'Give Them What They Want': Boardwalk Empire Recapped
While Matthew Weiner was busy trying to give Mad Men lovers exactly what he thought they wanted on Sunday night -- Don with Megan and not the chemistry-less Faye; Betty miserable and cornered -- Terence Winter was attempting to do the same thing for Boardwalk Empire's burgeoning fanbase. That meant concentrating on a central storyline that almost connected the sprawling cast, while at the same time giving Mucky 'shippers the big kiss they've been waiting for. But did "Nights in Ballygran" actually work?
For me, yes. This has been a tough show to recap: When I'm hard on Boardwalk Empire, the haters come out in full-force, telling me how stupid my opinions are; when I'm pleased with the show, the other haters tell me how stupid my opinions are. It's a vicious cycle really: Never have I seen a television show inspire such vitriol on both sides so quickly. It even took Mad Men a while before it became fully beloved.
There's a reason for this, I think: We're all busy looking for the "next big thing;" the next television show that we can claim as the best of the medium (or at least the best since The Wire). For many, that show is Boardwalk Empire and it was anointed as such before it even started.
Anyway, I bring this up because "Nights in Ballygran" could very well be a polarizing episode. Bringing Nucky and Margaret together will certainly have some people proclaiming shark jump, even if the show telegraphed this union from four episodes away. That aside -- and like I said, I'm on Team Mucky, so win -- this was a special episode of Boardwalk Empire because it showed just what can happen when all the diffuse plots converge.
That Jimmy was off in Chicago smoking opium and watching his hooker girlfriend commit suicide -- and that Chalky was nowhere to be found -- is incidental. If you were to list the five most important factors about Boardwalk Empire, those five were on full display last night: Nucky, Margaret, bootlegging, politics, Agent Van Alden. In the end, that's the series -- the stories aren't going to be told through Jimmy (who I initially and incorrectly thought was an audience surrogate); they're going to be told through Margaret. And if that means more Kelly MacDonald and, by extension, more Michael Shannon, count me as excited.
I know: You're getting impatient. What happened last night? Well, to keep this brief: Margaret used all the feminine wiles that she had in her arsenal to get Nucky's attention. That meant baking soda bread, dressing up, appearing at his office and, eventually, ratting him out to Agent Van Alden. It worked, finally: The Nuckster wound up on Margaret's doorstep for a late night booty call. How this relationship will make Agent Van Alden feel, of course, is another matter entirely.
(Shannon hasn't had much to do on Boardwalk Empire just yet, but he seethes lust at Margaret in increasingly aggressive and hilarious ways. Well played.)
There were seeds planted for other future conflict, too: Nucky's brother Eli is finally tired of playing second fiddle, which makes you wonder how long before he goes to the New York mob in an attempt to curry favor and position himself as the next ruler of Atlantic City; Jimmy's mother and girlfriend at fighting over who should raise Jimmy's son; and, well, that was about it. But as Mad Men has proven: A little goes a long way. Boardwalk Empire has found itself a groove -- let's all hope it stays on course.
Some stray bullets:
· Michael Stuhlbarg might be playing Arnold Rothstein like Lee Strasberg played Hyman Roth in The Godfather Part II, but I'm still loving it.
· Question: When will Jimmy and Al Capone make it back to Atlantic City?
· The best Boardwalk Empire scene thus far? The conversation about wages between all the little people poised to perform as Leprechauns.
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Comments
Christopher I have a challenge for you, next week recap Boardwalk Empire without referencing Mad Men once. I know it will be extremely hard for you but at least give it a try. The reason so many people have a problem with your "recaps" is that you refuse to let Boardwalk Empire be show unto itself, you are constantly comparing it against other shows especially Mad Men. And you have the nerve to call people to voice their opinions on your criticisms "haters".
You are like the mother who keeps asking her youngest son: "Why can't you be more like your older brother."
It is quite obvious to anyone who has read your "recaps" that you find Boardwalk Empire to be a lackluster show, so if you can't seem to find anything positive about it maybe you should have Movieline find someone else to recap the episodes.
