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Boardwalk Empire Season 3: Predictions and Expectations

by David Pergolini
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Gangsters1-300x200You can’t be half a gangster.

A fitting caption for our protagonist, Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi), whose actions in the first two seasons of Terrance Winter’s ‘Boardwalk Empire’ reflect that of a man seemingly devoid of conscience and morality, yet desperate for a sense of righteousness and normalcy. And though we, the audience, sit and watch with judgment and discrimination all the lies, the whoring, the sneak-thievery, the political back-handing, the manipulation and the murders, we ultimately come to an unforeseen conclusion – we love Nucky Thompson. It’s not to say that we personally condone his brutal business methods (as baller as they may be), no, we empathize because we’ve grown to know him – his behaviors, his knowledge, his past, his thoughts – all through careful observation of his actions throughout the last two seasons. As we follow our protagonist even deeper into the spine of the story we begin to realize his overwhelming influence on everyone and everything around him – his friends and enemies as well as his society, through a twisted fusion of politics and organized violence. Season 3 begins Sunday, 9/16, I hope your ready. I know I am.

The most redeeming quality of ‘Boardwalk Empire’ is it’s depth; the quality of writing and storytelling and the richness of every character to hit the screen. And when I say every character, I mean every character. From our main protagonists like Nucky Thompson, Jimmy Darmody and Margaret Schroeder, to others like Richard Harrow, Nelson Van Alden and Eli Thompson, even further with Al Capone, Chalky White and Arnold Rothstein, I could go on and on, but the point is that each character captivates the audience with such prowess and conviction that our attention and interest is immediately hooked. We want to hear, to listen, to understand what each character brings to the story because each has their own unique story, their own personal agenda, their own motives. With such an arsenal of compelling characters, you’d think ‘Boardwalk Empire’ would eventually plateau, even out, settle, but no, season 2 introduces a host of new characters that light up the screen like Owen Slater and Manny Horvitz. And now, with season 3 rapidly approaching, we can expect an even greater depth of casting and conflict.

Jimmy-Badass

The climactic ending of season 2 is a gut wrenching reminder of the pessimistic world of illegal bootlegging, and, at times, the unsentimental reality of story. We were fond of Jimmy Darmody because we observed his thoughts and actions throughout the 23 previous episodes – from the first moment he hit the screen as a struggling WWI veteran in a one-bedroom apartment, through his time amongst the Italian mafia in Chicago, to his eventual rise to power in Atlantic City, and his eventual demise at the hands of his surrogate father, Nucky Thompson. Jimmy’s life is nothing short of a tragedy, showcasing the deadly consequences of ambition and how it affects those closest to you. As selfishly indulgent as he may have been, Jimmy had always made an effort to provide for those he loved, an effort that consequently brought about more suffering than pleasure – a suicidal Chicago mistress, his lonesome and murdered wife, his parentless son, his power-hungry mother and his vengeful, slain father. Thus returning to my point – the unsentimental reality of story lies in a knowledge and understanding that we know to be true, but is somehow elusive to the thoughts of characters like Jimmy – actions have consequences.

Consequence. Regret. Shame. All of these fall under the umbrella of Nucky Thompson, yet he endures. Why? Is it his intelligence? His fortitude? His brutality? What is it? Nucky operates under the same story telling principles as Jimmy and any other character whose been punished for they’re sins, and still he thrives as the unquestioned bootlegging kingpin of Atlantic City. In my opinion – its order. Not necessarily in the disciplinarian sense of the word, but in a way that exhumes a sense of normalcy. Nucky’s played the gangster role since he was a young man, men like him don’t get in the position he’s in without getting they’re hands dirty, and even now he’s burdened with the consequences of past decisions – sending Jimmy’s father, the Commodore – Louis Kaestner, to prison in order to ensure his political rise – bringing Jimmy’s mother, Gillian Dormady, at the age of 13, to the Commodore for his own sexual pleasure. Nucky’s rise to the top wasn’t honest or clean or noble, he worked relentlessly to obtain his status, and he’d be damned to let anyone get in the way of his well earned comfort. How much further is Nucky willing to go? Will season 3 call on him to answer for his past sins? Or, through his sharp whits and merciless tactics, will he endure? Only time will tell.

