Boardwalk Empire

[El Chuxter]

Almost a week after the premiere, and no thread for this? There oughtta be a law.... :mad:

I finally got Chux Jr to bed early enough tonight to watch the first episode.

I don't want to spoil things (yet), but this show fills the void left by both The Sopranos and Deadwood, and it fills it superbly.

However, one question for anyone who was watching: obviously, there's a Deadwood-style mix of historical figures (Capone, Luciano), fictionalized characters based on historical ones (like Enoch Thompson being based on Enoch Johnson), and totally fictional ones. When Jimmy is being questioned by the feds, one of the agents looks remarkably like J Edgar Hoover. It'd be bending facts a bit to place Hoover there, but does anyone know if that was supposed to be him?

[TeeEye7]

I missed the Hoover connection completely as far as the actor's looks. I'll have to re-watch the first episode. I doubt it would have been him but who knows? This is Hollywood.

I really like the casting for this show. So far, it's worked really well.

Really shocked to be introduced to Jimmy's mom! (That's all I'll say here). YIKES!

Looking forward to the rest of the season.

[El Chuxter]

It wasn't Hoover, after all. They revealed his name in the second episode: Nelson Van Alden. And it appears he's going to be a major character going forward.

But he really does resemble a certain reputed tranvestite and former head of the FBI.

And, yeah, I totally thought Jimmy was having an affair, even after he said "Mom," until the dialogue confirmed it really was his mother. Shades of Oedipus there.

I hope we haven't seen the last of Capone and Luciano in the show, but I've got a pretty strong feeling we haven't.

[TeeEye7]

Van Alden has very minor shades of an Elliott Ness character to me with his brief intro so far. We'll see what happens next.

I agree about Capone. I think he and Jimmy will be "punks" for a while before they transform into Gangsterous Primes. I'm curious how the writers will approach their early days.

Still can't get Jimmy's mom's greeting out of my head.......

[RooJay]

Awesome show! I'm seriously hooked!

[El Chuxter]

I'm not an expert on them, but, so far, I think the show has been fairly accurate in terms of Capone and Luciano... accurate in the Deadwood sense, that is.

[RooJay]

They should spin-off Capone into his own show - the rise of Al Capone leading into a new version of The Untouchables by these same folks would truly rock my socks!

[sith_killer_99]

I missed the first episode, but I did catch the new episode. This seems like a good one, and I will be watching.:thumbsup:

[TeeEye7]

"I ain't buildin' no bookshelves". :eek:

[sith_killer_99]

"I ain't buildin' no bookshelves". :eek:

Yeah, I'm really loving this show!:love:

[RooJay]

Jimmy's mom and Lucy.:love::love::love:

[TeeEye7]

Reach out and touch some one..... :eek:

[sith_killer_99]

This show keeps getting better. I really enjoyed last night's episode!

[El Chuxter]

Good lord and butter, the preview for the next few weeks looks stunning. If things go as it appears they will, with Capone and Luciano finding themselves on opposing sides in an Atlantic City gang war, I wonder how the writers will work it out so it jives with later real-world history.

[RooJay]

I'm hoping we get to see Chicago on St. Valentine's Day 1929...

[TeeEye7]

This thing just keeps getting better and better! :thumbsup:

[El Chuxter]

Indeed. I think we passed the "best show on TV" point several weeks ago, and it's just getting better. If those guys aren't careful, they might actually surpass Deadwood and The Sopranos, since they're all neck-and-neck right now.

[Rocketboy]

Does it have zombies?

If not, I don't see how it can be the best new tv show of 2010.

[TeeEye7]

Twists and turns, twists and turns. The greatest thing about this show is that about the time you think you know which way things are going.....you're wrong!

Excellent writing! :thumbsup:

[El Chuxter]

Does it have zombies?

No.

And that is why it is better. Even if Walking Dead is awesome, it loses points for having zombies, since zombies are lame. :D

[RooJay]

Does it have zombies?

If not, I don't see how it can be the best new tv show of 2010.

Well...a lot of the characters are walking dead - they just don't know it yet! Them D'Alessio Brothers got it comin', but good!

[sith_killer_99]

Does it have zombies?

If not, I don't see how it can be the best new tv show of 2010.

