Any time an HBO show shortens its season, it always sucks. Westworld and Game of Thrones later on are good examples of this unfortunate phenomenon. And maybe this. Granted, at least, characters still feel believable or deal with circumstances that are thrilling, more than those two bigger shows. Yet, this season proves to be mediocre in comparison to the last. It feels like a hasty epilogue to the climatic highs of season 4.
One thing the show has it going for it is the cast of characters. This time around more attention is given to Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi who never really struck me as a charismatic but frightening character that he should have been); we get flashbacks to his early life and career which mostly packs as much charm as a Wikipedia article. We get good moments, especially with the Commodore, Sheriff Lindsay, and Gillian but much of it is at the last half and at the finale. The flashback can get repetitive sometimes; I already know Nucky hates his father and I don't need to see more of that.
Other characters suffer as a result of this Nucky-centrism. Luciano's takeover of New York, Capone's fall through the eyes of Eli and Nelson, Narcise's post-arrest leadership. All those deserve further elaboration. Not to mention, the seven year time-jump meant a lot of what could have been interesting scenarios or character development are wasted. I want to see and know more about Luciano's perspective and motivations (e.g. Why he's so fixated in eliminating Nucky). I want to see Capone's rise in public notoriety, and how exactly the unlikely duo of Nelson and Eli (who deserve more episodes by the way) fit into all of it. Narcise, in particular, is the biggest victim of the lessened running time and time-jump. Season 4 ended with him betraying his fellow black nationalist which could have led to some rich conflict in the recently introduced antagonist. But no, he's only here to settle his score with Chalky. Granted, it leads to good moments and a fitting conclusion for Chalky (RIP Michael K. Williams) but it does feel mechanical. No time to flesh out details or whatever.
Meanwhile, like the rest, Gillian is almost in the same dire position as she was by the s4 finale. And she is more stagnant too which recalls Junior from The Sopranos where series creator Terrence Winter worked as a writer. But sadly, Gillian's tragedy doesn't conclude as riveting as Junior's or her storyline in the previous season.
And our pal Nucky? It ends predictably but again I never found him as compelling as many other characters. The juxtaposition with the flashbacks reach their high point in the finale but Winter and company should really have focused on the best aspects than on Nucky. It's an empire after all. It's built on diveristy.