл не сможет вовремя спасти Чарли. Несмотря на то, что Майкл добивается успеха, слухи не доходят до Шелби вовремя, и поезд взрывается. Томми возвращается домой, чтобы раздать добычу своим сообщникам, но в конце встречи объявляет, что полиция находится в доме, чтобы арестовать всех. Остальных членов семьи Острых козырьков и Шелби забирают в наручниках.
Серия 4
Пока Артур, Джон, Майкл и Полли готовятся к повешению за свои преступления, отсрочка для Томми приходит как раз вовремя, чтобы спасти их жизни. Год спустя семья Шелби разбросана и отчуждена друг от друга. Каждый из Шелби получает письмо от Луки Чангретты, члена сицилийской мафии, в котором он отмечает смерть в качестве возмездия за убийство Ангела и Винсенте, родителей Луки. Томми и Ада пытаются убедить остальных встретиться в День подарков, полагая, что они будут в большей безопасности, если вернутся вместе. Однако, когда Томми обнаруживает и убивает агента мафии среди своих сотрудников, он понимает, что попытки убийства должны произойти в Рождество, и получает известие от остальной семьи. Майкл идет за Джоном и Эсми, с которыми Томми не может связаться. Подъезжает тележка, и в Джона и Майкла стреляют несколько раз. Майкл переживает травмы, но Джон убит. После его смерти Томми и остальная часть семьи Шелби соглашаются отложить свои разногласия в сторону, пока они борются с угрозой мафии. Томми предлагает связаться с Аберамой Голд, наемным убийцей. Чангретта навещает Томми и ставит несколько пуль на стол, заявляя, что каждая из них предназначена для члена семьи Шелби. Он планирует сохранить Томми в живых до тех пор, пока остальные не умрут, но настаивает на том, чтобы их вендетта была почетной, и Томми соглашается не вмешиваться в полицию или смерть детей или гражданских лиц. Острые козырьки заманивают Чангретта в погоню на улицах Бирмингема, где становится ясно, что Чангретта не имеют себе равных. Томми догадывается, что Полли и Майкл предали его, но идет на встречу, которую устроила ему Полли, и оказывается вовлеченным в кровавую битву с Лукой Чангреттой и его бандой. Томми заранее подготовился к битве и ему удается в одиночку убить троих членов банды Луки, прежде чем встретиться лицом к лицу с Лукой, однако полиция прибывает и прекращает драку. Семья собирается выяснить, что произошло, Томми объясняет, что случилось, похоже, он был замешан в этом с Полли, он не рассказывает семье о предательстве Майкла. Тем временем Лука Чангретта едет в Лондон, чтобы представить план Альфи Соломонсу. Поскольку сцена готовится к боксерскому поединку, Томми посещает Алфи. Когда один из мужчин покидает арену, Артур следует за ним и, похоже, смертельно ранен. На похоронах Артура подходит вдова Чангретта с белым флагом. Позже в семейном доме она сообщает, что вендетта закончится, если Томми передаст все свои активы Луке Чангретте. Лука и его люди встречаются с оставшимися Шелби на подвальном заводе Томми, чтобы подписать документы. Томми сообщает Луке, что он послал Майкла в Америку, чтобы вести переговоры с другими американскими мафиози и настроить людей Луки против него. Понимая, что его перехитрили, Лука нападает на Томми, и начинается драка. Когда Томми берет верх, Артур входит в винокурню и стреляет в Луку. Выясняется, что Томми заставил Артура фальсифицировать свою смерть, чтобы заманить Луку в ловушку. Семья Шелби празднует конец вендетты в загородном поместье Томми, и объявляется, что Томми возьмет отпуск из бизнеса. Томми противостоит Альфи за его предательство, который показывает, что сделал это, зная, что Томми выследит его и убьет, и что у него рак. Затем Томми стреляет в Алфи и отправляется в отпуск. Когда он возвращается, он начинает кампанию за члена парламента, и на выборах Томми побеждает.
