Why Does Tommy Shelby Rub Cigarettes On His Lips

Okay, let's talk about something important. Something that's been bugging me. It's about a certain stylish gangster. A gangster with a serious cigarette habit. I'm talking about Tommy Shelby, of course.

He's got the coat, the cap, the razor-sharp wit. He's basically the king of brooding. But there's this one little thing...

It's the cigarette rubbing. You know the move. The Tommy Shelby special. The way he drags a cigarette across his lips before lighting up. Every. Single. Time.

Is it just me?

Am I the only one who finds this... odd? Don't get me wrong. I love Peaky Blinders. I think Cillian Murphy is brilliant. But that cigarette thing? It's a quirk that has definitely caught my eye.

I get it. He's a tough guy. He's seen things. Things nobody should ever see. And maybe the cigarette rubbing is some kind of deep, symbolic thing. Maybe it's his way of connecting with his inner turmoil.

Or... maybe it's just a weird habit. A nervous tic disguised as a cool move. Which honestly, I kind of suspect.

Theories (mostly joking)

Let's brainstorm some explanations, shall we? Maybe it's a 1920s thing. Like, everyone was doing it back then. It's like flossing before it was popular.

Perhaps it's to soften the cigarette paper. You know, make it easier to roll a perfect smoke for a gangster on the go. A busy gangster hasn't time to be fighting with a stubborn cigarette.

Or maybe, just maybe, Tommy Shelby is secretly addicted to chapstick. But, being a hardened criminal, he can't be seen applying it directly. So, he improvises with a cigarette. Pure genius!

Perhaps it's a good luck charm. Rubbing the cigarette equals good deals, no ambushes and no backstabbing. Or at least a slightly better day than yesterday.

Unpopular Opinion Time

Here's where I might lose some of you. I think... I think the cigarette rubbing is a little bit... extra. Hear me out. He's already effortlessly cool. The three-piece suit does a lot of the work.

He's Tommy Shelby! People are already intimidated by him! He doesn't need to rub a cigarette on his lips to establish his dominance. He could just stare into your soul, and you'd probably hand over your entire fortune.

Does it even *do* anything? Does it actually enhance the smoking experience? Or is it purely for the aesthetic? I'm leaning towards the latter.

Embrace the quirk?

But you know what? Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's part of what makes Tommy Shelby so iconic. Maybe it's the little details that elevate a character from good to legendary.

And let's be honest, even if it's a little bit silly, it's still strangely captivating. I mean, we're talking about it, aren't we?

So, maybe I'll just embrace the cigarette rubbing. Maybe I'll even start doing it myself. (Just kidding... mostly). Maybe. I guess I'll just have to rewatch Peaky Blinders to... investigate further. For research purposes, of course.

At the end of the day, Tommy Shelby is a compelling character. And he certainly is stylish. Even with the questionable cigarette ritual.

What do you think? Is the cigarette rubbing cool or completely unnecessary? I'm ready for the debate!