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Boardwalk Empire - Season 1 Recap

12 Episodes

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In 1920 Atlantic City, treasurer Nucky Thompson sees opportunity in bootlegging with the dawn of Prohibition. He's ambitious and ruthless, aiming to control the illegal alcohol trade. His protégé, Jimmy Darmody, is eager to prove himself, often through violent means. Nucky also takes an interest in Margaret Schroeder, a woman seeking a better life.

The season's core conflict revolves around Nucky's rise to power and the dangerous alliances and betrayals that come with it. Jimmy's early attempt to hijack liquor leads to a brutal massacre of Arnold Rothstein's men, a crime Nucky tries to cover up. As Nucky solidifies his criminal empire, he faces increasing scrutiny from Prohibition agent Van Alden and threats from rivals like the D'Alessio brothers. Key turning points include Jimmy's girlfriend, Pearl, being brutally disfigured and later committing suicide, and Margaret discovering Nucky's secret ledger, exposing his corruption. The season culminates with a conspiracy forming between the Commodore, Eli, and Jimmy to overthrow Nucky.

Season 1 of Boardwalk Empire covers episodes 1-12. Here's everything that happened:

Season 1, Episode 1: Boardwalk Empire - On the eve of Prohibition in 1920, Atlantic City treasurer Nucky Thompson sees immense profit in bootlegging. His ambitious driver, Jimmy Darmody, partners with Al Capone to hijack a liquor shipment, leading to a brutal massacre of Arnold Rothstein's men. Meanwhile, Nucky helps a pregnant Margaret Schroeder, whose abusive husband, Hans, later beats her, causing her to lose the baby. Nucky then orchestrates Hans's murder, pinning the earlier hijackings on him. The episode concludes with Nucky solidifying his criminal enterprise and Jimmy embracing his violent path.

Season 1, Episode 2: The Ivory Tower - Agent Van Alden investigates Nucky, suspecting his deep corruption. Jimmy Darmody, having spent his heist money, is fired by Nucky and forced to pay an additional $3,000. Nucky gambles away the $3,000 Jimmy gives him, asserting his dominance. Margaret Schroeder navigates conflicting pressures from Eli and Van Alden regarding her late husband. The episode concludes with the fifth driver from the liquor heist found alive, stumbling out of the woods, a critical threat to Nucky and Jimmy.

Season 1, Episode 3: Broadway Limited - A survivor of the woods massacre, Simon, is interrogated by Van Alden and dies after naming Jimmy Darmody. Nucky finalizes a bootlegging deal with Chalky White, whose driver is later lynched by the D'Alessio brothers. To escape Van Alden's intensifying investigation, Nucky sends Jimmy to Chicago, effectively exiling him from Atlantic City.

Season 1, Episode 4: Anastasia - Nucky celebrates his birthday, navigating political maneuvering and racial tensions as Chalky White interrogates a KKK leader about his driver's lynching, revealing the true perpetrators were the D'Alessio brothers. In Chicago, Jimmy Darmody's alliance with Al Capone leads to violent repercussions when Jimmy's girlfriend, Pearl, is brutally disfigured by rival gangsters. Margaret Schroeder, meanwhile, grapples with her aspirations, stealing a dress after witnessing Nucky with Lucy.

Season 1, Episode 5: Nights in Ballygran - Margaret, feeling ignored by Nucky regarding illegal liquor, informs Agent Van Alden, leading to a raid on Nucky's St. Patrick's Day dinner and the arrest of ward boss James Neary. In Chicago, Jimmy cares for Pearl, who, unable to cope with her disfigurement and addiction, commits suicide with Jimmy's gun. The episode concludes with Nucky confronting Margaret, and they begin a physical relationship.

Season 1, Episode 6: Family Limitation - Nucky investigates a boardwalk robbery. Margaret moves in with him, realizing her concubine status. In Chicago, Jimmy advises Torrio, then with Al Capone, ambushes and kills Charlie Sheridan and his men. Agent Van Alden, struggling with lust for Margaret, performs self-flagellation as penance.

Season 1, Episode 7: Home - Nucky confronts his abusive past, ultimately burning down his childhood home to purge painful memories. In Chicago, Jimmy befriends disfigured sharpshooter Richard Harrow. With Harrow's aid, Jimmy exacts revenge, having Liam, Pearl's attacker, sniped in the head.

Season 1, Episode 8: Hold Me in Paradise - Nucky attends the Republican National Convention in Chicago, securing Warren G. Harding's presidential nomination and agreeing to hide his mistress. Back in Atlantic City, Eli is shot during a D'Alessio brothers' casino robbery, prompting Nucky to summon Jimmy for assistance. Van Alden sends Jimmy's intercepted money to Angela, refusing his wife's fertility surgery. The episode concludes with Margaret discovering Nucky's secret ledger, exposing his vast criminal enterprise.

Season 1, Episode 9: Belle Femme - A wounded Eli identifies the D'Alessio brothers, escalating Nucky's conflict. Jimmy returns to Atlantic City and is arrested by Van Alden, but Agent Sebso murders the witness against Jimmy, ensuring his release. Margaret skillfully manipulates Nucky regarding Madame Jeunet's rent. The episode concludes with an assassination attempt on Nucky on the boardwalk, resulting in an innocent woman being shot.

Season 1, Episode 10: The Emerald City - Nucky involves Margaret in his political machinations, while Jimmy struggles with his family life, violently beating a photographer. Mickey Doyle betrays the D'Alessio brothers, leading to an ambush where Lucien D'Alessio is shot by Jimmy and Matteo D'Alessio is strangled by Chalky. The episode concludes with Margaret contemplating her complicity in Nucky's corrupt world, seeing a reflection of her changing self.

Season 1, Episode 11: Paris Green - Agent Van Alden, in a religious frenzy, drowns Agent Sebso during a river baptism. Jimmy discovers his mother, Gillian, has been poisoning the Commodore with arsenic, a critical family reveal. Angela's attempt to escape to Paris with her lover and son fails when she finds they have left without her. Nucky, facing political and personal upheaval, drops Eli from the ticket and finds Margaret has abandoned him.

Season 1, Episode 12: A Return to Normalcy - Nucky secures a Republican election victory after brokering a deal with Rothstein to quash his indictment. This leads to the brutal elimination of the D'Alessio brothers by Jimmy, Richard, and Capone. Margaret returns to Nucky after learning of his tragic past. The episode concludes with a conspiracy forming between the Commodore, Eli, and Jimmy to overthrow Nucky, setting the stage for future conflict.