More Streaming Picks By Order Of The Peaky Blinders
Peaky Blinders is one of the best crime dramas to release in quite some time. Cleverly written, intense and packed full of memorable showdowns, this is one exciting, heady trip. If you’ve finished watching this one and are looking for more of the same, fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle of having to try and find something similar with our top 10 picks for alternate viewing. To keep things simple for skim-readers we’ve added what similarities these have. Of course for all the shows we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that series and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with. So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet the appetite when you’ve finished streaming Peaky Blinders.
Succession
Similarities – Characters & Tone
Succession is a wonderful HBO series, centering on the Roy family who happen to be the dysfunctional owners of Waystar RoyCo, a global media and hospitality empire. Their fight to control the company is called into question when the health of the family’s patriarch, Logan Roy, deteriorates. When he steps down from his position, everything changes, leading to a conflict that spans across multiple seasons. Darkly funny, toxic and full of troublesome characters you love to hate, Succession is a delightful show and a must-watch if you enjoyed Peaky Blinders.
Gomorrah
Similarities – Crime & Gangs
Gomorrah is an Italian crime drama revolving around the Mafia in Naples. Running for four seasons, Gomorrah has a lot of action set pieces, which are backed up by some amazing storytelling and tense segments along the way. The story revolves around a man named Ciro who disregards tradition in his attempt to become the next boss of his crime syndicate. Of course, these internal problems cause a rift to open in the family, putting all of them at risk. This series doesn’t look like running out of steam anytime soon, especially with a new season already green-lit, and is certainly worth indulging in.
Taboo
Similarities – Main Character & Period Drama
You can’t really go wrong with a Tom Hardy period piece – and that much is especially true here with Taboo. Fresh from his excellent performance in Peaky Blinders, this 1800’s series revolves around adventurer James Keziah Delaney. He returns to London during the war to rebuild his Father’s shipping empire. With both the government and a bitter rival vowing for that same lucrative slice of pie, what ensues is a surprising, twisty-turny thriller that’s well worth checking out.
Ozark
Similarities – Cat & Mouse Chase
Gripping, thrilling and soaked in dramatic tension, Ozark is a well-paced show that proves to be another home run for Netflix Originals. The story here revolves around a family who find their lives turned upside down by their father, Marty, who happens to be a financial advisor. Only, he’s also one of the top money launderers to the second largest drug cartel in Mexico. When things inevitably go awry, the family are forced to uproot from their cushy lifestyle and move to Missouri, Ozarks. With three seasons already out and a fourth on the horizon, Ozark is definitely one of the better crime dramas out there and well worth watching.
Boardwalk Empire
Similarities – Gangs
Excellent acting and a lavish production combine to make Boardwalk Empire a very strong choice for period and crime drama lovers. The story essentially revolves around an Atlantic City politician who plays both sides of the law by conspiring with gangsters. Set during the Prohibition era, this moody, gritty drama perfectly captures the 1920’s time period. With five seasons to get through and lots of twists and turns along the way, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better depiction of mobsters than this gem of a show.
Bad Blood
Bad Blood is a true crime dramatization of the notorious Montreal mob boss Vito Rizzuto. With two seasons chock full of action and drama, this series makes for a surprisingly easy binge-watch. The story begins with a brief introduction. Montreal is divided into different gang territories, with the bikers, Haitians, Irish and the Rizzuto family overwhelmed with fighting, bloodshed and arguments. Seizing this opportunity for himself, Vito takes the reigns of this uncontrollable beast and somehow brings peace to Montreal. At least for now. Predictably, this comes to a head during the second half of the first season before spilling over into season 2. Although the acting is a little patchy at times and the story tends to jump back and forth a bit too sporadically, on the whole Bad Blood does justice to the life of this well-respected crime boss. You can read our thoughts on Bad Blood in our full season review here!
Billions
Similarities – Intense Rivalries
If you’re looking for intense rivalries that mirror some of those infamous stand-offs in Peaky Blinders, look no further. Billions is a series revolving around U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades. He sets his sights on the hedge fund king Bobby “Axe” Axelrod, culminating in a powerful battle between two New York figureheads. While the later seasons lose sight of what made this initial rivalry so effective, the early couple of seasons do an excellent job showing the trials and tribulations of Wall Street trading.
The Sopranos
Similarities – Dysfunctional Family
The Sopranos is often regarded as the Godfather of modern TV and it’s easy to see why. This masterpiece offers some really clever writing, helping to give depth and colour to a lot of the characters in this show. For those unaware, The Sopranos takes an innovative look at the life of fictional North Jersey mob boss, Tony Soprano. After blacking out, he reluctantly seeks a psychiatrist’s help, while keeping this a secret from the rest of the Mob. Family stresses mix with trouble at work, as a big bullseye is painted on Tony’s back. This is HBO at its best and if you haven’t watched this already, you definitely should.
Narcos
Similarities – Style, Tone & Characters
Much like Thomas Shelby and his family, Narcos is a show that lives and dies with its eccentric cast of characters. In this case, the show follows infamous Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. Playing out as a classic cat and mouse chase, DEA and federal agents work hard to track down and stop Escobar from growing his drug enterprise. While they do, Escobar continues to grow in confidence and bravado. As the seasons tick by, the attention does turn slightly away from Escobar toward other criminals, especially in season 3. Despite that though, Narcos remains an enthralling watch from start to finish – and even spawned a sister spin-off in Narcos: Mexico.
Breaking Bad
Similarities – Drama & Evolving Characters
Breaking Bad manages to transcend beyond excellent TV into something timelessly epic on the small screen. From the tight writing and memorable characters to the constant juxtapositions and changing character fortunes, this slow-burn thriller is a non-stop rollercoaster ride from start to finish. There’s a reason this is regarded as one of the best shows ever produced, and if you haven’t seen it already do yourself a favour and check it out. If you want an example of how to turn a character from a beloved icon to something very different indeed, this is a solid choice and its accurate depiction of the drug trade makes it a must-watch. You can read our thoughts on Breaking Bad in our full season reviews here! So there we have it, our 10 TV show alternatives to watch when you’re finished with Peaky Blinders on BBC iPlayer/Netflix. What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
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