Peaky Blinders: Every Season Ranked Worst To Best

Now that the popular series Peaky Blinders has finished, it’s a good time to look back and rank each season. The show, which first aired in 2013, drew viewers into the world of Tommy Shelby and his criminal family in early 1900s England.

The show, Peaky Blinders, captivated audiences by combining the real history of a Birmingham gang with gripping violence, well-developed characters, and a compelling, though flawed, main character. Now that the sixth and final season has finished airing on the BBC and Netflix in 2022, viewers can look back on the entire story.

Even though the TV show finished some time ago, Tommy Shelby’s story continues in the film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, which brought the series to the big screen for the first time on March 6, 2026. However, the original six seasons of the show still tell a full and satisfying story of the Shelby family’s triumphs and struggles.

Everyone loves the crime drama Peaky Blinders, but some seasons are definitely better than others. By looking at the story, characters, and how difficult things were for them each season, fans have been able to rank all the seasons from worst to best.

Peaky Blinders season	Rotten Tomatoes Score	Audience Score
Season 1	88%	95%
Season 2	100%	97%
Season 3	100%	94%
Season 4	89%	95%
Season 5	86%	90%
Season 6	100%	90%

7. Season 6

I was so excited for season 6 of Peaky Blinders – I really wanted to see how the story wrapped up. But honestly, the final season left a lot of us feeling a little let down. It wasn’t a terrible season, but it definitely didn’t quite deliver the perfect ending many of us were hoping for.

Even the weakest season of Peaky Blinders still has its strong points. A particularly memorable moment was the devastating opening scene where Tommy discovers the terrible consequences of his attempt on Oswald Mosley’s life, including the loss of Aunt Polly.

Despite being a good season, it doesn’t quite reach the incredibly high quality we’ve come to expect from the show. A key issue is that Tommy Shelby is dealing with internal struggles instead of challenges from external enemies. He also lacks a significant opponent to create dramatic conflict.

As a big fan of the show, I felt Mosley was underutilized, and honestly, the writers built up this huge rivalry between Tommy and Michael, making it seem like the central drama of the season, only to… just drop it. Michael never really felt like a genuine threat, which was disappointing. And that finale? While it could have been a beautiful, definitive end for Tommy, it ultimately felt less like a conclusion and more like a really long pause before they start filming the movie. It left me wanting more resolution, not just… more story later.

6. Season 5

In season 5 of Peaky Blinders, Tommy Shelby’s ambitions lead him to seek higher social status. However, the American stock market crash severely impacts the Peaky Blinders’ operations in the U.S., and Tommy blames Michael for the resulting financial difficulties, creating tension between them.

The story introduces Oswald Mosley, leading to a tense partnership with the main character. A friendship with Winston Churchill inspires him to try and kill Mosley, but the attempt is unsuccessful.

Season 5 really throws everything at the wall – business deals, political maneuvering, and escalating gang warfare. I was completely hooked by Tommy’s struggle to stay away from the British Union of Fascists; it made for some seriously compelling viewing. And honestly, it was a nice change of pace to see someone outsmart Tommy without resorting to a shootout. It felt clever and kept me on the edge of my seat!

Switching the show’s focus to politics isn’t as thrilling as the intense gangster storylines from previous seasons. This leads to a slower pace and more uninteresting scenes compared to what viewers expect from Peaky Blinders.

5. Season 1

The series begins with a thrilling heist: the Peaky Blinders steal weapons from a factory, unaware they actually belong to the government and were intended for shipment to Libya. This prompts a response from the show’s version of Winston Churchill, who dispatches Inspector Campbell of the Royal Irish Constabulary to recover the stolen goods, setting off a tense pursuit between Campbell and Tommy.

Tommy unexpectedly falls for Grace, an undercover agent working with Campbell. At the same time, trouble is brewing as Tommy faces a potential conflict with a competing gang leader named Billy Kimber.

The show was still developing its identity in these first few episodes, and it hadn’t quite settled on a main focus yet. Unlike later seasons where Tommy is the central character, this early season explores several storylines that don’t all carry over.

