Nucky Shot First

Great Googly Moogly

When Boardwalk Empire Season 3 kicked off, we were introduced to Gyp Rosetti and his brutal ways as he beat the poor motorist to death on the side of the road.
So it was fitting that the finale finished much like the premiere started, as Gyp met his demise not far from where we first saw him spill blood. He came unhinged to say the least as his voice went a few octaves higher calling to mind when Judge Doom revealed to Eddie that he was actually a Toon.  And he did it while carrying a tune and looking like the King of Pop.

 "Margate Sands" brought closure to many of the story lines to which we were treated over the past few months, thanks to an array of twists and turns that made for a thrilling conclusion.

Arnold Rothstein showed Lucky Luciano he still has a lot to learn when it comes to the world of criminal enterprise, but it looked like school will be back in session for Arnold soon enough after falling into the heavily-baited trap Nucky set for him. What a great surprise to see Mr. Means behind Melon's call to Esther Randolph. He was worth every dollar Nucky paid him this season.
Lucky had two of my favorite scenes of the episode. First when didn't rat while getting shaken down by the cops.

And later as he lost his proverbial sh-t when he realized it was Rothstein that sold him out.

With Rothstein most likely out of the picture, look for Lucky and Meyer to resolve their differences and start in again on their aspirations. I wouldn't be surprised to see the two partner up with Nucky at some point, either.

Nucky was worried he would be persona non grata after the smoke cleared... but Eli was right. All they have to do is offer the people something they want and they will be willing to look past certain things. Maybe that will be booze, maybe drugs or even entertainment in the form of Chalky's club.

What a scene that was as Chalky and Capone squared off in the lumber yard and later on as they both got their urge to fight out of their systems by blowing away Masseria's men.


Richard also had an itch to scratch which had everyone celebrating.

He sure made short work of the men that stood between him and Tommy.

The whole time I was like...

 
He was in the business of killin I-talians and cousin, business was a boomin!

I don't think things will ever be the same between him and Julia, not after he brought his work home with him in the form of a blood-covered face.

Tommy was safe, though, and that was all Richard really cared about. I just hope that doesn't mean he will finish what he tried to do back in the woods.

Margaret faced a tough decision but appeared to have "taken care of it." I'm pretty sure the bleeding we saw was residual.

Nucky was willing to forgive her dalliance with Owen and welcome her and the children home. She turned him down, but I think we'll see her back in Atlantic City by next season ordering up room service.

Eli and Nucky appeared to be back on good terms, but there was that moment of silence which followed as Eli asked Nucky where Margaret and the kids had gone to hide while they worked on the car. Nucky still did not trust his brother completely at that point. By the end I think he did and now wants to go to the mattresses for a spell. He showed that by taking off the carnation in that closing scene.

He wants out of the public eye. Look for Eli's oldest son to get involved in the family business. Heck Eli has so many kids they could be like Frank Lucas and his family only letting blood work for em.

For all the loathsome things Gillian has done, I very much enjoyed seeing how diabolical she was as she masterfully played Gyp. First she tried to appeal to his sense of family.

 But after that didn't work, she went in another direction that almost did.

Perhaps the line of the night was her response to Gyp calling her a pistol.
 "Then why don't you pull my trigger and see what shoots out?"

In her opium-infused state, Gillian traveled back to the night Nucky delivered her to the commodore and did well to remind us that while she is one seriously disturbed woman, there were those who certainly had a hand in her troubled mental state.

And lastly, the long shot of the year, defied all odds and came in.

So are we to believe it was Mickey who let Rothstein know about Owen's plans to kill Masseria at the bath house who in turn told Masseria to help broker their new peace along with the drug deal? We never saw the crooked FBI agent who we had originally pinned it on. It would make sense given how Mickey was able to ring up A.R. from PA.

 All in all it was a tremendous season that left the door open for any number of possible scenarios. The season's MVP has to go to Rosetti, who week in and week out provided the best Boardwalk Empire quotes - and tonight was no exception.
I so have enjoyed yet another season with you all. Until Season 4...

Some Kind of Ruckus

Nucky barely had enough time to clear Owen's body from his foyer before the fight came to his doorstep this week.
With only one episode remaining in Boardwalk Empire Season 3, "Two Imposters" spent a lot of time setting the stage for the finale.
For a man who is accustomed to eating his meals with silver, Nucky showed he was no geek off the street and pretty handy with the steel when it came time to regulate.

He also showed his character when he made getting Eddie to a hospital his top priority. Was it odd he had no idea about his loyal servant's family? Sure, but his affection for the man who has stayed by his side was very admirable considering the threat on his own life.

The scene where Nucky yelled at the hospital chief was just great and was my first addition to this week's list of best Boardwalk Empire quotes.

After being absent for much of the season, Chalky White's recent return to the front lines has been excellent. He has defied the odds his entire life and has looked good doing it. Gyp Rosetti was told Chalky was the man to speak to on the far side of town. Despite Chalky's sharp dress, Gyp seemed to look at him like he was the human equivalent of the dilapidated house from where he emerged. Chalky showed he is no stranger to backhanded comments, however, as he fired back that Gyp wasn't done cooking yet when the Italian mocked him.

