I guess this is okay for television, and it's great visually, but the script is silly and overwritten, the characters are unbelievable, and the actors are unconvincing. Sure, it shows the corruption and violence of the American political and economic system - and that's the only saving grace in the script - but the characters are superficial and seem to be acting mainly to work in a clever line or a plot turn. And the actors are as superficial as the script. When I look at a well produced television production (Downton Abbey, The Borgias), even with their over-the-top improbable plots, the scripts and the acting have depth and conviction that I don't see here. Boardwalk Empire just makes me roll my eyes when the characters do something that the writers think is smart.

Could've done with less nudity but overall I enjoyed it. Cannot wait to watch season 2.

1st season: Bad casting, bad directing, poor writing, this is what this show is about. Most actors except Bucemi, Kelly Macdonald and Stephen Graham look like B rated. Lot of filler sex scenes, filler violent scenes that are totally unnecessary for the story line. But if you like anything in the TV, go and watch it.

worest show ever, watched the 2 hour pilot and brought the dvd back to the library, can not understand how this show could be such a big hit.

Disappointed after 5 episodes. It seems to be getting better so I definitely will continue (not that I'd quit anyway). The pilot directed by Scorsese was an unfortunate intro. Written by the head cheese, Terry Winter, this homage-phobia sweeping various generations younger than boomer is quite a impediment. Like Conan wanting “The Tonight Show” instead of just staying on NBC making $11/yr, we start season 1 of BE bogieing hole 1. Scorsese’s directing is awful and sets a bad precedent that they ease away from in subsequent episodes, thankfully. Over the top and forced, self-conscious and struggling w/exposition of the Times/book it’s based on. You’d think Marty doesn’t know what to do with tv. He directs as though he/we’ve never seen a mob picture before! Or, maybe he’s been hanging w/Robert DeNiro too long—that is, snail-mailing it in in in. Fat and ego-apotheosed...Wow....... In each following episode Winters et al re-establish quality; it’s alot of Soprano dudes, after all. Buscemi fulfills the prescription for a quality cable drama, very compelling lead. Plentiful plot doesn’t seem to be a problem. Once they take the advice I had for Jimmy Fallon they should be ok—get bored with it, then relax and forget where you are and what you are doing, for Christ’s Sake. Also, forget the source material that got you started; don’t marry it! THEN, get on with it. Aside; dirty up the clothes, sets a little, you know, like in Reality.

I really appreciated the subtley and restraint that the pilot episode showed, especailly considering it was directed by Martin Scorsesse. By the second episode, all of that restraint is thrown out the window. This series doesn't disappoint as far as fans of violence, gore, sex and nudity. The story is fairly conventional, a slightly different spin on the mobster world. Still, the writing is excellent, as is the production design and the actors such as Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Michael Shannon and Gretchen Mol are a joy to watch.

We don't get HBO or Showtime at home so I always wait for the DVDs to come out. I love this series. I like this beter than "Boss", but that's because I'm a history buff and this is all based on real people and real incidents. There is way too much graphic sex for my taste, but it's HBO, so you know what you're going to get. Despite that, the acitng, the writing, the sets, the costumes-everything is just wonderful. The characters are so complex-you really don't know whther to hate them or give them a break. I really enjoyed the special features that give bios of the characters and then the ones on the last disk that tell about the making of the series and the construction of the Boardwalk. Amazing!

Awesome entertainment!! Addictive guilty pleasure par excellence. Steve Buscemi's performance is hypnoticly facinating. Great production values make this series a Prohibition Ganster 'time machine' experience! (But suspend moral judgement , if you want to enjoy a visit this era.)

There is so much excellent production value in the “Boardwalk Empire” television series that it takes some effort to objectively recognize that it is about despicable activities and the disreputable people who do them. Murder, robbery, drug dealing, prostitution, government manipulation, and other sociological violations that do not really make our world a better place are the subject matter and life-source of this iconoclastic group. The actors are excellent, as are the sets, props, costumes, writing, direction and editing. Although extreme violence predominates some of the situations and lines are really funny. The first season, which is the only part of this series I have viewed so far, is enticing and entertaining. I must admit, however, that I am not an advocate of the glamorization of gangsters and therefore place this program in the rather glossy Romantic Fiction category.

Good epic story except the last two episodes which have too many weird filler scenes and nutty events, mho.