a character analysis and comparison between thomas shelby and bucky barnes - a thread

being both marvel and peaky blinders fan, i can’t help not getting invested with these characters. Because of that i also notice some similarities between them

This doesn’t mean that their stories are identical to one another, because if i say so i just undermine their individual arcs.

MILITARY BACKGROUND
Both of these characters served in their countries’ respective militaries, albeit in different wars. What’s also interesting is that their ranks are not that far from one another. Tommy was a Sergeant Major of the BEF, Bucky a Sergeant of the US Army

Having those ranks also means leading men. Tommy led his sapper/tunnel digger company (which includes his brothers) in Verdun and Somme, while Bucky was second-in-command of the Howling Commandos throughout their missions in Western Europe against HYDRA

PTSD
Tommy and Bucky both show signs of PTSD because all of their traumatic experiences. After the war, tommy can’t really go back to the life he had before the war because he’s seen so many traumatic events. In S1 there are so many lines referencing his experiences in France

Bucky’s story has 2 major traumatic events : the wagon incident and him being a mindless programmed assassin for more than 60 years. He’s gone through so many killings, which he couldn’t stop because he wasn’t in control of himself

For a long time, traumas have been such a huge part in their stories that some aspects of their personalities are there because they stem from the traumas. Notable examples are tommy’s ruthless views of the world and bucky’s animosity towards people

ATTACHMENTS
Both characters are attached to many other characters in various ways. These attachments manage also to - in some ways - put their negative character traits and traumas in check

Tommy had a pre-war crush named greta jurossi. He was so in love with her that when she died, he stayed at her bedside for 3 months, stopped doing so only because of the start of WWI. For a long time, he keeps an old photo of them

Tommy also was heavily dependent to Grace. Grace was one of few people who can keep his trauma in check. After her death, tommy was never the same again

Tommy was close with his siblings, particularly arthur and ada. Probably because both understand tommy and actually want the best for him. Arthur was even tommy’s best man

Bucky’s main attachment was Steve. Their bro-ship was a long-lasting one and shaped both of their arcs. Both of them think of one another as brothers

Bucky and Sam’s relationship is an interesting one. Both of them had a rough start with one another, but after that they become closer and closer.

JUDGMENTAL MENTALITY
Both of them judge other people heavily, even from the first meeting. Because their worlds aren’t kind, those judging skills are important.

In this scene Tommy lowkey judges Det. Campbell for being a coward for not fighting in France

In this scene Bucky lowkey judges John Walker for being a self-proud, annoying person

GUILT AND BLAME
Both of them wronged a lot of people, sometimes not intentionally. Tommy sometimes wronged people even unintentionally. Bucky wasn’t in control of himself for a long time and ended up hurting innocent people

Remember this scene in S3 where tommy had to send almost his entire family to jail? He didn’t even look comfortable with his decision, but he had to do so to protect the business.

And also this scene when Bucky had to “be” the Winter Soldier again to gain informations on the super soldier serum. He wrecked the whole club, but if you guys remember he wasn’t comfortable of doing it after that

In the end, both of them are tortured by things that they did. Tommy slowly loses himself over time because of the horrible things he did. Bucky struggles to accept life after the Winter Soldier because he could remember all the people he’s been killing

The difference between them is that while bucky had a good support system, tommy didn’t. He just keeps fighting his guilt through drinking, drug abuse, and sex, all of which torture him even more

LAST BUT NOT LEAST
Their final similarity is that they were both played by talented and handsome actors, which we all love and adore

Ok so this is the end of thread. Thank you guys for reading and staying til the end of this long ass thread

and insta user @/imsebastianstan pls watch peaky blinders