'Peaky Blinders' Season 4, Finale Review: 'The Company' Was A Brilliant Finish To The Season!

The season 4 finale opened with excitement and nerves building over the impending boxing match, with Lizzie telling the Shelby matriarchs about her being pregnant with Tommy's baby. Lucky woman, not really!

As precocious gypsy boxer Bonny began toying with Goliath in the ring, Arthur was looking shifty in the audience, his eyes darting around, anticipating ambush. The last episode seemed to promise a big set-piece here but it never really came to pass, two lone attackers quite efficiently, even perfunctorily disposing of Arthur before being rounded up and killed by the gaggle of gang members still standing.

After this scene swiftly moved on to Arthur's funeral and then the gang strategising the next move, I was feeling a little disappointed. Why did the boxing ring altercation feel so flat and devoid of intrigue? Why was the death of one of the show's biggest characters moved past with barely a tear shed?

Fortunately, these questions would be answered as, with the Shelbys seemingly on the ropes, Changretta came to Birmingham to claim their empire. He demanded fealty, but Tommy had other plans, revealing that Arthur's death had actually been faked in order to bring Luca to the table and that he had cut a deal with one of Luca's rivals, a little-known mafioso by the name of Al Capone, thus switching the loyalty of Luca's avaricious henchmen. This was a tantalising name to throw in the mix, and it will be interesting to see whether it crops up again and/or we see Capone in person in the fifth (and probably final) season.

Changretta underestimated the Peaky Blinders, then, although he did have a point about the gang's size. Arthur may be back, but still, having the pubescent and meek Finn as the third highest ranking man in the gang makes them look a bit silly.

After being bloodied by Tommy, Changretta, as promised, was dealt the final blow by Arthur, and for the first time in a long time the Shelbys could finally rest easy. It was even suggested that Tommy go on holiday, though the golfing life was not for him, his attempts to unwind being plagued by war flashbacks/paranoia and guilt over his many sins.