Peaky Blinders Season 3: The Worst Of The 93% Rotten Tomatoes Series

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Okay, so I’m a huge fan of Peaky Blinders – I’ve lost count, but I’ve definitely rewatched the whole thing at least four times. And honestly? Despite the 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes, I’ve realized it’s more consistently enjoyable than truly great. I mean, it landed on Netflix way back in September 2014, and I can still pick almost any episode and have a good time. It’s just a really solid, reliably entertaining show.

The show still holds up incredibly well, and remains as captivating today – especially with the upcoming The Immortal Man movie – as it was back in season one when Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) was just starting out as a bookmaker. However, I’ve had to face one difficult truth about the series.

Why Season 3 Is Far And Away The Worst Season Of Peaky Blinders

As a huge fan of Peaky Blinders, I always find myself ranking Season 3 as the weakest link. It just feels…overstuffed. After a two-year jump from the last season, it throws so much at you – Russian royalty, shady priests, Soviet officials, and then all these double-crossing Italian and Jewish gangsters. It’s a bit much, honestly, and doesn’t quite hit the same mark as the other seasons.

Everything is happening too quickly and feels overwhelming. We last saw the Peaky Blinders dealing with local crime – things like trouble at racetracks and restaurants – and now they’re suddenly mixed up in international events like the Russian Revolution? It feels like a completely different show, and it’s trying to cover too much ground. Peaky Blinders shines when it focuses on Birmingham and its characters.

The plot gets messy with the jewel robbery, betrayals involving Russian nobles, Alfie Solomons’ role, and the train explosion. The story involving the priest, played by Paddy Considine, adds to the confusion, and it’s often unclear how it ties into the main events.

This season forces all the characters into frustrating and unpleasant situations. Tommy feels manipulated, Arthur’s arguments with his wife Linda feel pointless, and Polly’s attempts to shield Michael don’t seem like something she would normally do.

There Are Still Some Bright Spots In Peaky Blinders Season 3

Although season 3 is often considered the weakest in Peaky Blinders, it’s still far from bad. It has some strong points, notably the impactful death of Grace (Annabelle Wallis), which gives Cillian Murphy a chance to deliver a particularly emotional performance as Tommy.

I’m not a fan of the storyline involving Father Hughes, but Paddy Considine is always great to watch. Looking back, I realized season 3 is the weakest, but even so, I’d still choose a bad season of Peaky Blinders over a good season of many other shows.

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2025-10-29 20:38