The HBO series has been hailed as “one of the best gangster shows ever created”
Viewers seeking a gripping series to begin in the new year should consider this mafia crime drama that serves as the ideal viewing whilst awaiting the Peaky Blinders film. This follows others having relished another crime drama lauded as “exceptional” and a BBC police miniseries featuring a twisting storyline, reports the Mirror.
The HBO gangster programme has garnered acclaim from viewers on IMDb and accumulated numerous 10/10 ratings from devoted enthusiasts. One such review bore the straightforward title “brilliant”. The critic proclaimed it as “one of the best shows I’ve ever seen” featuring “fantastic” production values and “incredible attention to detail”.
A second outstanding review branded it “one of the best TV shows of all time” and represented the reviewer’s maiden 10/10 assessment on the platform, such was the programme’s influence. They continued to celebrate the “phenomenal” character development whilst drawing comparisons to the calibre of Breaking Bad and The Sopranos. The user concluded: “Do yourself a favor and start watching this masterpiece right away [sic].”
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A third perfect-score reviewer characterised the series as “without a doubt one the best gangster shows ever created” and guaranteed that every season proved as “addictive” as its predecessor. They proceeded to champion the “amazing cast”, highlighting the lead performer who earned praise for delivering “one of the best performances” ever witnessed on television. The individual summarised: “This is tv at its best so don’t miss it! [sic].”
One top-rated review had this to say: “This show has to be one of my personal favourites, I would always recommend people to check out. In terms of the show itself, you’ve got an awesome cast of great actors, with some the most beautiful cinematography, and hands down the story is just fantastic.” The reviewer also lauded the seamless integration of historical elements with the fictional narrative. They assured that the series “comes full circle” and delivers a “satisfying end”.
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Boardwalk Empire first graced our screens in 2010 during what many consider the golden age of television on HBO, running for five successful seasons. Penned by Emmy Award-winner Terence Winter, known for his executive producer and writer roles on The Sopranos, the show was born from Winter’s interest in crafting a series set in the 1920s. This led him to adapt the non-fiction book Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City into the acclaimed series.
The series is set in the 1920s Atlantic City, New Jersey during the Prohibition era and follows the political ascent of Enoch ‘Nucky’ Thompson (portrayed by Steve Buscemi) during this period. Alongside this, Thompson’s interactions with gangsters, fellow politicians, Federal Government officials, and voters are depicted. Buscemi’s character draws inspiration from the real-life figure Enoch L. Johnson, an American politician, businessman, and mobster who held sway in Atlantic City during the roaring twenties until his conviction and subsequent imprisonment.
Boardwalk Empire, featuring Reservoir Dogs star Buscemi, boasts a large and impressive ensemble cast rivalling that of Game of Thrones and The Wire. The cast includes Trainspotting and Line of Duty star Kelly Macdonald, seasoned American actor Michael Shannon, acclaimed Dopesick star Michael Stuhlbarg, Stephen Graham of Adolescence, the late great Michael Kenneth Williams from The Wire, Manchester by the Sea actress Gretchen Mol, and Band of Brothers’ Ron Livingston.
Alongside the stellar ensemble cast, acclaimed filmmaker Martin Scorsese took charge of Boardwalk Empire’s opening episode, marking his first television work in more than two decades since directing an instalment of Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories in 1986. The pilot proved successful, prompting HBO to greenlight a full series run. Boardwalk Empire subsequently garnered multiple Emmy awards and secured two Golden Globe victories.
Explaining his choice to return to television, Scorsese remarked in a 2010 interview cited by Deadline: “What’s happening the past nine to 10 years, particularly at HBO, is what we had hoped for in the mid-Sixties with films being made for television at first. We’d hoped there would be this kind of freedom and also the ability to create another world and create longform characters and story. That didn’t happen in the 1970s, 1980s and in the 1990s I think. And of course … HBO is a trailblazer in this. I’ve been tempted over the years to be involved with them because of the nature of long-form and their development of character and plot.”
Boardwalk Empire is streaming on NOW
