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'Peaky Blinders' season 5: Who is Thomas Shelby's new sniper friend Barney Thompson?

Thomas has chalked up a master plan to assassinate his rival Oswald Mosley but why is he going to such lengths to get it done?

A new character entry in 'Peaky Blinders' is always a point of discussion. So, in episode five of season five, when Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) went to meet an old friend in an asylum, it raised many eyebrows. Who is he? Introduced as Barney Thompson (played by Cosmo Jarvis), he is said to have shared history with the Labour MP during his tunneling days in the First World War.

Tommy has very few good men left in his warrior clan and in an attempt to get a good sniper, Thomas is helping him break out of the asylum. Barney called Tommy Sergeant Major when they first spoke. The two fought at the Black Water and according to their conversation, the former was "one of the best snipers in the army". Barney is a man who follows orders and years of being cooped up in a hole has only made his wish to be freed stronger.

The guards in the asylum call Barney an "animal" and it seems like he was incarcerated due to his mental health problems. "You still remember that French waitress. She was beautiful. And I reckon I was second best after Barney," Tommy told him in a scene. "We will come for you after midnight," he had said handing him a cyanide capsule. 

Thomas has chalked up a master plan to assassinate his rival Oswald Mosley (Sam Claflin) and it is to execute the plan that he wants his old sniper bud back. While the setup seems perfect, it is yet to be seen whether Barney can actually fire the bullet right as he hasn't held a gun in years. Moreover, he is also in a fragile state of mind.

Considering Tommy will actually be right next to Mosley when the man is shot, will he be able to keep his hands stable and get one last perfect shot?

Once Tommy gets rid of Mosley, he plans to re-start his war with the Glaswegian gang The Billy Boys. As the final episode of season five rolls out on BBC One on Sunday, September 22, it is to be seen whether Tommy's plans are successful or he has to come up with a Plan B. But, no matter what happens, it seems Barney Thompson is a new addition to the cast and is here to stay.