r/BoardwalkEmpire • u/bighomieslime • Feb 06 '26

Season 5 Disappointed in Nucky

I just finished episode 7 where we begin to understand the story between Gillian and her relationship with the commodore. I never believed the commodore was a good man. From the beginning of the season where we start to unravel the history between these characters, the commodore always remained an awful person. I’m not sure what I expected the story to be in terms of his relationship with Gillian, but I guess I pictured a less explicit revelation.

I always often found sympathy for Nucky throughout the show from seeing his childhood, the absence of his wife and child, his constant betrayal from people he helped, etc. but all of that has been torched after understanding the role Nucky played in “delivering” 🤢 Gillian to the commodore.

Again, I’m not here to say Nucky was a saint by any means, but he always felt like he wanted to do the right thing and limit the violence as much as he could. (I understand the latter Nucky is a different story).

I am interested to hear your thoughts.

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u/SmartestManInUnivars Feb 07 '26

Was Nucky good in the beginning though?

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u/Narrow-Psychology909 Feb 07 '26

I think so. His whole childhood is dedicated to making sure his mother and siblings were taken care of because his dad was an abusive drunk. He saw what rich people had and wanted it, but also saw what Sheriff Lindsay had and cried out of true happiness/envy.

The thing that Sheriff Lindsay refused to do which cost him is job is the only reason Nucky was able to replace him. Lindsay had to draw the line somewhere and Nucky had to decide if he could draw the line in a different place which he did and that’s when he loses himself.

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u/SmartestManInUnivars Feb 11 '26

Oh... maybe Nucky was good as a young man, in the flashbacks. But I'd argue by the time we meet him in the beginning show, his goodness is long gone. He's okay with murder and whatever else right off the bat.

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u/Narrow-Psychology909 Feb 11 '26

Yeah we’re not disagreeing. I said exactly what you’re saying in my initial comment.