In the end, Jimmy’s death was due to his inability to lead, his inescapable failure to make decisions for himself. So many times he went against his better judgment, constantly staggering under the pressure of his court – a soldier, merely following orders. Nucky Thompson is fully aware of his influence over Atlantic City, furthermore, he understands and appreciates the invaluable nature of order.

Boardwalk-LogoBut alas, season 3 is upon us, and once again, Nucky Thompson must withstand the tests of conflict and consequence – the internal struggles of his withering conscience, and the notorious threat of dangerous newcomer, Gyp Rosetti. In my opinion, I believe this season will mark the end of our beloved protagonist, I believe enough is enough, I believe justice is coming, like the great Ned Stark before him, I believe season 3 will end with the death of Nucky Thompson. Blasphemous, I know, but is it really all that surprising? It’s only a matter of time until prodigious gangsters like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano ascend to their historical, though infamous, seats of power, and it’s no secret that HBO has a reputation for killing off key characters. But if we’re to take anything from these past two seasons, it’s this – Nucky Thompson is a survivor, a man of conviction and principle, of fear and respect. And thus reemerges the caption that’s become an unmistakable reflection of season 3, and perhaps a final warning to our protagonist.

You can’t be half a gangster.

David Pergolini is based out of Atlanta, GA. Follow his work and blog at www.davidpergolini.com, and follow him on twitter!

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11 comments

Mrs. Thompson November 14, 2012 - 6:27 pm

When the director and producer decide to call it a wrap on the show Nucky will be killed off on the finale night. Just like Tony Soprano. The fans will know and be expecting this. However this is not the last season so my sexy Nucky will live to see another season.

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Martha September 14, 2012 - 12:57 pm

How can such a thoughtful piece have so many typos?

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DavidP September 14, 2012 - 1:11 pm

Haha Sorry about that, Martha. I’ll be more careful next time around.

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Tom Melchiorre September 15, 2012 - 4:57 pm

How could they possibly kill off the lead character? I am from south jersey I remember that he didn’t get murdered and died an old man!!

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Jacob Klein September 14, 2012 - 9:24 am

I really doubt they’re going to axe Steve Buscemi this season but I like the fact that they COULD. It makes it so much more exciting when Nucky has a gun to his head (literally) at the end of S3 or something, right?

As opposed to most other dramas where you know for a fact Jon Hamm or the guy from breaking bad or Dexter are NEVER going to die.

Bold prediction, David but I think you’re 2 seasons off :)

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DavidP September 14, 2012 - 1:12 pm

Bold indeed, Jacob. We’ll see how it all pans out. Someone’s gotta pick the underdog every once in a while haha.

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Charles October 2, 2012 - 4:38 pm

Walter White is going to die.

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Lisa September 13, 2012 - 1:01 pm

What ?? “Season 3 will end with the death of Nucky Thompson.” Do you have some inside info that this is the last season and won’t be renewed next year ? Terence Winter has said in many interviews that his plan is to go a full six seasons. They certainly wouldn’t kill off Nucky if that was the plan.

This is not GOT with some huge sprawling cast of characters it is a very character driven show and killing off Nucky would be the death of the series. The story focuses around him and Atlantic City. Who would be the new lead character Gyp Rosetti, Van Alden ? What would happen to Margaret ? Her whole storyline is connected to his.

If you have some knowledge that this is the last season that might be a guess as to what could happen but if not I don’t think you have a very good grasp of this series because it certainly couldn’t continue on without Buscemi. Jimmy yes, Nucky no.

