Why "Boardwalk Empire" killed its most beloved character.

by Christian Chiakulas

Huge spoilers below. You've been warned.

Last Sunday, December 11th, HBO aired the second season finale of its Prohibition-era crime drama, Boardwalk Empire, a much critically-lauded (and underwatched) television show created by Terrence Winter (The Sopranos).  Near the end, deuteragonist Jimmy Darmody (played fantastically by Michael Pitt) is gunned down in cold blood by Steve Buscemi's Nucky Thompson, the undisputed "main character" of the show, from day one.  It made for some of the best television I've seen since The Wire and was a very interesting character development for Nucky, who has never killed anyone before (at least, not on-screen).  Well, he's not half a gangster anymore, it would seem.  But, here's the problem with the season finale...

Jimmy Darmody is one of the greatest, most interesting characters ever created for TV, and Pitt's performance goes beyond Emmy-worthy.  The cat-and-mouse feud between Jimmy and Nucky was the driving conflict of season 2, and season 1 spent much time building up their relationship.  With Jimmy gone, who knows what direction the show is going in?  One thing, however, is clear:  Boardwalk just won't be the same without Jimmy.