"There is God ... And Then There Are the Peaky Blinders"

 So the movie, "Peaky Blinders:The Immortal Man" dropped on Netflix today!

Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 92%, so we shall see.

Just looking at the trailer and watching the first few minutes, this should be interesting.

If you don't know the history, after returning from World War I a war hero, Tommy Shelby found himself unhireable due to a combination of war shock (PTSD) and his Irish and Roma heritage being looked down upon in Birmingham, England.

Feeling his country abandoned him despite his service, he rounded up others like him and created an organized crime syndicate which included all the poor and disenfranchised of whatever race, Robin Hooding it to take care of his own family and other poor and powerless groups. 

But don't get the idea he was a saint, far from it - he did some horrible things to survive and gain wealth - he was a bad, bad dude.

But at the same time, there were certain things he'd still never do, lines he'd never cross - but his son will.

He ran drugs, he resorted to violence and even terrorism to get what he wanted - but he also provided for the town, as well as even provided justice against the wealthy and powerful exploiting and abusing the poor. 

When we last saw Tommy, he was retreating from thug life off the grid, after not only his daughter and brother's death due to his decisions/criminal activities, but the general cost of thug life on his conscience and those he loved - but growing fascist sentiment even within his own country. 

He realized that Nazism was an even greater evil than himself that was growing too big - one that he refused to work with, but also realized he and the Peaky Blinders weren't powerful enough to fight against.

Now, apparently, his son - whom he apparently abandoned to live life as a recluse -  took over the Peaky Blinders.

Never having been a soldier - nor understanding that the initial origin of the Peaky Blinders upon which his father built his empire was initially based on simply trying to survive in a society that even his war medal was ineffective at changing attitudes towards people of his heritage and class - his son, Duke, doesn't understand honor or loyalty.

There is no moral line his son, Duke, won't cross - he is simply a selfish, ruthless bully.

He steals from his neighbors, local businesses hanging by a thread and in tatters during the war, morphine from hospitals, gives nothing to charity, and is even willing to betray his country to the Nazis for his own personal gain.

Thus, Tommy has to return once more to prevent this from happening and to explain the difference to his son, after failing to do so before - IF if he will listen. 

Because although Tommy's done a lot of horrible things, he has certain things he can't abide by people - preying on the poor and powerless, especially children - OR betrayal of his country to Nazis, even though they turned their backs on him.

He's an interesting, complex character, Tommy Shelby - played by Oscar winner, Cillian Murphy.

And still, as good as this likely is, I still miss Aunt Polly (played by the late, great Helen McCrory.)

An unforgettable scene with Polly in it ...

She has a chance to exact her revenge for the church taking her children from her after her husband died.

Back then in the UK - and especially in Ireland - the Catholic church could take your children, sanctioned by government, just because you were a single mother living in poverty and thus deemed "unfit " - despite being widowed, and  despite no abuse or drinking or drug usage.

(Of course, the criminal activities of her Roma family and the emerging Peaky Blinders didn't help her case with the church with her children.)

As for Polly herself, she had been on the fringes of the Peaky Blinders, refusing to condone their activities, and thus was left struggling - but after this happened to her, she turned full on Peaky Blinder herself to survive.

In this scene, both she and Tommy hear from credible witnesses that a nun at an orphanage - which they largely financially support - physically abuses the children, one black child in particular even worse then the others - who killed herself rather than face one more day with her -  and they have come to put a stop to it. 

GREAT scene, great acting, great soundtrack - IMO, when Netflix acquired this show is what put Netflix on the map as far as the capacity for quality programming.