Boardwalk Empire

"You can't be half gangster, not anymore."

### Starring:

Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Gretchen Mol, Kelly McDonald, Michael Shannon, Michael Kenneth Williams, Shea Whigham

### Episodes:

56

Boardwalk Empire is an American historical crime television series created by Terence Winter and broadcast by HBO that ran 5 seasons and 56 episodes between 2010 to 2014. The series starred Steve Buscemi in the lead role and was produced by Martin Scorsese and Mark Wahlberg.

## Plot

Enoch "Nucky" Thompson works as the financial secretary of the prestigious and consumer-rich Atlantic City, while also working as a notorious bootlegger and financier of alcohol manufacturers in prohibition era America.

## Why it Rocks

1. Incredible set design, with the show's absolutely massive budget put to full effect and giving very convincing sets, props, costumes, and other things for the time period it takes place in, making it a very faithful depiction of that era, similar to Peaky Blinders (which it was also compared to), and absolutely transports you into the time period.
2. Lots of very interesting characters, many of whom are directly based on or at least inspired by real life historical figures, with Nucky himself being based on the real life Nucky Johnson.
	1. Nucky also has a pretty tragic backstory, having had a son who died soon after birth, though his wife still took care of him despite him rotting away and killed herself after his funeral. He's also someone who revolves around money, despite repeatedly claiming that it doesn't mean anything.
	2. Nucky's brother, Eli, works as the Sheriff of Atlantic City, but often has an inferiority complex that leads to him betraying him, though he's also humbled and just tries to survive and ensure the survival of others.
	3. Chalky White is a partner of Nucky's, a leader of an African-American gang of bootleggers and who predictably suffer a great deal of prejudice and stonewalling as a result.
	4. Jimmy Darmody is Nucky's former subordinate who's traumatized by World War 1 and often shows his violent side, especially towards his biological father, The Commodore, who raped his mother, Gillian, when she was just a child.
	5. Richard Harrow is a friend of Jimmy's, also a victim of World War 1 who was disfigured on half his face and who tries to ensure the safety of Jimmy's son, Tommy, and has a soft spot for children despite his instincts to kill other bootleggers.
	6. Margaret Schroder-Thompson is Nucky's second wife who seeks security for her children, but is unsure whether she wants that security from Nucky, who's a bootlegger and gangster himself.
3. A very well-written story, which often uses it's entire seasons to build up the politics of a given conflict, where allegiances can change over something as simple as money or the ability to move their product (whisky) safely, regardless of morals or reputations of certain figures.
4. Though it of course has plenty of unfortunate ads from back then (some genuine) with a lot of stereotyping, that's part of it's charm, helping greatly with the worldbuilding and also acknowledging these facets as an unfortunate part of history that shouldn't be ignored.
5. Plenty of real world events are incorporated into the storyline, which makes it all work very well. Some of this includes real social events like the Suffragettes.
6. The pilot episode, which set the world record for most expensive pilot episode, is perfect as it sets up the entire world of it and boasts stunning direction from producer Martin Scorsese.
7. Lots of incredible performances, like Steve Buscemi as Nucky and Bobby Cannavale as the antagonist of season 3, Gyp Rosetti.
8. Very artistic film direction for the series with great cinematography that depicts exactly what they need you to know at any given time and also just is beautiful to look at.
9. Excellent musical score that fits the series and the time period very well.
10. The series sometimes skips years between seasons to avoid wasting your time with a bunch of extraneous details in the plot.
11. The violence is less frequent and over the top compared to some HBO shows, which makes it a little more accessible, and the sex gets a little more toned down as it goes along.
12. Many very shocking moments, like the death of Jimmy at the end of season 2 despite his status, at that point, as a main character, which came completely unexpectedly as many fans genuinely didn't think he would die so soon and thought he would possibly make it out of this last thing only to be proven wrong.
13. Lots of great episodes, with the finales of each season typically being excellent, especially that of the third season, which tied up plenty of major plot points, built into the intensity of the previous episode (which was also great), and bringing the show as a whole to a potential close (thankfully, it kept going to really tie everything up).
14. The finale, despite the last season being shortened, does a pretty good job ending the series, not only tying up plenty of loose ends, but also giving people what they deserve, even it's main characters, and bringing plenty of elements full circle while also showing the downfall of some of these gangsters due to the end of prohibition.

