A critically adored period drama, frequently lauded by its dedicated fanbase as one of the finest television series ever made, has triumphantly returned to streaming platforms. The show, which first premiered in 2010, is now available for a new generation to discover and for existing fans to revisit.
A Prohibition-Era Masterpiece Re-emerges
The series in question is HBO's 'Boardwalk Empire', a lavish gangster epic often compared to legendary shows like 'The Sopranos'. It boasts an impressive ensemble cast featuring Steve Buscemi of 'Reservoir Dogs' fame and Stephen Graham, known for 'This Is England' and 'Adolescence'. After first hitting screens over a decade ago, the show has made a notable comeback, exciting audiences and garnering a fresh wave of perfect 10/10 scores on review sites like IMDb.
Set in the 1920s during America's Prohibition era, the drama is anchored by Buscemi's captivating performance as Enoch "Nucky" Thompson. The character is a powerful and deeply corrupt political figure and crime boss in Atlantic City, loosely based on the real-life historical figure Enoch "Nucky" Johnson. With the ban on alcohol creating a lucrative black market, Nucky secretly controls much of the city's illegal trade, building his empire through a web of bribery, bootlegging, and strategic alliances with other gangsters.
Star-Studded Cast and Creative Pedigree
The narrative meticulously charts Nucky's ruthless rise and eventual slow decline, intertwining his story with those of infamous historical gangsters like Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, and Meyer Lansky. The high-calibre cast extends to include Michael Pitt ('Murder by Numbers'), Gretchen Mol ('The Notorious Bettie Page'), and Kelly Macdonald ('Nanny McPhee').
Adding considerable weight to its creative credentials, the legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese directed the pilot episode and served as an executive producer throughout the series' run. The show was written by Terence Winter, an Emmy Award-winning writer behind projects such as 'The Wolf of Wall Street'.
Critical Acclaim and Fan Adoration
The show's quality is reflected in its outstanding review scores. On IMDb, it maintains a formidable average rating of 8.6/10, bolstered by dozens of user reviews awarding it a perfect 10. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an impressive 92% critics' score, with the audience score climbing even higher to 95%.
Fan reactions have been overwhelmingly passionate. One reviewer declared, "'Boardwalk Empire' is one of the best shows I've ever seen. The acting and writing are as good as anything you'll see on TV." Another simply stated, "One of the best TV shows of all time. Do yourself a favour and start watching this masterpiece right away."
Further praise placed it in the pantheon of greats, with a viewer noting, "For me, it's up there with 'The Sopranos', 'Breaking Bad', 'The Wire'." The series enjoyed a five-season run and was recognised with several Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes during its original broadcast.
In a 2010 interview, Martin Scorsese highlighted the significance of the project, praising HBO as a trailblazer for allowing the kind of long-form character and plot development he had long hoped to see in television. Now, 'Boardwalk Empire' is once again available for streaming in the UK, exclusively on NOW.
