Are you impressed by Tom Shelby?

[Lonestarryzky]

Asking this because I've seen many guys, especially teenagers post various "guy attitude" or "sigma male" quotes with his face behind them.

Personally, I agree that he has a very masculine nature and has many of those manly traits that you don't often find in men nowadays. Also I agree that he is pretty good looking. However, he put his family in danger, his loved ones got killed because of him, anger issues, cutting people with blades, constant smoking, selling and using drugs, how everyone has to obey him, being friggin' rude for no reason, manipulating people etc. I personally don't find why all that has to be so impressive.

So, what do you find impressive about him? And girls, would you marry a man like him?

[Anonymous]

He is the kind of character that should stay on screen. We can handpick characteristics like intelligence, determination, and other harmless ones from him, but trying to be emotionally stunted to present a manly exterior. His problems and struggles mainly come from war and a murdered wife. Also, nobody will look at you and think you are a new age Thomas Shelby. You're not wearing three-piece suits with a cap and smoking inside. I am saying this because there is a reason you don't see these kinds of characters in athleisure. You wouldn't know a femme fatale in a pair of leggings. You have to dress for the character you want to exude. Though that's very impractical, isn't it? Also, from the outside, he is just quiet, and you can't really command attention with violence in the modern day. Thomas Shelby is notorious because of the gang he has.

This statement is also coming from a girl whose favorite actor is Cillian Murphy; looks and skills-wise. I realize I wouldn't ever want a Thomas Shelby copycat to be with sexually or long-term in real life. I don't see any harm if guys are using Thomas Shelby to "grind" and to get through work until you can see success. Though when it comes to treating other people, family, friends, and romantic partners, I would be a loving and emotionally available guy.

[Labelleame]

Masculine and attractive? Of course yes!

Marry someone like him? Never. His own wife left him at the end. Gangsters are cool only in the dramas and movies, in real life they are a huge red flag.

[Lonestarryzky]

My thoughts exactly

[TwinTonyz]

Sigma is a meme with legitimate references to what the ideal image of a man might be. Thomas is an impressive man, but he's not real. He's written to be extraordinarily fortunate, skilled, revered, feared, and brilliant. We'd all love to be that man. On the other hand, he's, traumatized, paranoid, violent, psychopathic, selfish, and loathed by much of his own kin.

Thomas is impressive in what was built under his direction, in the way he's perceived, in the relatability of his worse traits then the ultimate victory of his best traits. All that to say he's an impressive character whose story, while being based in reality, demands impossible feats of luck via plot armor.

[CalmMind]

Good and bad aside, he had for the most part complete control over his environment. For me that's the biggest reason I like his character. He was mostly non-reactionary and chose his words very carefully before speaking. When dealing with potential threats he usually was a dozen moves ahead of his competition. I really enjoyed the scene of him being kidnapped by the IRA folks and doesn't bat an eye. Same with dealing with Billy Kimber, Alfie, etc. Man was an absolute psycho from a moral standpoint but cool as a cucumber under pressure and I think that's why many men and boys idolize him.

[NathanDavis]

his acting is really good... that's the reason why I watched all seasons, so far

as for the character, it is the typical gangster plot, nothing that remarkable or impressive about it but again, I like acting by a few others and himself

and... for the "manly model" thing, I'm a grown up already, so I don't bother with that BS, lol

[Adronicus]

No, I'd have to engage with him irl to know if I could respect him; if what you said is true, no I could not respect a man like him. I'm not the kind of person that gets gushy about celebretys, I judge them more harshly because they have a platform. The amount of money status or lack thereof means nothing to me when it comes to a person's character.

[Kontrvnote]

I liked the drama. Personally I like how the guy keeps calm when people are insulting him to his face and also how strategical he is. I don't admire the crimes he commit or idolize his character, but I do like how he thinks, prepares and takes action.

