Feature:BOARDWALK EMPIRE Season 2 Preview (Possible Spoilers)
Season 2 of Boardwalk Empire proved to be a lot more interesting than season 1. There is no doubting that this show is not an easy watch, having a dense plot on par with The Wire and introducing many characters with little or no background context and many of them only being seen in a few episodes each season, such as Michael Kenneth Williams’ Chalky White.
Although we, the audience, know that Nucky (Steve Buscemi) and Margaret (Kelly Macdonald) are the key characters, there is no central family or group of friends with which people can identify with, such as in other ground breaking HBO dramas such as The Sopranos and Six Feet Under.
However, compared with the first season, season 2 did not focus as much on the politics of the prohibition era as it did with the disintegration of relationships, morals, feelings and values. We see this decomposition in almost every character, particularly between Nucky and Margaret as they seem to be falling apart then eventually get married – as therefore Margaret cannot testify against him in his trial. We also see Margaret painfully battle against herself in her wish to be a good Christian but at the same time leading a life of sin. When Nucky shoots Jimmy after his wedding this shows that he is not a man wanting to change despite what he has said in the past.
The plot line between Agent Nelson Van Alden, his wife and Lucy is particularly shocking, as Van Alden shacks up with Lucy after getting her pregnant at the end of season 1. We eventually find out Van Alden is planning to give Lucy’s baby to his wife as she cannot have children, but this ultimately backfires on him as Lucy is left on her own in a dingy apartment during labour and Mrs Van Alden shows up…therefore leaving Agent Nelson ultimately alone with the baby as she posts him their divorce papers.
However, the most interesting sub-plot for me was that which involved Jimmy, his mother Gillian, his wife Angela and her lesbian lover. We know Gillian had Jimmy at a very young age, but in a late episode which flashes back and forward from his days at Princeton we see a detailed account of Angela (currently working in the kitchen at the university) announcing to him she is pregnant followed by Jimmy later in his dorm giving in to his mother’s advances and sleeping with her. This all occurs as Angela in the present day has been caught in bed with another woman by an intruder seeking revenge on Jimmy and shooting both the women in cold blood.
This could have led to a very interesting narrative if the audience were given more than one episode in which to see how Jimmy reacts and grieves over this, and what other developments there would be between him and his mother. It is clear he despises her. However after Nucky shoots Jimmy, all we know is that Gillian is now left with his son. How will she treat him?
The loss of Jimmy’s character also poses questions as to what will become of his friend Richard, the soldier who after returning from the war with an unsightly disfigurement on his face, finds it impossible to connect with people emotionally, and who killing comes naturally to. In season 2 we see hints of an attempt to reach out to others, especially when he lets Angela paint him without his mask on. After the deaths of his friends, what further developments can be made to his persona?
Overall a very strong season with many more twists, turns and shocking moments than the first. It takes patience and perseverance to get through, perhaps easier to watch over a few days than an episode a week, but will prove a rewarding experience.
Fancy winning the whole of season one on DVD?
In which US state will you find Atlantic City?
A) New York
B) New Jersey
C) Massachusetts
Send your answer , name, address to win [at] thepeoplesmovies [dot] com have your email header As ‘BOARDWALK EMPIRE’
Deadline:January 29th , 2012 (2359hours).
Please read the terms & Conditions on the original post
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
About the Author
