Minicap: Boardwalk Empire

Recaps

By vallegirl | Monday, October 24, 2011 | 1:04 am | 8 Comments
Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in: Boardwalk Empire, MiniCaps, Recaps

kelly macdonald 102311


In the words of Ebby Calvin Laloosh, this one was a humdinger.

We fade in on the Atlantic City Memorial Day festivities and hear Nucky’s high-pitched, nasal whine giving one of his rousing speeches that means absolutely nothing because Nucky’s never met a principle he wouldn’t compromise for  a buck, then he blindsides Jimmy into giving a speech.  But Jimmy wings it and ends up doing fine, which has become Jimmy’s theme for this season.

Meanwhile, Daugherty’s in town now that Nucky’s case can be bumped up to federal court and he’s still as sleazy as ever.  Seeing an end in sight, Nucky gets ahead of himself and assumes he’s already there, which has become Nucky’s theme for this season.  Also, hubris and anxiety is a bad combination in Nucky and he gets abusive with Eli and downright churlish with Margaret, who’s rethinking this whole “gangster’s mistress” set up.  Still, she’s a practical woman with a good head on her shoulders so she manages to get in some bad-assery.

Speaking of bad asses, or good asses depending upon your point of view, Katie’s not quite as naive as she once seemed.  And Charlie Cox may have wanted to consider some pruning before taking his shirt off.  I know people didn’t exactly wax in the 1920s, but not everyone had shag carpeting on their chests, either.

Gillian keeps going further down that oedipal rabbit hole, only now she’s taken a turn down Lady McBeth alley, telling Jimmy he will not be disrespected.  Then sharing a cigarette with him in case we weren’t creeped out enough by their inappropriately close relationship.

Eli, true to his nature, tries to jump ship from the Commodore, Jimmy and Gillian back into Nucky’s good graces, but both brothers choose to say “I love you,” by throwing punches, breaking pottery and trying to choke each other until Margaret puts an end to their tomfoolery.  I don’t see them having a tearful reunion any time soon.  But I do see Eli really going off the deep end after this episode.  He’s crossed the crazy rubicon.

And then there’s Richard.  The sweetest, kindest, most lovably deranged killer, ever.  His journey this episode goes from despondent to amusing to desperate to hopeful to loved in a way to gruesome, but another million tumblrs are born because the director makes sure to feature a photo of Jack Huston’s beautiful intact face and then lovingly linger on his gorgeous profile.

Finally, an old man finds out what happens when you smack Jimmy Darmody across the face with a cane.

The show’s pacing has picked up quite a bit since last season and I know I yelped at least twice during this episode.  Full recap will be up in a few days, but until then, here’s a rather entertaining interview of Michael Shannon conducted by Paul Sparks aka Mickey Doyle.  Who is a surprisingly attractive man when he’s not playing Mickey, and fun fact for this week?  Shannon and Sparks have worked together quite a bit in the past, are both musicians and have been friends for 10 years.

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
    hot cawfee
    Posted October 24, 2011 at 6:25 am

    I think this episode should be subtitled–WHAT?!?!
    Margaret pulling a gun on Eli—Katie and coital scream (why are the servants sleeping on the same floor as Madame?? Katie isnt the nanny–but I am willing to suspend disbelief.)
    Eli killing the guy in his garage. Jimmy scalping the man who slapped him.
    And Richard–I love him. He packed a little lunch for himself and set off on his journey. I did not expect him to put the gun in his mouth—I tried to tell myself rationally that he is too major a character to die–and we have just been introduced to two new aspects of his character– his twin sister Emma and that he liked to draw when he was child. Jimmy giving him the gentle half hug tugged at my heart–I can picture him doing the same Tommy his son.
    What about the hunters in the woods ???????

  2. 2
    vallegirl vallegirl
    Posted October 24, 2011 at 9:49 am

    I think Richard is probably the only adult that Jimmy loves unconditionally. He does treat him like Tommy. There’s an empathy between the two men that relaxes Jimmy in a way he can’t with his mother or Angela or Nucky. That little gesture where he stops Richard to look at the mask was so gentle and you never see Jimmy that way with anyone else.

    And the scenes with the hunters was great. Especially that last speech. I had no idea what they were going to do with Richard and I like how it all played out. Although, I’ll admit it took me until this morning to realize the connection between the dog and Richard’s visit to Jimmy, which I’ll explain in the recap.

  3. 3
    hot cawfee
    Posted October 24, 2011 at 10:47 am

    Yes– I feared shades of “Deliverance” or perhaps they want the woods to remain a lace of retreat– not for moonshiners or rum-runners.
    I look forward to reading the recap— You are a great recappe Valle— I enjoy your recaps

  4. 4
    Gypsy Rose Lee
    Posted October 24, 2011 at 4:30 pm

    hot cawfee- I’m so glad you said you were afraid of the hunters veering into Deliverance country, too. LOL I felt kind of bad thinking that, but I couldn’t help it.

  5. 5
    someguy
    Posted October 24, 2011 at 4:42 pm

    Great mini-recap. If Jack Huston does not win an all Tv awards for acting it will be a crime.I love every scene he is in.A lovable/senitive gangster.The way he moves his face you can see the pain great acting

  6. 6
    Fan-Ann
    Posted October 24, 2011 at 4:47 pm

    We saw manly displays of rough sensitivity from the hunters and from Jimmy, both directed toward Richard. After that gentle moment between Richard and Jimmy the episode certainly ended on a different note!

    Vallegirl, I enjoyed reading the interview with Michael Shannon. After you wrote that Paul Sparks was surprisingly attractive I checked out his photos and was surprised that he is indeed nothing like Mickey Doyle. I’d love to know if his giggle was in the script or if he added it; so creepy.

  7. 7
    hot cawfee
    Posted October 25, 2011 at 7:33 am

    @Gypsy Rose Lee– lolol– no problem hon–its just that nothing good happens in the forest

  8. 8
    hot cawfee
    Posted October 26, 2011 at 5:57 am

    Hey— just one more thought— I know from fairy tales that the “woods” “forest” is a place of danger and of tranformation.
    And is Angela getting prettier and prettier ?? And Margaret getting frumpy ????

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