I honestly believe Steve Buscemi is a real zombie.:laugh:

[UKWildcat]

I've been watching this one... was hooked after the first episode, hell, the first 10 minutes! Great show! I'm stoked that there are three more episodes left too, thought there was just one, possibly two left, but three is good! :thumbsup:

[El Chuxter]

Dang, more happens in a single episode of BE than entire seasons of some shows. Chalky drawing his guns on the Philly boys after the slip-up about the Packard was priceless, as was Jimmy's "I wasn't going to, but you sorta talked me into it."

Van Alden's path has taken him somewhere I never expected. Never. That is one strange man.

Steve Buscemi and Michael Shannon both better get some love come Emmy time if there's any legitimacy left in that award.

[RooJay]

Michael Shannon is awesome, and Van Alden is one hell of a compelling character. Down with the freaky deaky!

[TeeEye7]

Nelson goes nuts! :yes: :eek:

[sith_killer_99]

Nelson goes nuts! :yes: :eek:

No joke. WOW!!! :eek:

[RooJay]

Did not see that one coming!

Also, I could watch an entire show about just Richard Harrow! What an awesome character!

[El Chuxter]

It's on my DVR... haven't seen it yet because of the kids... this is killing me!

[TeeEye7]

Also, I could watch an entire show about just Richard Harrow! What an awesome character!

Absolutely! He would be a great stand-alone character! However, I'm still looking forward to seeing what he and Jimmy will cook up next!

[RooJay]

Absolutely! He would be a great stand-alone character! However, I'm still looking forward to seeing what he and Jimmy will cook up next!

Sounded like he was really hoping to kill that one guy's family...

[TeeEye7]

Sounded like he was really hoping to kill that one guy's family...

Which is both horrifying and intriguing as he said it so matter-of-factly. Love the writing for this show! The characters are great!

[El Chuxter]

Methinks Nelson is going to be in trouble. Killing a dude in front of an entire congregation, that's something even a federal agent would have trouble getting out of. Especially an agent who's sort of seen as a bit obsessed.

It's funny to see folks' predictions on Facebook; all you have to do is crack open a history book (or pull up Wikipedia) to see that Rothstein and Torrio will live for some time to come, and that neither Luciano nor Capone will yet be the giants of the mob world that they'll eventually become.

[TeeEye7]

*Rubs hands togther* Mwahahahahahaha! Good!.....Good!

Loyalties questioned and lines blurred....alliances questioned, new ones forming...sounds like an SW plot line!

I think Nucky's revelation to Margaret has shown her his weakness and she'll use it to her advantage....BUT....we have to wait until next season to be sure! :frus:

[El Chuxter]

I think Lucky will strike up an affair with the Commodore. That's what Eli and Jimmy were there for: to run interference.

[El Chuxter]

Looks like the show, as well as Steve Buscemi and Kelly MacDonald, were nominated for Golden Globe awards.

Where the &^%$ is the love for Michael Shannon? Van Alden has got to be the single most $%^&ed-up character on television, and it can't be an easy task to portray him so well.

[TeeEye7]

K-Wrap! I missed the premier due to work! I saw half of the first episode on Thursday night (Van Alden at his best!). Thank goodness HBO let's hunt down shows you've missed. I'll watch the whole thing before Sunday to get up to speed.

Chux, where are you!?

[TeeEye7]

Don't.Mess.With.Chalky.
(Again)

[sith_killer_99]

A good woman is hard to find! Though I have to admit I saw it coming. lol

[El Chuxter]

This season is really quite amazing.

I see some bad blood coming between Lucky and Jimmy very soon. Also some animosity between Lucky and Rothstein. This new guy (I forget his name) looks to be quite the badarse in his own right, holding his own against Harrow.

I still think Eli and Jimmy are going to eventually side with Nucky against the Commodore. They're already planting the seeds, and it would go way too much against actual history for Eli to permanently be opposed to Nucky.

Chalky White definitely holds the current title of baddest arse on television. And Van Alden continues to be so insane that it's impossible to predict what he'll do next.

[TeeEye7]

Scalped?! YEEEOWWW!

Jimmy must have learned some pointers from Chalky...

[RooJay]

Thank God for that dog, am I right? I am not prepared to lose one of the best characters ever spawned by televison!

[TeeEye7]

Thank God for that dog, am I right? I am not prepared to lose one of the best characters ever spawned by televison!

Richard rocks!

[RooJay]

Richard rocks!

Best character on television! Possibly ever! Wonder what it would take to get him a spinoff?

[El Chuxter]

I know what I'm going to be for Halloween!

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/10/see_a_halloween_mask_for_board.html

[RooJay]

AWESOME! Man, why didn't I think of this as a costume before?! Maybe next year (hopefully Mr. Harrow's still around by then!)