Chalky could have also told Nucky to get stuffed numerous times, but having met the alternative, I think his decision to back Nucky was easily made. Just days prior, Nucky had turned him down cold when the club idea came up, but Chalky knows how things are and just how much pride he has to swallow to get what he wants. Nucky is still alive thanks to him, and the price tag will be hefty.

I loved their little exchange at the lumber yard where Nucky mused about the two being stuck with each other followed by the close up on their handshake. Lets just hope nothing causes their new feeling of brotherhood to break apart.

The return of Chalky also meant the return of Don Purnsley, "Mr. Droopy Eye" himself. After the roadside shootout, Nucky and Chalky started talking about just how much this whole escape was going to cost. Don P. knew that it wasn't a good idea to stand around in the middle of the road talking numbers, so he dropped this little line (Pictured Below to bring them back to reality. In essence he was saying it ain't cool being no jive turkey so close to Thanksgiving fellas, let's get goin.

 

While Nucky and Chalky discussed a last stand, Richard was preparing to wage a war of his own. He endured insult after insult from his batty boss, but when Gillian moved to keep him and Tommy apart, a switch was flipped.

Jimmy deserved better than what he got at the hands of his mother and Richard will be damned if he is going to let Tommy suffer the same life. Richard and Tommy are meant to be together and pulling them apart is not going to go over well.

Harrow fans have been waiting a long time to see Richard unleash the fury. I think after next week, that wait will be over.

Meanwhile, back in New York, Lucky and Meyer have been having about as much success in the dope game as Margaret had with her maternity classes. Lucky usually defers to Meyer on matters of the mind, but Lucky's gut was riddled with worry about the money they owed and forced him into a bad decision. How did he not see all those lawmen hiding on the roof? Were they members of the Foot Clan? If Masseria is the source of Lucky's problems, it would make sense that he and Meyer align with Nucky if the opportunity or need to pick a side arrives.

We know where Chicago is hanging its hats thanks to a surprise visit from Al Capone, in what was one of my favorite scenes of the season. Capone and Nucky are from different generations and might not see eye to eye on a lot of things, but they both know opportunity when they see it and for that Capone is ready to spill some Italian red.

With just one episode remaining, this mostly was a set up episode, but was necessary. What bothered me were a few other things.
Gillian was more painful than ever.

And her line about Julia not appearing to be blind was below the belt and had me fuming.

Like Chris rock once said, I'd never hit a woman, never ever ever...but I'd shake the sh-t out of Gillian if I got the chance. Maybe Julia will step up and give Scarlett O'Horrible what she deserves.

Speaking of people who needed to get shook...while it was cool thinking under fire for Chalky to summon Samuel, I was a little surprised at the kid's gall. When a man like Chalky White tells you to jump, you ask how high.

Lastly I was shocked to find myself growing tired of Gyp's routine: "I'm pitching my tent hi-ho!" I think that general's hat is too tight and preventing the blood from getting to his head.

That's all I got. Hope I hit on some stuff you liked. Differing opinions are always great for discussion sake but I'm not gonna lie and say I don't love it when I am in sync with my homies. It be like...

 

What's In the Box?

Two episodes of Boardwalk Empire Season 3 remain, but it will be difficult for either to top "A Man, A Plan." It had just about everything a fan of the show's heart could desire, as nearly every major character was featured.

The opening scene on the beach could have been the subject of a Norman Rockwell painting, as Richard carried two ice cream cones toward Julia and Tommy, who were busy making sand castles. All of a sudden, though, the mood shifted and the beach reminded me of those scenes in Jaws where everyone stood to look at the ocean with that confused look on their faces.

This time it was the cry of "WHISKEY" - not "SHARK" - that sent the beach goers into a frenzy and had them running into the water instead of out.

Richard no doubt had flashbacks of Angela as he saw his new crush sitting there next to his ward. Julia's father is no Jimmy, however, and Richard dealt with him appropriately when Julia's virtue and his war wound were insulted.

I simply could not get enough of Richard's assertiveness this week. Whether it was choke slamming the man who could end up being his father-in-law or making his move with Julia on the beach, I would have paid way more than a dime to see additional scenes of that caliber.


Fatherhood was a constant theme tonight. It played a big part in the latest addition to Gyp Rosetti's body count. From the moment he opened his mouth about the rogue waves, you knew Franco's days were numbered, but his initial explanation to Gyp about what happens to the sea when the wind shifts was a very telling part of this week's list of Boardwalk Empire quotes. The tide has turned in Atlantic City, setting Nucky and Gyp on a collision course, the fallout of which already has affected many others.

Lucky and Meyer may have had a partner in Nucky, but because of recent shifts in alliances, they were stuck between a Roth and a hard place. Yes, Arnold Rothstein turned the two entrepreneurs down, but he did it with sick swagger, didn't he?