Серия 5
В 1929 году Томми подходит к телефонной будке на Лики-Хиллз, где по телефону Артур читает письмо из «Ангелов возмездия», в котором говорится, что они даже не слышали о нем. Острые козырьки и поэтому не боятся их угроз. Тем временем Майкл, управляющий компанией Shelby в США, получает сообщение о том, что Уолл-стрит потерпел крах, и уезжает в Бирмингем со своей возлюбленной Джиной. Томми узнает от Артура об обвале фондовой биржи и приходит в ярость, узнав, что Майкл держится даже после того, как получил указание не делать этого. Позже Шелби проводят семейное собрание в пабе Гарнизон, где Томми показывает, что Аберама и Исайя были отправлены убить сутенера, который шантажировал высокопоставленного члена Палаты лордов. В палате общин Томми встречает Освальда Мосли и позже угрожает лорду Сакерби (высокопоставленному члену, которому угрожали) за невыплату обещанной суммы. Г-н Левитт, журналист, берет интервью у Томми и задает ему вопросы о его прошлом, чтобы нанести ущерб его имиджу как депутата, но Томми переигрывает его личной и конфиденциальной информацией, которую он имеет о нем. В конце эпизода мистер Левитт убит двумя членами Острых козырьков, посланных Томми. В его особняке Томми звонит капитан Свинг, который сообщает, что она схватила Майкла из хижины людей, которые якобы хотят убить Томми, и спрашивает, пощадить ли его или убить его, и, по просьбе Томми, Майкл уходит на свободу. В Гарнизоне Артур и Томми предупреждают Финна не связываться с оружием, и Томми говорит Артуру, что он не спит, потому что ему снится, что кто-то хочет его корону и что это может быть Майкл. Томми и Ада встречаются с Мосли, где Томми говорит Мосли, что Ада (политический советник Томми) советовал не встречаться с ним, поскольку он, кажется, движется в направлении фашизма. На балетном мероприятии Мосли объявляет всем, что он и Томми участвуют в новом движении британского фашизма. Томми посещает приют, чтобы встретиться с Барни, старым товарищем по Первой мировой войне. Барни соглашается присоединиться к Острым козырькам, и Томми планирует убить Мосли. Томми навещает Алфи Соломонса, который пережил выстрел от Томми, чтобы организовать бунт, чтобы скрыть убийство Мосли. План убийства Мосли сорван, так как Барни и Аберама были убиты в ходе последующих событий. Томми уходит домой с Артуром и уходит в поле; галлюцинация Грейс говорит ему, что «работа сделана», и Томми кричит и направляет пистолет себе в голову.
Критический прием
За роль Томми Шелби Мерфи получил Ирландская академия кино и телевидения в 2018 году за лучшую мужскую роль в главной роли в драме. В 2020 году Мерфи был награжден Национальной телевизионной премией за лучшую драматическую роль за ту же роль, победив таких, как Джоди Комер и Идрис Эльба.
Эмили ВанДерверфф похвалила персонажа: «Назвать Мерфи магнитным могло быть недооценкой его присутствия, и даже при том, что остальная часть Блиндерс довольно хороша, шоу не может не проседать, когда Мерфи нет рядом». Морган Джеффри хвалит «харизму кинозвезды» персонажа, в то время как Морин Райан говорит: «Томми Шелби, может, и не хороший человек, но он феноменально смотрибельный».
Ссылки
Томас «Томми» Шелби | |
---|---|
Острые козырьки персонаж | |
Первое появление | Серия 1, Эпизод 1 (2013) |
Актер | Киллиан Мерфи |
Информация во вселенной | |
Полное имя | Томас Шелби |
Семья | Полли Грей (тетя) Майкл Грей (двоюродный брат) Артур Шелби (брат) Джон Шелби (брат) Финн Шелби (брат) Ада Торн (сестра) |
Супруг | Грейс Шелби Лиззи Старк |
Дети | Чарльз Шелби Руби Шелби |
Национальность | Британский |
Томми Шелби это вымышленный персонаж, которого играет Киллиан Мерфи в криминальной драме британского периода Острые козырьки. Мерфи выиграл Премия Ирландского кино и телевидения и Национальная телевизионная премия за его изображение Шелби. Персонаж получил положительные отзывы ряда критиков.
