Boardwalk Empire ending explained: What happened to Nucky Thompson?
The HBO series Boardwalk Empire is in the Prohibition Era, a landmark time for the US when the sale, consumption, and distribution of alcohol were prohibited. The period crime drama zooms in on the flourishing black market for alcohol, driven by Atlantic City political kingpin Enoch "Nucky" Thompson.
The five-season series began airing in 2010 and concluded in 2014, and by the final season, the story shifted considerably. It saw a seven-year time leap and entered into the era of the Great Depression.
After the events of season 4, Chalky (Michael Kenneth Williams) and Nucky (Steve Buscemi) partner to take down Narcisse. However, they fail after Richard accidentally shoots Mabel, which is followed by Nucky leaving for Cuba.
His bootlegging business phases out after alcohol becomes legal, and he tries to figure out his next move. Nucky runs into Meyer Lansky and almost ends up getting murdered, before returning to the US to investigate the same.
This article will take a look at the series finale of Boardwalk Empire as well as Nucky's fate.
Disclaimer: Spoilers ahead.
Nucky's journey in the series finale of Boardwalk Empire explored
Setting the scene of Boardwalk Empire season 5: What's happening in the United States?
Rothstein's gambling addiction gets the best of him, and he is murdered for his debts in the US. So, there's an empty crime boss throne in New York City with Lucky (who works for Italian mob boss Salvatore Maranzano) and Meyer feuding for it.
However, Lucky works with Lansky to take Maranzano and Nucky out of the equation and split the power. He knows exactly what to do - Threaten Narcisse by killing many of his henchmen and getting him on their side.
Meanwhile, Torrio stayed retired for what seems like all of five minutes, as he's back working with the newest duo on the block. Nucky and Maranzano almost die because of Torrio's interference, but the hit fails, and the duo survives.
Nucky and Margaret reunite in the final season
In New York City, Margaret is in a pickle of her own. Following her corrupt boss's death, Rothstein's wife blackmails her for money, failing which, she'd make Margaret complicit in her boss's crimes. This sends Margaret running back to her turbulent romance with Nucky, who helps without hesitation. The duo reminisce about their failed marriage and realize the sparks are still there.
This opens a new path for Nucky and Margaret, freshly minted partners in crime. After Sally's death in Cuba, Nucky uses Margaret's knowledge to partake in stock manipulation and profit from it. The couple gives their relationship another shot, free from the criminal undercurrents of Nucky's bootlegging days.
Chalky meets his unkind fate, and Gillian seeks Nucky's help in Boardwalk Empire
Elsewhere, Chalky escapes from a prison van and returns to Nucky with a proposition. He suggests that Nucky take Narcisse (Jeffrey Wright) down once and for all.
Against Nucky's warnings to lay low, Chalky takes off after Narcisse, only to find Daughter and his child, Althea, now in Narcisse's control. In the end, he sacrifices his life to earn his family the freedom they deserve.
Meanwhile, Gillian (Gretchen Mol) is incarcerated after pleading temporary insanity in the first-degree murder of Roger McAllister. She gets clean from her heroin addiction but must prove her sanity to get released. When things become increasingly frightening, with doctors threatening to perform unethical surgeries on her before release, Gillian desperately asks Nucky for help.
Alcoholism and drug abuse plague the rest of the Boardwalk Empire cast
Cocaine addiction, combined with syphilis, has put Chicago kingpin Al Capone (Stephen Graham) in a vulnerable position. Deteriorating mental health and paranoia grip him, which undercover agent Mike DiAngelo uses to his advantage. He digs his claws deep into the Capone crime circle, ready to charge them with tax evasion.
Nucky's brother Eli (Shea Whigham) turns to alcohol after being forced away from his family and living life in exile. He also continues to work for Capone alongside Nelson Van Alden (Michael Shannon).
Nelson goes from a religious fundamentalist working in law enforcement to a henchman for Capone. However, he finally tries to turn on him when DiAngelo makes him an offer in the final season of Boardwalk Empire.
Things go south when Capone catches Nelson and Eli stealing his ledges for DiAngelo and attempts to kill the duo for the betrayal. When Nelson almost kills Capone, DiAngelo intervenes and kills Nelson instead, with his hands safely on the ledgers. Capone says goodbye to his son and enters his court trial.
Back to Nucky's business in Boardwalk Empire...
In a strange twist of fate, Mickey Doyle (Paul Sparls), Maranzano, and Nucky team up to take Atlantic City from Lucky. With the Onyx Club as their HQ, Micky, and Nucky gather an army, including henchman Joe Harper (Travis Tope) and the battered but free Eli. An impatient Nucky is at odds with Maranzano, who believes revenge is best served cold. As usual, Nucky acts on his own volition.
Nucky's men kidnap Lucky's hitman Bugsy, while Lucky kidnaps Eli's son Willy, forcing a trade. Fans of crime drama shows like Boardwalk Empire know that a trade like that never ends well.
Lucky foregoes the trade agreement, shoots Micky dead, and threatens Nucky to kill Maranzano and back down if he wants Willy alive.
Having had his hand forced, Nucky orders Eli to kill Maranzano and frees Willy, but the anti-hero loses control of Atlantic City. Lucky revels in his newfound power, chumming it up with all the powerful crime bosses by creating the "Commission", a lawful body for the American Mafia. His first order of business? Take the powerful Narcisse out of the equation.
What is Nucky's fate in Boardwalk Empire season 5?
For all his flaws, Nucky knows when to back down. After accepting defeat, he leaves Eli with a tearful hug and cash to sustain his family and helps Gilian with a trust fund to protect her after her release from the sanitarium. He also lets go of his young henchman, Joe, advising him to find someplace better for his talents.
Nucky's peace is short-lived (as short as one slow dance with Margaret) before Joe lures him out and reveals his true identity. He is Tommy Darmody, Jimmy and Angela's son, all grown up and ready to take revenge on Nucky for murdering his father. He fatally shoots Nucky in a shocking end to the character's saga.
Nucky has a poignant vision before his death. He sees himself as a young boy swimming in the ocean when the Commodore tosses a coin off the boardwalk. Nucky swims after the coin, metaphorically succumbing to his life as the king of the Boardwalk Empire and sealing his untimely fate.
Stream all episodes of Boardwalk Empire on HBO Max.
