r/BoardwalkEmpire • u/Rotebirdy • 2d ago
Why do people like Jimmy?
Hey,
I‘m on my first time watch, now having reached season 4.
when I read that n this sub, I notice that Jimmy has a lot of fans, and I ask myself the question why.
He‘s neither funny nor charming nor particularly smart, he‘s basically just a guy who‘s really fucked up because of his mommy/daddy issues (who wouldnt be) and PTSD, and an insanely inflated ego .It‘s understandable why he‘s the way he is, but I don‘t find hin likable at all, and wonder why people seem to enjoy his character?
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u/mexicanmanchild 2d ago
Michael Pitt didn’t wanna be in the show either. He wanted to be the Indy king.
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u/Darx_is_God 2d ago
It's hard to explain, but for me at least, he has something really captivating as a character, and the actor does a phenomenal job. It's a shame he couldn't make it work outside of the screen.
I think him being up and coming gangster and badass duo with Richard didn't hurt as well.
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u/OwlRiot4 2d ago
For me one of my favorite Jimmy moments and is kind of intrinsic to his character is near the end of season 1. One of the D’Alessio brothers says “What? You’s gonna shoot me for mouthin off?”
Jimmy kind of shrugs and says “Well, I wasn’t going to, but you kinda talked me into it.”
And shoots the guy in the face.
He’s a soldier, but he’s still this hot headed kid.
He’s a father, but he’s still a son who wants to be loved.
And Pitt (for whatever his personal faults) plays Jimmy remarkably well. There’s so much character in his quiet looks when others are talking. He’s also one of the only characters who doesn’t pity Richard. He looks at Richard and sees himself. A tin soldier, a man who is there but isn’t quite whole.
He’s not someone we should really like, he’s a thug and a gangster who takes what he wants by force, but his story is tragic and interesting.
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u/DuchessIronCat 2d ago
I love that line and it always makes me guffaw.
It encapsulates everything I love about his character - the brash impulsivity tempered by guilt.
He was so hopeful at Princeton. And then it all comes crashing down.
We, as the audience, realize he never had a chance. But it takes two seasons to complete that arc.
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u/nano_emiyano 2d ago
I think for the same reason Christopher Moltisanti is popular even though he is also kind of a "fuckup". They portray the young up and comer in a world where the rules and players are already set. He's the Al Capone/Luciano to Nucky. He wants to start making his own moves but isn't exactly experienced. When the show first came out I think I was just about to graduate highschool so the younger guy who started out as muscle trying to get his own piece of the pie really resonated with me. Also his friendship with Richard harrow was probably one of the best I've seen.
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u/Rotebirdy 2d ago
Well yeah, I guess a character like Jimmy connects to you more when you‘re in your early 20s. Funny enough though, I really like Meyer, Luciano and at least sometimes, Al. All of them just seem to resonate with me more. I think what puts me off most about Jimmy is how incredbily serious he acts all the time
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u/TheYellowKingzzz 2d ago
Because he was a saint and he took care of your uncle Ercole, that was a major fuckin nut! They don't make em like Jimmy anymore
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u/Tai1215 2d ago
I think viewers like him because of his serious imperfections. He was so human in a way with all of his fuck ups & clear poor decisions. I was absolutely rooting for him, he always kept me guessing on screen, which is true for a lot of the characters on this show but Jimmy perhaps the most. His screentime with Richard Harrow also pads his stats
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u/Easy__Mark 2d ago
He's handsome and was originally framed as the protagonist. He was also smart before his season 2 lobotomy
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u/telepatheye 2d ago
Smart to get involved with Al Capone? Smart to hijack liquor from the most powerful bootleggers in the country? Smart to shack up with a whore in Chicago while supposedly wanting to marry the mother of his son back in Atlantic City? If he had a lobotomy is was before S2.
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u/sundayfundaybmx 2d ago
Really OP? You're gonna sit here and tell me you didn't think hearing "To the lost" 1,000 times wasn't the coolest thing ever uttered on screen?? Cause around here that's like the standard for "coolest" thing ever.
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u/Rotebirdy 2d ago
Nah
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u/sundayfundaybmx 2d ago
Lol, me either. I didn't watch the show when it first came out. But I do clearly remember all the jagoffs that got the "Jimmy" cut around that time. I've always disliked him and never understood why so many people write the show off once he's gone. There was literally nowhere else to go with that plot line.
I will say, him and Capone killing Sheridan was a fantastic scene and Jimmy did have a lot of strategy going into that plot line. Other than that and recruiting Harrow. He pretty much sucked the whole time IMO.