His speech about the break off shot in snooker, and then walking away from the table having perfectly demonstrated it, was a great illustration of his point that a deal will always wait but fools will always rush in. Too bad Nucky wasn't privy to the same advice.

Also I'm pretty sure it is impossible to talk about doing ANYTHING in a bathhouse and not sound sexual.

Information is power, but is can also prove deadly in the wrong hands. For a second time this season lives were lost when a character seeking their own interest divulged valuable intel to a highly motivated party. Recently Billie Kent and others were killed thanks to Gillian's loose lips and here Owen's attempt on Masseria's life went topsy turvy after Lucky shared Nucky's plot in order to secure a partner for he and Meyer's heroin deal.
 
Prior to the news of his unborn heir, I'm pretty sure Owen's plans to walk away from his life of crime did not include Margaret or Katie. He told them both something they wanted to hear, but I think always planned on disappearing from both of their lives. We will never know the full truth of course, but I'm confident Margaret will learn of the promise made to Katie by her cryptic lover.

With them both in their PJ's and the angle of the camera I had to laugh at where my mind went when Eddie woke up Nucky in the middle of the night.

My laughter turned to shock of course moments later.
While Margaret's stock has decreased in value each time the maternity clinic has taken up valuable screen time this season, her reaction upon seeing Owen's lifeless and battered body in the box was some of Kelly MacDonald's best acting to date.

And because of my last name I am allowed to do this:

Actually I just realized that in the case of Margaret and Katie the SNL song really does apply.

Masseria could have saved a ton on shipping if he had just sent Owen's head like Kevin Spacey did in Seven, but maybe it was one of those Fedex Flat Rate boxes... "if it fits it ships."

Margaret's hysterics were so convincing that they might prove to be her undoing as it was clear Nucky's eyes were opened to what has been happening under his roof. The question that remains is whether or not Nucky is so desperate for a "normal" relationship that he will be willing to forgive his wife and make good on his promise to set things right in their life together.

Nothing on that front will likely be dealt with until Nucky's business with Rosetti and Masseria is concluded. Nucky stood a chance last week after Masseria told Gyp that his problems in Atlantic City were his own, but now Gyp will most definitely have his boss's army at his disposal. My feeling is Nucky's only chance to survive this battle will be to enlist the aid of Chalky White and his supporters. Chalky's idea to add a little color to the boardwalk club scene was a sound one and will come to fruition I think once Nucky realizes Chalky is his only hope, a real Obi Wan Bro-nobi.

The above was one of the more emotional moments for me this week. Chalky came to Nucky literally with his hat in hand and excitedly proposed his new business idea. Nucky dismissed him saying A.C. wasn't Harlem and people there aren't ready for that kind of integration even if the color was only on stage. Why is it hard for Chalky to accept the way things are Nuck? You try being treated like dirt your whole life, not even like a second class citizen. Chalky is okay to call on when you need someone shaken down, or to do business with in dark places people don't like to talk about, but when he comes to you with a real business idea that would make him legit, you tell him his kind need not apply. It's like that interlude in the Dr. Dre song that says "that's what they told us today, in otherwords, you're still a slave, no matter how much money you got, you still ain't sh-t!" Break em off somethin' Chalk!

Chalky had certainly thought his new business idea through, but the same could not be said for Van Alden and his Norwegian venture. I assumed the men who picked up Cicero George were O'Banion's boys, so I was thrilled to see it was actually Al Capone flexing his muscle. Van Alden looked like crazy eye Mr. Demartino on Daria back in the day.

Like Chalky White, Capone's presence this season has been sorely lacking, but this week's fork full was a great step in the right direction.
While I have missed seeing certain show regulars on a weekly basis, their omission has made room for the likes of Gaston Means whose scheming and ice cold delivery has yet to ware the slightest bit thin on me. Loved the small touch of having Jess Smith reading The Redemption of David Corson, a book that was reviewed as being as moral as a Sunday school tale which at the end pleases if not surprises the reader by the tableau of virtue triumphant and vice in the dust. I think it was more fruitless wishing on Jess Smith's party and not some kind of foreshadowing though. That was some serious gaming on Means's part. Making both Nucky and Daugherty (Shooter McGavin) pony up to have the potential rat killed. It was pure comedy watching him try to talk his way out of trouble when Jess got the drop on him in his bedroom.

Of course, by far the best addition to the cast has been Bobby Cannavale. His performance tonight only served to further cement his legacy on this show. Last week he stressed the importance of reading and this time he touted the power of math to his men when his shipment came in unharmed. Who knew he was such a whiz with numbers?

He certainly took Franco and his cousin to school, once again displaying the maniacal inferiority complex and quick temper that has made him such a fan favorite. The shovel scene was almost too much to watch though.

One of my favorite lines was when the bootlegger head goes "thats even bigger than Nucky's order" and Gyp replies "everything of mine is bigger than Nucky's."

Lastly for those keeping score at home...somehow Mickey Doyle continued to defy logic and is somehow still alive.