Boardwalk Empire Recap: Boss

Recaps

By vallegirl | Thursday, December 6, 2012 | 10:20 am | 13 Comments
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Posted in: Boardwalk Empire, Recaps

Richard’s brought Tommy to the only safe place he can think of: Julia’s. It’s the middle of the night but he won’t let her turn on the porch light. Julia’s smart enough, and spent enough time with damaged men, to know nothing good has happened and wants to know if he’s all right. Richard answers in the most disconcerting way that “neither of them is hurt.”

Julia wants to know what that means, but Paul turns on the house light so Julia can see that Richard’s face is splattered in blood. She’s horrified but Richard tells her it’s not their blood, not comprehending that the blood, in and of itself, is horrifying. Paul comes up behind Julia as she quavers to ask who’s blood is it, then. Paul, who’s blessedly sober, steps in and tells her to take Tommy. He’s calm and fatherly so Julia relaxes a bit and takes the sleeping child from Richard. She looks so disappointed and scared and he just looks so anguished and Paul, drunk, crazy, grieving Paul, is the gentle voice of reason taking care of them both.

With the child safely in Julia’s arms, Paul tells her to take him to Fred’s room (really??!??!) but Julia wants to know what’s going on. Paul shows some of that good father he probably was before the PTSD and inconsolable grieving over a lost son, and tells her forcefully but not unkindly to take Tommy upstairs. And turn off the lamp. This shakes Richard up and he looks even more anguished. Paul isn’t judging, though. He just wants to know if anyone saw him pull up. No. Then he gently reprimands Richard, telling him a soldier doesn’t come home like that and to clean himself up.

Paul promises to talk to Julia and starts to tell Richard that things will look better in the light of day but Richard stops him and says no. All that matters is for Tommy to be safe, which he is, then he walks off. Sober Paul isn’t that bad a guy. Too bad Richard’s too far gone to appreciate it.

It’s the next morning and Esther’s phone rings. Missed you! It’s Andrew Mellon. Esther snaps back a pithy little “Is it really?” Mellon counters with a snobbish “Why would I claim otherwise?” These two crazy kids. Mellon wants to speak with her where her conversation can’t be overheard. He imperiously tells her that one of his business enterprises has been illicitly commandeered and he’d like her to shutter the premises. Esther wants to know which enterprise. The Overholt Distillery.

Esther gets a “Smell this guy,” look on her face and asks if he wants her to arrest Enoch Thompson. No, Nucky’s the one who called it in. So who is it? Mellon goes silent for a moment as a trouble-making little gnome with a molasses-soaked Southern accent bends into the frame. Oh, wait. That’s just Means telling Mellon to tell Esther it’s Arnold. Rothstein. SHABLAM! Nucky played all them bitches.

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vallegirl
About

Vallegirl has never actually lived in a valley, has a lot of time on her hands and likes to yell at kids about how things were in her day.  Currently in LA, she's also spent a lot of time in the great states of  New York and Florida so she's not crazy, it's just a cultural thing.

13 Comments

  1. 1
    Classy Drunk classy drunk
    Posted December 6, 2012 at 11:10 am

    When Richard found Tommy with the gun to his head was thinking He’s a sniper!!! JUST KILL HIM!!!!

    I can’t believe Nucky got EVERYONE. I had to watch this episode twice just to understand everything.

  2. 2
    CynTV CynTV
    Posted December 6, 2012 at 3:14 pm

    I watched the episode again and read your recap at the same time. I realized that, when I watched the first time, it “hiccuped” over the Gyp murder! The entire Nucky manipulation was written brilliantly. I still maintain that Gyp couldn’t have realized Gillian had the syringe because she was behind him. I kind of wish she could have choked him to death. Richard’s shoot-em-up scene was almost operatic. Gyp’s character felt so real this season; therefore, he had to go. Sadly. Overall, just a fantastic season finale.

    And Eli is H-O-T.

  3. 3
    Awonderland
    Posted December 6, 2012 at 10:24 pm

    Where was van Alden? I love that freak.

  4. 4
    JasonR
    Posted December 7, 2012 at 7:34 am

    vallegirl thanks for your recaps this season. Your love for the show and the time and effort you put in each week is obvious.

  5. 5
    plockness monster plockness monster
    Posted December 7, 2012 at 7:56 am

    I can’t believe we have to wait so long for the next season. Valle, I hope you will be recapping it!

    Man, this episode was a-mazing! I, too, love that everything came together for Nucky. I wonder what will happen between him and Margaret. So, since she was bleeding, I am assuming she had the abortion???

    I am glad that Eli was reinstated as Nucky’s second in command.

    Capone was awesome.

  6. 6
    Philo
    Posted December 7, 2012 at 9:21 am

    Thanks for the recaps this season Valle! I have no idea of the time and efforts you put into these recaps, but much appreciated!

  7. 7
    vallegirl vallegirl
    Posted December 8, 2012 at 1:48 pm

    Thanks again all of you for being here.

    And I agree plockness…why do we have to wait so long???!? Of course, they take about 8 months to shoot each season, so some things can’t be rushed, but still WHY??!

    But I’m pretty sure Margaret did have the abortion, which probably made Nucky’s offer and claiming money is nothing even more hurtful and insulting, since he thinks he can just buy his way out of everything, even though Owen’s dead and she had an abortion as a result of it.

