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The Worst Episodes of Boardwalk Empire

Every episode of Boardwalk Empire ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Boardwalk Empire!

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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 Worst Episode
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    Boardwalk Empire Season 4 Episode 9 - Marriage and Hunting
    6.2/10(2078 votes)

    #1 - Marriage and Hunting

    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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  2. Boardwalk Empire Season 5 Episode 3 - What Jesus Said
    6.3/10(2018 votes)

    #2 - What Jesus Said

    S5:E3

    Chalky heads in a new direction; Margaret finds herself in a quandary; Nucky hosts a prospective partner from Boston; Luciano and Siegel meet with Narcisse in Harlem; in 1884, young Nucky flirts with a girl.

    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writers:Howard Korder, Cristine Chambers

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  3. Boardwalk Empire Season 4 Episode 6 - The North Star
    6.4/10(2035 votes)

    #3 - The North Star

    S4:E6

    Nucky heads to Tampa to work out details of his land deal with Bill McCoy; Richard Harrow returns to Atlantic City; Agent Knox tries to gain Eli's trust; Chalky takes out his frustrations on Daughter Maitland.

    Director:Allen Coulter
    Writers:Howard Korder, Eric Overmyer

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  4. Boardwalk Empire Season 5 Episode 2 - The Good Listener
    6.4/10(2073 votes)

    #4 - The Good Listener

    S5:E2

    Nucky pays a visit to Johnny Torrio; Eli and Van Alden must recoup money lost during a federal raid by Eliot Ness; Willie has a job interview; in 1884, young Nucky deals with the death of his sister.

    Director:Allen Coulter
    Writer:Terence Winter

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  5. Boardwalk Empire Season 3 Episode 6 - Ging Gang Goolie
    6.5/10(2171 votes)

    #5 - Ging Gang Goolie

    S3:E6

    Nucky is detained in Washington; Margaret copes with Teddy's demons; Owen investigates a suspicious fire; Richard makes a connection with a veteran and his daughter.

    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writer:Steve Kornacki

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  6. Boardwalk Empire Season 4 Episode 7 - William Wilson
    6.5/10(2000 votes)

    #6 - William Wilson

    S4:E7

    Eli confronts Nucky after Willie makes an unpopular decision. Margaret has a surprise encounter at her job on Wall Street. Joe Masseria orders Lucky Luciano to return to Tampa and deal with Vincenzo Petrucelli. Gillian goes cold turkey, with Roy Phillips’ help. Still seething over his brother’s death, Al Capone tries to get Johnny Torrio to turn on rival gangster Dean O’Banion. As Chalky White and Daughter Maitland’s relationship deepens, Valentin Narcisse exerts his control over Dunn Purnsley and the Northside.

    Director:Jeremy Podeswa
    Writers:Terence Winter, David Matthews

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  7. Boardwalk Empire Season 4 Episode 11 - Havre de Grace
    6.5/10(2056 votes)

    #7 - Havre de Grace

    S4:E11

    Nucky takes inventory after being warned of a skunk in his cellar. On the lam following a close call, Chalky and Daughter take refuge outside Wilmington with Oscar Boneau, his mentor from years ago. Gillian considers selling her mansion and starting a new life with Roy Phillips.

    Director:Allen Coulter
    Writer:Howard Korder

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  8. Boardwalk Empire Season 3 Episode 7 - Sunday Best
    6.6/10(2197 votes)

    #8 - Sunday Best

    S3:E7

    Eli hopes to get back in Nucky's good graces; Gillian tries to improve her future; Gyp asks for a blessing in New York.

    Director:Allen Coulter
    Writer:Howard Korder

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  9. Boardwalk Empire Season 3 Episode 9 - The Milkmaid's Lot
    6.6/10(2224 votes)

    #9 - The Milkmaid's Lot

    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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  10. Boardwalk Empire Season 5 Episode 5 - King of Norway
    6.6/10(2049 votes)

    #10 - King of Norway

    S5:E5

    Chalky returns to Atlantic City; Nucky arranges a meeting with Maranzano; Eli reunites with June.

    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writer:Steve Kornacki

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  11. Boardwalk Empire Season 5 Episode 4 - Cuanto
    6.7/10(2129 votes)

    #11 - Cuanto

    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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  12. Boardwalk Empire Season 3 Episode 3 - Bone for Tuna
    6.8/10(2259 votes)

    #12 - Bone for Tuna

    S3:E3

    Disturbed by a recent nightmare and Billie’s absence, Nucky reluctantly joins Margaret to receive a high honor from the Church. Meanwhile, Gyp makes a deal with Nucky for a onetime liquor shipment, though the mobster’s longtime intentions remain very much up in the air. Van Alden regrets trying to socialize with his co-workers; Margaret takes her women’s-clinic pitch to a higher authority; Lucky and Meyer (Anatol Yusef) protect their investments; Richard sets the record straight with Mickey, and with Nucky.

    Director:Jeremy Podeswa
    Writer:Chris Haddock

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  13. Boardwalk Empire Season 2 Episode 6 - The Age of Reason
    6.9/10(2356 votes)

    #13 - The Age of Reason

    S2:E6

    Nucky tries to set up a risky liquor delivery to Philadelphia. Later, Attorney General Daugherty sees a problem that might complicate Nucky's case. Jimmy finds a new mentor in Leander Whitlock who is the Commodore's lawyer. Margaret finally goes to confessional. Lucy continues to struggle with loneliness while Van Alden tries to settle his conscience.

