Spoilers for Peaky Blinders seasons 5 & 6 ahead.
Fans may have noticed Aberama Gold looks a bit different betweenPeaky Blindersseasons and Aidan Gillen has an answer for why that is. When Aberama Gold’s name is first mentioned inPeaky Blindersseason 4, the name alone is enough to make Johnny Dogs (Packy Lee) speak up against Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy). The Shelbys may need some muscle to help them against Luca Changretta (Adrien Brody), but Johnny Dogs warns Tommy that Aberama and his people are wild and untameable, and the gypsy soon earns his reputation as one of themost dangerous characters inPeaky Blinders.
With a dirty hat, shoulder-length gray hair, and a clean-shaven face, Aberama Gold looks more like the Quaker Oats mascot than a notorious hitman/gypsy clan leader. That’s before he successfully executes two ambushes on Luca’s elite mafia soldiers in efficient and violent fashion. Looks aren’t everything with Aberama and even when he’sbeing bested by Tommy Shelby, his icy blue eyes make it clear he can only be pushed so far. He’s a memorable character, particularly for his costuming and look, so when that changed in season 5, people noticed.
Aberama Gold Looks Different In Peaky Blinders Season 5 Because Hitmen Need To Change Their Look
There Are About Four Years Between Peaky Blinders Seasons 4 And 5
In season 5, episode 1 “Black Tuesday”, Aberama Gold looks a bit different. His hair is now closely cropped on the sides, brushed into a wave on top and he also sports a walrus mustache. It’s a much more dapper look. In the previous season, he wore his hat brim up, exposing his cold eyes to the world, but the few times he wears a hat in season 5, it’s brought low over his eyes, shadowing them in the manner of the other Peaky Blinders. Aidan Gillen gave his thoughts about why Aberama dramatically changed his grooming (viaDigitalSpy),
“But if you’re a professional hitman and you don’t like to be recognised or even noticed, it’s probably not a bad idea to change how you look every now and then.”
Gillen makes a good point. Aberama Gold is a killer and outlaw. He probably doesn’t want to be too recognizable. Furthermore,Peaky Blindersseason 5 takes place about four years after season 4. People get tired of dressing and looking the same way.The change works for the character, not least because Gillen can really wear a mustache. It also shows how much more power Tommy has accrued. Aberama was at one point a hired mercenary. Now, he’s fully under the Peaky Blinders' umbrella, dressing and looking like them as he works for them.
Peaky Blinders Creator Steven Knight Regretted Killing Off Aberama Gold
Aberama Could Have Been A Critical Character In Season 6
Frustratingly, the audience only gets to see Aberama Gold’s new appearance for six episodes because, at the end of season 5,Tommy’s ambush fails and Aberama is killed before he can take his revenge on Jimmy McCavern(Brian Gleeson) for murdering his son. It wasa shocking death inPeaky Blindersand one the show’s creator, Steven Knight, came to regret (viaEsquire),
“I should have kept [Aberama] alive, I could have just wounded him.”
It’s a little too late for fans who loved the character, but at least he admits it. With Aberama still around, not only could his vengeance on McCavern continue to be a plot point, butTommy could have had a much-needed advisor after Polly Gray’s exit from the show due to the unexpected death of her actor, Helen McCrory.
What Aberama Gold’s Aidan Gillen Is Doing Now
Gillen Has Several Upcoming Projects
Though Aberama Gold had a sudden exit fromPeaky Blinders, Aidan Gillen has kept plenty busy. He’s had major roles in several TV shows, includingProject Blue Bookas J. Allen Hynek,Kinas Frank Kinsella, andMayor of Kingstownas Milo Sunter. He’s also had several notable movie roles, including playing Jack Blackwell inThose Who Wish Me Deadand Val Barber inBarber. He has some upcoming projects as well, including the filmsPanic Carefully,Trad, andThe Duel.