## Bad Qualities

1. Although the sex isn't as egregious as Game of Thrones or True Blood among others, it can still be a bit more graphic than necessary at times and the show can suffer a little for it.
2. Some slower paced episodes that can feel like filler, as if they were just padding a little more time to get to the 12 episode mark (with the exception of season 5, which was only 8).
3. Paz De La Huerta's character was pretty much made to be a sex object. It was more tongue in cheek about it, but that ended up being most of her especially as she was fired in season 2 for drunkedness and removed from the show. It's actually disturbing in this way when you learn she was a victim of Harvey Weinstein and drank because of the trauma.
4. Some VERY unlikeable characters, not without intention, but arguably going further than really needed.
	1. Gillian Darmody not only never supported Jimmy's marriage to Angela for seemingly no reason, but she even at one point got him drunk and made him have sex with her, HIS MOTHER, then after his death, tries to keep custody of Tommy despite living in a literal whorehouse and being a drug addict. She also treats Richard rather poorly despite him being the one who does most of the work for Tommy and doesn't even care when Angela dies and Jimmy is obviously devastated.
	2. The Commodore, as mentioned before, is a pedophile who raped Gillian as a teenager and made her pregnant with Jimmy, effectively ruining her whole life in the long run.
	3. Margaret's first husband, Hans Schroeder, is a degenerate gambler who literally steals money from his family and gambles it all away, and also beats Margaret. It can feel pretty needless too as he's only in one episode (the pilot) before he's murdered for these reasons.
5. As mentioned before, there's themes of racism. The show handles them very well, showing them as a product of the time and unacceptable today, but it will nonetheless make some audiences uncomfortable.
6. Some felt that Steve Buscemi, though his performance was great, was miscast as Nucky since he doesn't really fit the profile of a sexy Playboy. That's also kind of the point, however, to show they're more attracted to him for his money.

## Reception

The series has received widespread critical acclaim throughout it's run, with praise for it's production value, writing, basis on real historical figures, and performances, particularly that of Steve Buscemi as Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, earning him a Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy for his acting.

On another review aggregator site, Rotten Tomatoes, the first season received a rating of 95%. Season two received an 91%, the third season an 89%, and the fourth season a 98%, stating "*Boardwalk Empire* continues to benefit from its meticulously realized period trappings, but what keeps the show watchable is its supremely talented ensemble players". The fifth season of the show holds a rating of 88%, with the site's consensus reading: "The final season of *Boardwalk Empire* is as visually dazzling and well-acted as ever, but it's the emphasis on Nucky Thompson's history that's particularly rewarding this time out."

David Hinkley of the *New York Daily News* awarded the series five stars, saying, "Watching HBO's new 'Boardwalk Empire' is like sitting in your favorite tavern and hearing someone say, 'Drinks are on the house.' Friends, it does not get much better." Paige Wiser of the *Chicago Sun-Times* called it "... an event not to be missed," and praised Buscemi in particular, calling his performance "fascinating".

The series has received nominations for 57 Primetime Emmys in categories ranging from Outstanding Drama Series to Outstanding Makeup and Hairstyling, winning 20 included in many of those categories.

The finale, "Eldorado", contrary to many HBO television series, was also well received by fans and critics alike. Rotten Tomatoes gave the final episode a 92% rating based on 12 critic reviews, with the critical consensus "Despite the limitations of its shortened final season, *Boardwalk Empire* wraps up the saga of Nucky Thompson in an effective series finale that both offers closure and leaves a few things to ponder."