[Chazmatazz269]

A man with his ambition and skill set is always attractive to people. He was filthy rich and powerful enough to take a position in government. Of course men want to be him and women want to be with him. Anyone who suggests otherwise is surely full of it. There’s a reason those kinds of people rule the world, and always have. If we were all so inherently altruistic, those people would be marginalized, not in charge of literally everything.

[Greergr]

I mean, yes, if he were simply rich and powerful without being unfaithful or constantly letting danger into his family, most women would be down. Though we can see through Grace and Lizzie that both suffered or died because of their connection to Tom. Lizzie even divorced him in the end, so women get a front-row seat as a reason not to want him realistically. It is good that the show represented how being with the "ideal" man isn't all it's made out to be.

[Chazmatazz269]

Agreed, but there’s been no secret made of how the wealthy and powerful behave. Old sayings like “If power tends to corrupt, then absolute power corrupts absolutely.” and “Behind every great fortune lies a great crime.” were born of this common knowledge. Thousands of books, articles, movies and TV shows have made apparent how unseemly such people are.
Still the vast majority of people, men and women both, glamorize and glorify the wealthy and powerful. We even excuse them of their crimes. “The Peaky Blinders” is fiction, but a very realistic reflection of the society we’ve created for ourselves. Anyone who suggests “Thomas Shelby” isn’t attractive or admirable is either putting on airs or part of a very tiny majority. Again, these are the kind of people who have always run the world, and that simple fact wouldn’t be true if most people were opposed to their bad behavior on the majority.
It’s unfortunate you didn’t make this a poll. People vote in secret differently than they do when others are watching. Of course, you got a fair bit of “who’s that?”, but if you made that an option, i’d bet you’d get way more votes in favor of his character than opposed. I’m not afraid to admit that i admire the character. I’ve also shared quite publicly that if i had superhuman abilities i’d almost certainly be considered a supervillain, not a superhero. I’m not afraid of the truth.

[Greergr]

I didn't make this question, and I do agree that some of his traits are admirable, and he is attractive. But being an absolute horrible partner and absent father makes him a pretty unadmirable guy in the long run. The more the show progresses, the more they reveal his faults and his shortcomings as a man. I obviously can see and realize how this is from the war and Grace's death. Do I think he is impressive? Yes I do. Admirable, no.

[Greergr]

Also, I didn't post this question.

[mandyfire98]

Cillian Murphy is really attractive and a great actor but those Thomas Shelby memes are sooooo cringy.

[JDavid25]

I think they are just using his positive masculine traits as an example really, and not delving into the negative aspects of the character..

[yucychan]

Am I impressed by Tommy? Of course, I am.

Albeit a gangster, he displays an extremely charismatic and wily personality. He is very skilled at what he does.

Would I marry such a person? No. I actually feel very sorry for Lizzie.

[ElementoP]

Most of that "sigma male" shit is just a joke lol
There are good traits to being a "sigma", but I wouldn't take any of the memes about too serious.
"Don't give a fuck about anyone but yourself? Total sigma bro"

[Lonestarryzky]

Yeah, I've seen some of the memes. But some people pretty serious with being alpha or sigma lol.

[ElementoP]

That's true, some guys live by that shit lol
A real sigma already does it naturally 😜

[awwazraa]

Cillian Murphy is an excellent actor. He does his roles great in the movies he feature. The role Thomas Shelby as such is a portrayal of a gutted gangster which is obviously not realistic and in fact dangerous. So am I impressed he plays that role great? ... Yes , Will I marry him... absolutely no. It’s fun to have fantasies and all that but that life is not it. All apart Cillian is really fine 😍

[This_Is_My_Opinion8]

He was a vicious criminal. Responsible for the death of many MANY people. Tortured even more. Robbed even more. And somehow people say he is a role model for men. How?

[20yearsolder]

I guess not because I don't know who the hell he is

[Lonestarryzky]

He is the protagonist of the drama "Peaky Blinders".

[20yearsolder]

Yeah that doesn't help at all lol still don't know who he is dude

[20yearsolder]

I'm using talk to text by the way, and I don't normally speak like that up there. Yeah that doesn't help me at all. Lol. I still don't know who he is.

