If you haven’t heard of Peaky Blinders before, you’re missing out on one of the best shows on TV. Set in Birmingham, England in 1919 following the aftermath of World War I, this show follows the Shelby family as they run their bootlegging operation and deals with enemies both foreign and domestic, including the police and an Irish mob known as The Peaky Blinders. Filled with intense fight scenes, unexpected plot twists, and engaging characters, Peaky Blinders tells an incredible story that will keep you guessing until the very end… and leave you waiting for season 5! Brilliant Chang Is a Standout in Peaky Blinders
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Who Is Andrew Koji
Andrew Julian Hiroaki Koji (born 10 November 1987) is a British actor, martial artist, and filmmaker. He is best known for his work in the lead role of Ah Sahm in the Cinemax (later HBO Max) series Warrior
A little history
Brilliant Chang was first introduced as Tommy Shelby’s (Cillian Murphy) financial manager in season 1 of Peaky Blinders, but his character would quickly become one of my favorites. With each season he has done an incredible job of bringing to life one of my favorite characters on television—but it takes more than talent to do that.
Andrew Koji is much more than just brilliant and that’s why I am writing about him today. Who is Andrew Koji? Andrew Koji plays Tommy Shelby’s financial advisor/accountant Brilliant Chang who worked for Tommy during most of seasons 1-3.
From series 1-3
Welcome to Birmingham, England in 1919. This is where we first meet Andrew Koji as Brilliant Chang, who is initially running a Chinese-owned casino and then becomes an ally to Thomas Shelby (the family head) who seeks his help for expanding and developing Shelby’s empire. His character remains loyal, honest, and trustworthy throughout all three series which makes him so likable. Brilliant Chang doesn’t hesitate when it comes to making decisions or acting on them, whether they are big or small. He also seems to be very educated since he holds some knowledge about genetics and states that if given more research funding he could create many new advances in genetic engineering due to our small understanding of these processes on humans at that time.
FAQ
What is Peaky Blinders? The 1920s Birmingham-based gangster series tells of criminal mastermind Thomas Shelby and his family’s rise to power, and their struggles to maintain it. It has been compared to Boardwalk Empire and The Sopranos. Starring Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby, Sam Neill as Chester Campbell, Helen McCrory as Aunt Polly, Paul Anderson as Arthur Shelby Jr., Joe Cole as John Shelby, Iddo Goldberg as Jeremiah Jesus Jez Kirriemuir and Tom Hardy (in his first TV role) as Alfie Solomons. The show was created by Steven Knight who also wrote every episode of its first three series.
At the end of it all
In season 2, one of our favorite characters from series 1 returns: Chang. After being presumed dead, Andrew Koji comes back as Chang. More charming than ever. However, we don’t get to see him for long. After bringing down Billy Kimber’s gang at a racecourse event (The Epsom Derby), Tommy Shelby and his brothers each get 7 years for attempted murder and Tommy gets an extra year for assaulting Samuel Murray-Browne (realizing he was with his wife that fateful night of his injury). When Billy finds out that Harry killed one of his own men (Errol) while looking into Samuel’s death – they bring it to Chang and ask him if he knew anything about it. He plays dumb and says no.
