“Boardwalk Empire” is a historical drama series centered around Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, a character inspired by the real-life figure Enoch L. Johnson. Nucky is a political powerhouse who gains significant influence and control over Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era of the 1920s and 1930s. Throughout the series, Nucky’s life intertwines with various historical personalities, including gangsters, politicians, federal agents, and ordinary citizens who admire him. The federal government becomes interested in the illegal activities, such as bootlegging, occurring in the region, prompting them to dispatch agents to probe potential mob ties and scrutinize Nucky’s opulent lifestyle, which is quite extravagant for a local political leader.

The show was brought to life by Terence Winter, an acclaimed screenwriter and producer who won a Primetime Emmy Award. He adapted the series from Nelson Johnson’s book, “Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City,” which explores the life of the historical crime boss Enoch L. Johnson.