Boardwalk Empire returns for it's fifth and final season on September 7th with only 8 episodes to conclude the story of Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, which in my opinion, seems like a tall order, given the duplicitous nature of the character.
However, I was lucky enough to view the first few episodes early and I can tell you that, especially in the fifth season's first episode, a real effort has been made to begin to see where Nucky Thompson has been coming from all along.
The current story jumps seven years ahead to 1931 the beginning of the Depression Era, and where many hoped the Volstead Act was going to be immediately repealed, but Boardwalk is also flashing back to 1884 where the viewers are also treated to seeing the very young and seemingly honest Enoch begin to get swept up in struggle between his poor abusive father, a fisherman, and the wealthy commanding Commodore!
The episode's cinematography is breathtaking, but uniquely, as we shift from 1884 Atlantic City to Havana, Cuba 1931, and across to various parts of New York, it's almost like watching four different films being told in relation to each other in which each has their own unique color scheme. The contrast between 1884 Atlantic City and 1931 Havana are in particular contrast, which 1884 being pale and washed out and with Havana being the most vibrant that Boardwalk has ever been, but yet both seem to share in vast amounts of white! It makes it one of my favorite episodes to date! The episode also opens and ends with a great monologue being spoken by a female voice that's a story from the Golden Boys & Girls story-paper for children and is basically a poem siting that a bright future relies on being honest and true...
I don't want to give too much away since I will also be writing reviews each episode, so I will leave you with teasers: One character that the viewers know from all previous seasons has died off screen, another pair are about to rise to great power and change the way the Mob Families across the country fundamentally work, another character is attacked, another has been imprisoned, one character will loose their hat, one will have the key to a file. There will be dancing, there will be swimming, there will be talk of Bacardi Rum, and there will be a fight in the woods. Additionally not all of the main cast appears in the first episode, but we are introduced to new faces, most of which are secondary or in the past.
Thanks for the preview! Can't wait for the season to start!
ReplyDeleteGoing to be sad that this will be the final season though.
Sure! I have mixed feelings! One one hand I'm sad and think it could of pumped out another season, but on the other I do feel like I'm ready to get to the bottom of it all! Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy the premier!!!
ReplyDeleteYour Welcome and thank you! I Hope you enjoy it! :)
ReplyDeleteWhen does it air???
ReplyDeleteSeptember 7th at 9:00 PM (HBO)
ReplyDeleteI have yet to watch the third one, but I agree that especially the second episode is a bit slow, but I really liked the the first one--it's not that it's plot moving, but there are a lot of little great moments chucked into the first hour and I really like what the flashbacks are adding to the over all narrative!
ReplyDeleteAnyone cares to explain how you guys managed to watch "them first episodes"?
ReplyDeleteAh, so you inherited this? ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat preview! Some teasers are logical if the shows keeps in line with history. :)
Ya, wish me luck! :D
ReplyDeleteSure! (and Hi!) Over the past few years both cable and standard networks/Film Production Companies have been interested in offering advanced screenings (or "screeners") of episodes/films to certain film industry press like critics, awards voters, and film industry professionals , as means of better marketing.
ReplyDeleteWe here at SpoilerTV have been very fortunate to receive a lot of great TV screeners, so that reviewers like me can share some thoughts with you. :)
Yeah. There`s alot of Chalky in episode 3. Maybe not the best use of the time left, but with other things happening i think Chalky have the best story in season 5.
ReplyDeleteGood luck, it's a complex show! :D
ReplyDeleteNot happy about a certain character being killed off-screen and not showing up for the first three episodes. They better show the character in flash-back's as he's a fan favorite.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe they will, as the press release for the season states that the flashbacks (which so far are in at least the first four of the eight episodes) are all set in 1884. I'm thinking though they will have to jump ahead in the last episode for obvious reasons, unless they severally change the outcome of Nucky Thomson from Nucky Johnson.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that this character most likey will not appear, however this character's deaht is what sets a lot of things up for the future of the organized crime American world and really gives another character to rise in a way, that in terms of "this" story, makes good sense given the antagonist of season 3...
The actor confirmed that has part of the final season, but it's possible those scenes were cut. However, he did confirm he filmed for the 5th season, so that gives me a little hope.
ReplyDeleteHere is the intervew btw
ReplyDeletehttp://www.starpulse.com/news/Jason_Coleman/2014/06/20/la_film_fest_2014_exclusive_cut_banks_
That would be great! I was hoping there might be some FB's from in between 1924 and 1931 -and Nucky as Sheriff, but the first four press releases and the big one for the season made no mentioning of other time periods, except the future. Thanks for the link! I will come back and read it later tonight! I would love to see him (it could also be a dream sequence) :)
ReplyDelete