Inside Television with Alan Sepinwall

Review: 'Boardwalk Empire' - 'Ourselves Alone': I can't get no satisfaction

Many people try to demonstrate their power, but only some actually have it

By Alan Sepinwall Sunday, Oct 2, 2011 10:00 PM

Margaret (Kelly Macdonald) enjoys a nice meal on "Boardwalk Empire."

Credit: HBO

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A review of tonight's "Boardwalk Empire" coming up just as soon as I fall into the shoe polish...

"You know the funny thing? Nobody takes power. Somebody else has to give it to them. Look around, big brother. What do you got?" -Eli

This season of "Boardwalk Empire" is one large power struggle between Nucky and the various men trying to bring him down, and "Ourselves Alone" features one display of power after another - some effective, some not.

The Commodore tries to show off his youthful vigor by not only dying his hair a ridiculous jet black, but lifting the elephant tusk when the much younger Damian couldn't. Margaret demonstrates her strength to both Nucky (by rescuing the ledger from the state cops) and the IRA fund-raiser (who, like so many men on this show, is surprised to hear a woman speak so plainly and smartly). Jimmy tries to partner up with Arnold Rothstein, initially not realizing that Meyer and Lucky may be the ascendant powers here, and he in turn gets to show his personal strength in baiting the two wiseguys who were hassling Meyer into a fight Jimmy knows he'll win. Nucky tries to bully Eli into coming back over to his side, but Eli knows how much of a bluff it is.

And in perhaps the most impressive display, Chalky gets to show the obnoxious Dunn Purnsley that true power means not even having to lift a hand against an opponent.

Chalky's tenure in jail was definitely the highlight of the episode for me. We start with him sharing a cell with Nucky - in what we'll later be reminded is an unusual circumstance for black and white men at the time (and no doubt a sop to Nucky) - discussing strategy as if they're equals. (Or, at least, as if Nucky recognizes that Chalky is one of the few parts of the machine he can still trust.) And when he gets moved into a cell with the other black prisoners, and has to endure Purnsley's harassment, he just takes it. He lies about the book he's reading, recognizing that Purnsley likely can't read or tell the difference between "Mark Twain" and "David Copperfield," and when the badgering eventually reaches the point where action has to be taken, Chalky isn't foolish or impulsive enough to do it himself and risk spending more time in jail. Instead, he lets Purnsley know just how much better and more powerful he is by inviting all of their cellmates to show their loyalty to him, then administer the beatdown on his behalf.

It's also a terrific episode for Margaret. I loved seeing her undercover visit to Nucky's office, dressed similarly to how she appeared when she first came there at the start of the series to plead for money. Then, it was sincere; now, it's just an act (down to the fake pregnancy belly), because we know how savvy Margaret is and how well she's adjusted to her new circumstances as the kept woman of the rich and powerful Nucky Thompson.

Jimmy's still learning how to navigate the corridors of power. His hand-to-hand fighting skills are never in question - and here he puts them to use solving a problem for potential new allies Meyer and Lucky without them even knowing he's doing it - and the Commodore introduces him to the elderly power brokers of Atlantic City, but there's always a sense that he's tentative about all these backroom negotiations, where he'd be much more comfortable facing other problems that can be solved with his trench knife.

Not that Nucky's on particularly solid ground, either. He gets bailed out of jail, but he has to work out of his actual office at City Hall while the state cops have taken over his suite at the Ritz, the mayor is the only one of his political allies to answer his call (and only because he seems to be beneath the Commodore's notice), and then Eli makes the particulars of this coup known by calling his brother to taunt him about the betrayal. And though Nucky certainly has the grit and brains to eventually get the promised revenge on Eli, Eli knows just how weak he is at this moment - as does Nucky. (Just note how weak and concerned he looks as the camera pushes in on Steve Buscemi after the call ends.)

After Chalky's friends have taken care of the Dunn Purnsley problem, Chalky invites one of the men to entertain him and the rest of the cell with a reading from "David Copperfield," including the opening passage that asks, "Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anyone else." In that moment, Chalky is very much the hero of of his own life, in control of his world as much as he can be while behind bars. But even though Nucky's free, his control seems to be slipping away, bit by bit.

Some other thoughts:

• We've known all along that Nucky's real name is Enoch, and that Lucky's is Charlie. Now we hear that Chalky's given name is Albert.

