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The Best Episodes of Boardwalk Empire

Every episode of Boardwalk Empire ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Boardwalk Empire!

Binge this in 2d 5h•Peaking at 9.5/10

Atlantic City at the dawn of Prohibition is a place where the rules don't apply. And the man who runs things -- legally and otherwise -- is the town's treasurer, Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, who is

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  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Boardwalk Empire Season 3 Episode 11 - Two Impostors
    9.5/10(3689 votes)

    S3:E11

    Gyp makes his move in Atlantic City, forcing Nucky and Eddie to seek refuge with Chalky. With the Artemis Club overrun by Rosetti thugs, Gillian contemplates a business future that includes an unwelcome partner. Luciano makes a deal he’ll come to regret. Harrow loses his house privileges.

    Director:Allen Coulter
    Writer:Howard Korder

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  2. Boardwalk Empire Season 3 Episode 12 - Margate Sands
    9.4/10(3529 votes)

    S3:E12

    Nucky makes a deal with Rothstein as his war with Gyp Rosetti reaches its climax. Season finale.

    Director:Tim Van Patten
    Writers:Howard Korder, Terence Winter

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  3. Boardwalk Empire Season 2 Episode 12 - To the Lost
    9.3/10(3890 votes)

    S2:E12

    Nucky faces a difficult, bottom-line business decision.

    Director:Tim Van Patten
    Writer:Terence Winter

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  4. Boardwalk Empire Season 4 Episode 12 - Farewell Daddy Blues
    9.3/10(3504 votes)

    S4:E12

    Eli braces for the worst as Agent Knox launches his plan to bring Nucky down. Capone and Torrio reach an agreement in Cicero. Chalky looks to settle scores. Richard steps forward to save Tommy, at Gillian’s expense

    Director:Tim Van Patten
    Writers:Howard Korder, Terence Winter

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  5. Boardwalk Empire Season 5 Episode 8 - Eldorado
    9.2/10(3917 votes)

    S5:E8

    Nucky plans to relocate to Manhattan; Margaret impresses Nucky and a grain company stockholder.

    Director:Tim Van Patten
    Writers:Howard Korder, Terence Winter

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  6. Boardwalk Empire Season 5 Episode 7 - Friendless Child
    9.1/10(2708 votes)

    S5:E7

    Nucky tries to hold onto his assets in Atlantic City; Willie and Eli become involved in Nucky's war.

    Director:Allen Coulter
    Writers:Howard Korder, Cristine Chambers

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Boardwalk Empire

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  7. Boardwalk Empire Season 3 Episode 10 - A Man, A Plan...
    9.0/10(2731 votes)

    S3:E10

    Nucky tries to keep Jess Smith quiet and neutralize Gyp's alliance with Joe Masseria; Margaret considers an alternate future; Van Alden's side business backfires; Gyp's shipment is short; Chalky sees an opportunity.

    Director:Jeremy Podeswa
    Writer:David Flebotte

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  8. Boardwalk Empire Season 2 Episode 11 - Under God's Power She Flourishes
    8.9/10(2920 votes)

    S2:E11

    With Margaret pondering the consequences of sin, Nucky prepares her for a worst-case scenario as Esther Randolph plays out her trump cards. Jimmy revisits his college days with Angela and Gillian. Mickey Doyle chafes at sharing his liquor profits. Eli refuses to cop a plea. Nelson's past comes back to haunt him, tipping the scale in Nucky's favor.

    Director:Allen Coulter
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Boardwalk Empire Season 5 Episode 6 - Devil You Know
    8.9/10(2649 votes)

    S5:E6

    Federal agents enlist the help of Eli and Van Alden to take down the Capone organization.

    Director:Jeremy Podeswa
    Writer:Howard Korder

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  10. Boardwalk Empire Season 4 Episode 5 - Erlkönig
    8.8/10(2487 votes)

    S4:E5

    Nucky heads to Philadelphia; Agent Knox detains Eddie Kessler to obtain information about Nucky's organization; Gillian tries to score a fix; Van Alden is recruited by the Capones.

    Director:Tim Van Patten
    Writer:Howard Korder

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  11. Boardwalk Empire Season 4 Episode 10 - White Horse Pike
    8.8/10(2281 votes)

    S4:E10

    Nucky enlists Eli and Agent Knox to check the cargo in the Florida shipments; Margaret considers making a deal with Rothstein; Capone grows suspicious of Torrio; Nucky faces a dilemma.

