"Peaky Blinders Season 2" Cause for Concern?

 


    I had an interesting conversation with my friends yesterday, wherein we discussed our favourite Netflix TV shows, and I brought up Peaky Blinders as a show that had recently impressed me. Specifically, one of my friends mentioned the show was a bit of a slow burner, but absolutely worth it once it picked up, and I was incredibly confused at what he meant, considering the fact that I absolutely adored season 1. However, after watching the finale of season 2, I can understand the perspective my friend was coming from, as there absolutely is some pacing issues that could be amended with the second season.

    While I didn't by any means dislike the second season, I just felt that it was a lot of set up for a lot of nothing? Like the idea of this season was to go bigger and better, with the Shelby's expanding to London, but while they claimed the scope was bigger, it didn't feel as if anything got bigger. While technically the family got bigger, with the introduction of Michael, Esme and Finn as minor side characters, I felt that in terms of stakes the show did not really get bigger, with the final episode once again hinging on the question: how can Thomas Shelby bring back the Peaky Blinders from the brink of destruction?

    I think part of the reason it didn't feel as grand as it was supposed to was that the show has the same antagonist, Major Campbell. While I don't dislike him as a villain, the reality is he feels much less threatening and present, as the show pivots towards other gangsters such as Sabini or Solomons. Speaking of villains, I just feel like viewers didn't learn enough about the other rival families, leading to a season that felt more like setup for next season rather than anything concrete. I mean the way the finale played out felt quite anticlimactic, and while the fight scenes were cool it felt too easy, just burn the licenses while Thomas Shelby steps over anyone and everyone for the sake of himself and his family.

    One major difference I had in consuming this season to previous ones was that, I did not have the opportunity to binge this season, rather watching it one episode a day for a week. I think that this sort of spread out schedule doesn't do many favours for the six-episode format, as it tends to shine a light on how little it feels like actually happens, which was something I praised the first season for. While I do think how I watched this season affected my perception of the show, highlighting some flaws I didn't really have time to notice, I also do believe this season was just weaker in general.

Final Score: 65/100

    While the first season of Peaky Blinders was outstanding, I do have to admit that the show seems to have hit some sort of sophomore slump that it couldn't seem to shake off all season. While it introduces new concepts and characters, it frankly doesn't do much with them, leading to a fairly disappointing season which once again sets the show up for the opportunity for more. Lets just hope this time the showrunners don't squander everything they set up for the third season of Peaky Blinders.

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