Category Archives: Boardwalk Empire

Nov 08 2011
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Boardwalk Empire, HBO, Recaps, TV

boardwalk empire recapping: peg of old

Van Alden

  • Lucy is upset with Van Alden because she hasn’t received her payment for carrying out the pregnancy. It doesn’t seem as though he has any intentions on paying her either.
  • At work, his desk has been taken over by federal prosecutor Esther Randolph.
  • Van Alden returns home to see that Lucy has left their child with a neighbor so she could get some milk. Van Alden finds the play Lucy wanted to audition for (The Dangerous Maid) pinned to a dirty diaper on the phonograph.
  • Van Alden is alone at home trying to figure out a name for his daughter. He seems to settle on “Abigail”.
  • Van Alden gives Randolph all the information he has stored against Nucky. He also says he will testify against Nucky. Randolph says they will get his “domestic situation settled out”.

Margaret

  • Margaret arrives in Brooklyn to meet with her family from Ireland. Three younger sisters (Beth, Ailish, Nuala) and one older brother (Eamonn).
  • During dinner, Eamonn is curious how Margaret can afford to come to New York and leave her children behind. Margaret says she can help her siblings out but Eamonn insists they don’t need it.
  • Eamonn tells Margaret that their mother is dead.
  • Margaret tells him that she had a miscarriage on her way to America. She said she was doing what was best for her. She gives Eamonn money to make up what she stole from their mother to make it to America.
  • Ailish seems to know about Nucky but her sisters tell Margaret she is just talking about books that she has read. Margaret offers to send her books as she is leaving for Atlantic City. Ailish seems to love the idea.
  • Lucy returns to New York with a book for Ailish. Margaret says they should write each other and she invites her to come to Atlantic City over the summer.

  • Margaret is upset with Eamonn that he never stood up for her when she needed him in Ireland. He tells her to go back to where she came from “because no one here knows you.”
  • When Margaret  arrives home she is met by Slater. He tells her Katie has taken the children to the beach. So asks why he isn’t with Nucky. He asks if she ever “feels off” in this country. He asks if he were ever to vanish who would care. She tells him she should be on the beach with Katie. Slater says he will do whatever she pleases. She tells him to bring her bag to her room. The episode ends with the two sharing an intense sexual encounter.

Nucky’s Empire

  • Nucky and his lawyer are familiarizing themselves with background information on his new prosecutor until Lucy arrives asking for money.
  • Van Alden comes to Nucky’s office while Lucy is there. Nucky proposes that Van Alden help him with Esther Raandolph and he will help with the newborn.
  • Owen Slater meets a man named Del Grogan at a bar. They discuss being “free and clear” in America. Slater follows the man to the restroom where a fight breaks out. Slater eventually strangles the man to death. Slater seems to have been trying to find this man for some time.

Darmody’s Uprising

  • Jimmy meets with Capone, Lansky, Eli, Doyle, and Lucky in Atlantic City about getting Nucky out of power.
  • Eli interrupts Jimmy;s scheme by saying they should just kill Nucky. Jimmy is clearly troubled by the idea but he allows it.
  • Jimmy discusses the planned assassination on Nucky with Gillian. He seems to be asking for a reason to stop it but she tells him that it was done as soon as he made the order.

  • At Babette’s, Nucky and the crowd are listening to Jack Dempsey give a speech when Jimmy walks up to Nucky. Jimmy tells him “It doesn’t make a difference if you’re right or wrong, you just have to make a decision.” Jimmy walks away and another comes up and shoots Nucky. A federal agent then shoots the hitman. As Jimmy is leaving he overhears that Nucky is still alive. He was shot in the hand.
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Oct 31 2011
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boardwalk empire recapping: the age of reason

Nucky’s Empire

  •  Defense Attorney Thorogood successfully gets Nucky’s case transferred to federal jurisdiction.
  • George Remus calls Nucky and thanks him for the deal with Jess Smith. Nucky asks for a “finder’s fee” and Remus gets upset. Nucky gets upset with Remus and the phone call ends abruptly.
  • Nucky thanks Thorogood for his good work by setting him up with a suite and sluts. Win.
  • Nucky meets with “Waxy” Gordon, Rothstein, Luciano, Lansky, “Chalky” White, and Herman about the upcoming liquor shipment in Philadelphia.
  • Attorney General Daugherty gets a visit from Senator Edge who insists that if he gets a prosecutor that will take Nucky’s case more seriously then he can help him later.
  • Daughtery tells Nucky about the change in plans. This outrages Nucky. He immediately takes away Thorogood’s “benefits”.

