BBC UKTV Fast Tracks Peaky Blinders

The sixth and final season of gangster saga Peaky Blinders will premiere tonight on Sky’s BBC UKTV channel at 9.30.

It will screen here virtually within a day of its BBC broadcast, with each episode available for a two-week catch-up on Sky Go; BBC UKTV will same-week repeat each episode in Sunday off-peak slots.

That’s the good news. For fans who’d rather view it in 4K than quasi-HD, it won’t surface on Netflix NZ until next year because of BBC UKTV’s window.

If you want to ponder the implications of the premiere, Deadline has this recap and an interview with the star and creator — but note they contain spoilers.

Said The Guardian of the premiere: “Tommy Shelby’s back where we want him to be: in all kinds of trouble … It’s war on three fronts, across two continents for the Birmingham gang leader. Without his beloved Aunt Polly, will he be able to take it?”

The Independent said the late “Helen McCrory’s absence leaves a chasm” and The Times concurred her “intimidating, husky glamour is irreplaceable. The episode was dedicated to her, and rightly so. I hope they dedicate every episode this series to her.”