Nelson’s gone down to O’Banion’s flower shop. O’Banion tries to pun about how Nelson sells irons but Nelson’s in even less of a mood to laugh because he needs O’Banion’s help dumping the agent’s body. What he lacks in social graces he makes up for in brevity.
You’re fascinating…like an anthropological study.
Sketchy writing moment #4 as a different kid comes to the Kinneret Lodge to deliver Gyp’s newspaper. Really? You already used the bait-and-switch twice this episode, three times isn’t a hat trick, it’s a hack’s trick. (See what I did there? Don’t do that.) Whatever, even though they work for the craziest person on the Eastern seaboard, Gyp’s goons let the new kid up.
As the kid walks up the stairs we see that Gyp’s moved on to choking himself while boning Ginger. The paper boy gets to Rosetti’s room and it’s Benny who shoots the goon in his forehead. Gyp realizes what’s going on but can’t get the belt off his neck in time or reach his gun so like the gallant and chivalrous Sicilian he is, he uses Ginger as a human shield. Klassy.
Of course, once Benny kills Ginger he fires indiscriminately around the room allowing Gyp to grab his gun setting Van Patten up to rip off pay homage to the Master, Scorsese, and reimagine the big shootout from Taxi Driver but without Harvey Keitel. Benny shoots his way out of the lodge, killing one more goon and the actual paperboy while injuring the third goon, as Gyp staggers out of the bedroom, naked, bloody, carrying a gun and with a belt tied around his neck. Which would normally a successful Saturday night for him. He fires off a few rounds at Benny’s head, but he’s Bugsy Siegel so he wasn’t getting shot. As Benny gets away, Gyp staggers around, surveying the carnage and plotting to blow up all of New Jersey to make sure Nucky’s good and dead. I’m guessing.
Gyp….SMASH!
Down at the theater Billie and Vern the choreographer are gawping at how crazy it is that Eddie Cantor’s doing their crappy show while Nucky hovers in the doorway like a ghoul. Billie eases Nucky’s jealousy by telling him Vern has a cute boyfriend then asks what happened. Nucky thinks she’s talking about Margaret but Nucky’s wife isn’t her problem, she’s more concerned about why Cantor’s doing the show. Nucky lies about having anything to do with it and suggests that Schubert’s just protecting his investment. And it doesn’t matter, anyway, because she gets what she wants. (But will she want what she gets?)
Billie gets called to the stage before she can “protest” anymore. She takes her place next to Cantor and tells him he’s a lifesaver and she won’t let him down. He just asks her if she even knows who Lucy Danziger is. Of course not, so Cantor tells her that the next one won’t know a thing about her, either. Damn, Cantor. I didn’t even know you were a bitch.
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8 Comments
What…..no mention of the full frontal? Great recap!
@aschowe…ikr. I yelled right at the tv. FULL FRONTAL! YAY!
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.
I agree, aschowe! IMO, the full frontal was very nice.
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.
Thanks for being the mature one in the bunch vallegirl
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.
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.