Boardwalk Empire 109

Episode 9 - Belle Femme


In an episode centered on allegiances, this weeks' episode solidifies Nucky's place as a self-centered, yet amazing, political beast.

There are two main story-lines in "Belle Femme":

1. The turf war between Nucky and the D'Alissio gang.
   
2. The pursuit for political sway in the election campaign.

In terms of the the turf war:

• Jimmy returns to Atlantic City and reunites with Nucky. Tension is high with his wife, Angela, and their relationship is definitely icy (Don't worry, they still make room for "bedtime"). He tries to catch Lucky Luciano, right-hand-man to Arnold Rothstein, and tied to the D'Alissio brothers for the hit on Elie, but winds up being caught by Nelson, and is sent to jail.
• Nelson's assistant, Agent Sebso, show his allegiance by "taking out" the main witness against Jimmy - Billy Winslow. Nelson's gonna be steaming, to say the least.
  
• Arnold Rothstein forms an allegiance with the D'Alissio gang, to import whiskey from England, and to join the fight against Nucky.
• The show ends with a failed attempt on Nucky by the D'Alissio brothers.

In terms of the political campaign:

• The two main issues that bother Nucky on the upcoming elections are the candidacy for Mayor and Sheriff. The Democratic reformist candidate, Derwood Fletcher, leads the polls. In response, Nucky makes a deal with Edward Baydor to replace the current Mayor Backrack. The old commodore even suggests that Nucky replace his brother as sheriff, as per his widely publicized corruption.
  
• Nucky and Margaret make a deal - he helps her save the dress shop of Madame Jeunet, and she'll help him get the female vote with her strong ties to the Women's Temperance League.
  

What I liked:

• Jimmy's insistence on bringing the 'Man with Half a Face' - WWI hero Richard Harrow. First, it shows Jimmy has some class left in him. Second, to still be able to sharp-shoot with half a face is pretty, pretty, pretty good (To quote Larry David).
• Jimmy's insistence on Nucky to flat out state that he should kill the D'Alissio brothers. In doing so, he makes Nucky acknowledge that he's more than a politician - he's a murderer.
  
• Nelson flaring up on not being informed of the intercepted Post Office wire of Jimmy returning to town. Once again, we get a true sense of his dedication to his job ("Man needs to have courage for his convictions").
• Margaret talking back to Madame Jeunet. "You treated me just like the Pollock". You go girl!
  

What I didn't like:

• Agent Sebso siding with the superintendent over Nelson. Who knows, perhaps he was even sold out? After all, he was the one who knowingly let Nucky into the jail to talk with Jimmy.
• No Al Capone again ? Not even a single scene?! Come on !

Food for Thought:

• Now that we know that Nucky truly is the politicians' politician, will he sell out his brother for personal gain? Will he give away his candidacy for Sheriff for the sake of his own (and the Republican's) political muscle?
• How will Johnny Torrio and Al Capone respond to Jimmy's departure? Better yet, will they send in support to Atlantic City to help Nucky in his fight?

Episode Rating:
8 (quality TV) - a bunch of parts of the episode made me pause and actually say "wo" outloud.

Episode's Best Line:
"It's not just blood I'm worried about ... it's ink" - Nucky (talking to Elie on the public awareness of his corruption).

Worthy mention:
"If we only elected good men, we'd never have leaders" - Nucky (On Warren Harding and his presidency campaign)

Boardwalk Empire 108

Episode 8 - Hold Me in Paradise


In this week's episode, Nucky visits Chicago for the Republican National Convention, leaving his affairs in Atlantic City in the hands of his trusted sheriff and brother, Eli.
In Chicago, we are introduced to a "longshot" candidate - Warren G. Harding, and get another glimpse at Nucky's politics in action:

• Nucky is upset that New Jersey Senator Edge hasn't awarded him the money he needs to fix up the public roads of Atlantic City. So he makes a deal with Harding's campaign manager. If Senator Edge is kept off the list for possible vice presidential candidates, then he'll push the New Jersey delegation for Harding. Moreover, he'll harbor Harding's mistress and illegitimate baby in Atlantic City until the end of elections.
• Needless to say, Harding secures the nomination.

While in Chicago, the D'Alessio gang strut their muscle, robbing Nucky's casino in Atlantic City. Eli, trying to show his ability to be the alpha dog in Nucky's absence, visits the casino on a collection run, and gets severely wounded.

This leads Nucky to phone Margaret to look after his office until his return. For Margaret, this seems like the ultimate gain of trust she so desperately desires for their relationship. Unfortunately, the grapes go sour when she discovers Nucky's personal ledger book in his desk drawer, and all the evidence of his involvement with the illegal liquor trafficking that she so loathes.

Nucky pushes Jimmy to return to Atlantic City, realizing he needs help fighting the brewing turf war. He tries to show Jimmy his isolation in Chicago - hows he's an Irishman amongst Italians. And Jimmy, having climbed the ladder of power in Chicago ("This Suit cost $70"), ponders his next move.


"Hold Me in Paradise" also gives us a glimpse into the personal life of Nelson Van Alden. We learn that Nelson's wife is unable to conceive. Nelson is unsympathetic - he refuses to pay for corrective surgery ("It's in God's hands, not ours"). Moreover, we learn that Nelson has been stealing Jimmy's letters (along with cash) to his wife, Angela. He finally sends the cash back... to Angela, ignoring his wife's pleas.

