Boardwalk Empire – workings of the greatness of Mad Men?

Now, you might be thinking that this is an obvious question. Sure, it’s a tv series based in a time that is not now. Ok I get that, but what Mad Men has done was and continues to do is pretty amazing. Being completely true to the time period, drawing you into the characters and all the while being able to highlight those little touches of the period without ever seeming forces or worse, cliché.

Period TV like period films have similar risks. History buffs love to spot the odd flaw – “This is supposed to be 1840 yet that woman is putting on nylons rather than silk stockings – hah!” Actors not being able to get into the mood of the period; ala any period film that Keira Knightley has been in. Or perhaps choosing a date range that no one in particular is interested in; or alternatively a location that no one is interested in.

Mad Men has deftly avoided these – period and location: 1960’s New York; always getting the period touches right(without seeming obtrusive); everyone is drinking old fashions and eating Waldorf Salads and choosing a cast of actors, none of which are too famous to be associated with a certain character or even close to being typecast (time will tell whether this will happen after however).

Boardwalk Empire has the ingredients for an excellent series. Cool time period although the New Jersey location is somewhat distressing. Only one really known actor Steve Buscemi but no real worries there as he could step into any role but what about people feeling connected to the time period? I may not have been alive in the 1960s but this is an iconic time and well known outside of the states. Will Boardwalk Empire be able to really draw people in – Jersey Shore circa 1920s?

No Civil Rights movement, Kennedy’s assassination, the sexual revolution and all of those old fashioneds. However we will have womens suffrage, gangster and notable ones at that and of course all that illegal drinking.

My only question is – who will be the Don Draper of the bunch?