Boardwalk Empire

**Drewbacca** · 13 Dec 2011, 09:28 PM

Really great season. Caught me completely off-guard, and I identify heavily with Jimmy so I was a bit ticked off.

I have some concerns for season 3. Jimmy being off'ed means that pretty much all of the bad ass entertaining action that the series desperately needs when it decides to go uber-slow with the dramatic scenes will have to be worked in some other place. If they don't the series could end up losing a lot of what made it great -- because of Jimmy's character. Are they just going to make Irish-bodyguard guy replace the violence void Darmody being offed leaves? His bathroom chokeout scene was fulfillingly full of grit. Richard will probably work for Capone or something. I hope he kills that Jewish guy. I also have a hard time respecting or caring about Nucky now -- but maybe that's where they want to take things. The guy is just a villain through-and-through in the end, right?

Regardless it's great TV. I felt the Sopranos lost steam after Joe Pantoliano was whacked. Hopefully that doesn't happen in Boardwalk after that amazing finale.

**dave is ok** · 13 Dec 2011, 10:35 PM

Van Alden will be working for Capone next year. Guaranteed

**Frogacuda** · 14 Dec 2011, 12:39 PM

I'd like to see Richard step up a level, rather than just work for someone else.

**Frogacuda** · 14 Dec 2011, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Drewbacca

I also have a hard time respecting or caring about Nucky now -- but maybe that's where they want to take things. The guy is just a villain through-and-through in the end, right?

One of my biggest criticisms about this story is the choice to make a Nucky Johnson main character, but incorporate so little of what made him interesting or likeable. First, Buscemi, great actor though he is, feels very miscast to me. Nucky was a tall, somewhat stylish bald guy with glasses, but never engaged in direct threats of violence, never ordered people's deaths, and, while he was as corrupt as a human can get, wasn't really a gangster. His power came from the fact that he shared his wealth and he was incredibly well liked. People around him had a vested interest in keeping him in power. He didn't have to order people's deaths, things took care of themselves.

Nucky Thompson is just nothing like Nucky Johnson. It's kind of a shame.

**dave is ok** · 14 Dec 2011, 12:55 PM

I think they changed the name so they could take liberties with the character. Really it would have been just as good with a completely fictional lead.