Peaky Blinders: Cillian Murphy dubbed “the most underrated actor of his generation” by viewers after episode one

Virgin Radio

28 Feb 2022, 10:48

Many viewers are calling for the actor to win a BAFTA for his performance as Tommy Shelby.

WARNING: Spoilers ahead.

The wait was finally over for fans of the hit BBC drama last night as the first episode of the sixth and final season dropped onto our screens.

A lot happened in the first ten minutes- we found caught up with Tommy's feud with Sir Oswald Mosely and said a painful goodbye to the matriarch, Polly Shelby, after the tragic passing of Helen McCrory last year.

After catching up where series five left off, we were then propelled four years into the future and met with a rather different Tommy Shelby living on Miquelon Island, speaking French and swapping whiskey for water.

It was everything we expected from Stephen Knight and the Peaky gang, but viewers all had the same thing to say about our leading man.

Taking to Twitter, fans of the show couldn’t help but marvel at the incredible acting of Cillian Murphy as the notorious Tommy Shelby.

One person wrote: “What a great premiere. Can already tell this season is gonna be absolutely insane. Cillian Murphy continues to be one the best actors out there, as well #PeakyBlinders”.

Another said: “Cillian Murphy is extraordinary as Tommy Shelby. He absolutely owns the screen. A stunning performance.”

A third made quite the statement, writing: “Cillian Murphy has to be the most underrated actor of his generation #PeakyBlinders”.

Following on from that, a lot of viewers were shocked at the shortage of awards the actor has won for his role as Tommy Shelby.

One user marvelled: “The fact Cillian Murphy has never had an Emmy or bafta nomination is a crime #PeakyBlinders”.

Another said: “I don’t know who needs to hear this but S6 is the last series of #PeakyBlinders, give Cillian Murphy the #BAFTA award he deserves.”

Another thing that viewers picked up on in the first episode was a change in lifestyle for Tommy, who has seemingly gone Teetotal.

As he propped himself up on a stool at a bar in Miquelon, we, of course, expected him to order an Irish whiskey as he always does.

So, viewers were shocked when the gangster ordered a glass of water.

One person said: “Tommy Shelby asking for water? WHO IS THIS GUY? #PeakyBlinders”

Another added: "TOMMY SAID NO TO A DRINK AND WANTS WATER??? #PeakyBlinders."

It was explained that Tommy had been sober for four years, as he said: “I have become a better man. I now realise that whiskey is just fuel for the loud engines inside your head.”

That is about the only thing that has changed about him though, he still has the capability to get quite angry and go on a classic Tommy rampage.

Whether he keeps up the sober lifestyle for the remainder of season six is another matter.

Peaky Blinders continues on 6 March at 9pm on BBC One.