Peaky Blinders Season 5: Betrayals & Tommy’s Suicide

When Tommy Shelby puts a gun to his head in the final scene of Season 5, it’s easy to forget that this is a man who once seemed untouchable. The episode caps a season that swaps gangland bravado for psychological collapse, set against the 1929 Wall Street Crash and the real-life rise of fascism.

Original Network: BBC One ·
Premiere Date: October 4, 2019 ·
Number of Episodes: 6 ·
Setting: Birmingham, 1929 ·
Series Creator: Steven Knight ·
IMDb Rating (Season 5): 8.8/10

Nine key facts, one pattern: the season is built on a political and financial collapse that mirrors Tommy’s own crumbling mind.

The snapshot table below lays out the essential production details and context for the season.

What happens in season 5 of Peaky Blinders?

The Wall Street Crash and Black Tuesday

• The season opens with the Wall Street Crash of 1929 on Black Tuesday, devastating the global economy (YouTube recap).
• The Shelby family’s investments are hit hard, forcing a strategic retreat (Den of Geek).

Tommy’s role as an MP

• Tommy Shelby is now a Member of Parliament, navigating the corridors of power (Den of Geek).
• His dual life as a gangster and politician creates increasing tension (Den of Geek).

Encounter with Oswald Mosley

• Tommy meets the real-life fascist leader Oswald Mosley, played by Sam Claflin (Den of Geek).
• Mosley presents himself as the future, forcing Tommy to pick a side (Den of Geek).

Michael’s betrayal and the family business

• Michael Gray, acting against Tommy’s orders, loses the family money in Boston and is demoted (Den of Geek).
• Michael and his wife Gina plot a coup, intending to buy out the board (Den of Geek).
• The family also expands into the Chinese opium trade via the coal-haulage business (Den of Geek).

Finale and the attempted assassination

• Tommy plans to assassinate Mosley at a rally but hesitates at the last moment (Den of Geek).
• The episode ends with Tommy putting a gun to his head, interrupted by a phone call revealing his son Charlie is missing (The Review Geek).

The pattern: economic collapse, political pressure, and family betrayal converge on Tommy in the finale, leaving him with no visible way out.

The implication for the Shelby family: the old gangster playbook no longer works in a world of stocks and statesmen.

Why is season 5 of Peaky Blinders so different?

Shift in historical context

• Season 5 moves from post-war gangster drama to a pre-WWII political thriller (Den of Geek).
• The Wall Street crash introduces economic despair and real-world political stakes (YouTube recap).

Change in character dynamics

• Tommy’s mental health deteriorates, turning the focus inward (Den of Geek).
• Supporting characters like Arthur and Michael take on more ambiguous roles (Den of Geek).

Darker and more psychological tone

• The pacing slows down compared to the action-heavy season 4, allowing for character study (Den of Geek).
• Showrunner Steven Knight references the 1930s as a warning for today (Den of Geek).

What this means: season 5 swaps shootouts for ideological battles. The enemy is no longer a rival gang but an idea – and Tommy’s own fractured psyche.

Who betrayed Tommy in season 5?

Michael Gray’s betrayal

• Michael Gray betrays Tommy by selling shares of Shelby Company Limited against Tommy’s wishes (Den of Geek).
• His resentment over being left out of leadership fuels the coup (Den of Geek).

Finn’s role in the betrayal plot

• Finn Shelby betrays the family by associating with the Billy Boys and leaking information (Den of Geek).
• This leads to the death of Aberama Gold and further fractures the clan (Den of Geek).

Consequences for the Shelby family

• Polly Gray is torn between her son Michael and her nephew Tommy, predicting one will die (Den of Geek).
• The betrayals leave the family weaker, setting the stage for the final season (Den of Geek).

The pattern: every betrayal in season 5 is rooted in a family member seeking autonomy – and Tommy’s refusal to share power proves costly.

Why is Tommy suicidal in season 5?

