Season synopsis
Contains spoilers for this season and earlier seasons.
Seven years after the previous season, the present-day story begins in 1931, with Prohibition nearing repeal. Nucky Thompson is in Cuba pursuing a rum distribution deal with Sally Wheet, while Atlantic City’s liquor business is handled by Mickey Doyle and Nucky’s old reach has diminished. Eli Thompson and Nelson Van Alden, using the name George Mueller, are in Chicago under Al Capone’s power. The season’s flashbacks to 1884 and 1897 follow Nucky’s early service to the Commodore and show how he rose from an impoverished family into Atlantic City’s political machine. In the present, Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky move against Joe Masseria and then turn toward a new criminal order. Nucky’s attempt to secure a legitimate future through Senator Lloyd and Joseph Kennedy falters.
Having escaped a chain gang, Chalky returns to Harlem looking for Daughter Maitland and Narcisse. Daughter has a child, Althea, whom Chalky recognizes as his daughter. He accepts Narcisse’s offer to work for him in exchange for Daughter’s freedom and a singing career for her; Chalky knows the bargain means his own death. He says goodbye to Daughter and Althea, then Narcisse’s men execute him. In Chicago, Van Alden dies after identifying himself to the federal agent, and Capone surrenders as the tax case closes in. Luciano’s side wins its conflict with Nucky and establishes a new hierarchy; Narcisse is gunned down on Luciano’s orders. Nucky parts from Eli, Margaret and Gillian, then learns Joe Harper is Tommy Darmody, Jimmy’s son. Tommy rejects Nucky’s money and shoots him on the crowded boardwalk.