Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (2026) Movie Review - Why It's a Disgrace to Tommy Shelby. Bring Back the Old Gang!
A “half-baked” script, a cardboard heir, and the betrayal of Steven Knight. Is the Peaky Blinders movie worth watching?
I’ve been waiting for this movie for an eternity. Why? Because Tommy Shelby is, hands down, my favorite character of all time.
Finally, the film is out. I watched it in terrible quality (a cinema leak with people running around).
But honestly? The movie left me devastated. It feels like the director wrote the script “on the fly” just to get it over with. Major plot lines from the past were simply collapsed for no reason. This film feels like a stab in the back from Steven Knight.
The Tommy Shelby we knew no longer exists. Instead, we were served a pale shadow of the great strategist. Was it even worth releasing this after the perfect TV series finale?
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| Image created with Gemini AI |
Is Tommy Not Himself Anymore?
In this movie, Tommy doesn’t feel like Tommy. At the start, he’s just… writing a book. Hold on. Didn’t the series end with him entering politics? How did he go from Parliament to being a secluded writer at home?
The film focuses heavily on his past demons, and he seems to be drowning in them. In the series, Tommy had almost “supernatural” vibes when he saw Grace or his daughter. Here, it just feels messy. The first hour of the movie is wasted on a confusing, slow buildup.
To make matters worse, Lizzie and Grace’s son were completely ignored. It’s like they never existed.
I did enjoy the moments where Tommy returns to his roots:
- The way he dresses.
- The way he calms the wild horses.
- That iconic shot of him riding a horse, just like the very first episode of the show.
Tommy truly “returned” for a second when he put a bully in his place at the bar. His self-control is still legendary.
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GIF from Tenor: Tommy Shelby |
Ada (Tommy’s sister) is even more stunning in this film. She’s as blunt as ever — just like her brother or Aunt Polly. She’s been involved in politics since her first husband, but I absolutely hated how the director handled her character arc.
Duke vs. Tommy: The Failure of an Heir
Duke (Erasmus), Tommy’s son, is nothing like his father.
In my opinion, it was a bizarre casting choice. Compared to Tommy at the start of the series, Duke is just a “Chav” (a common thug). He shows up, takes what he wants, acts out, and thinks he’s “the man.” He walks with his head down, trying to mimic Tommy’s swagger, but he lacks the one thing that made Tommy great: Substance.
Tommy is a master of negotiations. He is ice-cold under pressure. He doesn’t care if a gun is pointed at his head because he feels his life left him when Grace died. He is a grand strategist, always ten steps ahead.
What does Duke have? Nothing. When someone approaches him with a business deal and asks about his father, he gets offended. His way of showing “power” is shooting at a random car. Wow… such strength.
Tommy was always a mountain for his family. Duke says he has no family, and his actions prove it. He is told what to do and decides nothing. He has the last name, but he can’t carry the weight of it. He was given power, but not the brains, the experience, or the mentorship needed to run the empire Tommy built.
Duke reminds me of Michael (Polly’s son), who also wanted to eclipse Tommy. And how did that turn out?…Exactly.
The Mystery of the Gypsy Woman
I didn’t quite catch who the Gypsy woman was. My guess? She’s the daughter of the woman who gave Grace the cursed sapphire necklace. But she claims to be the sister of someone from Tommy’s youth — I couldn’t recall who. Is she Duke’s mother’s sister?
She tells Tommy one thing and Duke another. I got the strong impression she is seeking revenge for her mother and trying to pit father against son. Or did I miss something? If you’ve watched it, please explain her identity in the comments.
The only real “drive” in the movie happens in the last 20 minutes. I don’t think the TV show ever had a moment that tense.
The Verdict
I was happy to see Tommy again, but that ending? I’m going to pretend it never happened.
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GIF from Tenor: Tommy Shelby |
The man we see at the end is not Tommy. It’s not his decision, not his words, and not his desire. The real Tommy is strong; he would never have allowed this. The director said he was tired of everyone begging for a sequel, and it shows. He filmed this just so people would leave him alone.
I’m holding out hope for a sequel where Tommy wakes up and realizes this was all just a nightmare. There are rumors of a “Young Peaky Blinders” spin-off, but the new generation is weak. They lack motive, they choose poor companions, and they don’t know the power of words. They act as a mob. Tommy solved everything alone.
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What do you think about Duke? Do you see him as a worthy heir to the empire, or is he just a cocky kid with the Shelby name who can’t live up to his father? Did you actually like the movie? Let’s discuss in the comments!
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