[El Chuxter]

I didn't expect Agent Van Alden's house guest. :eek:

[RooJay]

Yeah, somebody's got some splainin' to do! I got a kick out of his "I did it for us! That baby is for you!"

[TeeEye7]

Richard and Nelson need their own shows.

[El Chuxter]

Very good episode last night. Lots of stuff brewing just under the surface, lots of questions raised. Did the would-be assassin shoot Nucky in the hand on purpose on Jimmy's orders, for instance? I've got a feeling Jimmy might eventually "go Nero" and kill his domineering mother--he's definitely torn between her and Nucky.

Nice to see that it's deviated so far from the historical record as to be completely unpredictable. I seriously doubt Eli Johnson would suggest that conspirators "just kill" Enoch Johnson, and Enoch's allies Luciano and Capone probably wouldn't be down with that. Nice "alternate universe" history they're setting up here.

And Margaret.... Damn. You do anything nice for that woman, even as small as offering to help sweep the freakin' floor, and she puts out. I hear that once a dude behind her at the grocery store checkout lane told her she dropped a penny, and she spent a weekend in Hawaii with him as a result. And never even saw a single palm tree. :beard:

[TeeEye7]

I was (happily) surprised to see Nelson not cave in to Nucky's attempt at blackmail. His unpredictability is what makes his character so fascinating.

[TeeEye7]

I'm lovin' William Forsythe's character as Manny Horvitz. It's such a far cry from his character (which I also love) as Evelle Snoats In Raising Arizona...

[RooJay]

I'm lovin' William Forsythe's character as Manny Horvitz. It's such a far cry from his character (which I also love) as Evelle Snoats In Raising Arizona...

William Forsythe is always awesome! Anyone else remember when he was Al Capone? The last scene of the latest episode was brutal! I was shocked even though I saw it coming! Jimmy's going to be out for blood, and I have a feeling Mr. Forsythe might not be on this show much longer...

[TeeEye7]

With only a couple of episodes left, I hope Manny makes through to at least the beginning of next season (maybe Jimmy/Manny will be fodder for a cliff-hanger at the end of this one?).

I was shocked at the result, too, but knew Manny was on a mission...and it didn't matter who was in the way. I'm curious to see if Mickey Doyle is still with us given the way Manny likes to persuade people.

[TeeEye7]

Twists and turns! Twists and turns! Oh, my!

C'mon next season already!!

[sith_killer_99]

Spoiler Alert
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I can't believe they killed Jimmy. I want them to take back the last episode!

On a side note, Nuck really screwed up, killing Jimmy and leaving Richard alive. BIG mistake! I predict Richard will take out Manny and go for Nuck. Just a little piece of advice, when taking out a guy, make sure he's not the only friend of a suicidal sniper with nothing to lose.

[RooJay]

It feels like they killed off the main character after that one (even though that's supposed to be Nucky!) Few of the characters are as likeable and relatable (in spite of Jimmy's very obvious flaws) on this show. It was shocking and an interesting turn, but I'm not sure this was a good turn for the show. And yeah...Richard is going to go all beastly on Jimmy's enemies now!

[TeeEye7]

I'm really liking Gyp Rosetti as the new bad guy among bad guys so far. Got my eye on Billie Kent, too. Not sure what to make of her, yet. This should get interesting.

Sorry to see William Forsythe go. I guess he's too busy with his own new series.

[El Chuxter]

I didn't realize he played Flattop!

I'm sure part of why they iced him is that he's the rival of a real-life Philadelphia gangster (Waxey Gordon), who they can't kill, and who (if they stick fairly close to facts) has to wind up allied with Nucky. That won't happen with Manny in the picture.

[TeeEye7]

I didn't realize he played Flattop!

One of my favorite characters is his portrayal as Evelle Snoats in the Coen Bros. Raising Arizona, which I must stop and watch any time it's on.

[TeeEye7]

I want to see Nelson UNLEASHED!

[El Chuxter]

I'm surprised we haven't yet. He looks about ready to snap. And his run-in with the corrupt fed is going to make him question what he thought he knew about the system, so methinks he's going to be O'Banion's baddest enforcer since he'll no longer care about right and wrong.

[El Chuxter]

Calling it right now: Based on Harrow's discussion with Nucky and Nucky's recurring nightmare, Rosetti is going to kill or harm one of Nucky's adopted kids, probably his son. Harrow, probably without even being asked by Nucky, is going to end this irritating b*****d in short order.

