In the golden era of television that we are experiencing, there are several TV series that have made their mark. But there are still a few that went above and beyond to amass an almost cult following – and the BBC series Peaky Blinders is one of them. How did a British period drama about a violent criminal gang led by Tommy Shelby manage to enjoy such success?
peaky blinders
The secret behind the series’ success
Set in 1920s Birmingham, Peaky Blinders follows the exploits of the fictional Shelby family, led by originally second in command but undoubtedly charismatic Tommy, as he rises through the ranks of the homonymous gang. Inspired by the story of a real criminal youth gang named Peaky Blinders that was active in the city from the 1890s, the TV series takes great liberties with its story – and that is one of its biggest advantages. According to series creator Steven Knight, he grew up listening to stories about the infamous gang and that inspired his gangster saga.
Source: Pixabay While the HBO hit production Game of Thrones, which can be without a doubt described as the series that changed television as we knew it, is set in a fantasy world where dragons, witches and the undead roam the earth, Peaky Blinders is firmly grounded in reality. The first season, which chronicles Tommy’s rise to power within the gang as he establishes himself over his older brother Arthur, uses the Shelby family as an excuse to take a look at the history of Ireland and the IRA, while Winston Churchill features in the background. Meanwhile, one of the main supporting characters is a member of the Communist Party trying to organize factory workers.
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind video game to be released this summer
And that is just a taste of what is to come, as Tommy gradually expands the gang’s operations beyond Birmingham, clashing with the Italian-American Mafia and rival British gangs in the process. In recent seasons, we even see a main character get elected as a member of Parliament and get involved with the infamous real-life fascist leader named Oswald Mosley. The seamless blending of real events that channels the sociopolitical climate of the time with
the various schemes and plots that only Tommy could come up with, is the real draw of the series. As Netflix acquired the rights to stream the Peaky Blinders in the US and across the world, the series catapulted to fame.
Source: Pixabay
As fans eagerly await the release of season 6 probably at some point near the end of 2021, its immense success has led to the development of a video game that will keep them satisfied until then. It is not uncommon for video and online games to draw inspiration from pop culture, film and TV. In fact, it is quite prominent in the industry of online slots, as VegasSlotsOnline exemplifies. There are several slots inspired by popular movies and TV series like Gladiator and Spartacus, while the classic movie The Wizard of Oz has become the theme of a video slot. The gameplay of the new Peaky Blinders: Mastermind video game will be a tad more complicated, as you have to coordinate the actions and talents of the Shelby family to pull off a heist.
Set to debut in summer 2020 across PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PC, Mastermind will allow players to walk in Tommy’s shoes for a day – and it is definitely worth checking out.