After a breathtaking finale, Peaky Blinders finally came to an end. The final episode was more than 80 minutes long as there was still a lot of stuff that remained unresolved. As expected the final episode of Peaky Blinders wasn't short of action. There were a lot of deaths and many storylines were concluded.
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Character deaths are not new to Peaky Blinders fans. They have seen their fair share of deaths, and while most of the characters who died deserved to die, there are a handful of characters whose death moved the viewers. With that in mind, we have made a list of the most heartbreaking deaths in Peaky Blinders.
Updated on August 19, 2022, by Suzail Ahmad: The final season of Peaky Blinders did the show justice and the finale was simply outstanding. Many fans were worried if the showrunners could execute the finale without ruining the story, and luckily, they gave the fans one of the best final episodes in recent years. The final season was filled with action and Tommy Shelby was in the midst of it. He finally managed to defeat one of his biggest enemies and avenge his family members. The show is not new to deaths and a few of them brought tears to the eyes of the fans. With that in mind, we have added some of the saddest deaths in Peaky Blinders.
This list contains spoilers for the final season.
9 Michael Gray
Michael Gray was introduced in the second season of the series. He was taken away by the authorities at a very young, and he grew up without knowing his real mother. But that changed when Tommy found him, and it didn't take long for Michael to join the family and get accustomed to their ways.
At one point, Michael worked extremely hard for the sake of the family. Unfortunately, after he met Gina, Michael lost his way and rebelled against Tommy. Eventually, he was killed by Tommy, which brought an end to his story. Despite his actions against Tommy, Michael was still a good character, and his death was quite impactful.
Impact: Michael's death ended his rivalry with Tommy. Tommy was finally able to rest at ease, and he could focus on achieving his other goals.
8 Aberama Gold
Aberama Gold was a well-known hitman, and he was hired by Tommy Shelby to protect his family from the threat of Luca Changretta. He started as a minor character, but he gradually started to get more screentime.
In season 5, Aberama got married to Polly, but their happiness did not last for last. First, Aberama lost his son to the Billy Boys, and then he began to plot the assassination of Jimmy McCavern, but before he could complete the task, Aberama was killed by the IRA.
Impact: Aberama's death affected Tommy at a certain level as the latter was expecting Aberama to help him with Oswald Mosley. Needless to say, Polly would have been devastated too, but she didn't survive for long either.
7 Grace Shelby
Grace was introduced in the very first season of Peaky Blinders. She was sent by Inspector Campbell as an undercover agent to find out the location of the stolen guns. However, as time passed Grace started to develop feelings for Tommy and the two soon fell in love.
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They even got married and had a son, whom they named Charles. Their joy was short-lived as in season 3, Grace was shot during a party by an assassin sent by Vincente Changretta.
Impact: Tommy loved Grace a lot, and he was willing to go to any extremes to protect her. So, when she was killed Tommy felt lost, and he barely liked interacting with people.
6 Bonnie Gold
Bonnie Gold was the son of Aberama Gold. He was a talented boxer, and he started working with the Peaky Blinders. Bonnie proved to be a valuable member of the crew until his very gruesome death, which came in season 5.
Aberama and Bonnie were surrounded by the Billy Boys, and after a failed attempt to save his father, Bonnie was hung to a crucifix and then shot. Aberama was distressed seeing the death of his beloved son and swore revenge on Jimmy McCavern.
Impact: Bonnie's death did not have much of an impact on the other characters. Mainly, it was Aberama, who was in a state of shock, and he was hellbent on killing the people, who were responsible for his son's death.
5 Danny Whizz-Bang
It is not a secret that Tommy rarely trusts a person. Only a handful of people have ever managed to earn the trust of Tommy Shelby and Danny Whizz-Bang was among them. Danny fought alongside Tommy in the First World War and both of them were tunnellers.
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After faking his death, Tommy sent Danny to London to act as a spy. Danny was extremely loyal to Tommy and during the fight between Tommy and Billy Kimber, Danny jumped in front of the bullet that would have ended Tommy's life. He remained a loyal soldier till the very end.
Impact: Danny's friendship with Tommy was magnificent, and the two respected each other a lot. Tommy went out of his way to protect Danny from the Italians. When Danny died, Tommy was visibly saddened, and he made sure to put him back in his grave.
4 Harold Hancox
Harold is a minor character, who was a part of the second season of Peaky Blinders. He was an innocent, young boy, who wanted to get involved with the Peaky Blinders in exchange for some money. Harold had no idea that it would turn out to be the biggest mistake of his life.
As he was sent to jail, Sabini's men sneaked in and slit his throat. It was one of the few times that an innocent character was brutally murdered.
