Peaky Blinders season 3 episode 1: The spoiler-free review

Britain's best drama is back and raising the bar even higher

Peaky Blinders feels like HBO or AMC. This isn’t to disparage the BBC, it’s just its dramas generally have a very ‘TV look’ about them that can’t match the big budget, opulent cinematography being crafted on the other side of the Atlantic.

But with its billowing smokestacks, moody lighting and charred scenery, Peaky Blinders puts every penny it has to good use, and more than stands up when watched back to back with a Game of Thrones or a Mad Men.

This is particularly true of the new season, the first episode of which is a visual orgy, with its fastidious set design, immaculate costume and poised shot composition.

I’m not going to spoil anything for you, but as creator Steven Knight already let on, the episode opens on Tommy’s wedding day following a mini time jump. It pretty much stays there, and, as you’d expect, business matters seep into the reception like a noxious gas.

The new season has more than earned that familiar TV term ‘highly anticipated’, and you can sense it in the production, which feels ratcheted up in every respect.

The writing is stronger than ever and so are the performances, with Cillian Murphy now developing that Gandolfini-esque ability to say so much using only his eyes. Michael is becoming a very intriguing character - destined to be of vital importance as the show moves forward - and the stakes are now much higher. The Billy Kimber scuffles of season one seem a distant memory.

Intentionally or not, the first episode feels like a ‘f*ck you’ to Downton Abbey. The Shelbys are now starting to match the Crawleys in terms of wealth and land, but you’ll find no 'hanky panky with the maid' bullsh*t here, with Peaky Blinders depicting 1920s Britain warts and all, as it should.

With a US broadcast sorted this time through Netflix, let’s hope the Emmy Awards are watching.