Peaky Blinders: Season One Summary
Peaky Blinders – Season 1 Summary
Set in 1919 Birmingham, England, Peaky Blinders follows the rise of Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy), the ambitious and cunning leader of the Shelby crime family. Returning from World War I, Tommy aims to expand his family's influence beyond illegal betting and street gangs, making them a legitimate powerhouse.
Episode 1
Tommy Shelby and the Peaky Blinders run illegal bookmaking operations, but Tommy takes a dangerous step by stealing a shipment of government weapons. This puts him on the radar of Chief Inspector Chester Campbell (Sam Neill), a ruthless policeman sent by Winston Churchill to clean up crime in Birmingham. Meanwhile, a mysterious barmaid named Grace Burgess (Annabelle Wallis) arrives in town, secretly working for Campbell.
Episode 2
Tommy strategizes to use the stolen guns as leverage while expanding his betting business. He also seeks to broker peace with Billy Kimber, a powerful racecourse boss. Grace gets closer to Tommy as she gathers intelligence for Campbell. Meanwhile, Tommy’s older brother Arthur struggles with his father’s return, who abandoned them years ago.
Episode 3
Tommy negotiates with a rival gang, the Lees, after a violent altercation. He also forms a plan to manipulate Billy Kimber into an alliance. Grace gains Tommy’s trust but begins to struggle with her feelings for him. Polly, the family matriarch, warns Tommy about his reckless ambition.
Episode 4
The Peaky Blinders and the Lees agree to a truce to take down Kimber. Meanwhile, Grace and Tommy grow closer, and she starts questioning her loyalty to Campbell. Tommy sets up a fixed horse race to earn Kimber’s trust. Campbell pressures Grace to complete her mission before she falls too deeply for Tommy.
Episode 5
Tommy learns about a traitor within his ranks. Grace is torn between her duty and her love for Tommy. Campbell, growing frustrated, intensifies his crackdown on the Shelbys. A brutal confrontation with Kimber seems inevitable.
Episode 6 (Finale)
All-out war erupts between the Peaky Blinders and Billy Kimber. In a dramatic shootout, Tommy kills Kimber, solidifying his power. However, the betrayal by Grace is revealed—she was a government spy all along. Devastated but unwilling to show weakness, Tommy lets her leave. Campbell, enraged by her actions, confronts Grace in the final moments, leaving her fate uncertain.
End of Season 1: The Peaky Blinders rise in power, but Tommy has made enemies in high places. His ambition is greater than ever, but so are the dangers he faces.
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