As much as I enjoyed the first season of Boardwalk Empire, I did feel there were a couple of areas where it could have done better and I hoped it would. Specifically I hoped that the success of the first season would make the show relax a little bit and not carry its worthiness quite as much around its neck as it did; similarly I hoped that it would be able to find the smaller moments better than it had. These were small criticisms though and I would have been happy for the show to return and done the same again since it was a strong first season. Happily the second season raises its already high game and produces a marvelous second season that is strong from the detail of the character up to the overall flow of the plotting with all its betrayal, twists and turns.
For me the second season is what the show should be doing because it delivers across the board and is not afraid to challenge the viewer. At the top level this season produces a quite gripping and dramatic series of story lines. All of them are good, even if not all of them are quite as good as each other as some are a little less convincing or satisfying than I would have liked. That said, the overall sweep of the season is really very strong and it is hard not to watch it and feel like you have been told a great story. Within this sweep, any specific moment is driven forward by how well drawn the characters are – and not just the main ones.
Nucky himself is well developed. His "destination" this season is a little jarring in its brutality but it does work when viewed in the context of a season where he has been increasingly violent and heartless in his desire to survive. I "liked" him in the first season and it was engaging to really understand who he is and how he has maintained the power he has done. Margaret and Nelson were similar to me as I didn't always totally buy their plot threads but I did love the duality of their characters and the struggle to deal with the conflicts between their two desires (both also involving religion and/or righteousness). While some of the support characters are just supporting characters, I did love that the detail meant that even smaller characters like Chalky and Capone are developed (the former with his struggle with his status and his partial exploitation of his own people, the latter given a small touching moment of introspection while observing Jimmy and his son). Speaking of Jimmy, he is a tremendous character this season – a walking summary of all those who tried and failed. Sometimes his indecision gets him, sometimes his decisions get him – he isn't quite leadership material but more important is the sense of him as damaged and not really wanting this for his life. His mother is a terrifying creation as well – even more confused than him but manipulative under a sheen of caring. I don't think there is a character here that is poorly written.
The show will challenge the audience and indeed a glance at any spoiler-filled forum on the show reveals loads of people unhappy with aspects of it – particularly Jimmy's death. Like everyone else I didn't want him to die – he didn't deserve it, but then so few of those who have died to allow others to prosper have deserved it. He is tired, he has a lot of baggage and I think he almost welcomed it as a released - I may not have liked it but it made sense in regards his character and the demons he had. Likewise the change in Nucky – unable to sit in political office and have only minor challenges, he becomes more bitter, spiteful and violently protective of his world; in short he becomes a significantly less likable character and indeed I ended the season actively disliking him. To some this is a turn-off but I don't need to like characters to enjoy their story and I am looking forward to a third season with him.
The performances in this second season step up with the material. Buscemi doesn't totally sell his transformation but any weaknesses are fleeting because mostly he is strong. Not as strong as Pitt, who makes such a tragic figure opposite an equally strong turn from Mol as his mother. Williams may always be Omar, but he does great work with his expanded character. The supporting cast features strong turn after strong turn, so to go through them all here would just be a list – but there are almost no weak links in this cast, albeit more is asked of some than others.
The second season of Boardwalk Empire may not have made popular decisions in regards pandering to viewers but it produces an engaging and dramatic season that satisfies in the overall sweep of the season as well as the detail of the characters.
For me the second season is what the show should be doing because it delivers across the board and is not afraid to challenge the viewer. At the top level this season produces a quite gripping and dramatic series of story lines. All of them are good, even if not all of them are quite as good as each other as some are a little less convincing or satisfying than I would have liked. That said, the overall sweep of the season is really very strong and it is hard not to watch it and feel like you have been told a great story. Within this sweep, any specific moment is driven forward by how well drawn the characters are – and not just the main ones.
Nucky himself is well developed. His "destination" this season is a little jarring in its brutality but it does work when viewed in the context of a season where he has been increasingly violent and heartless in his desire to survive. I "liked" him in the first season and it was engaging to really understand who he is and how he has maintained the power he has done. Margaret and Nelson were similar to me as I didn't always totally buy their plot threads but I did love the duality of their characters and the struggle to deal with the conflicts between their two desires (both also involving religion and/or righteousness). While some of the support characters are just supporting characters, I did love that the detail meant that even smaller characters like Chalky and Capone are developed (the former with his struggle with his status and his partial exploitation of his own people, the latter given a small touching moment of introspection while observing Jimmy and his son). Speaking of Jimmy, he is a tremendous character this season – a walking summary of all those who tried and failed. Sometimes his indecision gets him, sometimes his decisions get him – he isn't quite leadership material but more important is the sense of him as damaged and not really wanting this for his life. His mother is a terrifying creation as well – even more confused than him but manipulative under a sheen of caring. I don't think there is a character here that is poorly written.
The show will challenge the audience and indeed a glance at any spoiler-filled forum on the show reveals loads of people unhappy with aspects of it – particularly Jimmy's death. Like everyone else I didn't want him to die – he didn't deserve it, but then so few of those who have died to allow others to prosper have deserved it. He is tired, he has a lot of baggage and I think he almost welcomed it as a released - I may not have liked it but it made sense in regards his character and the demons he had. Likewise the change in Nucky – unable to sit in political office and have only minor challenges, he becomes more bitter, spiteful and violently protective of his world; in short he becomes a significantly less likable character and indeed I ended the season actively disliking him. To some this is a turn-off but I don't need to like characters to enjoy their story and I am looking forward to a third season with him.
The performances in this second season step up with the material. Buscemi doesn't totally sell his transformation but any weaknesses are fleeting because mostly he is strong. Not as strong as Pitt, who makes such a tragic figure opposite an equally strong turn from Mol as his mother. Williams may always be Omar, but he does great work with his expanded character. The supporting cast features strong turn after strong turn, so to go through them all here would just be a list – but there are almost no weak links in this cast, albeit more is asked of some than others.
The second season of Boardwalk Empire may not have made popular decisions in regards pandering to viewers but it produces an engaging and dramatic season that satisfies in the overall sweep of the season as well as the detail of the characters.