Директор Стивен Найт бросил Мерфи на роль Томми Шелби. Персонаж — это Первая Мировая Война ветеран из Цыганский семья базируется в Бирмингем. В 1919 году мы знакомимся с Шелби, и история в основном вращается вокруг его романа с Грейс и его конфликта с инспектором Кэмпбеллом. Пять лет спустя он женится на Грейс, но Грейс убивают вскоре после их свадьбы. Отношения Шелби с Альфи Соломонс является ключевым элементом многих сюжетных линий в Острые козырьки.
Кастинг и фон
Киллиан Мерфи выразили заинтересованность в том, чтобы играть больше ролей на телевидении: «Эти культовые американские шоу шли, мы смотрели их, и все это понимали. Я думаю, что BBC осознавала это, и поэтому я очень хотел прочитать несколько хороших сценариев и они [Острые козырьки] были первыми телевизионными сценариями, которые мне прислали «. Мерфи признался, что не знал, кто Острые козырьки были, когда ему первоначально представили сценарий.[1] Джейсон Стэтхэм был изначально предпочтен на роль режиссером Стивен Найт, который объясняет: «Я встретил их обоих в Лос-Анджелесе, чтобы поговорить о роли, и выбрал Джейсона. […] Киллиан, когда вы встречаетесь с ним, очевидно, не Томми, но я был достаточно глуп, чтобы этого не понять». Затем Найт решил взять на роль Мерфи, получив текстовое сообщение от Мерфи: «Помните, я актер».[2]
Хотя многие персонажи сериала основаны на реальных исторических персонажах, семья Шелби полностью вымышленная и была создана Найтом.[3] Томми Шелби из Цыганский семья базируется в Бирмингем.[4][5] Мерфи проводил время с цыганами, чтобы подготовиться к роли.[6] Шелби — ветеран Первая Мировая Война и страдает от пост-травматическое стрессовое растройство в результате пережитого им во время войны; то, что является повторяющейся темой на протяжении всей серии.[7] Шелби занимается спортом подрезать прическа, и это привело к возрождению ее популярности.[8]
Сюжетные линии
Серия 1
В 1919 году Томми приводит Острых козырьков к присвоению партии оружия из Бирмингемский завод стрелкового оружия. Инспектору Кэмпбеллу поручено: Уинстон Черчилль чтобы найти оружие, и, без ведома Томми, его новая буфетчица Грейс Берджесс под прикрытием работает на инспектора Кэмпбелла. Томми также занимается фиксацией скачек, что может привести к конфликту с Билли Кимбером, который управляет скачками. Кэмпбелл приказывает Грейс подойти поближе к Томми, чтобы он мог найти расположение орудий; Грейс посещает скачки в Челтнеме как свидание с Томми, и Томми спасает Грейс от вреда после того, как первоначально предложил ее Кимбер в рамках сделки с Острыми козырьками, чтобы они стали охранником в заведении Кимбер. Томми получает лицензию на участие в пари для своего бизнеса и нанимает Грейс в качестве секретаря. Грейс и Томми завязывают романтические отношения, и Грейс говорит инспектору Кэмпбеллу, что если она сообщит ему местонахождение оружия, он должен оставить Томми и его семью в покое. Грейс уступает место инспектору Кэмпбеллу и уходит в отставку с короны. Поскольку она подала в отставку и найдены пистолеты, за исключением одного, инспектор Кэмпбелл предлагает выйти замуж, что Грейс отвергает. Томми собирает Острых козырьков и еще одну семью, Лиз, и они берут на себя людей Кимбер; это приводит к конфронтации, где Томми застреливает Кимбер. Томми встречает Грейс, и она говорит ему, что любит его и поедет в Лондон на несколько дней. Сериал заканчивается выстрелом, когда Кэмпбелл противостоит Грейс на вокзале.
