Beginners guide to….Boardwalk Empire

5

February 14, 2013 by thedavidryan

Boardwalk Empire

Boardwalk Empire is an American television series from HBO, set in Atlantic City, New Jersey during the Prohibition era. Since debuting in 2010, Boardwalk Empire has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and fans alike. The show has recently concluded its third season with a highly anticipated fourth season due to hit screens in late 2013.

Boardwalk Empire – Story

Boardwalk Empire is a period drama centring around Enoch “Nucky” Thompson (based on the historical Enoch L. Johnson),a political figure who rose to fame and controlled Atlantic City, New Jersey, throughout the Prohibition era of the 1920s and 1930s. Boardwalk Empire explores Nucky’s personal and professional life as he deals with high ranking congressmen and low level mobsters in an attempt to financially exploit the illegal alcohol racket.

Boardwalk Empire – Characters

Enoch “Nucky” Thompson

Nucky is the well respected but corrupt treasurer of Atlantic County. With his office located on the top floor of the Ritz Carlton hotel and his brother, the Sherriff of the local police force, at his side, he is one of Atlantic City’s most powerful men.

Margaret Schroeder

Margaret is an Irish immigrant young wife and mother, after her husband is murdered at the hands of Nucky’s men, unbeknown to Margaret; she turns to Nucky and becomes his mistress, and later his wife.

James “Jimmy” Darmody

Jimmy is a former Princeton honour student who returns to the Atlantic City shores after World War I military service. After years overseas, Jimmy looks to his former mentor and guardian Nucky, to break into the illegal alcohol business. After briefly working for Nucky, Jimmy grows hungry for individual power, a hunger that leads him to embark on his own foray into organised crime.

Nelson Van Alden

Van Alden is a government Prohibition Agent investigating Nucky Thomson. Agent Van Alden is a man on a mission that lets nothing stand in his way as he attempts to expose the corrupt treasurer and bring him and his illegal bootlegging business to justice.

Boardwalk Empire – Similar to..

• The Sopranos
• The Wire
• Mad Men