Despite its dark and suspenseful atmosphere, the show immediately grabs viewers’ attention. Tommy is a remarkably compelling main character, and the supporting cast is equally interesting, particularly Aunt Polly, who is the emotional center of Peaky Blinders.

4. Season 3

The show doesn’t allow viewers to enjoy peaceful moments for very long, and the death of Grace in the opening episode demonstrated that perfectly. However, this is just the start of a difficult time for Tommy, as the sinister Father Hughes begins manipulating the Peaky Blinders to do what he wants.

Tom Hardy is back as Alfie Solomons, and it’s clear his partnership with Tommy isn’t as solid as it seems. This creates intense drama and puts Tommy and his family in a truly difficult situation, with no simple solutions in sight.

When Grace dies at the start of season 3, Tommy spirals into a deep darkness he never escapes. This creates a compelling, though unsettling, storyline as even his closest allies fear what he’s capable of.

It was surprising to see a priest become one of the most dangerous villains in Peaky Blinders, but Paddy Considine’s portrayal of Father Hughes made him a truly hateful character. The season’s events build to a shocking ending, where Tommy’s decisions lead to the execution of those closest to him.

3. Season 2

Season two of Peaky Blinders introduces several important new characters. Polly is reunited with her son, Michael, and Tommy begins a relationship with May following the loss of Grace.

For me, the absolute highlight of this season of Peaky Blinders has been Alfie Solomons, played by Tom Hardy. He’s a rival gangster who teams up with Tommy, but honestly, he’ll work with whoever benefits him most. Alfie just makes the show so much better – Tom Hardy’s popularity definitely brought in new fans, but it’s his incredible lines that really stand out.

The show continues to deliver a compelling story with memorable characters, creating many fantastic scenes. Campbell becomes a truly frightening and ruthless villain, culminating in a dramatic confrontation with the Shelby family. The finale also features a powerful scene of Tommy facing execution, showcasing Cillian Murphy’s strongest performance throughout the entire series.

2. Season 4

One of the main reasons season 4 of Peaky Blinders is considered the best is the introduction of a powerful villain who genuinely challenges Tommy and the rest of the gang. This season features Luca Changretta (played by Adrien Brody), a mobster from New York, arriving in Birmingham to avenge his father’s death at the hands of the Blinders.

Once Changretta’s gang murders John, it becomes obvious that this enemy has managed to strike at the heart of the Shelby family, something others haven’t been able to do. However, Tommy isn’t defenseless; he still has valuable contacts and plans in America that he can use.

Season 4 has the most straightforward plot of the series, but it’s also the most impactful. While the story mainly focuses on the conflict between hunters and those being hunted, guest star Brody’s performance as Luca Changretta is incredibly compelling, making him feel like a dangerous predator patiently waiting to strike.

The action scenes this season are a definite improvement over previous episodes. Plus, Alfie’s return is a highlight, and the interactions between Hardy and Brody in certain moments are particularly enjoyable.

1. Where Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Ranks

As a huge Peaky Blinders fan, I’m thrilled to hear Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is coming to Netflix! It had a release in UK cinemas first, and I’m really curious to see how it stacks up against the six seasons we all know and love. From what I’ve heard, it really dives deep into Tommy Shelby’s emotional world, much like the later seasons did, but it also introduces a seriously formidable new enemy for him to face.

Tommy is struggling with the reality that his son, Duke Shelby, now controls the gangs of Small Heath, ruling them with the same ruthless tactics that made Tommy a legend in Birmingham. Even though The Immortal Man doesn’t include all the familiar faces from Peaky Blinders, it still provides a satisfying conclusion to Cillian Murphy’s portrayal of the iconic gangster.

This movie provides a much better ending to Tommy’s story than season six did. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of Peaky Blinders seasons two and four, it’s among the best the series has offered in years. Importantly, The Immortal Man finally gives the Shelby family’s saga the grand, cinematic treatment it deserves.

2026-03-20 02:02