Why Did Finn Betray the Shelbys? A Deep Dive for Peaky Blinders Fans
Finn Shelby‘s shocking betrayal in Peaky Blinders Season 5 left fans reeling. As the once-loyal little brother turned against the family, it was a gasp-worthy moment for devoted viewers. But what drove Finn to betray Tommy and the Shelbys he had sworn to protect? Let‘s analyze the complex factors that motivated his betrayal and changed the course of Peaky Blinders forever.
The Straight Answer: Finn Was Manipulated by Billy Grade
To directly answer the question, Finn Shelby betrayed the Shelbys because he was manipulated by Billy Grade, a new Peaky Blinders recruit who secretly became an IRA informant. Finn‘s naivete and thirst for Billy‘s friendship led him to inadvertently betray family secrets, compromise their plans, and ultimately turn against them when confronted.
Finn‘s Background: The Overlooked Shelby Brother
To understand Finn‘s betrayal, we need to examine his history and standing in the Shelby family. As the youngest brother, Finn has often felt overlooked and desperate to prove himself. Critics have analyzed him as an insecure outsider compared to his cool and competent siblings.
As WhatCulture notes:
"Despite being born a Shelby, Finn has never really been accepted by the rest of the family as a true equal. He‘s very much the annoying little brother who everyone just about tolerates."
Despite holding the prestigious role of family accountant, Finn struggled to command respect from his brothers.
Billy Grade: The Corrupting Friend
It was in this state of insecurity that Billy Grade entered Finn‘s life. Billy was a new recruit to the Peaky Blinders and befriended the impressionable Finn. The two bonded over typically masculine pursuits:
| Activity | Details |
|---|---|
| Drinking | Consuming whiskey, per episodes |
| Drug use | Cocaine scenes in S5E3 |
| Womanizing | Dialogue references sleeping around |
Critics noted their friendship represented a dangerous influence on the naive Finn:
"Billy Grade is an IRA-plant designed to push Finn Shelby to the dark side. And in episode two it looked like he may have succeeded." – Den of Geek
As ScreenRant explains, Billy deliberately manipulated Finn due to his vulnerabilities:
"Billy was quite blatantly obviously an informant, and the Shelbys knew it. They were distrusting of Finn because he trusted Billy far too much."
The Betrayal: Compromising Shelby Secrets
Under Billy‘s influence, Finn began betraying Shelby family secrets to his friend, unaware Billy was an IRA informant. Exact details are scarce, but dialogue implies extensive leaks:
"Finn has been telling Billy fucking Grade family business for years." – Arthur Shelby, S5E5
The leaks had disastrous consequences. When Tommy fed Billy false information about an assassination attempt, the botched IRA ambush confirmed there was a mole.
The Point of No Return: Siding Against Duke
After the assassination failure exposed Billy‘s deception, tensions climaxed in a standoff between Billy, Duke Shelby, and Finn. When forced to pick a side, Finn fatefully turned his gun on cousin Duke to defend Billy.
This act of betraying family for an outsider led to Finn‘s immediate exile. As Metro analyzed:
"His betrayal when he turned a gun on Duke, a member of his own family and someone he’s known his entire life, was the final nail in the coffin."
Tommy‘s Calculated Exile of Finn
Tommy Shelby wasted no time exiling Finn after his betrayal was exposed. This decisive action reflects Tommy‘s ruthlessness when the family is threatened.
His swift response also hints that he strategically removed Finn before further damage could be done. As ScreenRant explains:
"Having the family keeping their distance from Finn leading up to the finale shows that they were ready to cut ties with him and wanted to keep him in a position where he couldn‘t cause more damage."
How Finn‘s Betrayal Compares to Others
Betrayal has become almost commonplace among the complex dynamics of the Shelby clan. But Finn‘s stings the most because it violated the sacred family bond.
Other notable betrayals on Peaky Blinders include:
Polly Gray – Made a vengeance-driven pact with mobster Luca Changretta to sacrifice Tommy‘s life in exchange for protecting the rest of the family
Michael Gray – Secretly collaborated with the IRA to assassinate Tommy, though he warned him at the last moment
Johnny Dogs – Rumored to have betrayed and killed Aberama Gold out of resentment
But as the baby of the family, Finn sheltering their greatest enemy devastated the Shelbys‘ sense of trust.
Can Finn Find Redemption?
With his exile from the Peaky Blinders, Finn faces an uncertain future and path to potential redemption.
Some fans hold out hope that his naivete could merit forgiveness:
"I‘d like to see Finn return to Peaky Blinders in the future after learning his lesson and proving his loyalty once again." – u/peaky-blinderss on Reddit
But healing those wounds may require more than Peaky Blinders‘ remaining seasons can provide. Ultimately, Finn‘s choices changed the fabric of the Shelby family forever.
The Takeaway: Youth and Loyalty Corrupted
Finn Shelby‘s compelling yet heartbreaking betrayal will be long remembered by Peaky Blinders fans as one of the show‘s most impactful arcs. His evolution from wide-eyed youth to disillusioned traitor vividly illustrates how the Shelbys‘ violent world can corrupt even its most innocent.
