"Peaky Blinders Season 5" Too Political for its Own Good?

 

    I'm starting to get the feeling that Peaky Blinders is suffering from what every great TV show eventually suffers from, stretching itself too thin. Its not its own fault that the show has managed to sow seeds of interest in every character, but its starting to get a bit crowded, and then characters must be killed in order to allow the most bountiful seeds to sprout. While necessary, it still always feels disappointing to some extent, as viewers begin to question which 

    Take for example Aberama Gold, a character who was promoted to series mainstay this season, he dies in such a fashion that leaves you questioning, is that it? I mean his son died, and he was about to be accepted into the family, but then he is simply murdered off for the sake of making the stakes against Tommy feel even higher. Personally, I would have liked to see more of what he could have offered, although I am biased towards the former Game of Thrones actor, as he was phenomenal as Littlefinger.

    While some vines died prematurely, some have begun to show thorns, and frankly I'm all in on the damage these thorns could inflict. Specifically, I'm referring to the brewing conflict that is about to occur between Michael and Tommy, and the clash between the new and old. I do hope Polly is present for the final season, as I'm unsure of what her "resignation" means, but hopefully viewers get satisfying conclusions for all of their favourite characters.

    Lastly, in regards to the title, I think I'm fairly lukewarm on the politics being incorporated into the show. As someone who grew more political as I became older, I don't abhor politics, but I do feel like it feels a bit odd to see Tommy become some sort of political figure trying to fight the rise of fascism in Europe. I mean the Churchill-Shelby alliance has been teased for seasons, and only now is it finally starting to sprout, I only wish it came sooner to be honest. 

Final Score: 75/100

    Overall, I think this season hasn't lost much of the momentum that pushed it into the big leagues in the first place. The writing is still top notch, the action still present and violent, and the plots have only become more and more ambitious. While its starting to feel a little more crowded, and a little more political, I trust the showrunners enough to be able to navigate those murky waters for an eventful final season.

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