    Director:Jake Paltrow
    Writer:David Flebotte

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  12. Boardwalk Empire Season 1 Episode 12 - A Return to Normalcy
    8.7/10(2971 votes)

    S1:E12

    Nucky faces Election Day in Atlantic City and pulls out all the stops to keep power in Republican hands. Torrio brokers a discussion between Nucky and Rothstein to resolve their growing gang war, as well as Rothstein's looming federal indictment over the World Series. Both Jimmy and Eli voice their growing resentment towards Nucky, and find they have an ally in the Commodore. Van Alden seeks a sign on whether or not to leave Atlantic City, but receives unexpected news from Lucy. Margaret weighs new information about Nucky's first marriage and her uncertain future to make a final decision on her role in his life.

    Director:Tim Van Patten
    Writer:Terence Winter

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  13. Boardwalk Empire Season 2 Episode 5 - Gimcrack & Bunkum
    8.7/10(2704 votes)

    S2:E5

    After a dispute with his enemies, Nucky brings in a surprise guest speaker at a Memorial Day dedication for war veterans. Running out of options, Eli questions his allegiances, but it ends up sending him deeper into the hole. Nucky hires a new lawyer. Jimmy is taught a lesson by one of the Commodore's men that he won't soon forget. Richard decides to go hunting in the forest.

    Director:Tim Van Patten
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Boardwalk Empire Season 1 Episode 1 - Boardwalk Empire
    8.6/10(5849 votes)

    S1:E1

    January 1920. On the eve of Prohibition, Atlantic City's Treasurer, Nucky Thompson, condemns alcohol at a Women's Temperance League meeting, where he is noticed by Margaret Schroeder, a pretty, pregnant housewife who comes to him for help in getting her abusive husband Hans a job. Later that evening, the duplicitous Nucky privately tells his ward bosses about the opportunity to make huge profits selling bootleg liquor. At a countdown-to-midnight blast at Babette's Supper Club, he assures Jimmy Darmody, a recently returned WWI vet, that his appointment as "Man Friday" to the new Chief Clerk of the Fourth Ward, Paddy Ryan, will lead to bigger things. Jimmy, meanwhile, has higher aspirations and ends up making an alliance that could have dire consequences for both him and Nucky.

    Director:Martin Scorsese
    Writer:Terence Winter

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  15. Boardwalk Empire Season 2 Episode 10 - Georgia Peaches
    8.6/10(2535 votes)

    S2:E10

    Undercut by Nucky, who has a new source for alcohol, Jimmy and his partners look to cultivate a new revenue stream in Atlantic City. With the peak tourist season approaching, the Commodore’s crew faces a choice in dealing with the city’s striking workers; either negotiate or fight back. Fearing that sin has led to misfortune, Margaret approaches Father Brennan with an “act of devotion.” Nucky gets a new lawyer. Van Alden faces an uncertain future. Manny Horvitz takes exception to a debt payment.

    Director:Jeremy Podeswa
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Boardwalk Empire Season 3 Episode 4 - Blue Bell Boy
    8.6/10(2425 votes)

    S3:E4

    After tracking down a liquor thief, Nucky and Owen spend a long night hiding out from the fedswith the precocious perp. In his boss’ absence, and with Rothstein fuming over a late delivery, Mickey overrules Eli to make a routing call that will have far-reaching consequences for Nucky and Gyp. Margaret encounters a familiar face while promoting Dr. Mason’s classes at the new women’s clinic at St. Theresa’s. In New York, Lucky haggles with Joe Masseria over heroin splits, while in Chicago, Capone’s feud with O’Banion heats up when one of his collectors gets roughed up on the South Side.

    Director:Kari Skogland
    Writer:David Stenn

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  17. Boardwalk Empire Season 3 Episode 8 - The Pony
    8.6/10(2390 votes)

    S3:E8

    Gillian makes her peace with Jimmy's death; Van Alden attends a meeting with Capone and Torrio; Nucky makes an offer to Andrew Mellon; Margaret makes a stand on birth control; Nucky and Owen shop for a pony; Billie considers a future in film.