    Even back in the first season she was only seeing Nucky as security and not someone she loved. This season was about making Esther’s second season warning about choosing her own security over doing the right thing and testifying against Nucky become all too real when Owen’s killed and Margaret’s left pregnant and destitute as a result of Nucky being free. So her rejection of him in the end was kind of her paying one final penance for taking the easy way out earlier.

    @classy, even though I knew Richard was a sniper he still looked so torn about Tommy that it packed some surprise when he shot that guy in the forehead. And Nucky’s machinations were perfect. Mickey was good, Means was awesome, but Tonino was perfect. He may be an awful “person” but he’s so charismatic and watchable and occasionally likeable, even though he shouldn’t be.

    @Cyn, I agree about Eli. I always thought Shea Whigham was attractive, but after they “beat down” Eli with prison and he came out with his new “Zoned” out face I thought, damn, Eli’s hot.

    @Awonderland – I think they had to shoot Van Alden around Shannon’s Superman schedule so he wasn’t very prominent this season. But next season begins in 1924, when Capone takes over Cicero so I expect him to be featured more next year. I hope. He better. I miss that totem pole.

    @JasonR and Philo, thanks. It does take some time, but it also allows me to really get into the weeds of this show. I understand why some people don’t like it or think its too slow, but for me it functions on so many levels and writing these recaps really makes me look for them. I’m glad you like them because I always think I’m going on too long. :)

  8. 8
    plockness monster plockness monster
    Posted December 8, 2012 at 10:03 pm

    I haven’t had to concentrate/deconstruct a show this complex since the Sopranos. I agree, Valle, this show isn’t slow. It is perfectly written and every action has some sort of underlying meaning. Since we have at least about 10 months until the next season, I’m going to rewatch on Netflix!

  9. 9
    megalicious
    Posted December 10, 2012 at 8:08 am

    Another great season of recaps, Vallegirl. I agree that this season was sorta all over the place (and that Eli went from being gross to oddly attractive, lol) but that the finale was just amazing and while it didn’t completely tie everything up, it set the stage for what could be a riveting season 4. I hope you do the recap again next year! Till then…

  10. 10
    hot cawfee
    Posted December 10, 2012 at 4:51 pm

    Slow claps for our Valle!!!!!!!!!!! Great season–I add my praise.

    @ 9 Mega– roger that on Eli— for me it started the end of season 2 when he sat on the porch with Nucky–and this season he had such character development– with June, the kids and Nucky– nice to see him in so many roles. Oh and being very gentle and loving with his Dad also–almost forgot that.

    I was glad to see Gyp go and in such great fashion!!!! I thought maybe my beloved Richard would go sniper on his ass and take Gyp—either by agreement with Gillian or by mistake. But my beloved Richard doesnt make mistakes. When he gave Tommy to Julia and it hits him that perhaps he wasn’t making a family afterall (or maybe at that time) I was heartbroken for him. Jack Huston is amazing–has anyone else noticed that even his mask registers emotions?????????

    We wnet alot of places this season—I guess Margaret is a true New Woman in having her abortion and stepping out more for herself. I was no Owen fan and was shocked when he was killed. I wonder if Katie will make an appearance ??? I think Margaret will go back to Nucky–what options has she??? The was a teaser line to Teddy about making his bed b/c maids wouldnt always be there. Maybe she will get a job as a live-in housekeeper–but with two kids and Emily is on crutches, not likely.
    I am hoping for more Chalky and some Harlem Renaissance–that is a great idea–but we have alot of Al Capone and Meyer and company to see.
    Damn– I wish it was September–its too long to wait!!!!

  11. 11
    vallegirl vallegirl
    Posted December 11, 2012 at 2:41 pm

    As it stands right now, I’ll be recapping BE as long as TVGasm will let me.

    And I have noticed that Huston does manipulate the mask so that it registers emotion. It’s in the way he tilts and twists his head to focus on the mask. Although it could be as much the directors as Huston, but he’s on record as really living Richard when they’re shooting. I often find myself looking at the mask’s eye more than his own.

    But I’m pretty sure Chalky pursuing a club in Babette’s space was for the show to spotlight the Harlem Renaissance, which should be great.

  12. 12
    hot cawfee
    Posted December 17, 2012 at 9:50 am

    OK– one final thought—I think “Family” can be our sub-header for this whole season–Chalky had a young man courting his daughter-objective matrimony. Eli and his brood maintained a relationship and Eli and son Will put their slightly fractured one back together. Eli and Nucky came together as brothers–Eli even calling him “Brother” in the final episode. Sadly Margaret and Nucky are over (for now)-as Nucky’s wedding ring is off his finger. And Margaret will do her thing in Brooklyn (Boy I hope we get a season of her trying to go it alone with the kids esp Emily on crutches).
    And my beloved Richard–bringing Tommy to Julia and realizing that the family in his photo album was not created when Julia took Tommy into her arms.
    Such a great season!!!!!!!!!! ANd damn that we have to wait so long!!

  13. 13
    vallegirl vallegirl
    Posted December 17, 2012 at 8:02 pm

    I hadn’t thought about it but Family was a thread throughout the season. We also had Nelson and Sigrid and their crazy, devoted family but also the NYC gangsters had a makeshift family with AR as the father and Meyer/Charlie the good/bad son which goes all wrong.

    Thanks! Wish I’d seen it during the season.

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