what happened to ruby in peaky blinders
Ruby Shelby, Tommy and Lizzie’s young daughter in Peaky Blinders , becomes mysteriously ill in season 6 and ultimately dies from “consumption” (pulmonary tuberculosis), with her death also framed as the result of a Gypsy curse linked to Tommy’s past actions.
What happens to Ruby in the show?
- Ruby starts feeling unwell early in season 6, developing a fever and coughing blood.
- Lizzie tells Tommy that Ruby is saying strange Romani words – “Tickna mora o’beng” – and seeing a man with green eyes, which terrifies Tommy because of his Gypsy background and beliefs.
- Doctors diagnose her with “consumption,” an old term for a wasting lung disease, and she is treated in hospital, but her condition worsens.
- Despite medical efforts, she dies in episode 3 of season 6, leaving Tommy devastated and setting off much of his emotional spiral in the final season.
Was Ruby cursed or just sick?
In the story, there are two layers: a medical cause and a supernatural/curse explanation.
- Medically, Ruby dies of pulmonary tuberculosis; the show clearly labels her condition as consumption caused by TB.
- Supernaturally, Esme explains that Ruby’s fate is tied to the cursed sapphire Tommy once gave to the Barwell family, the same stone responsible for Grace’s death.
- A woman named Evadne Barwell, whose daughter Connie died after wearing that sapphire, is said to have cursed Tommy so that he would lose his own daughter when she turned seven.
- Ruby’s visions of “the Grey Man” and the man with green eyes deepen the sense that something otherworldly is targeting the Shelbys, even as the doctors talk only of illness.
Quick HTML table of key points
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Character | Ruby Shelby, daughter of Tommy and Lizzie. | [9][1]
| Season & episode | Season 6, primarily episodes 1–3; she dies in episode 3 (“Gold”). | [5][9][1]
| Illness | Fever, coughing blood, diagnosed with “consumption” from pulmonary tuberculosis. | [3][9][1]
| Supernatural signs | Repeats “Tickna mora o’beng,” sees a man with green eyes, warns of “the Grey Man.” | [10][2][6]
| Curse explanation | Linked to the cursed sapphire Tommy gave the Barwell family; Evadne Barwell curses Tommy to lose his daughter at seven. | [1][5]
| Outcome | Ruby dies in hospital despite treatment, triggering Tommy’s grief and rage for the rest of the season. | [8][9][5][1]
Why Ruby’s death matters to the story
- Ruby is portrayed as the “apple of Tommy’s eye,” so her death hits harder than many of the show’s other losses.
- Her sickness and final warnings about “the Grey Man” directly connect to Tommy’s own supposed illness and the mysterious doctor who later appears to fit Ruby’s description.
- The blend of TB, curses, and visions reinforces one of the core themes of Peaky Blinders : you can’t escape the consequences of your past, no matter how powerful you become.
Fan and forum reaction
- Many viewers said Ruby’s death was one of the most heartbreaking moments of the final season, with plenty admitting the episode left them in tears.
- On forums, people often argue over whether the show leans too hard into the “curse” angle or whether Ruby’s fate should be read as tragic coincidence wrapped in Romani symbolism.
- Others see her storyline as necessary to push Tommy toward his final transformation, forcing him to confront both his guilt and his belief in fate.
TL;DR: Ruby in Peaky Blinders becomes ill, repeats ominous Romani phrases, sees haunting visions, and ultimately dies from TB, but the show layers this over a Gypsy curse tied to Tommy’s earlier sins, making her death both a medical tragedy and a supernatural reckoning.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.