Peaky Blinders has had its fair share of villains and antagonists, all of whom have presented a unique threat to the Shelby family and their friends, however, the true story behind the show threatens to create a villain problem for the final season. Oswald Mosley, the British fascist politician, was introduced to the audience in season 5 and quickly established himself as a unique and cunning villain for Tommy to face. Surviving the season finale was certainly unique in and of itself, living on to be the main antagonist of the final season, however, this isn’t the only thing that makes Mosley unique.
Oswald Mosley is based upon a real historical figure, setting him apart from the rest of the cast. The showrunners are ultimately at liberty to do as they wish with who they wish, a point they proved by having John Shelby killed off in season 4. Having a somewhat lack of malleability with Mosley’s character, however, threatens to leave the audience with a lackluster conclusion to the show.
It could very well be the case that the showrunners decide to veer from history, much like Inglorious Basterds’ decision to kill Hitler, and alter the historical fate of Mosley, who didn’t die until 1980 in real life. While that could be the case, it seems unlikely as they already had the opportunity to do just that. The entirety of the season 5 plot was the building of the assassination attempt which fell through in the catastrophic season finale, leaving Mosley alive at the end. While Alfie Solomons returned ready for season 6, an exciting payoff for the season, for those with a historical understanding of Mosley’s character, the tension of the season’s build-up was removed with the knowledge that Mosley was almost certain to escape with his life.
Even still, in season 5 things were still up in the air for the historical authenticity of the plot, more specifically, would the show go non-historical and kill Mosley, or keep him alive and stay true to history? This room for change is now removed from the final season, as season 5 has set the precedent of historical authenticity, bringing Mosley into the final season alive. This shift in focus for the show has subsequently drawn the narrative toward the rise of European fascism, labeling it as the new enemy, with Mosley just a figurehead. Not only does this threaten an unsatisfactory ending, but thematically falls in line with the foreshadowed death of Tommy Shelby.
The show deciding to make fascism itself the villain for its finale is a peculiar choice and one that almost instantly reveals the kind of narrative conclusion that lies ahead. The rise of fascism and Nazism in Europe is one that is certain to expand far beyond the season finale and embroil the continent in a deadly war. The Peaky Blinders, unfortunately, do not wield the power to prevent this, and while fascism in the UK is certainly defeated, Mosley lives to see another day, and the Nazi imagery shown in the latest trailer most certainly cannot be defeated by the gangsters. The historical persistence of this new kind of political enemy that Tommy finds himself at odds with may well be defeated in a local sense, but the expansion of the show’s scope within the season 6 trailers suggests a gloomy narrative. Teasing season 6’s return to a war-centric narrative on one hand sounds like a well-rounded method of ending the show. The aftermath of the First World War was dominated by the concept of the defeat of the individual despite the victory of the nation, but season 6 looks to up those stakes. The victory of the nation, but the defeat of the continent, and only time will tell if the two chime together, or whether or not season 6 is doomed to have a predictable and unfulfilling villain.
Regardless of what happens, season 6 is sure to keep its viewers on the edge of their seats, irrespective of their historical knowledge. The phenomenal cast has done well by the historical setting, and Mosley remains a menacing opponent for Tommy, with even Gina hinted as a new threat. While the true history behind Peaky Blinders season 6 threatens to create a villain problem, Tommy might once again be one step ahead.
