5 Peaky Blinders Highest Rated Episodes, Ranked by IMDb

There’s no denying that Tommy Shelby is the character that made millions of fans worldwide fall in love with Cillian Murphy. And with Shelby as well, the guy is probably the most charismatic mobster there ever was on TV (sorry, Tony Soprano).

Peaky Blinders delves deep into the personal dramas of its characters as well as the cultural and historical events of the time, including the Great Depression and the rise of fascism.

But let's see which episodes fans think are the best. Here are 5 of them, ranked by IMDb users.

1. Episode №2.6 (2014)

• IMDb score: 9.5/10.

The episode is the second season’s finale and follows lots of important parallel storylines. It takes place on Derby Day, which descends into chaos with the arrival of the King and a mix of police and gangsters. At the time, Tommy is stunned to run into Grace, who reveals that she's pregnant with his child.

Also, his strategy of using Lizzie as bait backfires tragically when she is attacked. Meanwhile, Polly takes her revenge on Campbell, and Tommy is later kidnapped by three members of the Ulster Ulster Volunteer members.

The episode balances gripping action with moments of quiet reflection. The most striking scene comes when Tommy, having achieved his ambitions, faces what he believes to be certain death. He doesn't resist or panic, but instead accepts his fate with a final, solemn cigarette. Only to survive and move on.

2. Episode №3.6 (2016)

• IMDb score: 9.5/10.

Another season finale full of events, but now it's bittersweet. The episode follows Michael as he finally becomes a true Shelby (after killing one of Alfie's associates), while Tommy completes a tunnel and raids the Russian's vault, stealing numerous jewels in the process.

One of the most important missions for Tommy this season has been his attempt to leave his gritty origins behind and enter high society. However, he later has a great monologue in which he says that the upper crust will never accept people like him. Instead of seeking their approval, he affirms his own identity with everything that comes with it. He's a crime boss and is not going to hide it anymore.

3. Season 4, The Noose (2017)

• IMDb score: 9.4/10.

This episode is the starting point of the fourth chapter of Peaky Blinders, and it serves as a sort of tool to help the Shelby family finally form a united front, now that the enemy is against each of them personally. And of course Tommy knows this. He also finds out that his whole family is in danger and it's time to bury the hatchet and fight back.

However, the episode’s climax is the moment John was attacked. Definitely one of the most important and unexpected scenes in the entire series.

4. Season 4, The Company (2017)

• IMDb score: 9.4/10.

Another episode where the most unexpected things happen. The Company follows Tommy sort of befriending Alfie and finally ending the vendetta between two clans. However, there’s another resolution as well in the episode, but far less friendly. Adrian Brody’s Changretta ends up in the corner, when realizing Tommy did everything to turn his own men on him.

One of the best moments was when Arthur, who had previously faked his death, appears right in front of Changretta and kills the enemy. The fact that Arthur was alive sort of circles the season, after the tragic death of John’s in the first episode.

5. Season 6, Lock and Key (2022)

• IMDb score: 9.3/10.

This episode has been the ending point of the show for three years now, and as a season finale it was a masterpiece (although a heartbreaking one). The episode was all about absolutely jaw-dropping reveals. For starters, we realize, together with Tommy, that he was not going to die yet, at least not from the disease he thought he had.

He comes back to see all his possessions being on fire, and silently sits on a white horse and rides away. The final shot of the episode is high quality cinema that just leaves the viewers speechless. This is the moment of rebirth for Tommy.