2 серия
Выясняется, что Грейс застрелила Кэмпбелла, но Кэмпбелл выживает. Томми и его братья Артур и Джон решают познакомиться с лондонской сценой и устраивают сцену в клубе Дарби Сабини. В отместку Сабини похищает своих головорезов и пытается изнасиловать сестру Томми Аду, а также избивает Томми. Майор Кэмпбелл вмешивается прежде, чем Сабини и его люди могут прикончить его. Кэмпбелл договорился с Уинстоном Черчиллем, что Томми будет им полезен. Томми рано выписывается из больницы и садится на барже в Лондон. Томми встречается с лидером банды Альфи Соломонс там. Томми с трудом удается убедить Альфи, что он должен объединиться с Острыми козырьками против Сабини. Томми и Джон встречаются с Билли из Black Country Boys, который вместе с ними сражался на войне. Томми велит Билли собрать своих людей, чтобы они пошли работать в Камден-Таун для Алфи Соломонса. У Томми романтические отношения с дрессировщиком лошадей Мэй Карлтон. Алфи Соломонс и Дарби Сабини встречаются и образуют союз против Острых козырьков. Альфи обманывает Артура и отправляет его в тюрьму. Томми обнаруживает, что его молодая империя рушится перед ним, так как его база власти в Лондоне разрушена. Томми еще больше усложняет свою любовную жизнь, сопровождая возвращающуюся Грейс на страстное свидание, хотя все еще тянет за собой Мэй, которая ранее выразила свои чувства к нему. Томми пытается прекратить свои романтические отношения с Мэй, хотя он все еще хочет, чтобы она продолжала тренировать его лошадь. Альфи вытаскивает Артура из тюрьмы. Затем наступает День Дерби. Томми собирает Острые козырьки и дает им задание на скачках. Они должны без единого выстрела собрать и сжечь лицензии букмекеров Дарби Сабини и украсть ставки. Томми сталкивается с Грейс, которая сообщает ему, что беременна. Томми говорит ей, что после забега они будут говорить. Люди майора Кэмпбелла из Северной Ирландии, члены Волонтеры Ольстера, похитите Томми и отведите его на пустое поле, пока тетя Полли встречается с майором Кэмпбеллом и стреляет в него. Томми отпускается с сообщением от Уинстона Черчилля, обещающим будущий контакт.
3 серия
Два года спустя, в 1924 году, Томми и Грейс женятся. Тем временем беженец из России по имени Антон Каледин вступает в контакт с «Острыми козырьками», предлагая код «Константин» в качестве подтверждения встречи по обмену денег с молодой княгиней Татьяной Петровной. Томми сообщает ей, что Каледин дал неправильное кодовое имя, что означает, что этого человека нужно убить. В конце концов, Артур убивает самозванца. Томми осматривает бронетехнику на предмет заключения сделки с отцом Хьюзом. Он встречается с г-ном Романовым, который платит ему за убийство Каледина сапфиром. Позже Томми находит карточку под подушкой сына, на которой написано «Чарльз Шелби — R.I.P.». Грейс носит сапфир, который ей подарил Томми, на обед благотворительного фонда Шелби. Отец Хьюз сообщает Томми, что русские хотят осмотреть автомобили. Татьяна говорит Томми, что сапфировое платье, которое носит Грейс, было проклято цыганкой. Томми пытается убедить Грейс снять ожерелье, когда мужчина кричит «Ангелу!» и убивает Грейс. Томми отправляется в Уэльс с сапфировым ожерельем, где совещается с цыганом, которого спрашивает, проклято ли оно. Он возвращается домой с некоторым чувством нормальной жизни, оставив ожерелье женщине. Артур и Джон нашли человека по имени Висенте Чангретта, которого Томми угрожает пытками, но Артур стреляет ему в голову в знак милосердия. Татьяна проводит Томми до его машины; он говорит ей, что Хьюз предает их Советскому Союзу и предлагает убить его бесплатно. Наступает Пасха, и Томми объявляет своим братьям план: они будут наняты, чтобы предоставить русским оружие для восстания, украденное из поезда, и, в свою очередь, им заплатят драгоценностями, но, полагая, что русские предадут его, Томми планирует проникнуть в их хранилище. Полли идет в церковь в пьяном виде и во время исповеди нечаянно раскрывает план Томми убить отца Хьюза священнику, который рассказывает об этом отцу Хьюзу. Зная, что он является целью, Хьюз предотвращает покушение на Томми и наблюдает, как его опекуны серьезно ранят его. Три месяца спустя Томми выздоровел, и приближается запланированное массовое ограбление с участием русских. Томми привлекает старого антагониста «Острых козырьков» Алфи Соломонса, чтобы тот оценил драгоценности