"Peaky Blinders Season 1" Never Overstaying its Welcome

 

    As someone who tends to love complaining about TV shows, when it comes to Peaky Blinders, I came out of season 1 surprisingly satisfied. Typically, I complain about the six-episode format, especially in regards to Disney+, feeling that it tends to cramp creativity and lead to mediocre slop that has ruined my favourite universes, however I feel the complete opposite with Peaky Blinders. In fact, I'm tempted to say that it makes the most of the format, and that British television has seemed to master it to perfection, leading to a TV show that has left me more satisfied than I have been in ages.

    Specifically, one of the aspects of Peaky Blinders that I absolutely adore is the politics that must occur between different players of the game. Ever since Game of Thrones ended so unceremoniously, I have been itching for the complex storylines where all pieces on the chess board are working to sabotage one another, and while this show is not Game of Thrones, its still a damn good TV show. I mean frankly, while the premise of the show is interesting, I wasn't too sure how interesting historical British gangsters could have actually been, but luckily the show has been able to exceed my expectations.

    In fact, it took me over a year to even consider watching this show, as while it was on my radar, and I heard it was a good show, I was afraid that it would have been a lengthy process that simply would have been too time consuming for me. However,  I never really feel as if too much is happening at once, or that the show is rushed, a stark contrast from other six episode season shows that pop up today. Moreover, I think knowing its constraints really does allow it to sow the seeds for next season, as while everyone would like to know what happened to Aunt Polly's children, its only one of the many questions left on everyone's mind by the end of this first season, perfectly setting up a second season for bigger and better things.

    Realistically, my only complaint was that the finale felt a bit sloppy at times. Personally, I enjoyed Campbell as the villain for the first season, but why did he have to fall in love with Grace? Surely there could have been another way for him to have some sort of vendetta against the Shelby's, because no where in the show was there even any hint of romance between the two characters. Like, while its technically only one complaint, its such an integral part of the finale, it ruins what was a surprisingly solid season.

Final Score: 80/100

    Overall, there isn't much to complain about for season 1 of Peaky Blinders, and while it took me a bit to understand and believe the hype, the show is very much worth it. With a format that isn't too intimidating, and storylines that aren't too simple, yet don't try to move too fast, this show deserves more critical acclaim. While the finale does contain a hiccup, I have to admit Peaky Blinders might be one of the best shows I've witnessed in a while.

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