The fifth episode of Season 6 of "Peaky Blinders" kicks off with Tommy's dramatic entrance into Chinatown. Having sold opium to his own brother, the shop's proprietor is now in dire straits. Indeed, Tommy arrives armed with a ticking bomb, its countdown clock ticking away at four minutes. With five pounds of opium stored in the cellar, Tommy exerts his authority, demanding that the couple cease their dealings. Disobedience, he warns, will lead to dire consequences. To emphasize his seriousness, he tosses a bag into the nearby water, which explodes with a resounding blast, sending shockwaves crashing into the shop windows. Comparing this incident to the grenade affair with Alfie Solomons in Season 2, one can vividly sense the extent of Tommy's unraveling, a stark transformation that is particularly evident here.
In a subsequent scene, Tommy convenes the family and introduces them to their newest member, Erasmus, alias Duke, a figure whom we've glimpsed in a couple of scenes before. This episode, however, offers us a deeper insight into his character, revealing his aspirations as Tommy prepares him for the responsibilities of the next generation. Meanwhile, Linda, who has returned, is not yet ready to grant Arthur forgiveness. She concedes, however, that perhaps God might be inclined to forgive him, a slightly nuanced stance. To expedite the process, Tommy proposes a £10,000 cheque to her church, on the condition that they look after Arthur and guide him on his path to redemption. She accepts the offer but resolutely refuses to reconcile with him physically.Down by the bustling docks of Liverpool, Tommy returns to confront Mr. Stagg, the aftermath of his encounter with Arthur still looming. He is still marked for a punishment beating, yet his immediate task is to oversee the arrival of a consignment of Thompson machine guns from Boston. Intriguingly, he proposes a shift in supply routes to include Liverpool, a move that promises to enrich Mr. Stagg considerably. As a token of his intentions, Tommy presents an intricately engraved bullet, inscribed with his name.
That fateful night, Tommy and Lizzie share an intimate moment, yet the encounter lacks passion and warmth. Haunted by a tome of regrets, Tommy holds Lizzie's name at its forefront, a testament to his failure to truly open up to her. His confession of regret for subjecting her to his tumultuous world is met with Lizzie's accusation of half-hearted disclosures, likening his confessions to mere checkboxes on a list.
Tommy harbors a secret plan, one he hasn't dared to share with Lizzie – his impending demise. Her words resonate deeply, painting a vivid picture of a stopped clock and an impending explosion, mirroring the bomb that kickstarted the episode.
Back at the Shelby stronghold, Arthur's attempt to sway a referee for an upcoming match against Birmingham falls flat. In a desperate move, he orders Billy, the hidden traitor within their ranks, to eliminate the referee. Billy, battle-scarred and haunted, complies but retreats into the bathroom, hugging his knees in a state of disbelief. Jack Nelson, an unwelcome visitor, bursts in, grabbing Billy by the groin and demanding compliance through sheer force. Realizing Billy's role as an informant, Jack threatens him with castration unless he cooperates. Billy, complying under duress, learns of Jack's sinister schemes targeting Tommy, with accomplices poised to strike. Billy's new mission: to serve Arthur into Jack's hands.
Elsewhere, Tommy confides in Duke, outlining his vision for his sons' futures. He envisions one son embracing the light, while the other navigates the shadows. It becomes evident that Duke is being groomed for the latter role, perhaps destined to inherit the family empire. Only time will tell the full extent of these arrangements.
At this juncture, Tommy finds himself once again confronted with Jack Nelson, who casually remarks that in this realm, blood serves as the currency, not money. Soon after, Oswald and Diana make their entrance, harboring the intent to utter a "final farewell." It transpires that Tommy and Diana had indulged in an intimate encounter aboard a barge, an incident that Diana brazenly brings up in front of everyone by taunting Lizzie, labeling her as "fortunate to experience daily what Lizzie has only tasted once." Lizzie, taken aback by this revelation, abruptly exits the scene. However, it becomes evident that this exit was orchestrated by those present at the table, deemed a "necessary act of domestic arrangement," as Oswald puts it. Lizzie's place at the table is undoubtedly untenable, yet this moment dawns upon Tommy the stark realization that he has become one with them, contemplating, "Could there be a more tragic conclusion, indeed?"
Elsewhere, Michael's dreams are haunted by Polly, her haunting promise echoing in his mind—a prophecy of bloodshed and a looming war that will envelop their family. Among them, one is destined to perish. As Michael awakens from his slumber, he is confronted by one of Nelson's associates, who offers assistance in his escape, contingent upon a grim condition: the termination of Tommy Shelby. Without hesitation, Michael concurs to these terms.