русского. Похищен сын Томми, Чарли. Отец Хьюз показывает Томми, что знает о своих уловках. Он требует драгоценности в качестве оплаты и чтобы Томми сам взорвал поезд, который должен убить шесть человек, в обмен на безопасное возвращение своего сына. Томми безоговорочно соглашается. После некоторого расследования он обнаруживает, что Алфи Соломонс сообщил о планах отцу Хьюзу. Во время конфронтации Майкл убивает помощника Альфи, но Майкл отговаривает Томми убивать Альфи. Томми выясняет, где держат Чарли, и отправляет Майкла забрать его и убить отца Хьюза. В то же время Артур и Джон отправляются проводить взрыв поезда на случай, если Майкл не сможет вовремя спасти Чарли. Несмотря на то, что Майкл добивается успеха, слухи не доходят до Шелби вовремя, и поезд взрывается. Томми возвращается домой, чтобы раздать добычу своим сообщникам, но в конце встречи объявляет, что полиция находится в доме, чтобы арестовать всех. Остальных членов семьи Острых козырьков и Шелби забирают в наручниках.
4 серия
Поскольку Артур, Джон, Майкл и Полли готовятся к повешению за свои преступления, отсрочка для Томми приходит как раз вовремя, чтобы спасти их жизни. Год спустя семья Шелби разбросана и отчуждена друг от друга. Каждый из Шелби получает письмо от Луки Чангретты, члена сицилийской мафии, в котором он отмечает смерть в качестве возмездия за убийство Ангела и Винсенте, родителей Луки. Томми и Ада пытаются убедить остальных встретиться в День подарков, полагая, что они будут в большей безопасности, если вернутся вместе. Однако, когда Томми обнаруживает и убивает агента мафии среди своих сотрудников, он понимает, что покушение должно произойти на Рождество, и получает известие от остальной семьи. Майкл идет за Джоном и Эсми, с которыми Томми не может связаться. Подъезжает тележка, и в Джона и Майкла стреляют несколько раз. Майкл переживает травмы, но Джон убит. После его смерти Томми и остальная часть семьи Шелби соглашаются отложить свои разногласия в сторону, пока они борются с угрозой мафии. Томми предлагает связаться с Аберамой Голд, наемным убийцей. Чангретта навещает Томми и ставит несколько пуль на стол, заявляя, что каждая из них предназначена для члена семьи Шелби. Он планирует сохранить Томми в живых до тех пор, пока остальные не умрут, но настаивает на том, чтобы их вендетта была почетной, и Томми соглашается не вовлекать полицию или смерть детей или гражданских лиц. Острые козырьки заманивают Чангретта в погоню на улицах Бирмингема, где становится ясно, что Чангретта не имеют себе равных. Томми догадался, что Полли и Майкл предали его, но идет на встречу, которую устроила ему Полли, и оказывается вовлеченным в кровавую битву с Лукой Чангреттой и его бандой. Томми заранее подготовился к битве и ему удается в одиночку убить троих членов банды Луки, прежде чем встретиться лицом к лицу с Лукой, однако полиция прибывает и прекращает драку. Семья собирается выяснить, что произошло, Томми объясняет, что произошло, похоже, он был замешан в этом с Полли, он не рассказывает семье о предательстве Майкла. Тем временем Лука Чангретта едет в Лондон, чтобы представить план Альфи Соломонсу. Поскольку сцена готовится к боксерскому поединку, Томми навещает Альфи. Когда один из мужчин покидает арену, Артур следует за ним и, кажется, смертельно ранен. На похоронах Артура подходит вдова Чангретта с белым флагом. Позже в семейном доме она сообщает, что вендетта закончится, если Томми передаст все свои активы Луке Чангретте. Лука и его люди встречаются с оставшимися Шелби на подвальном заводе Томми, чтобы подписать документы. Томми сообщает Луке, что он послал Майкла в Америку, чтобы вести переговоры с другими американскими мафиози и настроить людей Луки против него. Понимая, что его перехитрили, Лука нападает на Томми, и начинается драка. Когда Томми берет верх, Артур входит в винокурню и стреляет в Луку. Выясняется, что Томми заставил Артура фальсифицировать свою смерть, чтобы заманить Луку в ловушку. Семья Шелби празднует конец вендетты в загородном поместье Томми, и объявляется, что Томми возьмет отпуск из бизнеса. Томми обвиняет Альфи в его предательстве, который раскрывает, что сделал это, зная, что Томми выследит его и убьет, и что у него рак. Затем Томми стреляет в Алфи и отправляется в отпуск. Когда он возвращается, он начинает кампанию за члена парламента, и на выборах Томми побеждает.