Darmody’s Uprising

  • Jimmy meets with Leander Whitlock about his business and motives. He tells Jimmy that “not every insult deserves a response”. Leander says that he has alienated some powerful men by scalping Jackson Parkhurst. Jimmy denies doing this. Leander says that Nucky is always thinking about the big picture and questions if Jimmy is doing the same thing. Jimmy says he intends to finish what he has started.
  • As Jimmy and Angela are on the boardwalk he sees Herman, “Waxy” Gordon and Nucky leaving Nucky’s office.
  • Horvitz returns a call to Jimmy. Jimmy asks why did he see Herman leaving a meeting with Nucky and “Waxy”. Horvitz asks was Jimmy sure it was him. When Jimmy replies yes Horvitz says he’ll call Jimmy back.
  • Horvitz invites Jimmy to Philadelphia. A beaten up Herman is hanging upside down in a meat locker. Jimmy asks about the meeting they had. Herman tells him about the shipment. Horvitz orders Jimmy to kill Herman. Jimmy then slits Herman’s throat.
  • As Lansky, Luciano, and crew are delivering Nucky’s shipment they are ambushed by Jimmy, Horvitz, Richard, and others. After the shooting subsides and identities are revealed, Lansky figures out a deal that would benefit all those involved.

Margaret’s Sins

  • Margaret’s son, Jimmy, is getting prepped for his first confession. The priest tells Margaret that she must give a confession as well to “set an example”. This makes Margaret uneasy.
  • Margaret speaks with Katy about her relationship with Owen Slater. She tells her to mind her behavior because there are children in the house.
  • Margaret tells Nucky that she is to give a confession. Nucky insists that she not tell anything “sensitive”. She says that if he is worried he should speak with the priest himself.
  • When Slater comes to pick up Nucky Margaret asks him if he is “in the habit of ‘toying’ with women”. He replies “I wouldn’t call it a habit”. When leaving he touches Margaret on the shoulder and says that he is “always happy to be of service”.
  • When giving her confession, Margaret tells Father Brennan about a man that is “bad” and she is having “impure thoughts” about. When Brennan asks about the identity of the man she says he “works for her family”. Seemingly referring to Slater.

Van Alden’s Dilemma(s)

  • Lucy is nearing her time to give birth.
  • Van Alden is going to check on Agent Clarkson at the hospital.
  • As Van Alden is praying for Clarkson (who is it a coma), he comes to and says (to Van Alden) “I see you. I know what you did”.
  • Van Alden leaves and is worried that he will be exposed.
  • Van Alden calls his wife Rose and says that he is not fit for his job and that he has sinned and that “a good and decent man has burned” because of him. This makes Rose nervous.
  • Lucy begins prepping to give birth by herself at her and Van Alden’s hideaway home.
  • As Van Alden is visiting Clarkson another time, Clarkson wakes up and says to the nurse the same thing he said to him earlier. The nurse tells him that he says that to everyone. Seemingly letting Van Alden off the hook.
  • When Van Alden returns home he sees that Lucy has birthed a baby girl all by herself. He goes to get a doctor.
  • When he returns with the doctor Rose is tending to Lucy.
  • Van Alden tells her that “I did this for us” but Rose is still infuriated and storms out.
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Oct 24 2011
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Boardwalk Empire, HBO, Recaps, TV

boardwalk empire recapping: gershwin & bunkum

This episode gave me that “filler” vibe. Even though we got to see two scenes that would have made the cast of The Walking Dead cringe the episode was mostly talk with no huge plot advancements.

