Watched this for a second time, I believe first time through I never saw the final season. Quite a few of "The Sopranos" creative types involved with this, Terence Winter being the creator as well as several acting talents. Inevitable comparisons about a couple of gangster shows, the most obvious difference is that Boardwalk is taking place in the 1920's. For me the biggest fault of BE is that there are too many characters and too many superfluous story lines being followed over too many episodes. I never read the book it is based on, but certainly story lines and characters could have been condensed or eliminated to better move the story. Also BE doesn't have the humor " The Sopranos " did. Still, there are quite few compelling performances, beginning with Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson, based on Nucky Johnson, who ran Atlantic City in the wide open 1920's. Some excellent sets and costuming in this, bringing back to life a fascinating period in Americana although this is a historical piece very loosely based on fact.
Review of Boardwalk Empire
