Creator and Showrunner: Terrence Winter
(Spoilers for seasons 1-3 below)
In its fourth season, Boardwalk Empire changed up its formula, to some degrees for the better, and to some for the worse. This has been a show that has dealt with some very slow mid-sections, but always managed to make up for it by bringing things together for an exciting final few episodes each season. This year, the writers decided to spread the wealth a bit more. What this means is that we had a few mid season episodes with some very exciting moments, while the final stretch felt a little lower in stakes.
The main plot of the season did not even revolve around central figure Nucky Thompson, played by Steve Buscemi. The central story revolved around Nucky's associate Chalky White (Michael K. Williams) who was brought into conflict with intelligent, controlled businessman and "Libyan" community leader Valentin Narcisse. Jeffrey Wright joined the cast as Narcisse, taking him in the opposite direction of last year's villain Gyp Rosetti. Wright kept Narcisse in control. He is a man who gains power by making alliances for whom him being in power would serve their best interests. This is an interesting and intimidating character, thanks in no small part to Wright's performance. (If Bobby Cannavale won an Emmy for playing Rosetti, then Jeffrey Wright should at least be looking at a nomination.)
However, aside from Narcisse, this year's storylines were all over the map, and for the most part never really came together. Margaret Schroder, an interesting if misutilized character, was barely a presence this season, which had very few strong women. Plotlines like Eli's son at college were uninteresting, while Gillian Darmody's relationship with mysterious Roy Phillips felt simply unimportant. Unfortunately, these plots never truly became interesting or important to the main plot of the season, and as such lead to a year which feels messier.
The biggest issue, however, is in the realm of characters. This season's new characters were largely very interesting and complex as we watched them develop. The unfortunate flipside of this is that the returning characters were far less interesting. Nucky Thompson has never been an interesting character, fitting the bill for a traditional anti-hero. His conflict with his brother Eli, as well, feels much like a repeat of season 2. The only characters who escape this are Chalky White and Richard Harrow, who are both given full and strong arcs this season that take their characters to interesting places.
****Spoilers for Season 4. Highlight to reveal if you're caught up****
And then the finale happened. Game of Thrones is my favorite show, so I clearly have no problem with likable or interesting characters dying, but Thrones has a full roster of interesting characters to fall back on if one or three are killed, Boardwalk doesn't. If one of the more interesting characters is killed, that leaves a drastic effect on how much I care to see what happens next season. Harrow's death was pathetic. The man who single-handedly saved the day in season 3 suddenly screws up, accidentally killing Chalky's daughter and getting shot so he can limp away and bleed out under the Boardwalk. Nucky's freaking bodyguard got an entire episode to descend into ratting on Nucky and committing suicide in shame. I simply do not buy Richard messing this up, and such have a bad taste in my mouth over the ignoble end of one of the few characters who I was truly invested in.
All in all, this season was a notable drop in quality, possibly being the weakest season of the show. It didn't move as slowly, but felt far less substantial and interesting, in no small part due to the interesting characters being killed off while the more standard characters seem to be nearly immortal. The visuals and directing are just as strong as always, but unfortunately the story simply isn't as interesting as it used to be. I am truly unsure if I will return for season 5.
Season grade: B
Best Episode: The Old Ship of Zion (episode 8)
A very exciting episode which sees the plotline with Agent Knox step up a notch, as well as a focus on the stronger plotlines of the season, while leaving the less interesting ones on the side. The story of Chalky and Narcisse notably takes main focus here, culminating in a wonderfully tense and brilliantly directed scene which truly made me reel back due to the graphic nature of the violence on display. A powerful episode that unfortunately marked the season's peak rather than the ascent to brilliance it deserved.
Honorable mentions: Marriage and Hunting (episode 9) Erlkonig (episode 5)
Weakest episode: William Wilson (episode 7)
One episode until things really took off, Wilson was the pure definition of a setup episode. Nothing really bad about it, just nothing really notable took place here either.
Dishonorable mentions: The North Star (Episode 6) Resignation (episode 2
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