20 TV Shows That Are Practically Flawless

Taking place in New Jersey during the Prohibition Era, Boardwalk Empire was created by Terence Winter as a towering historical crime-drama that dared to dig into the political complexities of a time when crime was massively increased by a law designed to stop it.

Sweeping in scale and stunning in its historical detail, the series was brought to life by a host of invaluable actors, including star Steve Buscemi as powerful fixer Nucky Thompson, the late, great Michael K. Williams as immovable gangster Chalky White, and Stephen Graham as a raging Al Capone.

Another HBO epic taking aim at greedy, ego-driven men who are often their own worst enemy, Boardwalk Empire used its cast, large budget and complex characters (some real, some fictitious) to craft a tale of power against an entire decade of societal upheaval, and the results were sublime even during its less-inspired hiccups.