Jimmy’s Troubling Takeover

  • The “founders of Atlantic City” (aka the KKK) are upset that their liquor warehouse was blown up and they lost $70,ooo.
  • One member hit Jimmy with his cane, cutting him in the process, during the argument.
  • Gillian demands that Jimmy not back down to the KKK.
  • Ward Boss O’Neill visits Eli in his garage asking questions about the Commodore’s health. Eli hits O’Neill in the neck with a wrench then kills him.
  • Eli calls Deputy Halloran to help him load O’Neill in the car but he never tells him who he really killed. Eli buries O’Neill in a field.
  • Richard and Jimmy scalp the man that cut Jimmy with his cane earlier.

Nucky’s Empire

  • Eli visits Nucky to inform him that the Commodore has suffered a stoke and that he made a mistake by choosing Jimmy’s side.
  • Nucky doesn’t accept the apology and the two have a lively sibling brawl (choking and biting allowed)…until Margaret breaks it up.
  • The Attorney General has found a prosecutor for Nucky’s case. Nucky asks for a guarantee that he will be in the clear but he is never given one.
  • Also, Owen Slater is sleeping with the housemaid Katie but I’m not sure of his real intent just yet…I like the suspense!

Richard’s Clarity

  • Richard goes to the wooded area near Atlantic City to commit suicide but a stray dog takes his mask before he can.
  • Richard chases the dog but gives up until a man finds him and brings him back to his campsite.
  • The man tells Richard that “these woods are for living”. Which is eerie given Richard’s intent before the man found him.
  • After returning from the woods Richard heads to the Darmody house. Richard asks is Jimmy “would fight for (him)”, Jimmy says “until the last bullet”.
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Oct 17 2011
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boardwalk empire recapping: what does the bee do?

Camp Darmody

  • Jimmy makes a deal with Doyle to get alcohol.
  • The Commodore suffers a stoke while being “entertained” by Gillian.
  • Eli is scared that their operation is about to fall apart because Jimmy and Gillian are taking charge.
  • Jimmy and Richard head to Philadelphia to make a deal with Manny Horowitz (William Forsythe).
  • Gillian reminds a defenseless Commodore about when he took advantage of her sexually. She then begins to viciously slap the living hell outta him.

Nucky’s Empire

  • Nucky contacts Arnold Rothstein in order to obtain a port for his liquor shipment. He arranges for a port in Philadelphia.
  • Rothstein orders “Lucky” Luciano and Meyer Lansky to oversee the operation.
  • Nucky’s lawyer informs him that since Nucky shipped prostitutes across state borders he can make his case a federal offense. Which would allow the Attorney General to throw out his case.
  • Owen Slater makes a bomb for Nucky to blow up Doyle’s alcohol warehouse.

Chalky White

  • Chalky comes home from jail to learn that his daughter is to have a suitor over for dinner.
  • At a meeting held by influential members of the Negro community Chalky is pressed to make up for the deaths of the men killed by the KKK.
  • Nucky tells Chalky that he can’t help him right away and that he needs to be patient.
  • Chalky is drunk at the dinner and lashes out at his family and house guest. He removes himself from the dinner and stays outside for the remainder.

Margeret Schroeder 

  • Nucky gives Margeret money for the “weekly affairs” and to give the housekeeping staff a two dollar bonus for the week.
  • Margeret doesn’t like that Nucky is giving away money when things are tight.
  • When she gives the staff their bonuses they inform her that Nucky promised them a permanent raise when he came home drunk one day.
  • When Nucky informs her about the new federal charges she asks for $100 to get clothing for the kids but she puts it in her stash.

Angie and Richard

  • Richard comes the Darmody household to meet Jimmy but Angela is there painting instead. She asks him about being a model for her.
  • Richard tells Angie about the relationship he had with his sister in Wisconsin. He says that after he came back from the war things were never the same.
  • He says the she was the only person he ever loved. Angie seems to bond with Richard more so than Jimmy has done thus far.
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Oct 10 2011
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boardwalk empire recapping: a dangerous maid

Lucy and Van Alden

Agent Van Alden has been keeping Lucy (Paz de la Huerta) inside their apartment under a fake name to keep her pregnancy from the public. Lately she has been getting fed up with being inside all the time and tells Van Alden that “this is a jail” even though she agreed to the arrangement before. Since she was in a relationship with Nucky she is use to being in the spotlight and greatly involved with social atmosphere of the boardwalk. Van Alden tells her that Nucky got her involved in too much trouble but she responds by telling him that “at least Nucky was fun”.

