HBO’s Boardwalk Empire is based on the novel Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City by Nelson Johnson. With stars like Michael Pitt and Steve Buscemi as the lead protagonists, the show delves on the origin of the gambling kingdom. Penned down by the renowned creator, Terence Winter, who gifted The Sopranos to the world, the show has been produced by Stephen Levinson and Mark Wahlberg. 

Comprising of only one season, the show opens with prime focus on Enoch “Nucky” Thompson who is a distinguished politician. During 1920s and 1930s, Nucky rises to a prominent position and acquires control over Atlantic City located in New Jersey. However, he is also one of the lead gangsters of the region and most of the town people consider him as the boss as he interacts freely with top historical figures including government agents, politicians and mobsters. Even common folk treat him as a god-sent man on earth.

With extended control over every nook and corner of the town in relation to most of the matters, Nucky has supreme control over the World’s Playground. The region is ideally suited for illegal liquor businesses, which enable Nucky to lead an elevated lifestyle that is quite contradictory to his political status. However, even being at an envious position does not help Nucky in discarding the air of melancholy which surrounds him. Sometimes, his mind is preoccupied with something else and his thoughts wander over the memory of his dead wife. But, Nucky still continues to lead the life of a gangster under the cover of a politician in an expert way.   

With peak high ratings, Boardwalk Empire has acquired widespread acclamation and has attained nominations for two ‘Writers Guild of America Awards’ for ‘Best Writing in a New Series’ as well as ‘Best Writing in a Dramatic Series’. The show has even won a ‘Golden Globe’ for ‘Best Dramatic Series’. Additionally, the ‘Best Actor in a Dramatic Series’ was awarded to Steve Buscemi and Kelly MacDonald acquired nomination for the ‘Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television’.