Boardwalk Empire, Seasons 1 & 2

Series Premiere. January, 1920. On the eve of Prohibition, Atlantic City's duplicitous Treasurer, Nucky Thompson, condemns alcohol at a Women's Temperance League meeting, then privately tells his Ward Bosses about the opportunity to make huge profits selling bootleg liquor. At a countdown to midnight blast at Babette's Supper Club, he flirts with Margaret Schroeder, a pretty, pregnant wife looking for help getting her abusive husband Hans a job, and assures Jimmy Darmody, a recently returned WWI vet, that his appointment as "Man Friday" to the new Chief Clerk of the Fourth Ward, Paddy Ryan, will lead to bigger things. Jimmy, who has higher aspirations, ends up befriending Al Capone, a young Chicago thug in town with boss Arnold Rothstein, who's setting up bootleg deals with Nucky. Privy to inside information about a truck shipment leaving town that night, the pair engineers a rogue heist that turns deadly--sending Nucky looking for scapegoats to take the blame.

Investigating the heist now linked to Hans Schroeder, straight-and-narrow Agent Nelson van Alden pays a visit to Nucky, and leaves convinced that the Treasurer is "as corrupt as the day is long." A concerned Nucky sends his brother, Sheriff Elias Thompson, to the hospital to sow the seeds of doubt in the widow Schroeder's mind, then visits the local jail to tell Mickey Ward that he's being replaced by Chalky White in the bootleg-production business. When Jimmy arrives for work, Nucky orders him to pay an extra $3G for the mess he created, sending Jimmy scrambling to recoup some of the money he spent on a gift for his mother, a showgirl named Gillian. In Chicago, Al Capone shows a local reporter what he thinks about accusations that Johnny Torrio was involved in the slaying of local mobster "Big Jim" Colosimo. Back in Atlantic City, Nucky discusses the upcoming election with his aging mentor, Commodore Louis Kaestner, who advises him to keep things simple with his constituency. Later, before heading out to celebrate his birthday, Nucky rebukes an irate Arnold Rothstein over the phone, then gives Margaret some in-person advice on how to provide for her children. As a long day ends, a traveling salesman named George Baxter, in town for a day with an unwilling young beauty named Claudia, makes a startling discovery while on the road home to Baltimore.

An unlikely witness threatens to expose the perpetrators of the woods massacre, sending Eli--and Agent Nelson Van Alden--rushing to the hospital. As Nucky re-evaluates his relationship with Lucy, Margaret starts a new job at an upscale French dress shop at the Ritz. Chalky's team pays a heavy price for taking over Mickey Doyle's bootleg operation, causing Chalky to reevaluate his relationship with Nucky. After questioning Angela's loyalty, Jimmy heads west.

In Chicago, Jimmy bonds with one of Johnny Torrio's prostitutes, Pearl, and finds himself increasingly at odds with the hot-headed Al Capone. Back in Atlantic City, Nucky looks to leverage his relationships with ambitious U.S. Senator Walter Edge as well as Jersey City Mayor Frank Hague. Eli and Chalky go to extremes to interrogate a KKK member; Lucky Luciano sets his sights on Jimmy's 'wife'; Margaret impresses at Nucky's lavish birthday party, while Lucy tries to protect her territory.

On the day of the annual St. Patrick's Eve dinner, Nucky deals with his jealous brother's oratory ambitions, as well as a group of disenchanted 'Leprechauns.' Feeling ignored by Nucky, a frustrated Margaret feeds Van Alden information regarding the whereabouts of a garage filled with barrels of beer. In New York, Arnold Rothstein worries about his involvement in the fixed World Series, while in Chicago, Jimmy copes with the aftermath of a vicious attack orchestrated by Torrio rival Charlie Sheridan.

After the brazen robbery of one of his Ward Bosses, Nucky turns up the heat on Lucky Luciano. An emboldened Margaret stands up to Lucy at the dress shop, and then accepts an offer from Nucky to change her circumstances. In Chicago, Al Capone's frustration over family issues spills over into his relationship with Jimmy, who scores points with Johnny Torrio for a bold power play involving mob heavy Charlie Sheridan and the neighborhood of Greektown.

After his father Ethan is injured in a fall, Nucky uses the opportunity to refurbish his childhood home. During a visit to an army hospital, Jimmy befriends a disfigured vet named Richard Harrow, whose sharp eye may prove invaluable. Chalky considers a liquor proposition which would eliminate middle man Nucky. Van Alden gets a valuable lead on the woods massacre. Angela finds companionship in Jimmy's absence; Luciano and a friend cut a deal with the D'Alessio brothers. On a double-date with new friend Annabelle and her beaux, Margaret tries to get Nucky to open up about some painful childhood memories; on a tip from Capone, Jimmy eyes payback against one of Sheridan's thugs.

While visiting Chicago during the Republican National Convention, Nucky gets some alarming news from Atlantic City.

Nucky braces for war with a rival faction; Jimmy stands by his alibi; Margaret helps out Madame Jeunet.

Nucky asks Margaret to toe the party line; Angela witnesses Jimmy's violent side; Capone faces a crossroads; Van Alden grapples with his emotions.

Nucky shakes up the status quo; Jimmy deals with some tricky family issues; Van Alden addresses Agent Sebso's 'temptations.'