I don't know about anyone else but I'm very disappointed in Boardwalk Empire. Given the pedigree of the creator and producers I expected a lot more. The only great thing about the show is the historical setting and the terrific costumes. But given the caliber of the writing and acting all you have is a cut rate and predictable knock off of the Sopranos.
First off is the horrible miscasting of Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson. Yes, he's a fine actor but he just doesn't have the weight (dramatic or otherwise) to carry a show. His voice sounds like a buzzing mosquito and his physical presence wouldn't intimidate anybody. The fact is that he’s just a little to creepy. His love scenes with the extremely sexy Paz de la Huerta and also very hot Kelly Macdonald, frankly, just make me cringe.
However, the worst thing about this show is the predictable writing. I don't know about you folks, but I can see the next three scenes coming a mile away. Was there any doubt when Capone screwed the Irish gangsters that they would then wreak mayhem with Jimmy's cute hooker girlfriend? Last night, you could literally pre-count the beats between the time Jimmy left the room and Pearl (the cute hooker) killed herself. I'll even go out on a (very short) limb and make my predictions for the next episode. Jimmy and Capone are going to fuck up the entire gang and especially the guy who disfigured Pearl. Jimmy's baby mama is going to start an affair with the photographer. Lucy and Margaret will enter into a protracted catfight over Nucky with Margaret ultimately prevailing because she's smarter and, well, just "better."
Future episodes: Margaret will succumb to the dark side of Nucky's life and enjoy the fruits of all his "evil." Agent Van Alden will develop feelings for Margaret and then be doubly betrayed when she chooses Nucky over him. Nucky's brother will betray him at some point. (See Fredo from Godfather 2) Jimmy will come home and kill the photographer that his baby mama is sleeping with.
There. Now that I've said it, my only hope is the people who make this show prove me wrong. That way, at least, we all might be surprised by something.
SaltySue, you prove my point. Here's another episode that I quite enjoyed -- even moreso than the previous two episodes, both of which I found to be improving efforts -- and yet you're complaining because...well, what? I called people on both sides of the argument haters? Because I find Boardwalk Empire lackluster? Can't seem to find anything positive to say, when I listed like 10 things I found positive?
Either you're name is actually "Boardwalk Empire" or you're being a little too sensitive about a television show that I initially didn't love and now kinda like.
That is so weird!!!! That you say that about Lee Strasberg's Hyman Roth from Godfather 2. Last night when I was watching I realized this and thought it to myself but never thought in a million years anyone would ever notice that or even if I had that right. But he definitly is. Amazing.
I thought last night's show was amazing and finally blossomed into the series it was promising to be all along. A whole lot of clever little things were going on last night. However, I do believe you're more than partially right about the show being predictible. But I don't think it's predictable as you may think. Take for instance, your prediction of Jimmy's common-law wife starting the affair with the photographer. Well although it is pretty apparent that this will happen since she did pass by the shop and went through the door; however, my prediction is - that as crazy as this may sound - the writers have the guts to put a spin on it and she will actually end up having an affair with the photographer and his wife. It was the roaring twenties after all, and she might have enough bohemian in her to do that. I don't think it is as stale as you think. It's a long shot. But I still have faith in this show. It took five episodes but I think the wait paid off. Well, in my opinion.
Christopher I'll be here next week waiting to see if you compare Boardwalk Empire against Mad Men or The Sopranos for that matter. The truth is this would've been your best review yet IMO had it not been for the Mad Men inclusions. Why do you constantly have to try and reinforce what you believe the show is lacking to readers? It is annoying.
Not to nitpick, but I thought the same about your disturbing lack of commas.
I am a HUGE Boardwalk Empire fan and I do like Chris' review. Comparing the show to Mad Men is not a problem - they have the same style of writing when it comes to subtlety and building complexities.
If you are a follower of Mad Men, you will notice that there are several story lines that are quick hits and get resolved, but then there are others that remain a constant thread throughout the season or even series. The use of both these elements is also present in Boardwalk Empire. You see things get resolved quickly but there are bigger issues that are running beneath the surface that can come up at anytime. This is the reason we, as watchers, are drawn into these shows - they are intelligently written in order hold us wondering when someone big is going to happen.