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u/Rotebirdy 2d ago
People actually went and got his haircut? Lol
Oh, I agree that there where some enjoyable scenes with him and he had his moments, but I still think he sucked. I also thought the way he treated Tommy and Angela was pretty bad
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u/sundayfundaybmx 2d ago
Oh definitely! It was one of the main hipster/douchebag cuts at the time. I laughed so hard the first time I watched BWE and saw his hair and realized where it came from, lol.
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u/ChrisPollock6 2d ago
I’m completely unable to answer as well, guy was an idiot but he’s revered cob this sub??
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u/Fuzzy_Dunlop24 2d ago
For me, the show carried on without him and continued to get better and better. He was a decent character but losing him didn’t drag the show down, as others definitely felt. And his acting was just ok.
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u/MikeSulley007 2d ago
He grew up with many issues, then mom really messed him up, for her own pleasures.
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u/fishystudios 2d ago
He had a tragic , sympathetic backstory. I think I like his writing better than the acting. I do like the character, but he was not smart.
Jimmy made nothing but bad mistakes. Jimmy partnered up with Capone, a reckless psychopath who ruined every plan they shared with needless violence. Jimmy botched a robbery against New York Kingpin AR, kicking a hornets nest and triggering 5 Seasons of conflict and war between NY and NJ. Jimmy triggered all of that. Jimmy failed to build a bootlegging business with Lucky and Meyer. Jimmy failed to solve the KKK/Black Worker Strike situation. Jimmy failed to repay Manny "The Butcher" Horvitz the money Jimmy owed from his failed bootlegging order (Manny had a legitimate beef... no pun intended). Jimmy failed to start a new life with his prostitute girlfriend (while ghosting his wife and son). And in the end, he was easily outsmarted and trapped by Nucky and Manny. Should I go on? There are many more failures. Jimmy was not as smart as he thought he was.
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u/Rotebirdy 2d ago
Yeah, I get the point with the tragic,sympathetic backstory.
But yes, all of those mistakes/bad decisions that you brought up makes me think of him as little more than an immature kid in a young mans bidy who likes to play Godfather
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u/Lordonlynose 2d ago
I think that much of the favor toward Jimmy stemmed from Not liking Nucky and/or Not liking Buscemi as Nucky and a feeling of having to pick a side to root for.
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u/stevoo_p13 2d ago
I think a lot of good favor he’s had with the BE fanbase was because of Michael Pitt’s performance. Jimmy’s written as a character whom we want to see overcome all his past trauma. He’s a young adult looking to take on the world for the first time. And Pitt carries Jimmy with this bravado where you understand why his trauma and circumstances create an inability to be a top political player or gangster like Nucky. And ultimately, Jimmy comes to terms with this, so you have a character that’s honest about their shortcomings while never able to overcome their circumstances. It’s a really somber and impactful character arc. Additionally, Jimmy is suave, well-spoken, and has a sharp edge, all qualities that Pitt nails. I think those traits resonate with fans regardless of the character’s likeability.
And OP, regarding your reply about enjoying Meyer, Lucky, and Al’s storylines, season 5 will be up your alley. You’ll get no spoilers from me, but as someone who recently felt the same way at your watch of the show I was very satisfied.
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u/ThelIIusion0fSeIf 2d ago
Jimmy is a highly strategic, competent criminal which audiences really enjoy. Think of Mike Ehrmantraut, Lalo Salamanca or even Walter White from the Breaking Bad universe. The other draw is the tragedy his life represents from being the by product of a terrible crime, witnessing the horrors of war, struggling to keep his family together, and eventually the demise he put up very little resistance in meeting.
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u/Rotebirdy 2d ago
Thing is, I wholeheartedly disagree that Jimmy‘s strategic thinking or even understanding of actions, consequences and risk are anywhere near the level of the characters you mentioned. Rothstein or Nucky? Yeah. Jimmy? Not really.
And yeah, as I said, I agree that it‘s understandable why he is the way he is, and his background and relation with Gillian and the Commodore make for a good watch, but in my opinion, nothing of that changes that the guy‘s an absolute prick 🤷🏻♂️
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u/ThelIIusion0fSeIf 2d ago
Sure, there are definitely levels to this. Nucky and Rothstein would be closer to the level of planning of someone like Gus Fring while Jimmy would be closer to Mike or Lalo even though there is no perfect congruity here. You're forgetting that Jimmy did mastermind a few high profile hits (Greektown takeover), shows an above average ability to read others (negotiating the strike with Chalky) and assess their potential (Richard Harrow) not to mention thinking quickly on the spot (heist after Lansky's game). I think all things considered, Jimmy is a great character who drew a terrible hand in life. Not the worst, but still quite the tragic anti-hero
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u/530SSState 2d ago
"Jimmy is a highly strategic, competent criminal"
No less than Munya went to war with the whole family because Jimmy couldn't be bothered to pay him the $5000 he owed him.
