Directed by Martin Scorsese and based on the Nelson Johnson book Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City this HBO television series chronicles the tale of the organized crime during prohibition era New Jersey. Steve Buscemi is expertly believable as he plays gangster Nucky Thompson who is the lord of Atlantic City and her gambling and illegal alcohol operations. Needless to say at the center of all of these activities is organized crime, sex, and violence. What is fascinating about this show is that although, Nucky is the main character, the show richly develops a backdrop and introduces other gangsters that grew into international notoriety like Al Capone and Charles “Lucky” Luciano. Nucky has a wife Margaret, played by Kelly Macdonald, it is a thriving relationship but perhaps another great relationship in terms of the depth is the one that Nucky has with Jimmy Darmony, a returned soldier, played by Michael Pitt. Darmony gets into this crime syndicate as a means to take care of his family, all while he suffers from post traumatic stress. As with any gangster tale, both real and fabricated, there are conflicts with law enforcement and competition but there is a three-dimensional aspect to Nucky because he is the consciousnable gangster. The viewer gets glimpses into his past to possibly illustrate why this is. This is not to say Nucky is a pushover, because he is a shrewd, intimidating, yet calculating guy which was again, played perfectly by Buscemi. Scorcese picked an excellent cast where the star power does not eclipse the story line. The characters are so well-developed but there is also room for growth, which can be a difficult feat for most writers and producers. The costumers and stylized sets lend to that 30s era as well. A series comparable but has the potential to better than even The Sopranos.