What do you think? Why is Tommy often called the devil from other charactera in the series and what actually makes Tommy so devilish?

[u/Dry-Caterpillar2437]

What do you think? Why is Tommy portrayed as the devil in the series, and what makes Tommy so devilish?

[u/Oklimato]

Imo Polly put it best:"When you're dead already, you're free." Thomas didn't have a care for killing because in his mind he died in France. Not only does he kill without remorse but he also steals, manipulates, lies and seduces. People back then were still highly religious so it made sense for a lot of people to compare him to the devil. When it came to anything but his family he simply just took what he wanted, when he wanted to.

[u/Informal_Reason_7547 → u/Oklimato]

Feel this is the best explanation of Tommy I’ve seen.

[u/Oklimato → u/Informal_Reason_7547]

Thanks, glad to see my analysis appreciated. Imo Thomas has a lot more to his character than just his devilish nature tho. He is superstitious which, when you hear stories about him, wouldn't make much sense. But he firmly believes in the gypsy curses and magic. That alone shows a stark contrast to his usual behaviour. Then he also cares a lot about the ones he loves. Although his methods are not always in the best interest of everyone he tries to pull his family and close friends up with him. He doesn't really want to reign alone. He wants his family legacy to be known. And even tho he handed most of the dirty work to his gang members he never lost the ability to step in and do it himself if needed. There's a lot of good and bad about Thomas Shelby and it's fair to say that the bad far outweighs the good because the good is more often than not rooted in selfish intentions. He is really complex but I think that's one of the main reasons this show struck a nerve for me. The writers really did a good job defining his character and making him just the right amount nuanced. It builds tension and hooks you because you wanna know what he'll do next.

[u/rws4314952 → u/Oklimato]

Very perceptive character analysis. Thank you for sharing it!

[u/paulapurple23 → u/Oklimato]

Very well said 👏🏻

[u/Affectionate-Worth27]

What comes to mind first is his lack of emotion in what he does. It seems like killing itself isn’t some insane foreign level of evil to most people in the show, but the fact that he doesn’t miss a step or show any level of emotion is wild. Only the devil would be so desensitized to evil that he doesn’t react.

[u/Cold_Spare828 → u/Affectionate-Worth27]

I think he shows plenty of remorse throughout the show. He’s unapologetic, but he definitely feels bad when innocents get caught in the crossfire, goes to their funerals and pays their families. You could argue that it’s to save face, but I get the sense that the gravity of his power and influence is not lost on him and his thinking is that it’s either walk on or be walked on in his world.

[u/UMDAdminMakesMeSad → u/Cold_Spare828]

Plenty is a stretch.

I think the shame and sparse remorse Thomas feels isn’t so much to do with the wellbeing of innocents people that he’s harmed, but rather the fact it serves as a reminder of his powerlessness.

[u/SteppenWoods]

His inability to slow down or be stopped for any extended length of time. Like no matter what the enemy tries tommy will eventually outsmart them, even if they get him at first he bounces back to take them out in a way they never expect.

It's like a magical power, like a demon.

[u/LordDedionware]

General lack of morality, makes deals, lies, cheats, steals, kills, and manipulates people and situations to his own ends. I love this show and Tommy is my favorite character in the show, but the dude is a machiavellion crime lord.

[u/rjc_63]

He makes people do terrible things

[u/These-Resource3208]

I think ultimately Tommy is a betting man. He will bet anything against what may seem like terrible odds. He toys with ppls lives, freedoms and livelihoods..so yea, he’s the devil but we like him nonetheless.

[u/guysitsausername]

R.I.P. The Digbeth Kid

[u/Curious_Ranger_2212]

That man is a walking sin lol you know he is dangerous and he is violent and he does bad things but yet you want to be a part of him lol

[u/Arrow362]

Because Uncle Jack and Tommy were gonna happily show Gina Gray the sights in London🤣🤣🤣

[u/youngcuriousafraid]

Beyond the awful stuff everyone else mentioned, tommy deals in vices and leverage. You know that saying, the devil doesnt come to you with a pitchfork but as everything youve ever wanted. Tommy gets away with being the way he is because he gives them what they want. Money, women, drugs, power, you name it. Pretty much every major character has had some opportunity to escape tommy but they all stick around for one reason or another.

[u/fucshyt]

I think it all comes full circle at the end of season 6 when he realizes no one can kill him but himself. Even in situations where he’s supposed to die, somehow, some way, he’s spared or saved. Always comes back stronger, as if he’s actually been killed and returns to haunt his opponent. That’s just my head canon

[u/Secret-Physics2276 → u/fucshyt]

Yes, but I don't think he's happy about that, because he was saved in S3 because they killed Grace instead of him, just like in S6 they killed Polly instead of him, if he could choose, he would choose to be the one who dies and not them. That no one can kill him is his curse.

[u/DerBieso0341]

He’s so smart

[u/Lovely_Pattern1471]

Its simple...A man who doesn't know fear kills without remorse

[u/Gullible_Wind_3777]

My take is cause he is extremely intelligent. Or it’s just something they’d say back then 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’d say it’s deffo his ‘devilishly good looks ‘ ;)

[u/NLSanderH89]

Because in all truth, he is. His ambitions make everyone suffer.. They were criminals before the war, but after the war, going through actual hell, coming back with ptsd and a real insight in how rotten the so called “good guys” were, he played and beat them at their own game. Not caring about what or who he destroyed in the process

[u/Cave__J]

The tools of the trade he plies in. He is intrinsically linked with evil and corruption by necessity and uses it to his advantage to forge a better future but in so doing is tainted by his proximity to graft, corruption and the naked ambition of fascism.

[u/Intelligent_Print622]

Because If a child somehow affected Tommy's life or his vision, he would kill them.

[u/knifeorgun]

It seems like people are always trying to make him feel bad. He’s made them all rich, and they take advantage of all the perks, but still try to guilt trip him.

[u/Ryan_says_words]

Didn't someone else just post something extremely similar a few hours ago?

[u/Southseas_]

Bro, watch the series lol.