A shot rang out in the second season finale of “Boardwalk Empire,” and according to the show’s creator Terence Winter, consider that jolt a jump into the future for season three, and a new direction for the show in general. Spoilers below!
Speaking on an Academy of Television Arts and Sciences panel, alongside regular cast members Steve Buscemi, Kelly Macdonald, and Michael Pitt, Winter revealed that the new season will open a year after the gripping finale. "It's New Year's Eve 1922, going into 1923," Winter said, "The world has changed quite a bit. Things have gotten quite a bit more violent as Prohibition has gone on and people are running out of liquor. Hence Nucky's world is going to change."
Nucky, played by Steve Buscemi, has already faced quite a bit of daunting pressure, including an attempted take-over of his Atlantic City operation by Jimmy (Michael Pitt), which resulted in him shooting and killing Jimmy. Speaking on the matter, Winter said that although he was sad to lose the character, it felt truer to Nucky’s personality that he not back down after a move like what Pitt’s character attempted. “Maybe I provoked it,” Pitt also agreed, noting that he and Winter had always spoken of Jimmy as a sort-of tragic figure since the start of the first season.
The evolving state of Prohibition, especially as it pertains to Atantic City, sounds like a compelling topic for the 'Boardwalk' world to explore, and with a promise of more violence on top of the show’s already bloody landscape, the new season should be a harrowing one indeed.
Season 3 of “Boardwalk Empire” is scheduled to premiere in September. [Vulture]
I agree that Nucky had to react to Jimmy's betrayal by the shocking yet horrifically disappointing killing him off of the show. However, I and many many others think Michael Pitt's sensitive and baby-faced portrayal of this tragic sort MUST be brought back for the show to retain its excellent storyline…perhaps a dream sequence in which Nucky awakens and realizes he should have or would have done it…but the more humane, fatherly instinct in him could not do it…thereby finding a way for Jimmy to re-earn his trust and keep a major place for Michael Pitt in this series! We all love him (as sort of a baby-faced Nelson type)–only sad, tragic…but giving us all hope for "second chances" in life–IF Steve Buscemi's "Nucky" will keep some feelings within his hard exterior…as real life in which people DO have two sides. Their long-term life relationship should warrant this…especially since Jimmy seemed to sincerely regret and feel such sadness at his attempt to have Nucky killed…?
If Jimmy does not come back from the grave, I do not think the series can ever be as powerful as it was in past seasons. I suspect many of us watched mainly to follow his character. He was mesmerizing. As great as the other actors are, no one sustained.our attention like he did.
Excellent news. Hopefully Michael Shannon will feature more in Season 3.