"New York Sour" is the first episode of the fourth season of the American period crime drama television series Boardwalk Empire.
The series follows Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, a political figure who rises to prominence and interacts with mobsters, politicians, government agents, and the common folk who look up to him.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 2.38 million household viewers and gained a 0.9 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
Nucky's brother Eli now manages the warehouse with Mickey Doyle, supervising work with Agent Sawicki and his new partner, Warren Knox, although the latter proves to be naive and insecure.
Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode a "great" 8.2 out of 10 and wrote, "'New Your Sour' was engrossing from a 'here's where everyone is now' standpoint, but it offered very little in the way of trajectory.
Club gave the episode a "B+" grade and wrote, "But for major themes this season, you see them set out in the first two minutes: Never underestimate a man alone; survival is a performance art.
"[5] Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "Season 4 gets off to a very promising start by having the first spot of trouble originate in Chalky's corner of this world.
"[6] Seth Colter Walls of Vulture gave the episode a 3 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "even if it's not as perfectly smooth-at-every-moment, it's good to have the chaotic, occasionally profound Boardwalk Empire back on the scene.
We'd ask aloud if the Boardwalk staff are ever going to change their dynamic — or even consider shifting the reach for power-play paradigm with every season — but we wouldn't count on it.
"[8] Chris O'Hara of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Winter is coming to Boardwalk Empire, as Season 4 opened not in Atlantic City but in Warsaw, Indiana.
If learning it was home to the second longest contiguous brick wall in the world wasn't exciting enough, we also got our first glimpse this season of Richard Harrow doing his thing.
The opening scene of 'New York Sour' set the tone for the rest of the episode, which was cold and dark... but also a very entertaining start to the new year.