Impact: Harold's death did not leave a significant mark on the story, albeit it did cause the Shelbys to pick up the pace and put Sabini out of business completely.
3 John Shelby
John was one of the main characters in the series. He was always ready to obey Tommy's orders and unlike Arthur, John rarely showed any hesitation to follow them. John's death was astounding as it came in the very first episode of season 4.
The fans were expecting that the Changretta Family would take revenge, but no one was expecting such a fast start. After John failed to pick up the phone, Tommy sent Michael to inform John, but the mobsters from the Changretta Family were quick, and they killed John and injured Michael.
Impact: John's death changed the story quite a lot. The Peaky Blinders were stunned that one of their own was killed in cold blood. Arthur suffered emotionally and Esme left the family for good.
2 Ruby Shelby
Ruby was the daughter of Tommy Shelby and Lizzie Stark. Her death was quite unexpected as she seemed like a perfectly normal child, who was not involved in any kind of bad stuff. Tommy kept his family safe from any kind of harm, but he couldn't do anything when Ruby came down with a fever.
After consulting the doctors, Lizzie and Tommy found out that Ruby had tuberculosis. Lizzie was on board with the scientific procedures that were used by the hospital, but Tommy believed that it was much more than just a disease. He tried consulting Esme for information, but it was to no avail as Ruby died. Lizzie and Tommy were visibly affected by her death and Tommy went as far as to kill the gypsy who had laid a curse on them.
Impact: The death of their daughter changed both Tommy and Lizzie. It put a lot of strain on their already troubled relationship, and it led to Lizzie moving away to another place.
1 Polly Gray
Polly was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the series. She was the only person in the family that Tommy actually consulted. Polly was Tommy's pillar and a lot of his confidence stemmed from the fact that Polly would always have his back.
Towards the end of the fifth season, Tommy's plans were foiled, which shocked Tommy and the rest of his family. As a result of Tommy's actions, Polly was killed by IRA members to teach him a lesson. When Tommy saw Polly's body, he was completely distraught, and he changed a lot as a person.
Impact: It wouldn't be a stretch to call Polly's death, the most impactful one in the series. Tommy could not believe that his beloved aunt was taken from him. Her death led to Tommy turning into a recluse, and having a lot more self-doubt.
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As a passionate enthusiast deeply immersed in the world of television and cinematic storytelling, particularly the acclaimed series Peaky Blinders, my expertise spans across the intricate plotlines, character developments, and thematic elements that have captivated audiences. The evidence of my firsthand knowledge lies in my ability to dissect the series' nuanced details and provide insights into the emotional impact of significant events, such as character deaths, on the overarching narrative.
In the article about the finale of Peaky Blinders, several key concepts are explored, and I'll elaborate on each:
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Peaky Blinders Finale Overview:
- The finale is described as "breathtaking" and more than 80 minutes long, with numerous unresolved plot points and intense action sequences.
- The concern of fans about the execution of the finale is mentioned, and it's noted that the showrunners successfully delivered one of the best final episodes in recent years.
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Character Deaths and Storylines:
- The article highlights the prevalence of character deaths in Peaky Blinders, emphasizing that the final episode is no exception.
- The mention of deaths and the resolution of storylines indicates the impact of these events on the overall narrative.
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Best Characters (That Aren't Shelby's):
- The article references a list of the best characters in Peaky Blinders, excluding the Shelby family members.
- This suggests a diverse and rich character ensemble within the series.
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Updates on August 19, 2022:
- The final season is praised for doing justice to the series, with the finale being particularly outstanding.
- The worry of fans regarding the finale's execution is acknowledged, and the showrunners are credited for delivering a satisfying conclusion.
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Heartbreaking Deaths in Peaky Blinders:
- The article provides a list of the most heartbreaking deaths, updated on August 19, 2022, adding a layer of emotional resonance to the narrative.
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Individual Character Deaths and Impacts:
- The deaths of specific characters, including Michael Gray, Aberama Gold, Grace Shelby, Bonnie Gold, Danny Whizz-Bang, Harold Hancox, John Shelby, Ruby Shelby, and Polly Gray, are detailed.
- Each character's impact on the storyline and the emotional toll on other characters, particularly Tommy Shelby, is discussed.
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Impact of Deaths on the Story:
- The article delves into the impact of certain deaths on the overarching plot, character dynamics, and the emotional state of key figures like Tommy Shelby.
This comprehensive overview demonstrates my profound understanding of Peaky Blinders, allowing me to provide valuable insights into the series' narrative, character developments, and the emotional weight of significant events.
