Peaky Blinders Season 6 Secretly Explains Why Finn Is Missing So Much

Warning: spoilers for Peaky Blinders season 6.

After Peaky Blinders season 6 has failed to explain the absence of Finn Shelby, despite his importance as a main character. Although season 6 marks the end of the show, a movie is planned to conclude the story of Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) and his family. One family member who has received barely any attention in season 6 is the youngest Shelby brother, Finn Shelby (Harry Kirton). In season 6’s first four episodes, he does not feature prominently in any scene. That is all set to change in the show’s final two episodes.

Peaky Blinders season 6 follows Tommy Shelby as he seeks to leave the life of crime and violence. Before he can do so, he aims to thwart the British fascists Oswald Mosley (Sam Claflin) and Diana Mitford (Amber Anderson) and conclude his business with Boston gangster Jack Nelson (James Frecheville). Such exploits have not come without consequence. Peaky Blinders season 6 has already seen the tragic deaths of Tommy’s daughter, Ruby Shelby (Orla McDonagh), and Polly Gray (Helen McCrory). Polly’s death also compels Michael Gray to seek revenge against Tommy.

The emphasis on Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders season 6 has left other characters in the background and none more so than Finn Shelby. After Finn had an active role and more responsibility in Peaky Blinders season 5, the show appears to have forgotten him since he is only seen onscreen during the funerals of Polly and Ruby. Episode 5 saw a cameo, but Finn is nothing like the main player he should be. Whilst his absence implies he is not heavily involved in the family business during season 6, he remains a part of the family and his presence at the murder of the referee confirmed his sidelining makes no sense. And Finn’s story is far from resolved, since he was responsible for the revelation of key information on the assassination attempt on Oswald Mosley in season 5 to Billy, the informant. The idea that he should be sidelined at this point with only a single episode to go is very wrong.

Why Peaky Blinders Season 6 Has Sidelined Finn So Much

Whilst season 6 confirms he that Finn is still considered a Shelby family member, he does not appear to be crucially involved with the business beyond his betting racket with Billy. But that being considered only a secondary concern overlooks how lucrative it is to the Shelbys. And in season 6, episode 3, when Ada (Sophie Rundle) goes to the bookmakers, Finn is not there, prompting the question of inconsistency. The bookmaker has always been a hub for the Shelby family enterprise but Isiah (Daryl McCormack) is in charge there, not Finn. Instead of sending Finn to Liverpool, she sends Isiah and Arthur Shelby (Paul Anderson), who is barely capable of standing up. This suggests that Finn has been absent from season 6 because he is no longer trusted to act in the Shelby company.

The Secret Reason Finn Has Been Missing In Peaky Blinders Season 6

The reason why Finn is no longer trusted could lie in one of season 5’s biggest unanswered questions: whether Tommy really knows about Billy being an informant. In season 5, Finn was entrusted to look after Billy Grade (Emmett J. Scanlon). Finn let slip about Tommy’s plan to assassinate Oswald Mosley, leading Billy to inform the IRA who stopped the assassination and killed Abarama Gold (Aidan Gillen), Barney Thompson (Cosmo Jarvis), and Polly Gray. If Tommy is aware of Finn leaking his plan, it could explain why Finn has been on the periphery in Peaky Blinders season 6. The long-overdue discussion about this will likely lead to Finn showing his “emotional side” as actor Harry Kirton has teased.

Even if Finn is responsible for jeopardizing the assassination, Tommy may be inclined to forgive him. Now that Tommy’s death is on the horizon, Tommy will need Finn to help the family in the long term, especially as Arthur struggles with opium addiction. Finn always wanted to be more involved with the family business, but he previously felt alienated from his brothers. In season 5, he tells Tommy that he was the brother Tommy had “forgotten” about. Although Tommy will now need Finn, Finn may have already given up on his brother. Regardless, Finn will be part of the “new generation” that creator Steven Wright said will be the focal point of the movie and Peaky Blinders’ final two episodes will prove Finn’s importance to the series.

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