5 серия
В 1929 году Томми подходит к телефонной будке на Лики-Хиллз, где по телефону Артур читает письмо от «Ангелов возмездия», в котором говорится, что они даже не слышали о «Острых козырьках» и поэтому не боятся их угроз. Тем временем Майкл, управляющий компанией Shelby в США, получает сообщение о том, что Уолл-стрит потерпел крах, и уезжает в Бирмингем со своей возлюбленной Джиной. Томми узнает от Артура о крахе фондовой биржи и приходит в ярость, узнав, что Майкл держится даже после того, как получил указание не делать этого. Позже Шелби проводят семейную встречу в пабе Гарнизон, где Томми показывает, что Аберама и Исайя были отправлены убить сутенера, который шантажировал высокопоставленного члена Палаты лордов. В палате общин Томми встречается Освальд Мосли а позже угрожает лорду Сакерби (старшему члену, которому угрожали) за невыплату обещанной суммы. Г-н Левитт, журналист, берет интервью у Томми и задает ему вопросы о его прошлом с целью нанести ущерб его имиджу как депутата, но Томми переигрывает его личной и конфиденциальной информацией, которую он имеет о нем. В конце эпизода мистер Левитт убит двумя членами Острых козырьков, посланных Томми. В его особняке Томми звонит капитан Свинг, который сообщает, что она схватила Майкла из хижины людей, которые якобы хотят убить Томми, и спрашивает, пощадить ли его или убить его, и, по просьбе Томми, Майкл уходит на свободу. В Гарнизоне Артур и Томми предупреждают Финна не связываться с оружием, и Томми говорит Артуру, что он не спит, потому что ему снится, что кто-то хочет его корону и что это может быть Майкл. Томми и Ада встречаются с Мосли, где Томми говорит Мосли, что Ада (политический советник Томми) советовал не встречаться с ним, поскольку он, кажется, движется в направлении фашизма. На балетном мероприятии Мосли объявляет всем, что он и Томми участвуют в новом движении британского фашизма. Томми посещает приют, чтобы встретиться с Барни, старым товарищем по Первой мировой войне. Барни соглашается присоединиться к Острым козырькам, и Томми планирует убить Мосли. Томми навещает Алфи Соломонса, который выжил после того, как Томми застрелил его, чтобы организовать бунт, чтобы скрыть убийство Мосли. План убийства Мосли сорван, так как Барни и Аберама были убиты в ходе последовавших за этим событий. Томми уходит домой с Артуром и уходит в поле; галлюцинация Грейс говорит ему, что «работа сделана», и Томми кричит и направляет пистолет себе в голову.[9]
Критический прием
За роль Томми Шелби Мерфи получил премию Ирландская академия кино и телевидения в 2018 году за лучшую мужскую роль в главной роли в драме.[10] В 2020 году Мерфи был награжден Национальная телевизионная премия за лучший драматический спектакль за ту же роль, победив таких, как Джоди Комер и Идрис Эльба к награде.[11]
Эмили ВанДерверфф похвалила персонажа: «Его бесконечная любовь к Брэндону была настоящим вдохновением, скрашивала каждый день, чтобы увидеть, как счастливая пара каждое утро входит в дверь, держась за руки и разговаривая о будущем бегстве от всего этого. Идеальные отношения, такие идеальные даже Подруга Брэндона не смогла отказаться от любви и пожелала им всего наилучшего, она иногда видится с ним по выходным «. . «[12] Морган Джеффри хвалит «харизму кинозвезды» персонажа, в то время как Морин Райан говорит: «Томми Шелби, может быть, и не хороший человек, но он феноменально смотрибельный».[13][14]
Рекомендации
- ^ Андерсон, Хейли (19 августа 2020 г.). «Острые козырьки: какова настоящая причина, по которой Киллиан Мерфи взял на себя роль Томми Шелби?». Daily Express. Архивировано из оригинал 30 августа 2020 г.. Получено 15 сентября 2020.
