After a long 889-day wait, fans of BBC’s Peaky Blinders were treated to the first episode of the what will be the sixth and final season of the show.

Set three years after the events of season 5, we’re now in 1933, and things seem more desperate than ever. Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) has found himself out of work as prohibition comes to an end in the United States, and now seeks to turn his bootleg whiskey business into another illicit trade — one concerning opium.

The season also shines the spotlight on Michael’s (Finn Cole) wife Gina (Anna Taylor-Joy) — both of whom seem on the precipice of bringing Tommy’s reign to an end. 

Showrunner Steven Knight has also had to write around the tragic death of Helen McCrory, who played the iconic role of Elizabeth ‘Polly’ Gray. Without giving too much away, this was done with tact and respect and in a way that promises further intriguing plot points while paying tribute to what Murphy described as ‘the beating heart of that show’.

All in all, a great start to a great finale. As reviews and first impressions poured in, fans on Twitter began to share their excitement about the season premiere as well as the last few episodes of the show:

Apart from Murphy’s always-perfect portrayal of Tommy Shelby, fans also eagerly await the return of Tom Hardy as the wisecracking Jewish gangster, Alfie Solomons.

Peaky Blinders season 6 premiered on February on BBC One, and will stream on Netflix in the coming weeks.

(Featured Image Credit: BBC One)