How Peaky Blinders sacrificed a promising character like Grace for the sake of Tommy Shelby's evolution (& eventual redemption)

Steven Knight's Peaky Blinders universe is once again expanding with a new sequel show from Netflix and BBC, and according to the latest reports, the series will pick up the story from where the upcoming movie The Immortal Man concludes.

The OG BBC crime drama ran for almost a decade following its premiere back in 2013 with solid RT scores in terms of both audience and critic reviews.

Now that two new Peaky Blinders spin-offs have been greenlit, speculation among Cillian Murphy, aka Thomas Shelby, fans has reached its peak as to how some of the original characters will find their places in the new projects. Speaking of the same, Annabelle Wallis' Grace Shelby is one of the roles that had a huge impact on the main plot (since her introduction) and Tommy Shelby's unprecedented evolution.

Grace's death was a major sacrifice made by creator Steven Knight to pull Tommy Shelby down to his lowest just to put him right back on the top. Moreover, Cillian Murphy's closing lines in the Peaky Blinders finale subtly got him his redemption arc:

"The eleventh hour. Armistice. Peace at last. Peace at last."

Grace's death in Peaky Blinders was a major sacrifice for the sake of Tommy Shelby's redemption

Peaky Blinders fans have never witnessed one season where things go as planned for Thomas Shelby. Right when he aims for his next big step to rise to power, the Birmingham gangster has always come across almost irreversible adversities - from being stabbed in the back in business, hunted by his enemies (as well as apparent allies), and the loss of his own ones.

Grace Shelby's death in Peaky Blinders was also such a major shock for all the fans, and though there have been speculations that it was something that could be easily avoided, a popular opinion says that it was an important, creative sacrifice. Annabelle Wallis has done justice to the role ever since Grace's introduction in Season 1 as an undercover agent working for Inspector Campbell.

Though she was sent to spy on the "Peaky Blinders", Grace's IRA roots and investigative skills soon help her find a spot among the cutthroat gangsters. She initially wins Thomas Shelby's trust only to leave him heartbroken. However, fate once again brings Grace and Tommy together in love.

The two eventually get married and have a son named Charles, and Tommy's unparalleled love for Grace is what makes their story even more beautiful. So when Grace gets killed in an accidental firing at a party (by one of the Changrettas' assassins), Tommy is left shattered into pieces.

Though his son Charles was too young to understand the severity of the situation, Tommy himself was in no state to take care of the little kid. He drowns himself in alcohol and opium while trying to seek all sorts of unrealistic ways to get over his grief. But it was probably the whole plan of Steven Knight to bring Tommy Shelby back to square one again - a state of misery and despair.

Grace's death in Peaky Blinders was a major driving force for Tommy Shelby to evolve beyond ultimate grief and find new ways to reach the pinnacle of success - not to mention his eventual redemption. In Season 5 of the BBC period crime drama, we see Grace often appearing as a ghost before Tommy (a consequence of his troubled state of mind), even during the sequence where the latter tries to kill himself.

Tommy found new avenues to his hidden rage (that was once calmed by Grace's presence), and that further added another emotional layer to his rather complicated character arc. His evolution, an urge to fight, and the ambition to become the best pushed him beyond his limits. The result was a more fearless man who started to believe that only Tommy Shelby can kill Tommy Shelby.

Though the closing moments of the Peaky Blinders finale dropped hints about Thomas Shelby seeking a different life after achieving his redemption. There is nothing more for him to get in this life than to walk away from what he has built with his own hands.

So, The Immortal Man is the next focus of every Peaky Blinders fan who eagerly awaits witnessing Thomas Shelby returning to his empire. Moreover, with another new sequel series in development, social media is already buzzing with new theories and speculations about how the plot will further progress.

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