Wow.
Is this Boardwalk Empire, or a Drake album? After spending an hour in the world of Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi), I swear Nothing Was the Same.
The first episode of the HBO period drama’s new season — and promised last, with only 8 episodes — feels more like a season finale. Every main character is engulfed in a situation that completely changes what we’ve known about them and what we remember from the previous season. Granted, 7-years has passed between the last episode of Season 4 and this first episode of Season 5. So, yeah, you would expect things to be a bit different.
However, things become far more different in 1931 than I had expected to witness in the first episode. There’s really no other way to accurately describe this first episode, “Golden Days For Boys and Girls”, other than: Shit gets real. Super real. Lies, loyalty, betrayal, new friendships, and of course, a whole lot of murder.
Nucky is trying to step out of the darkness and into the light but the shadows seem to follow him everywhere he goes. Chalky White (Michael Kenneth Williams).. well.. Chalky is PISSED!! Everyone else also has their own heavy situations to deal with, and a few of them don’t make it to the ending credits.
Lucky Luciano (Vincent Piazza) is clearly on the rise. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, as I know how serious some people get about their TV shows– but he’s making big moves. He’s got his hands in a few things that let us know he has his mind set on getting to the top and not letting anyone get in his way.
The Deacon-E has always liked the ruthless character that does what they feel needs to be done with little regard to the feelings of others. Right now, I see that in Lucky. He has big ideas, and you better like them, whether you like them or not. No, that’s not a typo.
There are several flashbacks to Young Nucky (Marc Pickering) where we get to see a few childhood events that’s influenced his current mindset as an adult. I guess this is cool if you really haven’t kept up with the story and feel the need to understand Nucks a little better.
Otherwise, I feel it’s pointless. I mean, we’re 5 seasons deep. Between Nucky and Eli, the past of their family and childhood has been touched on enough for us to understand why he is the way he is. The flashbacks feel no more than filler, which is exactly why this opening episode feels like a season finale. Filler cut scenes and killing off characters.
While this indeed had its classic season/series finale antics, “Golden Days For Boys and Girls” is only the beginning. I’m quite curious to see how it all pans out.
Watch HBO’s final season of Boardwalk Empire every Sunday at 9pm.