• Note that one of the men who's gone over to Team Commodore - and who's testifying against Nucky in the election fraud case - is Patty Ryan, whose promotion to that job is what caused the schism between Jimmy and Nucky back in the pilot. If Jimmy gets to take over that ward, things would be very different: no Nucky/Rothstein feud, no time in Chicago, probably no Jimmy/Commodore alliance, etc.

• From my notes, during the scene where Jimmy stands in the doorway, getting ready to fight the wiseguys who saw him rake in the dough at the card game: "The camera LOVES Michael Pitt." He's a great visual subject for a show like this, on top of being a hell of an actor.

• Also from my notes (and in this case I will not say one way or the other whether this prediction proved to be accurate over the later episodes I've seen), right after Margaret said goodbye to handsome IRA man Owen Slater, "Oh, she likes him."

• Meyer and Lucky have a young associate named Benny, who has a habit of acting/talking crazy. Any chance this isn't supposed to be the young Bugsy Siegel, played in various movies by the likes of Warren Beatty and Richard Grieco?

What did everybody else think?

Alan Sepinwall may be reached at sepinwall@hitfix.com

Alan Sepinwall
Sr. Editor, What's Alan Watching

Alan Sepinwall has been reviewing television since the mid-'90s, first for Tony Soprano's hometown paper, The Star-Ledger, and now for HitFix. His new book, "The Revolution Was Televised," about the last 15 years of TV drama, is for sale at Amazon. He can be reached at sepinwall@hitfix.com

Related Searches: Boardwalk Empire, Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Michael Shannon, Michael Kenneth Williams, Kelly MacDonald, Terence Winter

Next 95 Comments

eric pimental

what was the oath the powerbrokers said? is that illumanti, devil worshipers, etc???
October 2, 2011 at 10:09PM EST Reply to Comment
- Greg It was: Propinate Nobis Similbusque. Latin for "Here's to us and those like us." It is the first half of the faux-Roman phrase: "Here's to us and those like us, to the damnably few remaining." It's one of those things that is actually back-translated into Latin from English by societies to try to sound smart and ancient. Romans didn't hand out quotes like that, or toasts. They drank, then said a short speech honoring the house or the person in whose honor the meeting was done, then drank some more. But then, long after people stopped speaking Classical Latin legitimately, secret societies like the Masons and etc., started using Latin phrases to sound imposing.
  October 3, 2011 at 3:58AM EST
- virginia Thank you so much for clarifying that. It would have driven me crazy all day long.
  October 3, 2011 at 6:14AM EST
AR

Yep, Benny would be a young Bugsy:
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/06/the-allure-of-the-jewish-tough-guy-from-exodus-to-boardwalk-empire/241234/

Was wondering they'd end up doing a Capone style reveal, but I'm guessing not.
October 2, 2011 at 10:11PM EST Reply to Comment
- AR er, wondering if. Wouldn't expect it since it took him years to earn that name...
  October 2, 2011 at 10:18PM EST
- Lee Siegel hated the nickname Bugsy, and his friends and associates always called him Benny. So I doubt there would be a reveal. Luciano does say that Benny is "meshugah" which is Yiddish for "crazy."
  October 4, 2011 at 2:26PM EST
- Rob Cool to see Michael Zegen get a part where he can do some acting. In the last 2 seasons of Rescue Me, he was given very little to do.
  October 5, 2011 at 4:08PM EST
- bmfc1 From "Dwight the Troubled Teen" to become "Bugsy Siegel."
  October 7, 2011 at 11:24AM EST
Brendan

I found the Commodore elephant tusk thing to be very similar to Tony Soprano beating up his driver.
October 2, 2011 at 10:27PM EST Reply to Comment
- David Ehrlich not exactly. you're forgetting that after tony beats up his driver he goes into the bathroom and throws up, thus showing his actual weakness. in this scene the commodore comes out physically on top and it's genuine.
  October 4, 2011 at 1:29AM EST
thegoche

I wasn't sure what the deal was with the David Copperfield/Tom Sawyer thing, but I got the impression that Chalky can't read and he was pretending so that Purnsley wouldn't figure it out.
October 2, 2011 at 10:47PM EST Reply to Comment
- sepinwall Chalky can read. His wife wouldn't have given him the book otherwise. He wasn't going to give Purnsley the satisfaction of even knowing the name of the book he was reading. Purnsley got nothing out of Chalky except what Chalky wanted him to know.
  October 2, 2011 at 10:49PM EST
- Richard Crow Chalky cannot read. It is evident that he enjoys the book for the pictures. The parallel is obvious with Richard Harrow who also enjoys looking over the pictures in books and magazines.
  
