The symbolism found in the Boardwalk Empire season 3 trailer resonates with the immortal words of the infamous Mobb Deep: “there ain’t no such thing as halfway crooks…”

Rather than a montage previewing the upcoming 3rd season of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, anxious viewers are given a dreamlike sequence much like the season 2 trailer:

The shifty eyes and ominous storm among other clues foretold dark days ahead for Mr. Thomspon. In the Boardwalk Empire season 3 trailer, we find him in the midst of the storm with very strong symbolism alluding to Nucky Thompson’s troubled past and possible future.

With his gun, the slippery wedding ring and his iconic flower falling to the ground, the only thing we see him manage to pick up is his weapon. We know that Nucky is resilient in times of crisis, but can he continue to ride the line, or will he break completely bad? Jimmy’s portentous warning: “you can’t be half a gangster” from the season 1 trailer suggests the latter.

What are your thoughts and predictions for the upcoming season?

Watch the premiere at 9 pm on September 16th on HBO.