Season synopsis
Contains spoilers for this season and earlier seasons.
As Prohibition begins in 1920, Atlantic City treasurer Enoch “Nucky” Thompson turns his political reach into a liquor business, drawing the attention of federal agent Nelson Van Alden and rival operators including Arnold Rothstein. Nucky’s young protégé Jimmy Darmody returns from the war impatient for responsibility, but his independent ventures with Al Capone and New York partners bring both opportunity and violent trouble. Nucky’s arrangement with Chalky White, who commands the Northside’s Black community and its votes, becomes essential as Nucky keeps control of the city’s political machinery. Meanwhile, Margaret Schroeder, an abused wife who first approaches Nucky for help, enters his orbit and sees how his public generosity is tied to private power.
The season’s conflicts converge around Atlantic City’s election and the surviving D’Alessio brothers, whose attacks have threatened Nucky’s operation. Nucky bargains with Rothstein: in exchange for cash and the brothers’ location, he helps shield Rothstein from the World Series investigation. Jimmy and Richard Harrow eliminate the remaining D’Alessios. Before the election, Jimmy confronts Nucky about having delivered Gillian, then thirteen, to the Commodore; Nucky’s indifferent answer deepens the rift between them. Nucky’s preferred mayoral candidate wins and Eli is restored as sheriff. Margaret returns to Nucky after learning about the infant son and wife he lost, and the two resume their relationship. At the close, Jimmy learns Eli and the Commodore are plotting to remove Nucky, leaving the political victory shadowed by a new family betrayal.