Spoiler Warning for Season 6 of Peaky Blinders
This BBC drama revolves around the strategic and brutal criminal activity of the iconic gang, the Peaky Blinders. With five seasons under its belt, this show has maintained its momentum by shocking viewers with twists and cliffhangers throughout every season. Death seems all but inevitable in this world.
While some deaths are predictable, others had fans shouting at their screens in protest and disbelief. Even though crime is an everyday part of Peaky Blinders, some deaths are very shocking indeed, especially when they affect the main characters that fans care about.
Updated on April 6th, 2022, by Rhys McGinley: After nearly a decade, Peaky Blinders has wrapped up as a TV show with season 6 and left fans on a high note with its epic finale "Lock and Key," which wonderfully set up the upcoming film. In typical Peaky Blinders fashion, the season did not only have great quotes and twists but some of the most shocking Peaky Blinders deaths, continuing the series' trend of surprising fans with emotional and brutal killings of important characters.
Arthur Shelby
Does Arthur Shelby die in Peaky Blinders? No, not in the show anyway. However, for a moment, viewers believe that the unexpectedly popular Arthur really is dead. By all accounts, he looks dead, and even some of the characters believe he's dead.
What makes his "death" even more shocking is that everyone is still reeling from the loss of John. Losing two Shelby brothers in one season is a bit too much to handle, especially when both deaths are so violent and unexpected.
Billy Grade
One of the big questions going into last season was who dies in Peaky Blinders' final chapter? Another question was regarding the identity of the informant. Billy Grade ended up being the answer to both questions.
Fans were not surprised that Billy was the informant, nor was his death anything but inevitable after audiences are let in on that secret. However, the circumstances surrounding his death were definitely shocking as he gets shot in the head by Tommy's son, Duke, who had only just been introduced to fans. Billy's death also leads to Finn's shocking exile from the family.
The Digbeth Kid
The show is never afraid to highlight how the Blinders' actions can affect innocent people, such as the Digbeth Kid (Harold Hancox), who is brutally killed by Sabini's men in jail after he 'stood up' for the gang.
The Digbeth Kid just seemed to be used as another showcase of the gang's power and how they go about their business. Instead, he gets murdered because of them, having his throat cruelly slit. Sabini makes clear that Hancox will die at the hands of his men before it happens, but that does not take away from the overall shock factor.
Danny Whizz-Bang
Danny Whizz-Bang is thought to be dead early in the show when Thomas shoots him with false bullets, allowing him to escape to London, away from the Italians he has angered by accidentally killing one in a rampage.
Danny later returns to Birmingham to deliver some news to Tommy. In the time he's been gone, Billy Kimber has developed quite the rivalry with the Shelbys. Danny joins them in a shootout and sacrifices himself to save Tommy in a moment of poignant heroism.
Father John Hughes
Father John Hughes is a vicious character and a mysterious man with sinister political motivations. Tommy begins to suspect that he's not entirely on their side early on, but it takes him a while to get to the actual truth.
Meanwhile, Michael has his own character arc related to Hughes. It's implied that Hughes is a child molester and that Michael was one of his victims when he was young. Michael then decides that he must be the one to kill Hughes, and he certainly relishes the moment, though it may be shocking to viewers to see this new side of both characters.
Billy Kimber
Billy Kimber is such a big, shadowy, looming threat for the entire season 1, so much so that it seems that he's undefeatable, untouchable, being the first powerful character to face off with Tommy in Peaky Blinders. When it comes down to it, it seems that Kimber has the upper hand in the shootout.
He kills Danny, which shocks Thomas momentarily enough for him to snap into action and shoot Kimber in the head. The moment is so quick and sudden that it's almost underwhelming. There's no big pause or shocking reveal - it's just done, which is somehow even more shocking.
Vicente Changretta
The scene in which Vicente Changretta is killed is one of the most gruesome, torturous, and grueling of the entire show. Given everything this man has already been through and the impact his death will have, viewers can't help but feel sorry for him.
A new side of Thomas is revealed as he tries to interrogate this vulnerable man under the watch of John and Arthur. The moments drag out as Thomas threatens Changretta until finally, Arthur shows mercy and shoots him. It's a moment of such great tension, broken so suddenly, leaving even Tommy reeling.
Freddie Thorne
This didn't exactly break the hearts of fans, but it certainly was a bit shocking and confusing when Ada's husband was suddenly no longer alive. He last appeared in season 1, and then viewers attended his funeral at the beginning of the next season.
Fans know that Freddie was part of the communist party, and his life was almost constantly in danger. However, Ada's husband and father of her children just suddenly stopped appearing on the show. Viewers didn't even get a goodbye, making it more surprising.
Inspector Chester Campbell
This villain survived far too long, and it seemed he just kept hanging on. He finally met his end in the finale of season 2. This episode, at the Derby, is one of the most nail-biting cat-and-mouse chases of the series. Finally, Tommy and the Peaky Blinders think they have one leg up on the Sabinis.
However, Campbell appeared once again to make things interesting. To our shock, Polly fires the killing shot, and all viewers definitely didn't see that coming. Good riddance, though, and it was satisfying for Polly to have her revenge.