Trauma and PTSD from previous seasons

• Tommy suffers from recurring visions of Grace, his deceased wife (Den of Geek).
• The weight of his past sins – murders, betrayals, the death of loved ones – catches up with him (Den of Geek).

Pressure of political life

• He feels isolated from his family because of his growing political power (Den of Geek).
• The moral compromises required in Parliament clash with his code (Den of Geek).

Loss of control and family conflict

• The Wall Street crash and Michael’s betrayal push him to the edge (Den of Geek).
• In the finale, he puts a gun to his head, but a phone call reveals his son Charlie is missing (The Review Geek).

The pattern: Tommy gains the world but loses himself. The suicide attempt isn’t a plot twist – it’s the logical endpoint of a man who has run out of reasons to fight.

Is there a Peaky Blinders season 6 coming out?

Season 6 confirmation and release date

• Peaky Blinders season 6 was confirmed and released in 2022 on BBC One and Netflix (BBC Media Centre).
• It consists of six episodes and concludes the main television storyline (BBC Media Centre).

Sequel series news

• A sequel film has been announced, with production expected in 2024 (BBC Media Centre).
• The film will shift the story to post-World War II (BBC Media Centre).

Cast and plot updates

• Key cast members return for season 6, though some characters die (e.g., Polly) (BBC Media Centre).
• The story picks up directly from season 5’s cliffhanger (BBC Media Centre).

Why this matters: season 5’s open wounds are the engine for season 6. Without the betrayals and the suicide attempt, the final season would lack its urgent, haunted core.

Who is Ada pregnant by in season 5?

Ada’s relationship with Ben Younger

• Ada Shelby becomes pregnant by Ben Younger, a journalist and political activist (Den of Geek).
• Ben supports socialist causes and clashes with Tommy’s political alignments (Den of Geek).

Impact of her pregnancy on the plot

• Ada’s pregnancy and her relationship with Ben influence her decisions within the family (Den of Geek).
• The child is born off-screen between seasons 5 and 6 (Den of Geek).
• Ben Younger dies in a car bomb in season 5, leaving Ada a single mother (Den of Geek).

The implication: Ada’s storyline reinforces the season’s theme of inherited loss – another Shelby child growing up without a parent.

Timeline

• October 1929: Wall Street Crash (Black Tuesday) – beginning of season 5.
• Late 1929: Tommy is elected as MP for Birmingham, meets Oswald Mosley.
• Early 1930: Michael Gray betrays Tommy over business in Boston.
• Spring 1930: Tommy plans assassination of Mosley but hesitates.
• Season 5 finale: Tommy attempts suicide, interrupted by call about Charlie.
• 2022 (real world): Season 6 premieres, continuing the story.

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

• Tommy becomes an MP in season 5.
• Michael Gray betrays Tommy over the Boston business.
• Ada is pregnant by Ben Younger.
• Tommy attempts suicide in the finale.
• Season 6 exists and was released in 2022.

What’s unclear

• Whether Tommy will fully embrace fascism or resist it (remains complex).
• The exact fate of Finn after season 5 (he is still alive but family ties are broken).
• The long-term impact of the Wall Street Crash on the Shelby empire beyond season 5.

Quotes from the season

“You are a traitor, Michael.”

– Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy), confronting Michael about betrayal in episode 4

“You can either be with the future or against it.”

– Oswald Mosley (Sam Claflin), to Tommy

“The 1930s are a warning for today.”

– Steven Knight, show creator, in an interview with The Guardian (2019)

For the average viewer watching on Netflix, the takeaway is clear: season 5 is the pivot point where Peaky Blinders stops being a gangster show and becomes a political tragedy. Tommy’s choice in the finale – to live or not – is also a choice about what kind of leader he wants to be. The answer, deferred to season 6, determines whether the Shelby legacy survives or collapses under its own weight.

För en djupare genomgång av Tommy Shelbys politiska uppgång och de mörka vändningarna, se vår fullständiga guide till säsong 5.

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