24. Boardwalk Empire
Dark, brooding crime shows with antihero protagonists are nothing new, but when they're done well they can be something really special, which is exactly what Boardwalk Empire is. Created by Sopranos writer Terrence Winter and with a pilot directed by Martin Scorsese, it's packing some serious prestige right off the bat, but the beauty of Boardwalk is its ability to take that impossibly great combination of talents and somehow come out even better, marking itself as one of HBO's best originals to date. It's a gangster show with a unique perspective, showing the sin-soaked world of 1920s Atlantic City from the point-of-view of the deeply corrupt politician Nucky Thompson as he grapples with all manner of forces on both sides of the law during prohibition
With a cast led by the incomparable Steve Buscemi and a legion of the best character actors in the business, there's no shortage of incredible performances in Boardwalk Empire as players both fictional and real dream, scheme and backstab each other in pursuit of power. Steven Graham's turn as Al Capone really needs no introduction at this point but it can't be overstated how full-blooded and thrilling that performance really is. He nails the cold-blooded aggression of course, but there's a quiet, unsettling humanity there too that I think is indicative of how the show weaves history with its own creations. It's consistently inspired, perfectly landing in the middleground between faithful recreation and really exciting historical fiction, and as a result, it's equally welcoming to both newcomers, as well as those familiar with the period
The way that Boardwalk recreates 1920s New Jersey is nothing short of stunning. No detail has been spared here, from the rich period-accurate production design right down to the soundtrack, which is largely composed of music from the era performed by contemporary artists. This is the real heart of the show, and the amount of love gone into restoring this world and bringing every single corner of Atlantic City to life is just absolutely staggering. It fits in nicely with the way the show tells its story too, and as Nucky struggles to keep up with the rapid changes of American society, the whole look and feel of the show follows suit. This is something that especially becomes apparent in the fourth season, which cranks up the melancholy with each episode before forcing you to look back and see how much has changed quicker than you could even begin to notice
It's also worth saying that Boardwalk Empire has a feeling of genuine lethality unlike anything I've seen on TV. Only a select few characters are truly safe, and everyone else feels like they're living on borrowed time. That feeling that anyone can go at any moment is what gives Boardwalk Empire this genuine sense of danger, making it so unpredictable and unbelievably tense, especially when the cast is stacked to the rafters with volatile and violent personalities like Gyp Rosetti and Chalky White who feel like they could just combust at any minute. It's a violent show for sure but it earns every drop of blood, and always takes the time to contemplate on the chaos and ask if any of it was worth it at all
And that's ultimately what the show is about: violence. For all of the glamour and sheen that Atlantic City has on the surface, the core is rotten, and Boardwalk goes on to apply this idea to every American institution. It's set at a time where progress is built on bloodshed, where pleasure has a cost, and everything is deteriorating just as quick as it's being created. There's a quiet tragedy to that, and Boardwalk laments that horrible truth in real time. That does mean that the show's ending is slightly predictable but I'd argue that works in its favour. The destruction coming for every character is inevitable, and instead of denying that or trying to make some kind of grand reveal out of it, Boardwalk hones in on it, steering straight into the storm and meditating on the fate that all violent men are bound to face
It's just such a striking show, one that hits hard and delivers huge thrills without ever sacrificing the tragic sting that comes from a life lived in sin. For all of its blood-soaked bluster, Boardwalk knows how to dole out heartbreak; Farewell Daddy Blues still sticks in my mind as one of the saddest episodes of television I've ever seen, and is a perfect example of how this show is able to build startling, sobering amounts of sympathy for characters who consistently prove to be capable of such awful things. So what if the last season wasn't as good as it could have been? If Nucky Thompson taught us anything, it's that every successful deal comes with a little compromise. I'll drink to that
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