Arnold Rothstein prepares for the possibility of having to testify for his involvement in throwing the 1919 World Series. Sharp-witted and always quick on his feet, Rothstein shouldn't have a problem.




Food for thought:

1. I think the situation with Eli is kind of ironic. Here he was, thinking he could do as good of a job filling-in his big brothers' shoes, if not better. Then all hell breaks loose. Under his watch. And it nearly killed him in the process. I think this ordeal might help Eli keep his personality in check. Everyone gets jealous of those around them . Until now, he's tolerated it. Now he'll have to recognize that he'll never be Nucky. He must accept himself for who he is.
2. Nucky shows his personality. I mean, yeah, we knew that all he cared about was money and personal gain. But to see the degree of it is something else. He is just informed that his brother is shot - so he excuses himself from the table to make a phone call. A phone call to Margaret to look after his important ledger and belongings. Come on! You can't make an inquiry, first, as to how your brother is holding up? I understand he wants to protect his assets even in the darkest hour, but the timing is just wrong.
   
3. I'm curious as to how Margaret is going to continue and maintain this relationship. She must have realized by now that Nucky is in some sketchy business - the last minute cancellations, random phone calls at all hours of the day, friends of his being seen with liquor caches, etc. Now that she definitively knows of his direct involvement, will she continue to be his mistress? She has to think of her enhanced living state - nicer house, fancier clothes, toys for the children, being a stay-at-home mom once again, etc. Will she be willing to give it all up for her ideals and moral principles?
   
4. Nelson is weird. I mean, really weird. First, he gives himself lashes for thinking inappropriately of Margaret (episode 6). Now he's stealing personal letters? And who doesn't want to father a child? I think the painting we are being shown of Nelson is certainly being defined in recent episodes. I hate to wonder what we might find out next...
5. Prediction - Jimmy takes Nucky up on his offer, and moves back to Atlantic City. He'll return to his wife and son, and rebuild his reputation. He will be feared there as he was in Chicago.
6. Al Capone should be given a scene in every single episode. The lack of his presence is inexcusable. ;)
   

Guest Star:
Christopher McDonald - playing Harry Daugherty, Harding's campaign manager. He's come a long way since Shooter McGavin ...


Episode Rating:
7 (Lower end high quality TV)

Episode's Best Line:
"I prefer to make my living honestly." - Arnold Rothstein (After being told that it's not too late for him to go to law school)

Boardwalk Empire

Boardwalk Empire - Sundays 9pm ET, HBO



The venue is Atlantic City; the era, prohibition.

Boardwalk Empire revolves around the authoritative treasurer Nucky Thompson, and his use of racketeering, political muscle and clout to control the Republican machine and Atlantic City. Cameos in Chicago enlighten the viewer to the schemes of the legendary, albeit young, Al Capone. Reoccurring scenes with historical mobsters, such as the Jewish kingpin Arnold Rothstein, and commanding law enforcement agent Nelsen Van Alden (Elliot Ness) - make for quality entertainment.

Our main characters are:

• Nucky Thompson - Irishman, treasurer of Atlantic City, and head of the political machine. You can count on Nucky to wear one of those old-school, circa 1920 suits, and to be accompanied by Eddi Kessler, his German butler. Nucky is played by the talented Steve Buscemi. Many of you might remember him as "crazy eyes" from Mr. Deeds. Better yet, most of you remember his character from The Big Lebowski, Theodore Donald "Donny" Kerabatsos, or as inmate Garland 'The Marietta Mangler' Greene from Con Air. Buscemi might seem a strange choice to play the lead role, but he has been doing a good job in his first starring role, surprising many by his unique energy he brings to the cast.
• Jimmy Darmody - Nucky's protege, fellow Irishman, and wwI vet. moved to Chicago to join Al Capone, albeit ditching his wife and child, to work for current Chitown mob boss Johnny Torrio. Played by Michael Pitt (The Village, Silk).
• Eli Thompson - brother of Nucky and sheriff of Atlantic County. Eli is Robin to Nucky's Batman, always in his brothers' shadow. Played by Shea Whigman (Pride and Glory).
• Maragert Schroeder - young widowed mother of two, member of the Women's suffrage movement, and currently in a relationship with Nucky. Played by the beautiful, ever charming, Kelly Macdonald (No Country for Old Men), whose accent itself could carry the show.
• Nelsen Van Alden - Federal agent who plays the good guy of the show, trying his best to stop liquor trafficking in the Northeastern region. The TV screen version of Elliot Ness, Nelson is a devote Christian. Played by Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road).
• Arnold Rothstein - Elegant mobster of New York, currently in trouble for his invovlment with the Black Sox scandal of the 1919 World Series. played by Michael Stuhlbard (A Serious Man).
• Al Capone - A younger version of the Italian, iconic mobster we all love. Played by Stephen Graham (Baby Face Nelson in Public Enemies).

Boardwalk Empire brings an action packed drama to HBO's lineup, the likes of which have been sorely missed since The Sopranos. Bringing HBO it's highest premiere audience since 2004, 'Boardwalk' has already been ordered for a second season.
Can't wait.