  Chalky gives the book to the other prisoner to read aloud because Chalky wants to hear the story.
  October 2, 2011 at 11:56PM EST
- thegoche I don't know. I mean it totally does make sense that his wife would know that he couldn't read. But it sure did seem in the jail cell that he couldn't read and was just covering.
  
  I saw it as a reminder that as big as he is and as much as he lives the genteel life in his personal life, he didn't get there by book learning. He wants it for his son, but he's still the guy who got where he is on the street.
  
  He had to put on the show because he didn't want Purnsley to see that any part of eliteness was a show, but once he's gone, Chalky doesn't have to put on that show for the guys who are already loyal to him for who he really is.
  
  Once the guy is gone, he can ask for someone to read the book because he doesn't have to put on a show for these guys to respect him.
  
  I think the scene itself makes way more sense that way, but the big problem is the thing about his wife and son somehow not knowing. So I guess you are right.
  October 3, 2011 at 12:16AM EST
- WeebeysPlasticFish I agree that he can't read. When his wife passed it to him, she made a point of mentioning that their son thought he would enjoy it. I'm guessing they keep it a secret from him that his father can't read. Everything else from then on made it pretty clear that he couldn't read, but that it wasn't a problem since Purnsley couldn't read either.
  October 3, 2011 at 2:12AM EST
- Swearin I just figured he did it because Tom Sawyer is an American novel he might have heard of, whereas Copperfield, and Dickens, was too highfalutin for a meathead like Purnsley.
  October 3, 2011 at 2:17AM EST
- virginia I too came away thinking that Chalky can't read although I'm tempted to review earlier episodes. The man who could read in that jell cell and who does so after the beatdown will have earned Chalky's special favor. Stunning scene.
  October 3, 2011 at 5:51AM EST
- Chalky is illiterate. If you watch the extra features on HBO Go, Michael Kenneth Williams flat out says so.
  October 3, 2011 at 6:18AM EST
- brentalistair Yeah I have to agree with everyone else Alan. It seemed pretty clear to me that Chalky can't read.
  
  October 3, 2011 at 9:46AM EST
- sepinwall Fair enough. I'll take Williams' word on it, and the storyline certainly works with that interpretation - and draws more parallels between Chalky and Purnsley than Chalky would ever admit to the man.
  October 3, 2011 at 10:39AM EST
- Flaneur Yes, not to belabor it, but I thought the situation was that Purnsley could read and knew Chalky couldn't, which is why Purnsley started taunting him about the specifics of the book--"What that ol' scamp up to now?" or words to that effect. Purnsley knew Tom Sawyer and knew Chalky didn't know he was holding David Copperfield. I agree with the thought that Chalky and his wife have hidden his illiteracy from their son. It all makes Purnsley's brutal comeuppance that much sweeter.
  October 3, 2011 at 1:54PM EST
- davidbc I don't think Chalky's wife knows he can't read, because when she handed it to him he looked at the cover and said "This is a good one."
  October 3, 2011 at 4:04PM EST
- Lewah wow. I never even considered he couldn't read. I just figured that he didn't want to come across as an 'Uncle Tom.'
  October 4, 2011 at 12:23AM EST
- webdiva Alan, there's another way to see it: of course Chalky can read. But after he gave the other guys in the cell something nasty to do on his behalf, he gives one of them something not at all awful, as if it were a kind of reward and in a subtle signal that knowing how to read is maybe a good thing they might want to pick up, as opposed to that illiterate they've just put down. another contrast between him and the guy they just beat up -- so who would they rather be like, if not Chalky? It's a subtle lesson and an even subtler cementing of control that makes it look like being behind/getting to be more like Chalky was their idea and a good one, too.
  October 4, 2011 at 12:21PM EST
- Blaze Domingo Just got around to watching this last night. Surprised that there is debate about this scene. I thought it was pretty obvious that Purnsley could read and Chalky couldn't.
  October 5, 2011 at 12:38PM EST
- Rob I found it funny that Chalky's tormenter was from Bmore.
  October 5, 2011 at 4:13PM EST
- Freakin What I especially like about the scene and knowing after that Chalky can't read is that he sat there pretending to read the book the whole time just waiting for Purnsley to start something.
  October 5, 2011 at 4:52PM EST
- @Freakin I agree, the fact that he pretended to read the whole time made the scene. The look the wife gives Chalky after mentioning the son wanted him to have the book sells it completely. Also, it would be beneath Chalky to read to the others which is why he had the only guy who could read do it.
  October 5, 2011 at 5:56PM EST
- D Chalky can't read. Neither can Dunn. What made these scenes so powerful for me were the racist challenging dialogue each delivered. That Dunn character was intense. I love how Chalky calmly named his allies and they put the beatdown on Dunn. Purnsley be done!
  October 5, 2011 at 11:32PM EST
Mkh531