Luca Changretta
While viewers might have wanted this villain to meet his end, it was incredibly shocking when he did. In "The Company," this finale was full of twists and turns. With the fight between Bonnie Gold and Goliath, viewers actually thought Arthur was the one to meet his demise.
However, in a splendidly shocking turn of events, Thomas and his family totally bamboozled the Changrettas, which resulted in a gunfight that led to this character's death. Fans knew it would eventually come, but it's safe to say all were blown away.
Michael Gray
It seemed inevitable, in part thanks to Polly and her premonitions, that one of either Tommy or Michael would die between Peaky Blinders' last season and the film. Much to the jubilation of fans, it turned out to be the latter.
This is another Peaky Blinders death that many predicted. However, Tommy shoots him in the face so swiftly and coldly that it takes the audience by surprise. It did even seem in the set-up that Tommy would be the one to go, but as he always does, he thwarted the plans of his enemies and remained two steps ahead of them.
Polly Gray
Unfortunately, fans knew that the incomparable Polly Gray would not appear throughout the final season of the show since the incredible Helen McCrory had passed away before the show wrapped. What fans were not aware of was exactly how the show would handle her death.
Rather than die, say, peacefully or during the big time jump in the show, Polly is killed in the opening minutes of the season, with her body being presented to Tommy outside of his home by the IRA who, in the season's first big twist, reveal themselves to have killed her. The first episode of the season was a fitting send-off for such a brilliant character and performer.
Bonnie Gold
While fans might not have had any heartstrings attached to this character, it was quite surprising watching him get brutally killed in an instant in "Black Cats."
Aberama Gold and his son are keeping post, and they're suddenly approached by the Billy Boys. Viewers expected a showdown, but nobody expected Bonnie to get lit up immediately and with no remorse. Aberama's devastation hit all viewers, and they are all still in shock, too.
Barney Thompson
This sweet man was broken out of a mental facility by Tommy and his crew. While this character only appears in 3 episodes, he was a big part of Tommy's master plan in the best episodes of season 5.
In an attempt to assassinate Oswald Mosley, Barney was the sniper that would pull the trigger. Unfortunately, there was a leak, and viewers were left to squeal at the screen as Barney met his demise right before he fired the shot.
Ben Younger
This death was both tragic and sudden. After helping Thomas and stealing Ada's heart, it was incredibly devastating to see this man with a heart of gold lose his life in the midst of trying to help the Shelbys. In "The Shock," Tommy reveals his intentions to Oswald Mosley.
However, Ben becomes an unexpected target and is killed in a devastating bombing that leaves the streets and the Shelbys in peril. This man had a good heart, and his death was both tragic and shocking.
Aberama Gold
Aberama's death broke hearts in the finale of season 5. This character has been kind of a wild card, but it's safe to say he has received quite a fan base from viewers of the show. After finally marrying Polly and seeking revenge for his son, fans were on the edge of their seat, waiting for him to avenge Bonnie.
However, in a quick and sudden scene, Aberama meets his demise and is the first of a domino effect to ruin Tommy's plan. No one saw that coming, and viewers are still a bit torn up about it.
Alfie Solomons (Kind of)
Like Arthur, Alfie is not actually dead, but both his "death" and his return were totally shocking. After finding out that Alfie has betrayed him again, Tommy finally gives up on him and goes to kill him. Alfie lets him, knowing he was in the wrong and knowing he has nothing more to live for.
This iconic character, played by Tom Hardy, was a pure villain but was incredibly intriguing to watch. His death stunned viewers, but his return was equally as exciting and shocking. This man has more than enough tricks up his sleeves, and nothing about him is ever predictable.
John Shelby
The Shelby brother met his demise at the beginning of season 4, in "Heathens". While many side characters are killed suddenly in the show, this was the moment where viewers realized this show was willing to kill off the main crew.
John was one of the three main brothers and died in a targeted ambush by the Changrettas. Michael didn't quite meet his end, but John's death was enough to shake up the series and stun its entire audience who still find it a hard scene to watch.
Grace Burgess
Grace's death blew everyone away in the second episode of season 3. As Tommy and Grace finally tied the knot, there were unexpected guests attending the wedding. With bad blood and revenge targeting the Shelby family, Tommy is busy making a deal with the Russians. With a cursed sapphire around her neck, Tommy is not quite quick enough to save his new bride from the fatal bullet.
It's likely that fans of the show will never quite get over Grace's sudden and tragic death. Her character was loved, and Tommy certainly didn't deserve to lose his wife and mother of his children. This is by fr the most important Peaky Blinders death, if not the most shocking.
Ruby Shelby
When predicting who dies in Peaky Blinders' sixth season, it is hard to believe that anybody could have seen this, the most shocking of Peaky Blinders deaths, coming. Ruby's curse, consumption, and passing took fans by surprise at every turn.
When she was initially diagnosed, and it was figured out to be a curse, her fate seemed sealed. Still, that does not take away from how harrowing and gut-wrenching it is when Lizzie screams the announcement of her death to Tommy as the pair stand in the rain.