Ranking All Main Characters From Boardwalk Empire
2. Al Capone
What's so great about Boardwalk Empire was how it made historically awful people out to be incredibly sympathetic (and even likeable). And for one of the most prolific names in organised crime history, the series did an amazing job fleshing out the life of Al Capone.
In the first two seasons of the show, viewers are treated to the sweet, polite and charming foot-soldier of Johnny Torrio's Chicago outfit. The show doesn't stray too much from Capone's bullish side early on - but the show made Capone three-dimensional, and at times relatable.
Things take a terrible turn for the better during the third season, and the Al Capone we know culturally comes to life as he shoots, beats and whores his way through the Chicago underworld. The polite and smiling chap we remember sharing cigarettes with Jimmy Darmody by the cars evolved before the viewers' very eyes into a maniacal, unhinged, hot-tempered psychopath.
Stephen Graham absolutely killed it as Al Capone, and it goes without saying that the character's elevation from a smaller role at the beginning of the series to one of the biggest hitters by the end was one of the smartest choices the show made.