Eddie Cantor, a popular performer on the boardwalk, comes to visit Lucy. She is sad because she feels like she is missing out on so much because of her pregnancy and the arrangement she has with Van Alden, but she never mentions his real name. Eddie tells her that pregnancy is much more important than being a social butterfly…then he gives Lucy alcohol and cigarettes…I don’t think sends the right signal though. Eddie tells her about a play that is coming to Atlantic City and leaves a script for her. Lucy is reading from the script when Van Alden comes home he takes the script away and puts Lucy in her room as she cries. She says she needs to do something or else she is going to go crazy.

Van Alden is getting addresses to speakeasies from Doyle. At the end of their dealings Van Alden asks Doyle if he thinks Nucky Thompson is “fun”. Lucy is on the back stairs of the apartment preparing herself to fall down, with the intent of ending her pregnancy the old-fashioned way, when a delivery comes for her. The delivery was a record player that Van Alden ordered. When Van Alden comes home Lucy is dancing in the living to the music from the record player. He cracks the smallest creepy smile.

Margaret’s Agenda

Since Nucky’s political and financial standing is under siege Margaret is trying to be more proactive with him. She tells Nucky that she can help him. She has a maid return some luxuries of hers in order to help save money during their troubling times but Nucky says that at a time like this he doesn’t want others to think anything is wrong.

Margaret gets some mail that shows that her family from Ireland is now in America. She hides it when Nucky comes to bed but he knows that something is making her uneasy. He convinces Margaret to tell him what’s bothering her. She is apprehensive about trying to rekindle a relationship because she didn’t leave Ireland on the best of terms with her family. She gets her maid Katie to call the number that is on the mail and asks for “Peggy Rowan”. After checking with someone at the boarding house she is told Peggy Rowan has been dead for 12 years. Margaret leaves and goes to her room to cry.

Later Margaret interrupts her housekeepers as they are in the kitchen drinking and chatting. She asks for a drink and urges the women to do the same. She is trying to relate to them and tells them not to call her “ma’am” anymore when “Margaret” will do. Nucky then comes in and tells Margaret to get ready for dinner. When they come back from dinner, as Margaret is about to get ready for bed, Katie grabs Margaret’s arm and tells her she knows that Margaret is “Peggy Rowan” but she won’t tell her secret. This seems to upset Margaret and she dismisses Katie for the night.

Nucky’s Empire

The walls continue to fall in on Nucky. The Commodore is attempting to make deals with Nucky’s liquor supplier in an attempt to cripple his bootlegging operation. This attempt fails but the Commodore orders the Coast Guard to seize his supplier’s boats as they come in with Nucky’s shipment. Al Capone comes from Chicago to inform Nucky “personally” that Chicago won’t be buying alcohol from Atlantic City anymore. Capone says that it isn’t personal and offers Nucky an envelope filled with cash as a token of good faith, Nucky denies the offer.

Owen Slater, who has been bar tending at one of Nucky’s casinos, says that he thinks his abilities are being underutilized. He says that he has the ability to “make people stop…whatever it is you don’t want them to be doing”. That’s the kind of cryptic message that I would want to hear if I was in the pinch that Nucky is in right now. When Richard is trying to close a liquor deal with the manager of Nucky’s casino after his shipment was seized, Slater interrupts and forcibly terminates the deal. Slater tells Richard he has not problem with him personally but they just aren’t buying his liquor. I know I wasn’t sure about this Slater character last week but I think I’m warming up to him now.

Nucky confronts the Commodore and Jimmy at Babette’s during dinner. He can be civil when his former associates are trying to take his livelihood but when you order the last lobster dinner he hulks out. He tells Jimmy that he “will ruin him” and after ruining the Commodore’s lobster dinner he tells him he has “had his last meal” there.

Observations/Questions

  • Who is “Peggy Rowan”?
  • Can Slater be taking up the mantle that Jimmy walked out on with Nucky?
  • Jimmy is clearly torn between his mentor Nucky and his new boss/father the Commodore.
  • What influential figure is going to come to Nucky’s aid?
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