Yassine MarshallPeaky Blinders: The Immortal Man hit Netflix on 20 March 2026 — and within days it became the most-watched film on the platform globally. Tommy Shelby is back, haunted by grief, fractured by trauma, and ultimately choosing to die on his own terms. The film is riveting television — but it is also an uncommonly honest portrait of what unresolved trauma looks like in a man who never asked for help.
What the Film Gets Right About Trauma
The Immortal Man picks up with Tommy Shelby in isolation, tormented by visions of his late daughter Ruby and unable to function. Writer Steven Knight, in interviews published ahead of the March 2026 release, confirmed that Tommy's deterioration was specifically modelled on complex PTSD — the cumulative trauma of years of violence, loss, and moral compromise.
This is rare for mainstream entertainment. Most portrayals of men in emotional crisis rely on stoicism or sudden breakdown. Cillian Murphy's performance shows something more clinically accurate: hypervigilance, emotional numbing, intrusive memories, and a chronic inability to accept care.
Mental health practitioners in the UK have already noted the film's accuracy. Dr Sarah Knowles, a consultant psychiatrist interviewed by the Guardian on 21 March 2026, described the depiction of Tommy's condition as "one of the most realistic portrayals of complex trauma I've seen in a major film."
Why Men Don't Seek Help — and What It Costs Them
Tommy Shelby would never call a psychologist. That's exactly the problem — and it resonates with millions of men in the UK watching the film.
Men in Britain are significantly less likely to seek help for mental health issues than women. According to the Mental Health Foundation's 2025 report, men account for approximately 75% of suicide deaths in the UK, yet are far less likely to access therapy or counselling.
The barriers are familiar: stigma, stoicism, a cultural narrative that frames seeking help as weakness. Tommy Shelby embodies all of them. He surrounds himself with allies, shuts out intimacy, and self-medicates. The film does not glamorise this — by the end, he is utterly alone.
What Complex PTSD Actually Looks Like
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is distinct from single-incident PTSD. It develops after prolonged or repeated trauma — childhood abuse, domestic violence, combat exposure, or, in Tommy's case, years of criminal violence and moral injury.
Symptoms include:
- Emotional dysregulation — extreme reactions to triggers, difficulty managing anger or grief
- Negative self-perception — persistent feelings of shame, guilt, or worthlessness
- Distorted relationships — difficulty trusting others, cycles of closeness and withdrawal
- Dissociation — a sense of being detached from one's own thoughts, feelings, or identity
These symptoms can mimic depression or personality disorders, which is why C-PTSD is often misdiagnosed. A qualified clinical psychologist or psychiatrist can assess and provide an evidence-based diagnosis.
When to Seek Professional Help
The Peaky Blinders film is fiction. But the behaviours Tommy exhibits — sustained social withdrawal, self-medication, emotional outbursts, inability to process grief — are real warning signs.
You do not need to have survived a war or a criminal gang to develop trauma responses. Redundancy, relationship breakdown, bereavement, or a serious accident can all trigger similar patterns, particularly in people who have not had the opportunity to process earlier adverse experiences.
If you or someone you know shows several of the above symptoms for more than a month, a mental health assessment is the right next step. Waiting lists for NHS psychological services in the UK remain long in 2026 — private psychologists and psychiatrists offer faster access and personalised treatment plans.
On Expert Zoom, you can connect with accredited UK clinical psychologists and psychiatrists who specialise in trauma, including video consultations available within days.
How to Support Someone Who Relates to Tommy Shelby
If you know someone who reacted strongly to the film — or who displays patterns similar to Tommy's — there are practical steps you can take.
Don't diagnose, listen. The most effective thing a friend or partner can do is not label what they observe, but create space for the other person to speak. Questions like "how are you doing, honestly?" or "I've noticed you seem distant — do you want to talk?" are more effective than pointing out symptoms.
Normalise professional support. Men who resist therapy often do so because of the perceived stigma. Framing therapy as "talking to someone who can actually help" — rather than a sign of weakness — is more likely to land. Emphasising that it is confidential and practical, not a place to "dwell on the past," often helps.
Look for specific triggers. C-PTSD often has identifiable triggers — anniversaries, sensory reminders, specific situations. Recognising these can help both the person and their support network manage difficult periods.
The Conversation the Film Starts
The Immortal Man ends with Tommy Shelby dying in peace, reciting a poem by his daughter's grave. It is a cathartic ending — but it is also a tragedy of a man who could not accept help until it was too late.
The film has prompted a genuine cultural conversation in the UK about men, trauma, and mental health. That conversation matters. The characters we watch on screen shape what we believe is possible for ourselves.
If the film made you think about someone you know — or about yourself — that is worth following up. Speaking to a professional is not a sign of weakness. In Tommy Shelby's case, it might have changed everything.
Important: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or psychiatric advice. If you are in crisis, contact the Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24/7) or your GP. Expert Zoom connects you with qualified mental health professionals for private consultations.
