In the dramatic unfolding of Episode 6 of Peaky Blinders' Season 6, the scene shifts to Norfolk Prison, marking Michael's release driven by a singular, vengeful purpose – to seek retribution against Thomas Shelby. Diana's scandalous confession about her intimate relations with Tommy sends shockwaves through the Shelby circle, prompting Tommy to confront Lizzie, who is overwhelmed with sorrow and disbelief regarding her husband's betrayal. She labels Tommy as cursed, her bitterness resonating as she asserts that this stigma won't vanish anytime soon.
With Tommy preparing to depart, Lizzie too makes the heart-wrenching decision to leave. After bidding farewell to Ruby in her unique manner, Charlie decides to accompany Lizzie, highlighting that his father has been consistently absent in his life.
Turning the focus to Shelby Ltd., the exit of Charles and Lizzie shifts the spotlight onto Tommy's business endeavors. Tommy reveals to Arthur his plan to travel to Canada to finalize a lucrative deal that will secure them 5 million pounds, to be distributed amongst the Shelby family members. Despite his brother's misgivings, Tommy remains steadfast in his resolve. Additionally, Tommy collaborates with the housing minister to secure contracts worth ten million pounds, ensuring the Shelby company's financial stability "in pursuit of a fairer future." Keeping his illness concealed from everyone, Tommy insists that Arthur maintain this confidentiality, stating, "When the time comes, I'll call you." Rushing through the arrangements for his funeral, Tommy's urgency is palpable.
Arthur, initially furious, finds his anger dissolving into grief as he embraces his brother and shakes his head in disbelief. Tommy reminds him that he's not yet departed, urging them to forge ahead and tie up loose ends. Gathering the Shelby family, Tommy encourages them to celebrate this Sunday, while Arthur plans a solitary dinner at the bar.
Upon his release, Michael sets his sights on Boston, abstaining from alcohol to maintain clarity. Meanwhile, Billy relays intelligence to Gina over the phone, who coldly decides to target Arthur alongside Tommy's anticipated demise, anticipating that Tommy's passing will ignite rebellion. In just three days, a bloodbath looms, with Gina having meticulously arranged every detail to see her plan through to its grim conclusion.How does the confrontation between Oswald and Tommy ultimately conclude? In the hallowed halls of parliament, Tommy receives an invitation to Diana and Oswald's upcoming nuptials, a ceremony intended to take place in the presence of the fuhrer himself. However, Tommy politely declines, revealing his plans to be in Canada during that time. Oswald, with a stern warning, threatens Tommy's life should he dare to make any moves on Diana. As Oswald exits, Tommy's hand trembles, betraying his inner turmoil.
Has Michael secured his long-awaited revenge? Tommy boards a plane bound for Canada, where Michael promptly initiates his meticulously crafted plan. He lies in ambush on Miquelon Island, armed with a deadly bomb. Tommy arrives at the very pub where he and Michael first conversed during the season's inaugural episode. Michael demands that Tommy disclose the location of the opium stash in exchange for five million dollars. With the bomb nestled in the trunk, Tommy sits patiently in the car, awaiting Michael's return.
Inside the pub, Polly's son occupies a seat, as the music swells to a crescendo. Suddenly, the cars outside erupt into a blazing inferno. Michael exhales deeply, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. "Mum, it's done. It's over. May God forgive me," he whispers, believing Thomas Shelby to be among the fatalities.
Yet, a twist in fate reveals that Tommy is very much alive. He had orchestrated a switch with Charlie, ensuring that the car behind Michael's met a fiery demise. Charlie ventures out to inspect the fog, leaving Tommy and Michael to confront each other head-on. In a climactic moment, Tommy shoots Michael through the eye, making it abundantly clear that he possesses no boundaries. With Michael's lifeless body on the ground, Tommy's adversary's revenge mission is definitively terminated.
After dispatching Michael, Tommy steps inside the bar, where Alfie Solomons makes an appearance. Now married to Edna, Alfie attempts to lift Tommy's spirits amidst the sorrow. Tommy, burdened by the countless deaths he has left in his wake, finds little solace in Alfie's words of encouragement. After downing his drink, Tommy steels himself for the final act, ready to confront whatever fate awaits him.Does Captain Swing meet his demise? Back in the bustling streets of London, Duke seizes control of the Shelby dynasty, callously gunning down Billy and informing Finn, with a chilling disregard, that he is henceforth excised from the Shelby fold, "by the decree of the damnable Peaky Blinders."
At the Garrison Tavern, Gina's henchmen arrive, only to find Arthur absent from his anticipated ambush spot. Arthur, ever the unpredictable strategist, springs his trap from an unexpected angle, encircling the assassins, led by the formidable Captain Swing, and herding them outdoors. A gripping chase unfolds, a deadly game of predator and prey, until Arthur ultimately employs a gas canister, donning his own protective mask and tracking the assailants by their coughing fits to where Captain Swing sits, gasping for breath. With a steady hand, Arthur avenges Polly's death by discharging a bullet into her chest.
The Final Supper draws near. Tommy treks back to London, where he orchestrates a fiery spectacle, detonating explosives that reduce his house to rubble, returning him to his humble beginnings with horses and wagons. Yet, this time, his journey has borne fruit, paving the way for housing reforms. He raises a toast to family, urging Ada to run for parliament should a vacancy arise. Arthur, absent from the gathering, declines to bid farewell, his promise to reunite with Tommy soon conveyed through a letter read aloud by Linda. Tommy embraces Curly, whispers a confidential message into Duke's ear, and bids adieu to all as he strides away, resolute in his silence about his intentions and destination, shielding Ada from the impending truth.
Does Tommy succumb to his ailing condition? We leap ahead a month in time, finding Tommy in a sorry state, isolated in the tranquil countryside. Armed with a solitary bullet, its side etched with the name "Tommy," he stands poised to end his life with a shot to the head. Yet, at the eleventh hour, Ruby arrives, her presence a beacon of hope. She implores Tommy to cling to life, urging him to ignite the fire within.
Curiously, a singed newspaper clipping lies nearby, capturing the nuptials of Oswald and Diana. And who else graces this occasion? None other than Tommy's own physician. The truth unfolds: Tommy was never truly ill. It was all an elaborate charade, designed to push him to the brink of recklessness, convincing him that death's embrace was imminent. He does not suffer from tuberculosis; yet, his doctor persists in diagnosing him with an ailment far more insidious—a sickness of despair, a yearning for self-annihilation, and a disillusionment with his very essence.
"The gun no longer has a place in your grasp," the doctor utters, as Tommy declares his resurrection from the depths of despair, fueled by vengeance. But Tommy refrains from pulling the trigger, instead turning his back and striding away. As he does, his wagon bursts into flames, an inferno illuminating the night sky. Tommy watches, unperturbed, eventually mounting his horse and riding off into the distance.
