Peaky Blinders: 5 times Tom Hardy stole the show from right under the nose of Cillian Murphy 

Cillian Murphy’s Thomas Shelby is the storm at the center of Peaky Blinders. The Birmingham gang leader is sharp and terrifyingly in control. He is the mastermind, whose very stillness is power. But then, somewhere in the smoke-filled pubs, Tom Hardy’s Alfie Solomons walks in and suddenly, the gravity of the room shifts.

Hardy doesn’t just play Alfie, he invades the show with a performance that is unpredictable and darkly hilarious. Where Tommy is all precision, Alfie is chaos. He rambles and insults, all in the same sentence.

While Cillian Murphy carries the weight of Peaky Blinders with a quiet fire, Hardy brings a wild energy that steals focus the moment he appears. Their dynamic becomes one of television’s most compelling power duels.

Here are 5 times in Peaky Blinders where Tom Hardy stole the show from right under the nose of Cillian Murphy.

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5 times Tom Hardy stole the spotlight from Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders

The first meeting

Peaky Blinders rewarded the world with Tom Hardy's Alfie Solomons' character in Season 2 Episode 2. This is where Tommy first meets Alfie at his 'bakery', proposing a deal to the wandering Jew. While Tommy's presence demands attention in every scene and every room he walks in, Alfie initially pays no heed to his arrival, only talking about his bakery's white and brown 'bread'.

Hardy certainly outperforms Murphy in this scene with his characters' random mumblings and unpredictability. Since Tommy is not accustomed to being caught off guard, he is taken aback when Alfie calls him out for betraying Billy Kimber, while maintaining perfect control on-screen.

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When Tommy hesitated to shoot Alfie

The cat-and-mouse chase between Tommy and Alfie finally came to a head in the Peaky Blinders Season 4 finale, where the frenemies had a final confrontation at Margate beach after Alfie's betrayal. While Tommy is never reluctant to shoot his enemy, he shows weakness while pointing a gun towards Alfie, who tells him that he is already dying because of cancer.

Every frame of this scene screamed perfection and Tom Hardy was at his best portrayal. Right from his cunning ways to get Tommy to shoot him to his heartfelt glances at his dog, Hardy stole the show here.

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When Alfie Solomons returned

While Tommy and Alfie might have the most complicated relationship in Peaky Blinders, it developed into a heartwarming understanding as the series approached its finale. Tom Hardy surprised everyone when he returned for a cameo in the Season 5 finale, where his character was resurrected from the dead. Tommy finds Alfie, deranged, scarred, half-blind but alive and their epic conversation proves how much their friendship has evolved over the seasons.

Hardy sweeps this scene right under Murphy's nose, who sits in silence and soaks up Alfie's bizarre tales from the afterlife, giving fans a rare bonding moment between the characters.

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When Tommy accused Alfie of crossing the line

This Peaky Blinders Season 3 is essentially considered one of the best from the series, where Tommy accuses Alfie of crossing the line by putting his son's safety in jeopardy. After the Birmingham gangster proves Alfie's betrayal in front of him, he says, 'They're using my boy', which shakes Alfie to his core. However, the Jewish gangster composes himself and calls out Tommy on his hypocrisy. He reminds him that nothing is 'off-limits' in their world and Tommy has also killed countless and innocent fathers and sons alike.

This simple argument works on Tommy and he sees the futility in his accusation. A rare moment where Murphy's Tommy stood defeated.

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When Alfie wrote an opera

Tom Hardy's cameo in Peaky Blinders Season 6 Episode 2 was one for the books. After being resurrected from the dead, Alfie is holed up in a basement and writing an opera in memory of his uncle, who was killed by the Boston Irish. As a final act, Alfie asks Tommy's allegiance and the Birmingham gangster promises to lend a hand in his vendetta against the Boston mob.

The visual beauty of this scene is further enhanced by Tom Hardy's dramatic performance, whose character finally secured a strong alliance with Tommy Shelby.

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In their battle of the bests, it wasn’t just about who won the scene. It was about how unforgettable those scenes became.

You can stream Peaky Blinders on Netflix.

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