"You judging me?": When Tom Hardy made Cillian Murphy react in real-time with his stunning improvised Peaky Blinders speech 

"Havoc" World Premiere - Arrivals - Source: Getty
"Havoc" World Premiere - Arrivals - Source: Getty

No one can forget Tom Hardy's truest moment on screen as an actor in Peaky Blinders season 3 episode 6, which made Cillian Murphy react in real time. Hardy's character Alfie Solomons made the stunning, improvised speech that was absolutely emotionally raw on the face of Tommy Shelby, Murphy's character. Solomons was accusing him of hypocrisy and questioning his moral high ground.

''What f*cking line am I supposed to have crossed? You f*cking stand there, you judging me?''

The scene comes right after Tommy's son Charlie is kidnapped, and Tommy believes that Alfie has a hand in it. Read on to know more.


Here is when Tom Hardy made Cillian Murphy react in real-time with his stunning improvised Peaky Blinders speech

Alfie in the scene questions Tommy's moral superiority and argues that he is no different from him in terms of violence and loss. Tommy holds no right to judge Alfie, being the person he is. The story is at its turning point while the relationship between the two characters is transforming. Alfie momentarily gains the upper hand, not through force but through his truthful and impactful words.

The dialogues are written well. However, if it had not been for Hardy's astonishing performance, the scene wouldn't have come out that impactful. Cillian Murphy's reaction comes out as a true reflection, as he was reacting in real time, unable to gauge where the other actor would head with his energy. One of the social media websites, Screen Movie Co., writes,

"You can see Cillian Murphy (Tommy) reacting in real-time, not just acting. The fear and confusion in his eyes are partly real because he didn't know exactly where Hardy was going next."

Alfie's outburst showed accumulated emotion and vulnerability. He isn't just angry, but he wants Tommy to acknowledge his pain and losses in the harsh world they live in. Many fans are calling it one of Hardy's greatest scenes in Peaky Blinders.

''How many fathers, sons, have you cut, killed, murdered, and butchered, innocent and guilty? ''If you pull that trigger, you pull that trigger for a f*cking honorable reason...not like a civilian that does not understand the wicked ways of our world, mate!'' speaks Alfie in the scene.

Alfie delivers the most chaotic monologue in Peaky Blinders, and we can actually see Murphy reacting as Cillian and not Tommy Shelby. There is a sense of confusion on his face. On the other hand, Hardy is staying within the boundaries but is intense, which topples the balance of the other actors around him.

This is exactly why Alfie Solomons became one of the most iconic characters in modern television. He’s dangerous not because he’s loud or violent, but because he’s unreadable, even to the actors standing right in front of him. Hardy’s improvisation gives Alfie that unpredictable, hypnotic edge, and this scene captures it perfectly.


Peaky Blinders season 3 dropped in 2016, while the show ran for 6 seasons total, wrapping in 2022.

Edited by Debanjana