[007kingifrit]

he looks like the kind of guy who if he handed you an opened sheep skin condom you would feel confident he had only opened it for you out of consideration and not put tobasco sauce in it so your dick hurts if you get laid and he doesn't

[VanguardTitan]

Any post with the terms Sigma male etc automatically just seem vain to me. It's apparently some new trend on social media that being a jerk and essentially an edgy villain like person is what's cool and masculine. Just seems pathetic to me.

[Exterminatore]

As criminal? He’s probably smarter than most and I enjoy watching his calculated violence.


I love the show. Quality entertainment.

[GeneralContractor]

Never heard of him. He apparently has a mop for a haircut and looks, due to his eyes, very insecure of himself.

[CalmMind]

How do his eyes indicate insecurity? Eye placement yes is usually a good indicator but his eyes are forward in the picture and throughout the show he stares people in the eye. Just not understanding what you meant.

[Wise4myage]

I really enjoyed his role in Peaky Blinders, but his brother Arthur stole the show.

[Fuentes]

Thomas Shelby was a genius and created a empire.

[Subarugirl]

You would idolize a gangster who has substance abuse problems...

[Fuentes]

@Subarugirl if you only knew what I do for a career I can like fictional characters & like the history of old school gangsters lol

[Subarugirl]

I couldn't care less how you make your money hon..

[Fuentes]

@Subarugirl I don't like criminals but I like TV shows of crime in the show he went built a legit business and stopped drinking lol

[Greergr]

Thomas isn't a genius, but he is a savant with his business. I don't see the problem if people are idolizing his success and not any of his abusive/harmful actions or traits.

[Fuentes]

@Greergr if you can start from crime & turn it into a huge business Shelby Limited starting off from Birmingham & surviving through it all. You're damn genius cause everyone else who tried ended with a bullet before they even started or in Prison, Not many can do that. He outsmarted all his enemies & that's why he stood out.

[Subarugirl]

@Greergr the problem is that he is successful because of his abusive and violent actions…. That’s why it’s bad

[Greergr]

@Subarugirl I agree he wouldn't be successful without murder.

[Fuentes]

@Subarugirl most rich people from old money are rich today because of their old actions again life isn't some book and fairy tale. Most politician's are crooks. The fact they could maintain a legit business on the outside of crime and have nothing to do with it says a lot. The real world is bad and theirs a lot of evil. Banks owned slaves and are rich today because of it but I bet you even bank with them and I bet you have no complaints. I also think Hitler is a genius who went the wrong way. You can't cancel someone's smarts just because they did bad at the end of the day their a bad person but they were SMART.

[Greergr]

I'm not saying he isn't insanely smart, I was just commenting on your word choice.

[VaasMontenegro]

Women would definitely marry someone like him because they like the Drama and Chaos that the bad boy brings

[Subarugirl]

lol on course someone who believes women should submit to him would believe that

[VaasMontenegro]

@Subarugirl You mad brah?

[Subarugirl]

I'm just wondering how someone can be so conceded

[VaasMontenegro]

@Subarugirl you mean conceited?

[Subarugirl]

Admitting it is the first step in the right direction, at leas you’re able to recognize that about your self. Good boy

[VaasMontenegro]

@Subarugirl A feminist accusing others to be conceited?😂

[VaasMontenegro]

@Subarugirl That's funny

[Subarugirl]

Making assumptions… how cliché. I don’t expect half the global population to submit to me because of my genitalia…. That’s you honey..

[VaasMontenegro]

@Subarugirl I never said that😂😂😂 Always twisting the words which is not shocking since you're a woman

[Subarugirl]

“according to the bible women were created to be submissive to men.”
Those were your words were then not?

[VaasMontenegro]

@Subarugirl That doesn't mean I said that every wahman in the world should be submissive to me😂

[Subarugirl]

It certainly implies that women should submit to you because the Bible says so… so you don’t think that women should should submit to men like the Bible says?

