Season Review: Boardwalk Empire *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 to rival The Wire - introducing many, 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...see The Sopranos, Six Feet Under etc.

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 involving 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 mothers 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?

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. As always the cinematography is wonderful and the costumes both divine and decadent.

4/5