While Peaky Blinders S6’s current momentum is gaining mixed reviews, it’s no secret that the final series is setting groundwork for the upcoming movie and perhaps some spin-offs. This becomes more evident when Tommy has “the talk” with his newly discovered son, Erasmus Duke.
Not the birds and bees, more like bullets and delinquency—Tommy makes it known to Duke that he will have to carry on his father’s business.
In Peaky Blinders S6 E5, Tommy explains his business to Duke, implying that he will have to carry on either the “light” or “dark” part of the company. By the end of the scene, it seems like Duke plans on taking over the more legit parts of the Shelby Enterprise.
It’s hard not to see how alike Tommy and Duke are, right from their physical appearance to their preference for horses over people. But whereas Tommy was a single man straddling the thin line of good and bad, this will be split into two when it comes to doling out responsibilities to his two sons.
Duke Takes over the Shelbys’ Illegitimate Business
Simple math would have it that the illegitimate son takes over the illegitimate business, while Charlie rises to be the face of the respectable side of the company.
But this all depends on when Tommy hands over the enterprise. See, Charlie is still really young and he’s not becoming a Peaky Blinder until he enters his double-digits. So, if Duke takes over the business before that, he’ll become another Tommy who has to handle both sides of the dealing.
If Duke takes a liking to Charlie, he may even insist on him only handling the legitimate business to keep him safe and protected—just like Tommy once did with Michael. But if he doesn’t, he might intentionally thrust Charlie into the shady side of things.
That’s a lot of ifs and I’m sure we’ll see it explored in upcoming endeavors.
Duke Becomes the Respectable Shelby
I don’t think the show takes its imagery lightly. So when we see Duke turning his back to a gambling den after his conversation with Tommy, it makes me think that’s an indication of the path he will/wants to choose. The path of light, that is.
It would be quite poetic if Charlie and Duke’s upbringing and conditions of birth are swapped when they finally do business. We may find that Duke is more inclined to keep a good face, while Charlie likes the rougher, rasher side of the company.
I also think that Tommy definitely has a plan, which perhaps leaves Duke no choice but to go down whichever road his father dictates for him. Whether he’ll enjoy it or be tormented by it is a tale for another time.
About Peaky Blinders
Peaky Blinders is a British period crime drama television series created by Steven Knight. Set in Birmingham, England, the series follows the exploits of the Shelby crime family and their leader Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) in the direct aftermath of the First World War.
The fictional family is loosely based on a real urban youth gang of the same name, active in the city from the 1890s to the early 20th century. It stars Cillian Murphy, Sam Claflin, Aidan Gillen, Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson, Finn Cole, and Tom Hardy
Netflix, under a deal with Weinstein Company and Endemol, acquired the rights to release the show in the United States and around the world. In January 2021, it was announced that the sixth series would be the last, followed by a spin-off film. The final series was broadcast in 2022.
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