Episode 5 titled, "King of Norway" was frighteningly good. As the first episode of October, it needed to be. Every single main character was scared in this episode, save for Margaret. With only three episodes left, all major story lines needed to be accelerated and that is exactly what happened. Let's dive in.
Chalky White's revenge arc finally picked up some steam this week. His sudden reappearance in Atlantic City took everyone by surprise. The scene with Nucky was by far one of the best this season. From an acting standpoint, I love how Chalky is sitting the whole time, yet he is the one without power. He refuses a drink from Nucky, who gives a hilarious remark, "Does anybody drink anymore?" Nuck, you're an alcoholic. This scene was sad, because think about where these two were at the end of season 3. Now eight years later, Chalky's family has moved on to St. Louis. Nucky advises Chalky to "start over." How can he bury the past with Narcisse still alive?
Chalky makes his way to Harlem. He locates Narcisse's head quarters. The crafty Chalky sneaks a piece past the one guard...really, after the shooting incident a couple of episodes back, you would think there would be more protection at the door! Now instead of finding his arch-nemesis, Chalky happens on Daughter Maitland with a child, Once again, Chalky's story line proves to be far more interesting than Nucky's cyclical, flashback, not willing to give it up and retire just yet arc.
Gillian was the soul of this episode. Her pain is palpable. "Protect your fur." is what her fellow inmate says to her before being carried away for a forced hysterectomy. Dr. Cotton is based on the real life figure, who was a psychiatrist and medical director at the New Jersey Lunatic Asylum. He believed that insanity was the direct result of untreated infections in the body. He is now famous for his heinous acts toward and directed at his patients through the practice of "surgical bacteriology," which means removing people's teeth.
Like Chalky, Gillian cannot start over. She is trapped. There truly is no way for her to sweet talk her way out of this dire predicament. Notice how this show has taken great care to depict all of the patients absurd behavior at this asylum. Heads will roll in the next two episodes I guarantee it.
I predict Gillian will be saved before her fateful operation. An investigation will be made.
Nelson Van Aldan and Eli's story lines remain the most hilarious and unpredictable of this season. The best moments are when these two characters share the screen. The dinner scene in this episode was like a terrific play, where the tension builds up quickly and at the right moment exploded. Sigrid Mueller, Nelson's pissed off wife, is in a perpetual state of "IDGAF," and I love it. Every scene needs a character like that! Apparently Eli's drunken blackout moments resulted in lots of "Fucking on the chair with Sigrid." I was wrong in my assumption that it was various women, Eli was seeing. No it's his partner's wife.
It's so tragic and funny because Eli's wife, June is pregnant again. Their ninth child. Eli wants to put an end to their long distance relationship. He desires the closeness of his family again. If he can move up the ladder in Capone's outfit, then he can provide for his family. Now, he's been caught. That picture in the living room hits him hard like an ice cold thanksgiving turkey flying through your windshield and breaking every facial bone. Eli drops the plates. Sigrid seizes the moment and proceeds to rhetorically eviscerate everyone involved. I love that she is the who answers the door. She lets in even more trouble, in the form of Mike D'Angelo, in his true form - an undercover agent.
I absolutely was enthralled with this sequence. The best part is when these two are alone in a room. The staring from Van Alden, the drinking from Eli and then sliding it over to Van Alden and the dialogue was crisp.
"Look, I don't know about you, but my life is a fucking shipwreck." says Eli.
"Well, land ho." Van Alden counters.
Nucky's flashbacks were once again spot on. We see a remarkable display of acting by Mark Pickering. He mimics Buscemi's mannerisms so well, that his transformation appears to be seamless. These scenes provided a blueprint for the man we see who is nearing the end of his rope against the trio of Luciano, Lanksy and Torrio. Nucky is a man with gumption. He knows what he wants and seeks it out. He may not have the acute vision of what he sees himself as, but he certainly has a clear idea of what he wants his life to be like. To him, the journey does not matter, it's all about the end result and that is what has his potential father-in-law is concerned about.
The scene between a young Nucky, Mabel, and her father was spot on. Nucky can say all of the right things, we've seen this in dealings, but like Joe Kennedy, pointed out, who is Nucky Thompson? That is what Maybel's father would like to know. That is the point of the season, to get a clear understanding of who our main character is before the show ends. Boardwalk Empire's one major flaw is that its main character is not as interesting as his supporting cast. We've lost heavy weights such as Jimmy Darmody, Gyp Rosetti, Arnold Rothstein and even Sally Wheat. Characters who were far more dynamic than Nucky. This final season aims to solve that issue.
A young Nucky wants to make his way up the Atlantic City ladder. It's the place he knows will grow in tourism and power. He asks the corrupt, yet very nice and understanding Sheriff Lindsay about getting involved in the Commodore's dirtier assignments. Nucky is rebuffed by Lindsay, but discovers the remains of one of the Commodore's rivals on the beach, below the boardwalk.
We clearly see where this is going. Nucky will sacrifice a young Gillian to the Commodore for power. A heinous act that will trigger a series of veritable actions that will haunt all parties involved: i.e. Jimmy Darmody's wrath.
Margaret seems to be the only one who does not really have to start over again. She handled her situation with Mrs. Rothstein quite well. She made her settle on one deal, the only deal. Perhaps, Margaret will rise in power through the usage of intimidation. Her husband is a gangster and she can now use his name to get an account for herself. Oh, Margaret, devious as ever.
Best bits
-Doyle's exchange with the agent that showed up looking for Chalky was priceless. When the real Chalky steps out of the kitchen, Doyle laughs it off, "Oh, there you are."
-That kid Mickey picked up and brought on board is seen again as his assistant. Nucky instructs him to take his things down to the car. A quick double take finds Nucky asking the kid to turn around. The quick note of familiarity has everyone speculating the identity of this kid as Tommy Darmody.
-Torrio has told Nucky to retire how many times now?
-Nucky calling Havana and finding out Sally is dead sums up the entire episode. Nucky wants answers - the names for those men who stopped Sally. He will pay whatever amount of money for that vital information. Don Ronis tells him that is impossible.
"Who will be called into account?"
"No one I'm afraid."
-Van Alden telling Eli that he "refuses to be ruled by fear." Sigrid calls out to him, "Husband."
"Coming dear," say Van Alden. SO funny.
-Maranzano saying he understands people will be gunning for him, "When you sit on the throne, that is expected."
Nucky will not win this time. He won't go quietly though, he'll end up having to pay "Roman tribute" to get out of this mess alive. Maranzano will end up just like Caesar. Stabbed in the back by Luciano's men.
-Mabel calling out her father for wanting her absent. She was threatened with a whipping and still smoked a cigarette.
-Pretty sure, that little girl is Chalky and Daughter's child. I doubt Chalky will be killed off now...I hope.
This was the best episode of the season so far. All of the story lines moved up in one nice cohesive manner.
Here's the promo for this Sunday's episode, Boardwalk Empire Promo S5E5: Devil You Know
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