Boardwalk Empire Series Finale Spoilers: Nucky Tries to Find a Future

Nucky was never one for the gangster life. Though he relished the power that it gave him and the access that he had to the whole of Atlantic City, he always kept his distance from the actual dirty work that made his life possible. Once he found out what it was like to kill another person and got in the middle of the storm whose eye was all his, he realized that life was too short to spend it constantly fighting and never having a moment to appreciate what you’ve worked for. The occupation that netted him the attention of the city and everything he could have ever asked for took away those closest to him and left him a lonely, withdrawn shell of his former self, someone whom the old Nucky wouldn’t have recognized. But does Nucky still command the respect and have the access to the resources necessary to bat back one final threat and give himself the opportunity to live without fear?

Listed below are the dates, times, titles, descriptions, and encore information for the final seven episodes of Boardwalk Empire.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 14 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) – “The Good Listener”
Back from Cuba after a dangerous encounter, Nucky pays a visit to the now-retired Johnny Torrio (Greg Antonacci), who agrees to broker a meeting with the new “Boss of Bosses,” Salvatore Maranzano (Giampiero Judica). In Chicago, Eli (Shea Whigham) and Van Alden (Michael Shannon) are tasked by Mike D’Angelo (Louis Cancelmi), Al Capone’s (Stephen Graham) new right-hand man, to recoup money lost during a federal raid by Eliot Ness (Jim True-Frost). Fresh out of law school, Willie Thompson (Ben Rosenfield) has a job interview. Rebuffed by a group of would-be financiers, Nucky dines with Tonino Sandrelli (Chris Caldovino) before sending a message to Lansky (Anatol Yusef) and Luciano (Vincent Piazza). In 1884, a young Nucky deals with the death of his sister, Susan (Onata Aprile), while his father (Ian Hart) has a standoff with the Commodore.
Other HBO playdates: Sept. 14 (11:30 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), 15 (12:05 a.m.), 16 (11:30 p.m.), 17 (8:00 p.m.), 18 (10:00 p.m.) and 20 (11:30 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Sept. 15 (10:00 p.m.), 17 (10:00 p.m.) and 21 (3:45 p.m.)

SUNDAY, SEPT. 21 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) – “What Jesus Said”
Chalky heads in a new direction after assessing his latest partnership. In New York, Margaret finds herself in a quandary as a result of her association with Arnold Rothstein. Nucky hosts a prospective “big fish” partner from Boston. Luciano and Siegel meet with Narcisse (Jeffrey Wright) in Harlem, promising business as usual, but encounter resistance. In 1884, young Nucky is privy to the passion of a hotel guest, and flirts with a young girl.
Other HBO playdates: Sept. 21 (11:30 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), 22 (12:15 a.m.), 23 (11:00 p.m.) 24 (8:00 p.m.), 25 (10:00 p.m.) and 27 (1:45 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Sept. 22 (9:00 p.m.), 24 (10:00 p.m.) and 28 (12:15 p.m.)

SUNDAY, SEPT. 28 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) – “Cuanto”
Facing a shared dilemma, Nucky and Margaret find common ground in Atlantic City. Luciano encounters an old adversary while meeting with Capone (Stephen Graham) in Chicago. Sally Wheet (Patricia Arquette) makes a payment in Cuba amidst concerns of a grass-roots uprising. In 1884, young Nucky shows young Eli (Oakes Fegley) how the other half lives, and takes another step up the Commodore’s ladder.
Other HBO playdates: Sept. 28 (11:30 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), 29 (10:45 p.m.) and 30 (midnight), and Oct. 1 (8:00 p.m.), 2 (10:00 p.m.) and 4 (11:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdate: Sept. 29 (9:00 p.m.)

SUNDAY, OCT. 5 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT) – “King of Norway” 
Chalky (Michael Kenneth Williams) returns to Atlantic City with vengeance on his mind. Concerned about the ongoing threat from Luciano (Vincent Piazza), Nucky (Steve Buscemi) arranges a meeting with Maranzano (Giampiero Judica) in New York. In Chicago, Eli’s (Shea Whigham) reunion with June (Nisi Sturgis) takes an unexpected turn after a dinner party hosted by Van Alden (Michael Shannon) and Sigrid (Christiane Seidel). Capone (Stephen Graham) looks to relocate his operation out of Chicago; Margaret (Kelly Macdonald) completes a deal with Carolyn Rothstein (Shae D’Lyn); Nucky gets bad news from Cuba. In 1897, young Nucky (Marc Pickering) looks to win over Mabel’s father (Burke Moses) while asking for expanded responsibilities as deputy sheriff.
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 5 (11:30 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), 6 (11:00 p.m.), 7 (11:00 p.m.), 8 (8:00 p.m.), 9 (10:00 p.m.) and 11 (10:10 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 6 (9:00 p.m.), 8 (10:00 p.m.) and 12 (12:15 p.m.)

SUNDAY, OCT. 12 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) – “Devil You Know” 
In Harlem, Chalky encounters Narcisse (Jeffrey Wright) in hopes of setting Daughter Maitland (Margot Bingham) free. Federal agents enlist Eli and Van Alden to help take down the Capone organization. Pained by a recent loss, Nucky turns to the bottle, and the company of a pair of barflies. In 1897, young Nucky vents his frustration to Mabel (Maya Kazan) after endorsing Jim Neary (Scott Francis Moreau), and roots out a young thief with Eli’s (Ryan Dinning) help.
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 12 (11:30 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), 13 (12:30 a.m.), 14 (11:05 p.m.), 15 (8:00 p.m.), 16 (10:00 p.m.), and 18 (12:45 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 13 (9:00 p.m.), 15 (10:00 p.m.), and 19 (12:30 p.m.)

SUNDAY, OCT. 19 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) – “Friendless Child”
At war with Luciano, Nucky looks to hold onto his assets in Atlantic City. Willie (Ben Rosenfield) and Eli become involved in Nucky’s war. Maranzano meets his fate. Nucky reads Gillian’s (Gretchen Mol) letter from the hospital. In 1897, Mabel and Nucky argue about a young runaway from Trenton, while Nucky does a discreet favor for the Commodore (John Elllison Conlee).
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 19 (11:30 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), 20 (midnight), 21 (12:05 p.m.), 22 (8:00 p.m.), 23 (10:00 p.m.), and 25 (10:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 20 (9:00 p.m.), 22 (10:00 p.m.), and 26 (5:30 p.m.)

SUNDAY, OCT. 26 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) – “Eldorado” (Series Finale) 
After a shakeup, Nucky looks to relocate to Manhattan from Atlantic City. Margaret impresses Nucky and a grain-company stockholder; Luciano tends to unfinished business while establishing a mob commission; Willie shares underworld details with his boss, the U.S. Attorney; Nucky visits Gillian at the hospital. In 1897, Nucky copes with a family crisis, while making a deal with the Commodore that will settle his future.
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 26 (11:30 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), 27 (1:00 a.m.), 28 (11:30 p.m.), 29 (8:00 p.m.) and 30 (10:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 27 (9:00 p.m.) and 29 (10:00 p.m.)

Boardwalk Empire airs Sundays at 9:00 on HBO.

How do you think the story of Nucky Thompson will come to a close? Are you disappointed that the show’s final season isn’t a full 12 episodes? Who will make it out of Boardwalk Empire alive and whose blood will be spilled during the next seven episodes?