"Peaky Blinders" Episode #1.1 (TV Episode 2013) - Trivia - IMDb
: Ada is in a forbidden relationship with Freddie, a Marxist labor leader and former war comrade of Tommy’s.
The series premiere of Peaky Blinders , which first aired on September 12, 2013, effectively sets the stage for the Shelby family's rise in post-World War I Birmingham.
: You can stream this episode and the rest of Season 1 on Netflix .
In 1919 Birmingham, Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) leads the Peaky Blinders, a criminal gang known for sewing razor blades into their peaked caps. The episode begins with a major catalyst: the gang accidentally "appropriates" a crate of Lewis machine guns stolen from a local arms factory.
: The episode highlights "shell shock" (PTSD) through characters like Danny Whizz-Bang, showing how the Great War still haunts the veterans.
This theft brings the relentless Inspector Chester Campbell (Sam Neill) to the city, sent by War Minister Winston Churchill to recover the weapons. While his aunt Polly (Helen McCrory) urges him to return the guns, Tommy sees them as a strategic bargaining chip to elevate the family’s status.
: Critics praised the pilot for its "gritty, atmospheric visuals" and a modern soundtrack that gives the 1920s setting a unique, stylized energy.