Elegant, self-assured and gloomily quiet for long stretches at a time, “Boardwalk Empire” is one of the most understated and underrated shows in television history. It lulls us into believing it’s another lilting historical drama.
But it’s all a con.
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“Boardwalk Empire” is ruthlessly, irredeemably brilliant. It has no sentimentality or nostalgia. It refuses to comfort us, spare the lives of beloved characters, or make any of the usual basic artistic concessions to make us like it. Nothing lasts.
The 1920s-set series enters its fifth and final season Sunday with yet another surprise execution: It is no longer set in the 1920s.