If we wanted something that left quick resolutions and no continued drama, we would watch on one of the Law and Orders or CSI. Those shows, while good, satisfy our need for instant gratification whereas shows like Mad Men and Boardwalk Empire cause us to tune in every week and watch the action unfold.
Reality, which is what these great dramas are based on, does not always wrap things up in a neat package at the end of 60 minutes. Reality is gritty and painful and not always sunshine and roses. Problems are not always solved and relationships (especially with family) are complicated. This is what shows like Mad Men and Boardwalk Empire capture - the reality of human interaction.
Try to push away the need to have action 24/7 and enjoy the subtlety of the show. Find the threads that will leave to explosive reactions later and just enjoy it. Boardwalk Empire is a fantastically written show and I look forward to seeing just how our characters and plots evolve. Bravo HBO!
Thank you punctuation police, now aren't there some internet forums you should be trolling.
Yes, Margaret wanted Nucky to pay attention to her after being ignored and slighted. And she got what she wanted. But Nucky's motivation for visiting her is very different, I think. Remember, he's good at lying & apparently entirely amoral. I think he visited her because he realized she was the "witness testimony" referenced by Van Alden in the raid & his seduction was a way to bring her to heel.
I also think that they both think they've won the skirmish -- and that they're (probably) both wrong.
(I'm still feeling my way with the show as a whole, but LOVE Kelly Macdonald's performance.)
And ... (enjoying the various ideas in the comments above!) ... my own takeaway from Angela visiting the photography shop was that she wasn't there to visit the fellow.
🙂
I love Steve B as Nucky for exactly the reason many of the complainers are stating: he does not seem physically intimidating...he (Nucky) has overcome a lot, including his stature and appearance, and attained a ton of power...he is probably being underestimated constantly, which gives him a one-up on most people...He doesn't "look" like a mobster, so he can be, and have a degree of legitimacy...which is what he wanted for Jimmy... I adore SB so much, and can't wait to see more...
I used to be a major fan of "MAD MEN". I still enjoying watching the episodes of the first three seasons. But I . . . have . . . become . . . a major fan of "BOARDWALK EMPIRE". It has a color and earthiness and a historical richness that even "MAD MEN" lacks.
I don't particularly mind the reference to Mad Men, although I do think Boardwalk Empire is good enough to stand on its own.
I did not think Jimmy was going to be a surrogate for the audience, however, I did think he would be an integral player in this show. I am not sure how this will work now that he had to leave Atlantic City as a wanted man for the killings in the woods. I do think he will have a very important role in future episodes. He is a compelling, fascinating young man with a lot going on having just come back from the horror of WWI and now trying to find his way in life.
The creator of the show said that Jimmy's girlfriend is having an affair with the photographer, that fact being confirmed at the end of episode 5, where we see her look around carefully and then go to the photographer's shop at night. Jimmy suspected that something was going on between the two of them after he saw those revealing pictures of her. There are hints that his son may not even really be his son.
I get a kick out of these people who come on here and make what I call "vanity posts", in which the expound about what will happen, how they know it will happen and decide what should or should not be done to make this show great. That's why they are in Hollywood, right? It's kind of amusing. I knew that Pearl was going to kill herself, but reading other recaps online, others thought that Jimmy was going to kill Pearl. Some people like to think that they are geniuses and know things they really don't.
I am more than happy to tune it every week and just enjoy watching it all play out. If anyone had read about the intentions of the producers, then they would know that the casting of Buscemi as Nucky Thompson was a conscious decision to cast against type. I don't think they wanted anyone to confuse this show with the Sopranos, or to think that is the Sopranos, Part Two. It was a risky move and pure genius. Buscemi looks like he couldn't hurt a fly, so when he is cruel and callous, greedy and heartless and tough, then it comes as a kind of shock. Buscemi has managed to capture the aura of power and control, even while looking like a nerdy guy. He has gotten inside of the character. That's what good actors do. I love the great writing, excellent production values and how well the producers have managed to capture that era in our history. I am loving this show more with every episdode.
Uh, sorry...but I disagree. I think Jimmy's baby mama is gonna have an affair with the photographer's wife...