Too many characters
Anyone else agree?
I'm half way through and feel like giving up, its too unfocused for me.
Maybe. Still easier to keep track of who everyone is than Game of Thrones.
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MovieChat Forums > Boardwalk Empire (2010) Discussion > Too many characters
I agree.
I think the biggest shortcoming of the series was the showrunner's pretense that the series would include ALL of what they felt were the major players during Prohibition. While it's true that Atlantic City was a major hub for illegally importing booze it was still only one of SEVEN major entry points, but the series sort of leads to think that Nucky's Atlantic City is the gateway for everyone, including the big wigs in NYC, and on a relative scale Chicago.
They tried to balance human stories with so many characters you can see the imbalance with certain portrayals. For example, Jimmy Darmody's storyline seemed almost as equal at times to Nucky's even though you had subplots involving other major characters from Arnold Rothstein and Al Capone to Eli, Chalky, and Margaret. In the end, you're left feeling muddled through all of the story-lines.
I think the biggest shortcoming of the series was the showrunner's pretense that the series would include ALL of what they felt were the major players during Prohibition. While it's true that Atlantic City was a major hub for illegally importing booze it was still only one of SEVEN major entry points, but the series sort of leads to think that Nucky's Atlantic City is the gateway for everyone, including the big wigs in NYC, and on a relative scale Chicago
I just finished with the 1st season and going onto the 2nd and I have to agree about the multitude of characters. I do like the show though - the 1st season was good. But, Atlantic City wasn't the only hub for all the gangsters during that time, nor did Thompson had he's hands in everything.
~Silence is Golden and Duct tape is Silver~
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the 1st season was good. But, Atlantic City wasn't the only hub for all the gangsters during that time,
Like you said, you've only finished season one. share
And like I said - there's too many characters. 1 or 5 makes no difference in that fact.
~Silence is Golden and Duct tape is Silver~
And like I said - there's too many characters.
I didn't comment on that. share
Gee, I didn't think the producers were implying that Atlantic City was literally central to booze running during Prohibition.
Having said that, in comparison to the real story they did seem to elevate Nucky's relative importance compared to others.
Would the story have improved if there were fewer characters? I don't know. There was a certain sense that some actors were being tried out, and then a lot of characters were killed off given the violent nature of the story, so they had to be replaced to keep it going. Not implausible, either, when real life is considered. A criminal dies, another comes along. It happens.
What characters/storylines would you have entirely cut:?
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Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that I'll be over here looking through your stuff.
Too many characters?
I am reminded of the King telling Amadeus his composition had too many notes.
That assertion sent Amadeus into a tizzy.
You've probably got the producers of the show going... "What? We don't understand. The show has the exact right number of characters!"