Ruby has passed away, and Season 6, Episode 4 of Peaky Blinders kicks off with the solemnity of her funeral. Arthur, too, is present amidst the mourning crowd, yet his presence is marred by the severe throes of addiction withdrawal. Tommy, engulfed in an ocean of sorrow, attempts to coax his brother into delivering a eulogy on his behalf. However, Arthur declines, leaving Tommy to step forward. As the hearse is prepared for its pyre, Lizzie, heart-wrenchingly distressed, strives to halt the proceedings. Tommy vows to exact retribution upon those accountable, his thirst for vengeance unappeasable without substantial bloodletting. Despite Lizzie's protests, the hearse is ultimately consumed by flames, Tommy walking away with a heavy heart.
Soon after, Tommy emerges, guns blazing, unleashing a hail of bullets upon Evadne Bardwell and her ragtag troupe of wanderers in the secluded woods. Clutching a pouch of gold dust, he rendezvouses with Esme, handing it over in the belief that his sacrifice has been fulfilled. Yet, Esme has more to reveal—a new prophecy that speaks of another child, unknown to Tommy. "The boy with hazel eyes," she begins, unveiling a tale of a child conceived during the war years, when Tommy was deployed to France. And with this revelation, Esme introduces Tommy to this child, a man named Duke, who plies his trade as a lowly thief at a fairground. Orphaned and seeking redemption, Duke harbors an unyielding ambition to ascend to the pinnacle of success. Esme likens his arrival to a metaphorical stitch mending the tear in Tommy's soul.
Returning home, Lizzie confronts Tommy with venom-laced fury, her knowledge of his whereabouts and actions unmistakable. Unwilling to engage, Tommy descends into the basement, where he discovers Arthur slumped in despair, confessing his downfall.Tommy, seated beside his brother, rehashes a past altercation over cigarettes—the inciting incident that ignited Arthur's erratic demeanor and paved his tumultuous path. It dawns on Tommy now that Arthur deliberately relinquished his ground, allowing Tommy to flourish. Yet, the Shelby family's luminous future appears dimming. Tommy senses that they are mere strides away from attaining a tranquil resting place, but it remains just beyond their grasp.
Despite his commendable sobriety for an extended period, Tommy succumbs to the temptation of liquor. Post-indulgence, his focus remains unwavering on the impending task: the dinner engagement with Oswald and Jack Nelson. Diana recounts a harrowing discourse with Himmler, which stretched on endlessly through the night, delving into the prospects of a new world order.
Eventually, Tommy enters the scene, and they all converge around the table. The camera fluidly transitions between characters, capturing their intense discussion on clashing ideologies. Tommy's composure falters; he is a man possessed. Following the dinner's conclusion, he hastily transcribes every detail of the conversation, believing that Churchill will prize the verbatim account of their deliberations more than gold.
Lizzie perceives that Tommy is slipping into a dark abyss, exemplified by his misguided act of burning Ruby's cherished chair. His grief is palpable, yet she endeavors to offer solace, only to hear him utter, "Not yet." Tommy vows to undergo a transformation, but first, he must see through his current endeavors. A pivotal turn in his descent comes with his encounter with Gina, whom he manipulates into compliance, forging an alliance to devise a cunning plot.
Tommy intends for Gina to infiltrate Mosley's circle during his Berlin visit, positioning her as his mole to relay conversations between Oswald and high-ranking German officials back to him. Should she resist, he threatens to expose her secrets, a coercion strong enough to loosen Gina's lips, who then spills the beans about Michael's schemes as well.
An underlying dramatic thread yet unveiled concerns the hospital letter haunting Tommy. Dismissing it as a mere bill, he overlooks its gravity. In truth, Dr. Holford's typed missive is a plea for an urgent consultation, possibly intertwined with Ruby's battle with tuberculosis.
When Tommy consults with the compassionate physician, the truth unfolds: he has tuberculoma, potentially contracted from Ruby. This revelation casts a shadow of danger over his entire family. His seizures, hallucinations, and unstable demeanor are manifestations of his illness, and worse, a cure remains elusive. Thomas Shelby faces an inevitable fate – his days are numbered.