    Director:Tim Van Patten
    Writers:Howard Korder, Terence Winter

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  18. Boardwalk Empire Season 4 Episode 8 - The Old Ship of Zion
    8.6/10(2176 votes)

    S4:E8

    Nucky’s shipment from Florida arrives with some unexpected cargo. Eli is backed into a corner after Agent Knox uncovers some new dirt on the Thompsons. After talking things over with Nucky, Willie reconsiders his recent life choices. Chalky throws down the gauntlet toward Valentin Narcisse, upholding his leadership on the Northside.

    Director:Tim Van Patten
    Writers:Howard Korder, Cristine Chambers

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  19. Boardwalk Empire Season 1 Episode 7 - Home
    8.5/10(3021 votes)

    S1:E7

    After his father Ethan is injured in a fall, Nucky uses the opportunity to refurbish his childhood home. On a double-date with new friend Annabelle and her beaux, Margaret tries to get Nucky to open up about some painful childhood memories. During a visit to an army hospital, Jimmy befriends disfigured vet Richard Harrow, whose sharp eye proves invaluable. Van Alden gets a lead on the woods massacre.

    Director:Allen Coulter
    Writer:Paul Simms

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  20. Boardwalk Empire Season 1 Episode 9 - Belle Femme
    8.5/10(2825 votes)

    S1:E9

    Nucky is forced to readjust his political alliances with a Democratic mayoral candidate promising to wipe out corruption. Jimmy returns from Chicago to deal with the D'Alessio gang, which has allied with Rothstein to import European scotch through Atlantic City, but is arrested by Agent Van Alden for the massacre in the woods. Margaret intercedes with Nucky on Madame Jeunet's behalf, while Angela finds her romantic and artistic ambitions halted by Jimmy's return.

    Director:Brad Anderson
    Writer:Steve Kornacki

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  21. Boardwalk Empire Season 1 Episode 10 - The Emerald City
    8.5/10(2792 votes)

    S1:E10

    Nucky asks for Margaret's assistance in backing his mayoral candidate with the passage of women's right to vote, leaving her conflicted about her role. Doyle switches sides back from Rothstein, which leads Nucky to conspire with Chalky against Lansky and the D'Alessios. Angela witnesses Jimmy's violent side against her photographer friend, and considers leaving Atlantic City for good in the aftermath. Van Alden grapples with his emotions, and has encounters with both Margaret and Lucy.

    Director:Simon Cellan Jones
    Writer:Lawrence Konner

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  22. Boardwalk Empire Season 2 Episode 8 - Two Boats and a Lifeguard
    8.5/10(2465 votes)

    S2:E8

    In the wake of a personal loss, Nucky solicits advice on his political situation from Arnold Rothstein, while Eli remains suspicious of his brother’s actions. Nucky finds himself in the unfamiliar position of showing gratitude toward a federal agent. Angela meets a new friend at the beach, and eavesdrops on her husband’s treachery. Nelson gets a nanny. Nucky approaches Owen with an overseas proposition. Jimmy flexes his muscles, at Mickey Doyle’s expense.

    Director:Tim Van Patten
    Writer:Terence Winter

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  23. Boardwalk Empire Season 3 Episode 9 - The Milkmaid's Lot
    8.5/10(2288 votes)

    S3:E9

    Nucky vows to eliminate his nemesis. A high-profile bootlegger is arrested. Emily's birthday party is scaled down. Gillian blames Harrow for Tommy's trouble. Gyp decides to buy a town's silence.

    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writer:Rolin Jones

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  24. Boardwalk Empire Season 4 Episode 9 - Marriage and Hunting
    8.5/10(2135 votes)

    S4:E9

    Nucky refuses to back Chalky in a conflict; Gillian makes her custody case in court; Van Alden stands up to Capone and comes clean to O'Banion; Rothstein tries to make a trade.

    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writers:David Matthews, Jennifer Ames, Steve Turner

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  25. Boardwalk Empire Season 5 Episode 4 - Cuanto
    8.5/10(2185 votes)

    S5:E4

    Nucky and Margaret find common ground in Atlantic City; Luciano encounters an old adversary; Sally Wheet makes a payment in Cuba; in 1884, young Nucky moves up the Commodore's ladder.

    Director:Jake Paltrow
    Writers:Howard Korder, Cristine Chambers

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Best Episodes Summary

"Two Impostors" is the best rated episode of "Boardwalk Empire". It scored 9.5/10 based on 3689 votes. Directed by Allen Coulter and written by Howard Korder, it aired on 11/25/2012. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Margate Sands".