Peaky Blinders is one of the best—if not the best—period dramas of all time thanks to Steven Knight's visually stunning representation of a nineteenth-century England. The show is character-driven, and, without Cillian Murphy's Thomas Shelby, this series cannot be imagined.
There are multiple members in the Shelby family, but no one is as complex and addictive as Tommy. He is the protagonist of the story and also the brains behind the unforgiving gang known as the Peaky Blinders. Here are some times the fans felt bad for Thomas Shelby, and five times they absolutely despised him.
Felt Bad: The Suicidal Thoughts
The things Tommy has done for the Peaky Blinders and his family were bound to have a traumatic effect on his brain, and, in season five, the writers of the show explored that part of his character wherein he just didn't have the words to explain his feelings.
He just wanted all the chaos around him to stop so badly that he figured ending his life would be a good choice. The ending scene of the season five finale is absolutely breathless because of Tommy holding a gun against his head.
Hated: Using Ben Younger
Tommy involved himself with Oswald Mosely, knowing exactly what to expect from him because Mosely is the kind of evil one doesn't want in the world. Still, this one time, Tommy wanted to do good, and he decided to inform on Mosely. For that, he needed Ben Younger, who was to provide the intelligence to his higher-ups. Even though Younger didn't like the idea, Tommy forced him. That, in the end, led to Ben's untimely demise.
Felt Bad: Staring Death In The Eye
The season two finale will always be known for the ending scene which embodies Thomas Shelby as a character. He knew he was going to die, but, still, he decided to take everyone on in a bid to leave his family with everything they have earned over the last couple of years.
Tommy made plans for Campbell and the Italian gang before he was taken to a barren land to be executed. He survived, though, thanks to Winston Churchill.
Hated: Manipulating Aberama Gold
When the Billy Boys brutally executed his son, Bonnie, Aberam Gold wanted revenge, and understandably so. The reason why his son was killed was that the Billy Boys wanted to send a message to Tommy, and Aberama didn't like this fact. Because Tommy was involved with Mosely, who was in business with the Billy Boys, he wanted Aberama to stand down, and so he manipulated him by giving him a chance to marry Polly Gray.
Felt Bad: John's Death
John wasn't one of the main characters of the story, but his presence shaped Tommy and Arthur's characters. The three brothers were very close because all of them went through something no one can imagine. So, it wasn't easy for Tommy to deal with the death of his youngest brother, who got killed because of a business the Peaky Blinders couldn't take care of. Tommy already had a lot on his plate, and this is another traumatic experience that will stay with him forever.
Hated: Breaking A Promise To Lizzie
Lizzie became an important part of the Peaky Blinders story in season two when she joined Tommy's business and left her previous job. Tommy promised her that she would never have to do anything related to what she did before joining the gang.
But, in the season two finale, Tommy had a task, and, in order to accomplish the same, he wanted Lizzie to be something she didn't want to do ever again. She hated Tommy for that, as did every single fan of the show.
Felt Bad: Charlie Kidnapped
There's something Tommy hates more than anything. He wants to protect his family at all costs, and that explains why he does most of the dangerous jobs by himself without giving out any details of the same to anyone other than Polly.
But, in season three, a line is crossed by his employers when they take his son, Charlie, hostage because they want him to do a job. Tommy couldn't take this, and he went in search of Alfie Solomons, who sold him out, again.
Hated: Using John and Arthur As Just Soldiers
There comes a point in the series when Arthur and John seem to have had enough. They just cannot take the fact that Tommy uses them as foot soldiers and nothing more. They feel like they aren't family and that they are just being used by Tommy.
To be honest, they have a right to feel that way, as Tommy used the rage inside John and Arthur to benefit himself and his dreams for the Peaky Blinders. Although the whole family benefited from it, Tommy never thought about Arthur and John's mental well being.
Felt Bad: Grace's Death
People like Thomas Shelby are never meant to be happy, or, at least, that's what Tommy will tell every single person he meets, and who can blame him? He lost the only good thing that happened to him in a long while, the love of his life, Grace. That, too, is because one jealous Italian decided to take revenge on the Shelby family.
Tommy and Grace weren't together for long, and it is something that will haunt Tommy throughout his lifetime. Tommy continuously blames himself for Grace's murder.
Hated: Shelby Family's Arrest Saga
The season three finale featured one of the best endings, as the consequences for the things done by every single character turned out to be massive. The reason why the fans hated Tommy for this is that he knew this was going to happen, and yet he put his family in danger, which is quite unlike him.
Although he had a plan to get out of it, that was the final nail in the coffin as far as the future of Peaky Blinders was concerned.