Peaky Blinders recap series 4, episode 4: Dangerous

Tommy Shelby is keeping busy with his own moonshine business and more dangerous liaisons with the other side, but will Polly betray him?

When Peaky Blinders commits to overstuffing a plotline it does so wholeheartedly and with verve. This episode managed to cram a tense stand-off, a mafia shoot-out, a Communist meeting, at least two betrayals, a modest proposal graciously refused, a possible (probable) pregnancy, and any number of threats. It also shoehorned the return of May Carleton and the ever-bullish Alfie Solomons (Tom Hardy reminding Adrien Brody that he’s the number one scenery chewer in these parts) into a frantic hour. Forget any notion of plot pacing, with two episodes left we’re clearly in for a breakneck ride.

Our Heroes

My favourite revelation in an episode stuffed full of them was the fact that Tommy has spent his down time – between plotting how to murder Luca Changretta – casually building a gin distillery in a corner of Charlie’s scrapyard with the intention of cornering the market in Prohibition New York. Talk about taking the fight to your enemies.

I was also entertained by the fact that Mr Shelby continues to follow his patented ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get flirting’ method of dealing with pressure. Having had it away with Lizzie last week, this week he tried his luck with May, and, having been elegantly knocked back, he will presumably hedge his bets with Jessie over dinner next week. I’m pretty sure at this point that if you looked up the word “indiscriminate” in the dictionary you’d find a photograph of Thomas Shelby OBE, but no doubt one or more of these fine ladies will (continue to) oblige.

The big question with the rest of the Shelby clan remains: has Polly betrayed Tommy or not? Having been inclined to think she had last week, this week I’m not so sure, if only because she looked very nervous indeed after Luca’s phone call. That said, if she hasn’t sold Tommy out then we could have a problem because Michael clearly had an opportunity to warn his boss of impending assassination and failed to take it. Which leaves me wondering: in a game of bluff and betrayal will Polly ultimately discover that she hasn’t saved her son from death after all? Or will the ties that bind prevent Tommy from making that call?

The Bad Guys

I continue to have doubts about Luca Changretta’s assassination skills. It’s all very well striding around in a sharp suit chewing matchsticks and making veiled threats, but surely at some point you have to stop firing blanks, and, well, follow through. Yes, Luca made it clear why he spared Michael but given there are still two episodes to go I don’t believe Tommy will die next week, which means that Mr Changretta’s vendetta is currently looking very anaemic indeed.

Luca may not (yet) be quite the force that was promised, but if I was Tommy I wouldn’t take my eye off Aberama Gold any time soon. I have the distinct feeling that the Shelby leader has either underestimated his kestrel and overrated the raw talent of his son or is playing Aberama and Bonnie with a game of his own. Certainly there were some interesting expressions flitting over his face as Aberama and Alfie squared off. The question remains: would Tommy really antagonise Alfie by encroaching on his fighting turf, and if so, why? And if he’s backing Alfie over Aberama then is he prepared for the vengeance that might unleash?

Additional Notes

This week’s title – Dangerous – which in addition to being May’s excellent name for the racehorse was also a clear comment on both Tommy Shelby’s charms and the situation he finds himself in.

“Mr Shelby, did you ever consider the possibility that the communists might win and you and me as traitors to our class will be put up against a wall and shot?” Mr Devlin continues to be my favourite person on this show.

I was particularly fond of Tommy’s description of his gin recipe as “distilled for the eradication of seemingly incurable sadness.”

I do like it when this show recalls previous plotlines and the return of Mrs Ross, mother of the dead boxer from season two, was a nice touch and smartly shot by David Caffrey as a homage to the opening of The Godfather.

As someone from a long line of Irish women I also admired Mrs Ross’s aggressive sandwich making skills.

Poor Finn. He really doesn’t deserve the misfortune of having been born a Shelby. I like to imagine that in an alternative world he gets to pick where he lives and who he sleeps with and never has to think about pulling the trigger of a gun.

Finally, Glasgow has been mentioned a great deal in the last couple of episodes. Coincidence, or a hint as to where we’re heading for series five?

Anachronistic yet strangely right song of the week

This can only go to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Beat The Devil’s Tattoo, the perfect song to play out a tense episode with.

Quote of the Week

“The truth is, Tommy, you’re going to be dead soon, and then your starlings, they will peck out your blue eyes, your jackdaws will steal your gold and your medals, and pretty soon it will be as though you never even fucking happened.” Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Alfie Solomons is in the room. Rejoice.

So what do you think? Will Tommy make it out of the ambush alive? Is Polly betraying him or Luca? And if you were going to host a ham-off between Adrien Brody and Tom Hardy, which of them would you put your money on? As ever all speculation and no spoilers are welcome below…

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