[VaasMontenegro]

@Subarugirl Truly a woman moment🤦‍♂️

[Subarugirl]

Yes you keep saying that and the derogatory way you talk about women is disgusting.

[VaasMontenegro]

@Subarugirl You're strong and independent. I'm sure you'll find a way to woman up and move on with life😚

[Subarugirl]

Such a boy moment lol children these days 😂

[VaasMontenegro]

@Subarugirl you mean #CertifiedWomanMoment

[Subarugirl]

No I mean exactly what I said.

[VaasMontenegro]

@Subarugirl and what did you just say?

[Subarugirl]

Focus really hard and try reading it again

[VaasMontenegro]

@Subarugirl Focus really hard and think again

[Subarugirl]

Ohh bet it took out all day to come up with that come back, you just radiate intelligence lol

[VaasMontenegro]

@Subarugirl You're a feminist, please don't talk to me about intelligence😚

[Subarugirl]

That’s quite the assumption. I’ve never claimed to be a feminist so you’re just making things up now…. Admirable

[VaasMontenegro]

@Subarugirl Yeah yeah 😂😂😂

[Subarugirl]

Well at least you’re willing to admit it that’s progress, there may hope for you yet

[VaasMontenegro]

@Subarugirl There is no hope for a feminist like you tho

[Greergr]

We saw two women fall for his drama and chaos throughout the show and die or were constantly disrespected until they divorced him. I think we as women are more intelligent, well, a lot of us.

[VaasMontenegro]

@Greergr lolz feminists thinking that they're intelligent😂

[Subarugirl]

Says the boy who’s balls have barely dropped, I bet you mother still does your laundry. have a seat kiddo and let the grown ups talk.

[VaasMontenegro]

@Subarugirl Do I hear shaming language? And my balls have dropped 3 days ago so cry about😚

[Subarugirl]

Lol whiny children don’t make me cry honey

[VaasMontenegro]

@Subarugirl "Honey"? Are we in a relationship now or what did just happen?

[Greergr]

He is impressive from the business he was able to build but not respectable as a man. Also, unfit for a relationship. He is an absent father and was terrible to Lizzie. Some women would marry him, but they wouldn't be happy in the long run. He seems suitable as an idea for a partner but ultimately has so many shortcomings.

[VaasMontenegro]

@Greergr The show is overrated af anyways. Doesn't immersive me a lot with their politically correct bullshit

[Subarugirl]

Lol you asking if we want to marry a fiction character who is the leader of a gang?

[Sandeeppingping]

You look like you'd do it

[Subarugirl]

@Sandeeppingping Nah... im not into fictional characters with substance abuse problems... sounds like you are though

[Sandeeppingping]

Well Subarugirl does sound like a cool fictional character name, should I admit that I might be into it though?

[Lonestarryzky]

@Subarugirl I asked if you would marry someone like him, someone with a similar personality in real life. You must be tired after trying to play the smart ass role all day, take a break lol.

[Subarugirl]

No I wouldn’t, he’s an abusive violent person heading a violent crime organization, with substance abuse problems, no one in their right mind would want to get tangled up with someone like that.

[Sandeeppingping]

Sounds like George Floyd to me

[Sandeeppingping]

Ohhh you were answering someone else who answered, not me, I was thinking that what you said didn't make sense, nevermind

[Sandeeppingping]

But shit you ignored me, that hurts

[kataang]

Cillian Murphy is hot.

[Lonestarryzky]

Yup I agree the actor is attractive.

[Idkwtfimdoing96]

I find his character hot lol

[Idkwtfimdoing96]

probably cuz he's so badass yk

[Phoenix98]

Not really no.

[Fireguy17]

No clue who he is

[TonightYouu]

I like Arthur better

[Lonestarryzky]

That guy is sometimes hilarious.

[Gloree]

He is scary

[In_Trance]

no idea who this is

[Anonymous]

Alpha male