    Director:Jeremy Podeswa
    Writer:Bathsheba Doran

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  14. Boardwalk Empire Season 3 Episode 5 - You'd Be Surprised
    6.9/10(2224 votes)

    #14 - You'd Be Surprised

    S3:E5

    Rothstein vents to Nucky and delivers a message to Gyp. Gaston Means sees an opportunity. Billie gets a new co-start. Van Alden and Sigrid receive an unexpected visitor. Gillian worries about her business.

    Director:Tim Van Patten
    Writers:Diane Frolov, Andrew Schneider

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  15. Boardwalk Empire Season 3 Episode 8 - The Pony
    6.9/10(2324 votes)

    #15 - The Pony

    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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  16. Boardwalk Empire Season 5 Episode 6 - Devil You Know
    6.9/10(2588 votes)

    #16 - Devil You Know

    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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  17. Boardwalk Empire Season 5 Episode 7 - Friendless Child
    6.9/10(2653 votes)

    #17 - Friendless Child

    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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  18. Boardwalk Empire Season 2 Episode 7 - Peg of Old
    7.0/10(2383 votes)

    #18 - Peg of Old

    S2:E7

    Margaret has a family reunion. Owen gets even with a rival. Van Alden recognizes the hierarchy of the law. Jimmy wonders how a decision will affect the future.

    Director:Allen Coulter
    Writer:Steve Kornacki

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  19. Boardwalk Empire Season 3 Episode 2 - Spaghetti & Coffee
    7.0/10(2284 votes)

    #19 - Spaghetti & Coffee

    S3:E2

    Mixing business with pleasure in New York, Nucky bristles at the collection tactics of Gaston Means, a “special investigator” with ties to Attorney General Harry Daugherty. At St. Theresa’s, Margaret is troubled when her altruism is met with resistance by both a patient and an idealistic doctor. Gyp extends his stopover in Tabor Heights, a town halfway between Atlantic City and New York, with an eye towards establishing a strategic foothold. Chalky and his daughter Maybelle (Christina Jackson) fail to agree on her future with Samuel (Ty Michael Robinson); Eli gets a new boss and faces new realities at home; a major liquor shipment takes an unexpected detour.

    Director:Alik Sakharov
    Writer:Howard Korder

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  20. Boardwalk Empire Season 1 Episode 8 - Hold Me in Paradise
    7.1/10(2702 votes)

    #20 - Hold Me in Paradise

    S1:E8

    Nucky visits Chicago for the Republican National Convention, where he finds himself intrigued by the candidacy of Warren G. Harding over more established candidates. The D'Alessio gang moves in on Nucky's territory at the expense of Eli, who has been watching over his brother's affairs. Margaret finds herself entangled in Nucky's business affairs, while Van Alden struggles with his wife's desire for a child. Rothstein prepares for legal trouble over his role in fixing the 1919 World Series. Nucky asks Jimmy to return to Atlantic City to reinforce his position.

    Director:Brian Kirk
    Writer:Meg Jackson

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  21. Boardwalk Empire Season 1 Episode 9 - Belle Femme
    7.1/10(2742 votes)

    #21 - Belle Femme

    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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  22. Boardwalk Empire Season 2 Episode 3 - A Dangerous Maid
    7.1/10(2475 votes)

    #22 - A Dangerous Maid

    S2:E3

    The Commodore throws his weight around with the Coast Guard to disrupt the delivery of alcohol, which creates an opportunity for Owen to demonstrate his value to Nucky and a struggling casino. Meanwhile, a letter dredges up painful memories for Margaret, Nucky calls in a favor with the U.S. attorney general, Meyer and Lucky learn the price of power, and Lucy searches for ways to cure her loneliness.

    Director:Susanna White
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Boardwalk Empire Season 2 Episode 4 - What Does the Bee Do?
    7.1/10(2429 votes)

    #23 - What Does the Bee Do?

    S2:E4

    During Mayor Bader's birthday party, Nucky's attorney comes up with a solution that might help Nucky in his election-rigging case. With a liquor surplus likely, Jimmy and Mickey travel to Philadelphia to search for buyers while Nucky makes a surprising deal to try and get alcohol into Atlantic City. Eli is concerned over the Commodore's ability to lead. Margaret decides to give her staff bonuses. Chalky is cornered while at work and home. Owen takes his munitions expertise and uses it. Van Alden's agents set their eyes on Mickey's warehouse. Richard lets his guard down in the name of art. And Gillian thinks of the first time she was ever with the Commodore.

    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writer:Steve Kornacki

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  24. Boardwalk Empire Season 4 Episode 8 - The Old Ship of Zion
    7.1/10(2119 votes)

    #24 - The Old Ship of Zion

    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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  25. Boardwalk Empire Season 1 Episode 4 - Anastasia
    7.2/10(3128 votes)

    #25 - Anastasia

    S1:E4

    In Chicago, Jimmy bonds with one of Johnny Torrio's prostitutes, Pearl, and finds himself increasingly at odds with the hot-headed Al Capone. Back in Atlantic City, Nucky looks to leverage his political relationships with ambitious U.S. Senator Walter Edge and Jersey City Mayor Frank Hague, while Eli and Chalky go to extremes to interrogate a local KKK leader.

    Director:Jeremy Podeswa
    Writers:Lawrence Konner, Margaret Nagle

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Marriage and Hunting" is the worst rated episode of "Boardwalk Empire". It scored 6.2/10 based on 2078 votes. Directed by Ed Bianchi and written by David Matthews, Jennifer Ames, Steve Turner, it aired on 11/3/2013. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "What Jesus Said".