Boardwalk Empire Recap: You Talkin’ to Gyp?


Chalky and Purnsley are there to intimidate Cantor into doing Billie’s show but they choose to go the humiliation route and make Cantor entertain them since they’re normally blocked from seeing his show. Okay. Novel approach. They pull up a couple of chairs and Purnsley wants to see something funny. Cantor starts singing a song about young love or something and it’s going fine until Chalky casually kicks him. Cantor’s anxiety and humiliation is getting the better of him while Chalky and Purnsley just sit and stare and he finally agrees to do Billie’s show.

Nucky sucks!

Jess Smith is sweating it out in the Congressional cloak room when Means comes in to speak in circles. But Smith’s not that bright so he takes everything Means says literally. Since that’s no fun for Means,  he gently yanks Smith’s chain by describing everyone’s suits in a very grand manner. Heh. But the upshot is Mellon is stinking rich and not likely to go down with Daugherty’s ship so they need to start on Plan B.

Smith goes pale and Means starts toying with him. It’s not a joke, he just likes watching people squirm. Smith realizes he’s on the hook when shit rolls downhill  because Attorneys General don’t go to prison and Daugherty will likely be shoveling. Means suggests that if Edge is investigating why Daugherty hasn’t busted any bootleggers just bust a bootlegger. Easy peasy…except they’re the ones who leave all those envelopes in the fish bowl. Worst corrupt bureaucrat ever. Means explains to him he just needs to settle on a lie and stick with it then shows Smith how it’s done by clutching his pearls and thanking the heavens that Congressional staffer came by to let them out when he did.

Oh, landy. I do declare. Thank you ever so kindly, good sir.

Margaret’s checking her bank ledger when Nucky stops by. To say Margaret’s not pleased would be an understatement. Nucky sits while Margaret seethes at her dressing table but he’s there to apologize for showing “bad form” that afternoon. Bless Margaret, she didn’t nut-punch him and laugh at what a sad old man he is. She can’t believe that all he cares about is how it appeared. They talk about Billie and how she’s capable of taking care of herself and Margaret pegs Nucky when she says he can’t handle someone who isn’t completely dependent upon him.

He says he’s changed (wrong) and Margaret suggests he’s not the only one (right) then turns her back on him. Knowing he’s reached a dead end, Nucky says he’ll check in on the children but Margaret says no. Nucky thinks it’s his right as their stepfather but Margaret doesn’t quite agree. Realizing it would still be “bad form” to argue with the wife who just busted you with your mistress, Nucky consents but suggests Margaret ask herself some “practical questions.” Like how comfortable have she and the children gotten in that big house?  What would they live on if he divorced her?  How would she pay for Emily’s medical needs?

Don’t fuck with me, Margaret. It’s not my first time at the rodeo.

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.

8 Comments

  1. 1
    aschowe
    Posted October 17, 2012 at 1:42 pm

    What…..no mention of the full frontal? Great recap!

  2. 2
    Classy Drunk Classy Drunk
    Posted October 17, 2012 at 2:11 pm

    @aschowe…ikr. I yelled right at the tv. FULL FRONTAL! YAY!

  3. 3
    bumblebee
    Posted October 17, 2012 at 2:41 pm

    This was an awesome episode. I couldn’t believe how fast it went.

    In HBO’s long history of disturbing sex scenes, Gyp was right up there with Janice and Ralphie in The Sopranos. Naked, with the belt still around his neck, covered in blood, and the super creepy grin on his face was so chilling. He’s been an awesome addition to the cast. Plus we saw his wiener.

    Speaking of wieners, does Nucky’s behavior this season with Billie remind anyone else of Don Draper and Megan in Mad Men last season? Burt Cooper said Don was on “love leave” and that’s what I keep thinking of with Nucky. He’s so love sick over Billie. When Don broke it off with Dr. Faye, she said, “I hope she knows you only like the beginning of things” and it reminded me of Margaret’s line about Nucky needing to be the rescuer. Terrence Winter and Matthew Wiener used to work together on The Sopranos, so I guess some similarities shouldn’t be surprising.

    Van Alden’s wife hitting the Prophie in the head was crazy! I never would have guessed that one in a millions years. We all knew he was going to start working with O’Bannion, but I didn’t think it would be like this. The actor who plays O’Bannion kills me. He looks like Bizarro Ritchie Cunningham. I’d like to make fun of his over the top Chicago accent, but when I start to get really mad, I sound exactly like that.

    Where was Gillian supposedly mailing the letter to? Was she just writing in her diary or something? I think she’s slowly losing her grip on reality and before this her grip was tenuous, at best.

    My prediction is that Nucky sends Richard after Gyp to take him out sniper-style.

  4. 4
    plockeness monster
    Posted October 17, 2012 at 2:56 pm

    I agree, aschowe! IMO, the full frontal was very nice.

  5. 5
    plockeness monster
    Posted October 17, 2012 at 3:00 pm

    I feel like Gilliam still doesn’t know that Jimmy’s dead. Also, the letter she was writing her son was creepy as fuck. I know they had sex, but still. Gag.

  6. 6
    Classy Drunk classy drunk
    Posted October 18, 2012 at 5:46 am

    Thanks for being the mature one in the bunch vallegirl :)

  7. 7
    Posted October 18, 2012 at 5:21 pm

    Thanks for assuming it was maturity but to be honest, when I write my recaps I watch scenes several times so while watching it live it was “Oh HEY! Cannavale peen!” but by the time I was writing the recap it was “Yeah, whatever…Cannavale peen.”

    But looking at Gillian’s face while she’s writing the letter, she’s not so much deluded as frightened to admit the truth. Back in the season 2 finale they show her finding Jimmy’s dog tags on Tommy and she reacts then. She knew he wasn’t coming back alive. But Jimmy was her whole life and she’s become quite good at repressing all those awful, messy feelings that she’s convinced herself that if she just keeps up appearances he’ll be alive. It’s like when she forged the check for the utilities. It’s not the mailing of the letter that matters it’s writing it.

  8. 8
    hot cawfee
    Posted October 19, 2012 at 4:16 pm

    WHEW!!!!! at long last I watched the episode and read the recap and comments—all of which rock!!!! AM ready to dig in and comment– I think I need to start watching the show with a 1920′s inspired cocktail– I wish my great aunt was still alive to drink one with me–this was totes her era!!!!

    Where to start?? Gotta start with nudity–full frontal and backal!!! I had alot of reservations about Bobby Cannavale coming on board–loved him in “Third Watch” and was a little charmed in “Will and Grace”. Holy Cow– there is a total psycho in him and I am loving it. Did anyone think “Tarzan” when he was walking naked down the hall with the belt around his neck??? Tazan movies began in 1918 and I think we are going to get some references from here on in (like “Girl of the Golden West” last week—the blood dripping thru the ceiling is a scene from the movie). We are bracing for war ya’all and we have a front row seat !!!!!!

    Something else I was drawn to this week is costuming ( or lack there of-winkwink). The beautiful necklaces that all the ladies are wearing (long chains with pendants–I want one!!!)–evoking the Art Deco era and playing against Margaret’s simple strand of pearls. Marge is keeping her dignified Lady Bountiful place in society. Interesting that the dress Billie had on in Madame J’s shop was so little girl-ish, unlike the slinky black dress Nucky was holding.

    How much of a modern woman stance do we see for Margaret?? Will she bob her hair, learn to drive???? This is such a great show and can’t wait for full on war!!!!!!!!

    And Gillian—sigh…..she is losing her grip.
    Nucky will have my beloved Richard on staff to help—am sorry its taken him so long.

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