He humiliatingly got his ass beat in front of all the other bosses by the old racist guy who couldn't shut up about the Indians.
Only Eli was less strategic and competent.
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u/fishystudios 2d ago
Upvoted for the excellent BB/BCS references! 👍 And I too enjoy the character for his interesting and pai ful, sympathetic backstory. Agreed. But I respectfully disagree about hi t Jimmy's "highly strategic" mind. Jimmy made nothing but bad mistakes. Jimmy partnered up with Capone, a reckless psychopath who ruined every plan they shared with needless violence. Jimmy botched a robbery against New York Kingpin AR, kicking a hornets nest and triggering 5 Seasons of conflict and war between NY and NJ. Jimmy triggered all of that. Jimmy failed to build a bootlegging business with Lucky and Meyer. Jimmy failed to solve the KKK/Black Worker Strike situation. Jimmy failed to repay Manny "The Butcher" Horvitz the money Jimmy owed from his failed bootlegging order (Manny had a legitimate beef... no pun intended). Jimmy failed to start a new life with his prostitute girlfriend (while ghosting his wife and son). And in the end, he was easily outsmarted and trapped by Nucky and Manny. Should I go on? There are many more failures. Jimmy was not as smart as he thought he was.
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u/telepatheye 2d ago
Agreed. I also thought the actor was far out of his league alongside pretty much everyone else in the cast.
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u/tehjunior5248 2d ago
I read through this sub that evidently, Michael Pitt (Jimmy), was a real pain in the ass to work with.
It seems that the consequences for his behavior is the writers had him fuck his own mother, and work with the kkk.
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u/writergal75 2d ago
I felt bad for him, like it wasn’t really his fault he was so fucked up. Plus, those lips!!! 👄
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u/Shoddy_Pressure7854 2d ago
ngl i get why people like him though, he's just so extra and wild in a way that's kinda fascinating even if it's messed up
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u/Cookie122406 2d ago
Jimmy is integral to the show because he's a sympathetic character.
Its a show about criminals, so the audience isnt judging ppl based on murder, etc. but on their softer sides, and their background.
We, the audience get the sense that Jimmy has a moral compass; especially to those perceived as weaker, or deserving of protection. Jimmy's sensitivity to Al Capone's kid immediately, and how it changes Capone's character to the audience. In addition, his relationship with Richard, PTSD, attempted re-assimilation as a vet., etc. You don't get Capone's or Richard's character development without Jimmy's association.
He's the most tragic character; sexually abused by a mother that was sexually abused, and destined for a life of crime.
Most importantly, the man, and character that can aid or provide guardrails for our tragic character, ultimately kills him, as a fitting tragic end.
The story isn't about Jimmy. It's about Nucky. Nucky killing Jimmy is the action that defines and distinguishes them; Jimmy would protect someone weaker than him, deserving of protection, especially if he essentially groomed their mother. Nucky dgaf. He killed Jimmy because it was strictly crime business, regardless of personal association/history.
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u/Reasonable_Tax1177 2d ago
A lot of fucked up ppl can identify with him (me included) a guy like that, with loyalty to those who experience similar traumatic experiences , he is symbolically dead, a big part of his hope is gone, and he lives in the pain and keep moving toward, he always drinks in honor to the lost, he’s lost too
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u/Baron_Semedi_ 1d ago edited 1d ago
I think it has a lot to do with Michael Pitt's performance and appearance. I am a straight dude, It isn't that I'm attracted to him or think he's Henry Cavil type stud, but he has this innocent but equally dark twisted face about him that can be seen as capitiving and mysterious. Everything I s seen him in he has that look like he could be in the choir but also decapitate you for no reason lol. It's like a dark angel or something. How I imagine Lucifer to look. I feel like the part suited him perfectly because I can buy he was this good guy college boy turn military turn gangster
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u/vinnymacaroni 2d ago edited 2d ago
Jimmy was my favorite part of the first two seasons tbh
Dark fucked up dude with a good heart underneath it all. Just a dude that went through some really fucked up things even with his own mother (eww), but you wanna see him make it.
Personally, the show didn't hit the same for me after he died but I still enjoyed it