‘Boardwalk Empire’ season 5, episode 1 preview: Nucky Thompson is ready for change

Sunday night, “Boardwalk Empire” returns to HBO for its fifth and final season, and we’ve got some further confirmation right now that Nucky Thompson is going to waste almost no time trying to make his next big move.

Let’s just stop for a moment here first and foremost here and remember where this guy is coming from: A criminal empire, and one stuffed full of violence and corruption. Many years have passed between seasons 4 and 5, and therefore, much may have changed for Steve Buscemi’s character. The US government has realized now the mistakes and misgivings of Prohibition, and it makes sense suddenly for them to bring alcohol sales back into the county, where it can be relegated.

So what does this mean? As the sneak peek below suggests, it is an opportunity to finally go on the legal path for a change. He wants to prepare for it, and be one of the first sellers of viable goods the moment that he can.

The only thing that we are eternally curious about right now is pretty simple: Whether or not it is even that possible for this cat to change his stripes. He’s been perceived in a certain way for so long, can he really ever move on from that “gangster” label? As the poster above makes it clear, “no one goes quietly.” Not only that, but you cannot escape your past.

What do you think about this preview, and do you think that “Boardwalk Empire” can actually be as exciting with Nucky doing almost everything above-board for a change? Share some of your thoughts right now with a comment.