Rosetti is the only thing about this show I hate, but I love that he's going to be dead meat probably by the end of this season.

[TeeEye7]

That's what I like about the Rosetti character: you just love to hate him! He's an extraordinary creep!

I agree....someone's going to build a book case with him.

[El Chuxter]

Factor in that Rosetti's cozying up to Jillian, and Harrow hates Jillian for trying to make her grandson forget Angela ever existed, and I'd say it's 110% certain that Harrow will be firmly on Nucky's side by the end of Season 3. His saying he didn't blame Nucky for Jimmy's death because Jimmy was a soldier and chose his path kinda reinforces that.

And it's always awesome to see Doyle get his comeuppance, even if he somehow manages to survive.

But, yes, I foresee much buildin' of bookcases in the very near future.

[TeeEye7]

Keeping Owen "in line"...do you also think Nucky suspects any shenanigans with Margaret, too?

[El Chuxter]

Not sure. It looks like it may be a moot point now.

Last night's episode was stellar. I loved the way they set it up as if Rothstein and his crew were doing the exact opposite of what they were up to. I was fooled up until I realized who the gunman was, I'll admit it--and, until this was reported to Nucky, I suspected it was Luciano going behind Rothstein's back for his own reasons.

Nucky's affair with Billie is disastrous. It's harming his relationships with Margaret, Eddie, and Rothstein. I'm willing to bet she's going to die when Rosetti gets his revenge.

Good to finally see a payoff developing in the Van Alden/O'Bannion subplot. That man's going to wind up dirtier than any of the bootleggers he once chased.

But, really, I could've lived a happy life without ever seeing Little Rosetti. :eek:

[TeeEye7]

I ain't no cabby.


It's HBO, after all...

But, really, I could've lived a happy life without ever seeing Little Rosetti. :eek:

[TeeEye7]

Really enjoyed the scene between Esther Randolph and Nucky at breakfast at the diner. Wonderfully written dialogue!

[El Chuxter]

Well, I expected what happened at the end of tonight's episode to happen, just a bit later in the season. Oh, there will definitely be some bookcases not getting built next week. (Though I think the teaser's implication that Rothstein, Torrio, and Rosetti are all gunning for Nucky is a big old red herring.)

Not quite sure where the hospital subplot is going. I hope it gets wherever it's going soon, though. Definitely have a feeling that Owen, Harrow, and Chalky are going to be the big wild cards in what's coming down. Not sure that all of them are going to make it.

I can't remember for sure: when Van Alden was in Atlantic City, did he ever encounter Capone?

[TeeEye7]

I can't say for certain, but I don't think Van Alden's and Capone's paths have crossed. If they did, I think Van Alden would remember a younger Capone and not the one we know now.

[El Chuxter]

I can't say for certain, but I don't think Van Alden's and Capone's paths have crossed. If they did, I think Van Alden would remember a younger Capone and not the one we know now.
I was actually thinking Capone remembering Van Alden. This whole subplot with "Mueller" is going to come to a head as he gets more and more batpoop insane. I'm not sure how yet... not that it matters, because the trip to that point is going to be awesome.

Didn't realize Gaston Means was a real person until I looked him up because I couldn't quite place Stephen Root. Now that I can place him, I find it awesome that Bill Dauterive is a recurring character on BE.

[TeeEye7]

I need Santa to bring me Seasons 1 and 2. I honestly can't remember if Capone knows Van Alden. Yes, Nelson Unleashed is earmarked to be epic!

[TeeEye7]

I watched the latest episode in español last night (hooray for being bilingual!). Dialog is about 100% of what it is in English. I just wish Nucky's voice was more mature. Gillian Darmody's and Billie Kent's (or should I now say Went) voices are surprisingly close. A valiant effort to copy Richard Harrow's voice, but no cigar.

Comparing the voices reminds me of watching a certain little science fiction movie when I was a student in Spain....

[El Chuxter]

Owen, Harrow, and Chalky...Not sure that all of them are going to make it.
Sometimes I hate being right. They actually made the now deceased into a very interesting character this season. I'm hoping a conversation from a few episodes back really brings the wrath of God down on Rosetti in cold-blooded, half-masked form, and not some nasty run-in between the a*****e psycho and someone else.

Too bad Masseria will live for another nine years and is safe, though, after this episode, it ought to be really interesting to see if they'll explain why Luciano would be behind his death.

