Boardwalk Empire

[The Nth Doctor]

I was also shocked by Jimmy's death, not just because it happened (I certainly expected Manny to buy it), but also because Nucky was the one who kill him. Nucky went a long way of convincing me that he was a better person because of Margaret's presence in his life, but clearly I was wrong (as was Margaret but she knows it).

I'm not sure if Van-Alden will be gone for good, he ran off to the midwest.

Not just anywhere in the Midwest, but Cicero, Illinois which is near Chicago. I'm certain we haven't seen the last of him.

 

[Lonemagpie]

As long as Steve Buscemi's still in it, I don't care who they kill off!

 

[Icemizer]

Cicero is also where Al Capone had an apartment and some businesses set up. His apartment there had escape tunnels and was well protected. So I have no doubt Van Alden will be involved with Al at some point.
As for Manny, well he could do things to help Nucky but Jimmy had betrayed him so Jimmy had to go.
Will the Priest at the church accept the gift of the land or call Nucky and give it back. Even Priests have accidents.

 

[byron lomax]

Just finished the second season tonight, and it was fantastic. The fall/rise of Nucky and rise/fall of Jimmy was told really well throughout the season. There was so much great dialogue and some unforgettable scenes (mostly of the bloody, brutal variety). The ending shocked me, and it's been a while since television really did that (well, since episode four of Southland's third season, at least).

On the negative side, I felt there should have been more Al Capone this season, but I suspect his role will get bigger as the series progresses; same goes for Kessler, who didn't seem to have as much presence as he had last year.

If there's one moment that really stands out above others, it's that scene in the Ireland episode where an execution takes place far away in the frame - that really caught me by surprise. Really impressive shot.

 

[Owain Taggart]

I didn't nearly like Season 2 as much as the first. Can't put my finger on why exactly, but to me it felt a bit off. The first season was as much a show about the culture of the era as it was a show about the rise of organized crime during the prohibition, but the culture seemed to have been lessened to a certain extent in the second season, where they focused more on the crimes and alliances being made. They also seemed to have used the boardwalk set much less than the first season.

 

[A beaker full of death]

The anachronisms get to be a bit much, and I just can't get past the miscasting of Buscemi. He's a brilliant character actor, and is hitting all the right notes in this performance too, but he's just all wrong for the part. He doesn't radiate charisma, the poor wiry sallow bug-eyed raggedy-mouthed slope-shouldered nebish just radiates flop sweat.
It's like casting Woody Allen as Superman. As entertaining as he may be, it just doesn't work.

 

[Ruaidhri]

The anachronisms get to be a bit much, and I just can't get past the miscasting of Buscemi. He's a brilliant character actor, and is hitting all the right notes in this performance too, but he's just all wrong for the part. He doesn't radiate charisma, the poor wiry sallow bug-eyed raggedy-mouthed slope-shouldered nebish just radiates flop sweat.
It's like casting Woody Allen as Superman. As entertaining as he may be, it just doesn't work.

I love Boardwalk Empire , and though I have been able to accept Buscemi in the role of Nucky, I have been struggling to express exactly what you've said here about the lead actor and character in the show. He just doesn't strike me as a person who would attract the loyalty of others, and only rarely does he seem to exude power of the type that others would be cowed by, or would respect.

I enjoyed the second season, and I'm glad it seemed like the tone changed, and also that we've seen the departure of a major player. The show could easily become too boxed in and stale, and I think they need to make sure that the status quo never stays in place for very long.