Boardwalk Empire

In ‘Romeo Section’ Haddock creates a Vancouver awash in espionage and honey traps

Distinguishing the signifiers of great TV from actually great TV

Cue the mutton chops and corsets—networks are crazy about period pieces

So what did you think of the first season of Boardwalk Empire? Reaction to the show seems to have gone through several cycles in only one twelve episode season: from immense hype, to backlash (including a big drop in viewership from the inflated levels of the pilot) to renewed critical respectability. It now almost seems to be a show that is respected rather than loved; Emily Nussbaum put it on her list of the top 10 shows of 2010, even though she finds the violence and nudity “gratuitous” and the Sopranos-clone elements to be too blatant.

HBO is hoping its new period drama can beat the one it turned down