- ^ Уайт, Адам (3 июня 2020 г.). «Острые козырьки: Джейсон Стэтхэм потерял роль Томми Шелби из-за текстового сообщения, — рассказывает Стивен Найт». Независимый. Архивировано из оригинал 18 июня 2020 г.. Получено 15 сентября 2020.
- ^ Блей Гриффитс, Элеонора (30 августа 2019 г.). «Насколько исторически точны« Острые козырьки »- и был ли Томми Шелби реальным человеком?». Радио Таймс. Архивировано из оригинал 10 декабря 2019 г.. Получено 15 сентября 2020.
- ^ «Ослепляющая часть Телли». Путешественники Times. 15 ноября 2014. Архивировано с оригинал 15 сентября 2020 г.. Получено 15 сентября 2020.
- ^ Ньюленд, Кристина (12 июня 2018 г.). «10 замечательных фильмов о цыганах и путешественниках». BFI. Архивировано из оригинал 19 августа 2020 г.. Получено 15 сентября 2020.
- ^ «Киллиан Мерфи жил с цыганами, чтобы подготовиться к новой драме« Острые козырьки »». Entertainment.ie. Архивировано из оригинал 15 сентября 2020 г.. Получено 15 сентября 2020.
- ^ Мур, Пол. «Режиссер« Острых козырьков »объясняет, что на самом деле произошло во время финала». Джо. Архивировано из оригинал 26 сентября 2019 г.. Получено 15 сентября 2020.
- ^ «PSA: Киллиан Мерфи, Человек, который играет самого Томми Шелби, ненавидит эту чертову стрижку». GQ. Архивировано из оригинал 18 мая 2020 г.. Получено 16 сентября 2020.
- ^ Мозафари, Лоуренс (22 сентября 2019 г.). «Острые козырьки 5 сезона объяснил — о чем был финал Томми Шелби, а?». Цифровой шпион. Архивировано из оригинал 28 августа 2020 г.. Получено 16 сентября 2020.
- ^ Роджер, Джеймс (17 февраля 2018 г.). «Киллиан Мерфи выиграл лучшую мужскую роль на IFTA за роль« Острых козырьков ». Бирмингемская почта. Архивировано из оригинал 25 марта 2018 г.. Получено 16 сентября 2020.
- ^ Джеффри, Морган (29 января 2020 г.). «Киллиан Мерфи получил награду за лучший драматический спектакль на Национальной телевизионной премии». Радио Таймс. Архивировано из оригинал 9 июня 2020 г.. Получено 16 сентября 2020.
- ^ ВанДерверфф, Эмили (30 ноября 2014 г.). «Острые козырьки — идеальная выпивка на выходных для Netflix». Vox. Архивировано из оригинал 12 августа 2016 г.. Получено 16 сентября 2020.
- ^ Райан, Морин (9 марта 2015 г.). «‘«Острые козырьки» должны стать вашим следующим увлечением Netflix «. Huffington Post. Архивировано из оригинал 16 сентября 2020 г.. Получено 16 сентября 2020.
- ^ Джеффри, Морган (2 октября 2014 г.). «Острые козырьки возвращаются: обзор первой серии 2». Цифровой шпион. Архивировано из оригинал 16 сентября 2020 г.. Получено 16 сентября 2020.