In the Season One finale, Nucky and Atlantic City brace for change on Election Day; Torrio brokers a deal between two nemeses, with far-reaching consequences; Jimmy ponders his future, as do Margaret, Agent Van Alden and Eli.

Season Two Premiere. Nucky is rocked by an insurrection among his inner circle; Chalky's life and livelihood are threatened by a vicious KKK attack; Margaret copes with her son's disciplinary problems; Angela vies with Gillian for Jimmy's affections at home; Van Alden shows his wife Rose around town as an anniversary present.

Concerned about losing his grip on Atlantic City, Nucky deliberates a countermove while trying to learn who in his inner circle betrayed him. As agents scour the Treasurer's office for incriminating evidence, Margaret strikes a pose from the past to help Nucky avoid further trouble in the present. In New York, Jimmy is put on hold by Arnold Rothstein, but Meyer Lansky and Lucky Luciano loom as possible trading partners. Chalky is badgered in prison by Dunn Purnsley, a jailmate with an ax to grind; Owen Sleater, an advance man for Irish nationalist John McGarrigle, scouts the Thompson residence; the Commodore introduces Eli to 'the men who made this city.'

With the Commodore using his Coast Guard connections to put the squeeze on Atlantic City's liquor shipments, Nucky reaches out to Washington's new Attorney General, Harry Daugherty, to return a political favor. In an effort to prove his worth, Owen intervenes on a delivery intended for struggling casino operator Lolly Steinman. Two sets of dinner guests clash at Babette's; Margaret sheds her pretense with Katy and the household staff; Lucy chafes at her enforced loneliness.

At a birthday party for Mayor Bader, Nucky's attorney has a legal brainstorm that could turn the tide in Nucky's election-rigging case. Facing a local liquor surplus, Jimmy and Mickey head to Philadelphia in search of buyers, while Nucky strikes an unlikely deal to get booze into Atlantic City. Eli frets over the Commodore's ability to lead; Margaret doles out staff bonuses; Chalky is cornered at work and at home; Owen puts his munitions expertise to work; Van Alden's agents target Mickey's warehouse; Richard lets down his guard in the name of art; Gillian recalls her 'first time' with the Commodore.

After paying lip service to his enemies, Nucky introduces a surprise guest speaker at a Memorial Day dedication for war veterans. With his options dwindling, Eli questions his allegiances, but ends up digging himself a deeper hole. Nucky gets a new lawyer; Jimmy is taught a painful lesson by a Commodore crony; Richard goes hunting deep in the forest.

Nucky orchestrates a risky liquor delivery in Philadelphia; Attorney General Daugherty faces a quandary that could complicate Nucky's case; Jimmy finds a new mentor in Leander Whitlock, the Commodore's longtime lawyer; Margaret confesses her sins; Lucy struggles in solitude, while Van Alden wrestles with his conscience.

While Nucky enlists heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey to promote the wireless broadcast of his upcoming fight, Jimmy faces a decision that could shape the future of Atlantic City. Margaret travels to Brooklyn for a bittersweet reunion with the family she left behind in Ireland. Irked by the arrival of Daugherty's new federal prosecutor Esther Randolph, Nelson weighs his options as his personal and professional problems converge. Badly in need of support, Lucy visits an old flame for a handout. Owen settles one score, and sets his sights on a new conquest.

In the wake of a personal loss, Nucky solicits advice on his political situation from Arnold Rothstein, while Eli remains suspicious of his brother's actions. Nucky finds himself in the unfamiliar position of showing gratitude toward a federal agent; Angela meets a new friend at the beach, and eavesdrops on her husband's treachery; Van Alden gets a nanny; Nucky approaches Owen with an overseas proposition; Jimmy flexes his muscles, at Mickey Doyle's expense.

Arriving in Belfast,Nucky and Owen meet with IRA leaders with a barter proposition. Meanwhile, in Atlantic City, Jimmy and his partners broker a deal with George Remus for his medicinal alcohol before taking a break to see/hear the Dempsey fight. Margaret frets when Emily's illness takes a turn for the worse; Dunn Purnsley orchestrates a worker's strike at the Ritz; Waxey Gordon takes action against Manny Horvitz in Philadelphia; Randolph and Lathrop grill Halloran about Nucky's past.

Undercut by Nucky, who has a new source for alcohol, Jimmy and his partners look to cultivate a new revenue stream in Atlantic City. With the peak tourist season approaching, the Commodore's crew faces a choice in dealing with the city's striking workers: to negotiate or to fight back. Fearing that sin has led to misfortune, Margaret approaches Father Brennan with an act of devotion. Nucky gets a new lawyer; Van Alden faces an uncertain future; Manny Horvitz takes exception to a debt payment.

With Margaret pondering the consequences of sin, Nucky prepares her for a worst-case scenario as Esther Randolph plays out her trump cards. Jimmy revisits his college days with Angela and Gillian; Mickey Doyle chafes at sharing his liquor profits; Eli refuses to cop a plea; and Nelson's past comes back to haunt him, tipping the scale in Nucky's favor.

Season Two Finale. With Nucky's trial looming, Jimmy looks to make amends. After weighing an offer from Esther Randolph, Margaret makes a decision that will change the course of her future--and Nucky's.