On a grander scale, that is also what appears to be my only concern for the closing season of Boardwalk Empire. Are the show-runners and writers doing fans a disservice by skipping so far ahead? It’s something that I cannot accurately gauge off of one episode, but nevertheless something that stuck with me while watching the season premiere. Simply put, the characters, writing, and storylines are simply too damn good to not make you question that maybe the cancellation of the show is going to cheat us out of some great moments that we would’ve otherwise seen if the funding and interest was there.
It’s going to be a shame, too, as Boardwalk Empire is narrating a story from not just one of the most exciting time periods in American history, but also a period that hasn’t been explored in detail of this magnitude and sophistication until now. Seriously, when you can compare a Mickey Mouse story in the newspapers to the struggle of the Great Depression without having the entire connection come across as stupid, then you know you have a winning writing team.
Let’s be honest though, Boardwalk Empire isn’t solely about telling a complex story filled with complex characters; it’s also a hyper-violent show jam-packed with enough violence to satisfy anyone fascinated by the mobster lifestyle. The season five premiere is no different in this respect, giving us everything from suicides to ears getting sliced off and everything in between. In other words, if it’s bloodlust bringing you back for more, than HBO has you covered.
As a whole, Golden Days For Boys And Girls successfully creates intrigue for the final season as a whole, along with providing viewers new perspectives and new time periods. HBO keeps marketing the final season with the moniker “no one goes quietly,” and after this explosive first episode, I have a feeling that we’re in for one hell of a final ride.