Death is one of the primary themes in BBC’s hit show Peaky Blinders. It is what makes the story appealing and at the same time, unsettling. The characters revolve around trying to fight against death because every now and then, someone dies without any notice.
Since the topic centers around death, the show has had a number of deceased characters both protagonists and villains. Some had it rough while others had it so fast. Regardless of whether these characters are good or evil, they all bit the dust and it caused a seismic effect on the ones they have left. Here is a ranked list of the most important deaths in Peaky Blinders:
Billy Kimber
Kimber is one of the first antagonists in the series. He has caused so much trouble to the Shelby clan and his death was called the most satisfying and well-transitioned one. Tommy Shelby pulled the trigger which ended Kimber’s life.
This particular scene significantly established the Shelby Company Limited’s position in the Mafia world. It portrayed Tommy’s ability to lead his enterprise and protect his people. This is absolutely one of the best death scenes in the show.
Luca Changretta
Changretta is the main antagonist in the fourth season. He is an Italian-American mobster from New York. Since the death of his father, he has now led the family business and is now at war with the Shelby clan. His main purpose for visiting Birmingham is personal vendetta.
Finally, Luca Changretta gets his comeuppance – an event that everyone has been looking forward to. Arthur Shelby beat him up and shot him in the head, ending the rivalry between their families.
Bonnie Gold
One of the most disturbing deaths in the show, Bonnie Gold’s involvement with the Shelby family has cost him his career and his own precious life. When the notorious Billy Boys found him and his father, Aberama Gold, they beat Bonnie to death and crucified him. That scene was soul-crushing and so difficult to look at.
The scene will make you question the morality of the characters in the show. It became the fuel for Aberama to plot vengeance against the guy who killed his son. Unfortunately, he was stabbed to death even before he gets his revenge.
John Shelby
No one expected that one of the Shelby brothers will not make it to the end of the series. John’s death caused so much pain both for the Shelby family and the audience as well. Of all the brothers, he is the most loyal and trustworthy. No matter how cruel or dangerous his tasks are, he delivers without flaws. John’s death seemed so useless and in vain at this point.
Grace Shelby
She started as an accomplice of a villain but things turned around after she and Tommy fell in love with each other. Her presence in the show gave a deeper meaning to what it is like to fight for love in the midst of war. Her story is arguably the most heartbreaking arc.