[TeeEye7]

1)- Go Richard!
2)- Make Chalky mad? Really Nucky?
3)- Didn't see that one coming so soon (delivery).
4)- What's a girl gonna do?

[El Chuxter]

For #2, well, there are only two episodes left. Makes sense to get it out of the way now and up the stakes for the finale.

Potential spoilers ahead if anyone else is reading; don't say you weren't warned!





Looking at the little clues dropped throughout the season, if I were a betting man, I'd put everything on Harrow putting an end to Rosetti, and I think I know what will bring this about (though I don't know specifics). I think it's a bet so safe Rothstein couldn't pass on it.

There's the conversation between Nucky and Harrow from earlier. He makes a point to say he killed Horowitz, not for any business-related reason, but because he killed Angela, who was uninvolved in the whole mob thing. He makes a point to say that Nucky and his family have nothing to fear from him, though he obviously knows what happened to Jimmy, because Jimmy chose his fate, and also says that Nucky's family was good to him. The ongoing drama with Jimmy's kid and his beau are definitely getting him into a more "family" state of mind, but his practically killing her dad for disrespecting her (it was subtle but obvious he didn't care what was said about himself) show he still has the same sense of honor and tendency to violence.

I don't recall the writers' names, but they previously worked on The Sopranos, where dreams were incredibly important. Several times early in the season, Nucky dreamed of his stepson with a bullet wound. Gyp Rosetti knows who his kids are (I believe both were up during the New Year's party when he was present), and they've shown several times he really doesn't give a crap about anyone but himself and will kill someone for absolutely no reason. He's siding with Gillian, who Harrow can't help but hate already, and I'm guessing he'll kill or wound Nucky's kid. When that happens, he's as good as dead.

Then Luciano negotiates the cease-fire (partly as an F-U to Gillian) and comes out on top without anyone else realizing it.

Truth is, the Van Alden subplot is getting more interesting, and I hope it's not prematurely ended with the season. We know there's another season, so I hope the end of this one just sets it up.

[TeeEye7]

Nice analysis, Chux.

I think we also had the question answered with the Van Alden/Capone meeting as to whether they've met before.

Bring on the cliffhangers!

[TeeEye7]

"Mr. Harrow?"

"Not now. I'm busy. 65, 66, 67, 68, 69....."

[El Chuxter]

You're insane.

Judging from that teaser for next week, he's at least on 85. :D

Looks like I was wrong about Luciano brokering the deal, unless he does it from behind bars. Also didn't factor Capone getting directly involved. I'm still betting Rothstein negotiates the peace (between Nucky and Masseria) after Harrow provides some much-needed ventilation to Rosetti's skull.

Really hoping to get some follow-up on Van Alden next week, too.

[El Chuxter]

Harrow is officially the baddest aise on television. Or in any medium, ever, period. It would be impossible to out-do his rescue of Tommy without becoming cartoonish and absurd.

The intrigue surrounding Arnold Rothstein is becoming quite... intriguing. Didn't expect his open betrayal of Luciano. And now the US Attorney General's going to be looking very closely at him. Very, very interesting.

[El Chuxter]

Okay, I don't want to link to it because of the language and excessively (outside the context of the show) graphic violence, but, from the time the first bullet strikes one of Rosetti's men to Harrow shooting the guy holding Tommy hostage, it's less than four minutes (the YouTube video clip is 3:54, and I can find no evidence it's not in real time). I'd say we could add one minute for simply entering the building and getting the first clear shot, but it's reasonable to think Harrow was keeping an eye on the Artemis Club and waiting for a chance to strike, and simply walked in when Masseria's thugs left, which occurs in the same video.

Think about this for a second. One guy, missing an eye, no less, accomplishes in less than four minutes what the combined forces of Nucky Thompson, Chalky White, and Al Capone couldn't in, what, a week or so (counting only the bloodiest portion of their war).

Al Capone, the real-world head of Chicago's underworld less than a decade later. Al Capone's men. And Chalky White, the bad*** who ain't building no bookcase.

Damn, Harrow is BAD.

[RooJay]

Mr. Harrow is my hero! I hope he's not now going to ride off into the sunset like Shane. I also don't want to see him die, and would love it ever so much if he not only survives this whole thing, but manages to find his redemption and decides to live out the rest of his life and raise Tommy as his own son, with his lady love at his side. I really, really want a happy ending for Richard Harrow, but something tells me we're not going to get it.

[TeeEye7]

Sunday night sure do suck now.... :(