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DavidP September 13, 2012 - 3:30 pm

You make some good points, Lisa, though I’m going to have to disagree with you on some.

And no, I don’t have any inside scoop as to what happens throughout the series. Didn’t mean to freak you out, just a bold prediction.

I agree with you when you say that ‘BWE’ is a character driven show centered around Nucky and Atlantic City. Hard to argue with that. But I disagree with the notion that no other character has the mettle or capability of carrying on the series. What about Al Capone of Chicago, we’ve hardly even tapped into his power, as well as Lucky Luciano of New York? Both of these characters, from a historical standpoint, are regarded as the most prominent and notorious gangsters of all time. And with Van Alden relocating to Capone’s neck of the woods, we can assure that his role in the series is far from over. It’s only a matter of time until these characters light up the screen with even more insight and influence.

You have me on Margaret, its hard to imagine her without Nucky. But what about her affair with Owen Slater, or her family in New York? Certainly not as compelling as her complex relationship with Nucky, but its still a possibility.

My prediction, as out of bounds as it may seem, was founded upon the belief that seems to be, in my opinion, the very core of the show – every actions bears a response, every choice has a consequence. It seems only logical that Nucky’s life choices will reap an ill-fated conclusion. Perhaps not at the hands of his newest rival Gyp Rosetti, but what about Gillian, what about Richard Harrow? How will these characters react to Jimmy’s untimely death? Who knows? Not me, just a prediction.

It’s not that I want to see Nucky fall, I find him to be one of the most compelling characters in all of TV, but the fact remains that his choices will, one day, merit a consequence. I like to think I have a head on my shoulders when it comes to ‘Boardwalk Empire,’ and perhaps my prediction is to bold and to soon, but as Jimmy once told Nucky before his failed assassination –

“It doesn’t matter if your right or wrong, you just have to make a decision.” .. or something like that.

Now things didn’t turn out so well for Jimmy, but you get the point.

Thanks for the comment, Lisa! Good stuff.

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Lisa September 13, 2012 - 7:45 pm

A silent character on this show is the Boardwalk , where does that fit in on a show about Capone who is in Chicago and Rothstein/Lucky in New York ? Would they just do away with that massive set.

What about the politics which are a big part of this story too…Harry Daughherty, President Harding,Gaston Means, The Teapot dome scandal..politics is Nucky’s area.

Seriously do you think they would kill off the lead character who has been nominated for Emmy awards and won Individual SAG awards 2 years in a row, to let Vincent Piazza and Stephen Graham step into the lead . That would be series suicide. They would have to kill off Margaret too. Because she would no longer fit into the story of the other gangsters and might as well kill off Eli as well because without Nucky his character would have little use.

Sure Capone and Lucky rise in power but still not for many years Capone doesn’t take over until Torrio retires. This show isn’t about them anyway it’s about the man that runs AC, the man they just made a full ganster, pretty silly to do that and kill him off 12 episodes later.

Buscemi is the heart of the show and the King of the Boardwalk. If they kill him off it won’t be until the end of the series and if the showrunner is true to his word and the ratings don’t tank, that won’t be for a few more years.

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DavidP September 13, 2012 - 9:31 pm

Very true, Lisa, very true indeed. Perhaps your right, perhaps Nucky Thompson will reap what he sews in a few more seasons, or perhaps his time has run out. I don’t know, but in any case, the fact remains that Nucky must answer for his crimes, ratings and Emmys aside.

Buscemi is without a doubt the heart and soul of ‘Boardwalk Empire’ – like you said, his dominion is in the title. But I still believe that the audience must be kept on their toes, and that the probability of Nucky’s death is still a terrifyingly real possibility. I’m basing my prediction off of the dynamics of the show, not necessarily it’s popularity or award nominations. Not to say that these things don’t matter, because they certainly do, but I still think that Nucky’s run with ‘BWE’ is nearing an end.

If I’m wrong, which is a high probability, you still get to tell me, ‘I told you so.’

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