5 times Tommy Shelby proved he runs the Peaky Blinders even though Arthur is the elder one

Cillian Murphy's Tommy Shelby, albeit younger than his brother Arthur Shelby, ruled the Peaky Blinders in the critically acclaimed BBC's crime drama series.

While Arthur was the eldest Shelby sibling and should technically rule the titular gang, he had his shortcomings as a leader, which forced his brother to take the reigns into his own hands. Arthur was hot-headed and lacked ambition and confidence like Tommy, which never earned him the 'Peaky Blinders head' title.

Let's look at 5 times Tommy Shelby proved he runs the Peaky Blinders.

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5 timed Tommy Shelby proved he runs the Peaky Blinders

5) When Tommy Shelby proved nobody can look him 'the wrong way'

While Arthur matched up to his younger brother in fighting prowess and capability, he lacked the dominance and composure needed to lead a pack like the Blinders. Arthur was hot-headed and violent for no reason, which he portrayed multiple times in Season 1, but his brother expressed his violence when it was needed.

In season 1 episode 2, after killing a horse sent by the Lees as warning, he delivers this iconic line to Grace:

"I just put a bullet in his head… He looked at me the wrong way."

Tommy's line echoes that nobody can mess with him, and he will go to great lengths to protect and lead his family.

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4) When Tommy asserted his dominance over his family on his wedding day

While this scene from the season 3 premiere is mostly iconic for its humour, it also underscores Tommy's dominance over his family, and even Arthur, albeit he was the eldest.

On his wedding day with Grace, Tommy was on edge as his bride wanted no violence in front of her family, who had a history with the Blinders. Before they were to meet Grace's family, Tommy rounds up all the Peaky men and his siblings and orders them not to fight today:

"No Fighting. No F****** Fighting.''

He says this even to Arthur, and Tommy's commanding presence is enough to prove who runs the Shelby house. Moments later, he pushes the waiter, who brushes past him, proving that his rules do not apply to him, as he is the boss.

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3) When Tommy won over his vulnerabilities, something Arthur struggled with

Arthur is somebody who has struggled with addiction, suicidal thoughts, and 'falnder's blues' (PTSD) all his life, and thus was incapable of leading the Peaky Blinders. While his brother Tommy also had his demons, he fought them in their face with brevity and even won against them.

Arthur is shown attempting suicide in season 1, and his ambiguous note in the Season 6 finale suggested that maybe he finally took his life (as the note indicated he will meet Tommy in the afterlife).

While Tommy was also 'diagnosed' with a terminal disease in the series finale and was about to give up on his life, he figured it was all a ruse and instead conquered his literal and metaphorical demons, saying:

"The only person who could ever kill Tommy Shelby is Tommy Shelby himself."

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2) When Tommy proved that he is a strategist in the season 2 finale

Arthur might be a soldier and a man of action, but he lacked quick wit and thinking beforehand, which is why Tommy often kept him at arm's distance during important events.

In the Peaky Blinders Season 2 finale, while the Blinders head to the races and plan their move against Campbell, Tommy delivers this iconic line:

"When you plan something well, there's no need to rush."

The scene truly encapsulates Tommy's planning and the fact that he is a strategist, unlike his brother Arthur. And when you are at war like the Blinders, you need this level of pre-planning like Tommy, again proving his superiority to Arthur.

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1) When Tommy Shelby proved his ambition, unlike Arthur

While both Arthur and Tommy Shelby wanted to expand their business horizons and achieve social mobility for their families, Arthur lacked the ambition and passion that his younger brother displayed.

In the Peaky Blinders Season 1 premiere, Tommy goes to the Chinese for the powder trick on his horse, which Arthur does not like. While Arthur is against his brother fixing races against Billy Kimber and messing with the Chinese, Tommy shuts his fears down, proving that risks need to be taken for success.

When Arthur argues, Tommy shuts him down, proving that he is the brains of their gang:

''I'm taking charge. I think Arthur, that's what I do. I think so you don't have to''

Also Read: 5 things from Peaky Blinders that could have been illustrated more closely aligned to the original incidents

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