You didn't note that Margaret liked him until he left? Did you see her body language with him when she first met him? She is all aflutter for the Irish lad.
October 2, 2011 at 10:48PM EST Reply to Comment
- sepinwall I saw it earlier; I just made the note when he left.
  October 2, 2011 at 10:49PM EST
- virginia Unless the writers opt not to pursue it, those two will wind up in bed sooner rather than later. Great little meet cute scene. Owen's smiles of amusement at the dinner party were charming as hell.
  October 3, 2011 at 5:53AM EST
- webdiva You're assuming Margaret is that stupid, and I don't think she is. She's made her choice, in part to protect her kids. What's the new guy have to offer? Not much besides looks. Nah, she'll flirt, maybe, but she won't fall: she has too much to lose that way, and she knows Nucky wouldn't be forgiving. There is also another possibility: she has nothing to lose by being nice to people who come courting Nucky for whatever reason and much to gain by making allies (you don't have to sleep with a guy to make him well disposed to you, remember). Just as Nucky makes alliances, so does Margaret -- for her own sake as much as for his.
  October 4, 2011 at 12:27PM EST
- Mango I think the attraction for Margaret is the familiar. He's a nice looking guy who comes from where she does and those roots are strong. I think Margaret will become a major player this series and I can see her possibly doing as she wishes just like Nucky does, especially when she has the cards to play (knowing as much as she does about Nucky's operation).
  October 4, 2011 at 4:36PM EST
- qrter Margaret already became a major player towards the end of the first season, it's just that most of the men are too stupid to even entertain the idea (which actually gives her even more power).
  October 4, 2011 at 5:51PM EST
paddyotoole

It's Paddy Ryan. Patty is short for Patricia.
October 3, 2011 at 12:52AM EST Reply to Comment
- webdiva And Paddy is short for Padraic, the more Celtic spelling of Patrick. Even this northeastern-European-extraction gal knows that.
  October 4, 2011 at 12:29PM EST
Jay

Good catch on the Benny/Bugsy, but I can't believe that everyone missed how the Slater character is supposed to be a young Bono.
October 3, 2011 at 1:00AM EST Reply to Comment
rowan729

Alan, I find the camera loving Pitt in just about every episode-they framed some great shots of him last year in the brothel's hallway. His work on this show has been phenomenal, I really hope he gets more recognition for it, he really owns this character.
Of course, he's not hard to look at, so that helps him in every scene. They do seem to be taking more advantage of it though, and I look forward to a better season of Jimmy's escapades.
October 3, 2011 at 1:16AM EST Reply to Comment
nfieldr

Wasn't that Eli that the Commondore introduces to the power brokers in this episode?
October 3, 2011 at 1:49AM EST Reply to Comment
- aforkosh Given that the scene immediately followed the phone call to Nucky and that Jimmy was in New York, I would say so.
  October 3, 2011 at 2:15AM EST
Swearin

I still maintain the theory that Jimmy is playing a long con on the Commodore, partly because he's got more anger at him than Nucky for what happened with his mom.

My guess is Jimmy is using the Commodore's connections and just the fact that he's not Nucky to woo outsiders to do business, then will defect back to Nucky in the end.
October 3, 2011 at 2:24AM EST Reply to Comment
- Swearin And I should add that the reason the outsiders, most who don't like Nucky, won't be enraged by the news that Jimmy brings Nucky their business is because with the Commodore's defeat, Nucky will be the only game in town again.
  October 3, 2011 at 2:27AM EST
- PotatoSolution I actually got the feeling that Eli is also being a double agent, and in his heart is still secretly playing for Team Nucky.
  October 3, 2011 at 12:08PM EST
- MikeP I also suspect that Jimmy's loyalties still rest with Nucky. He came back to AC to protect Nucky despite the fact that he still felt hacked off about the way he was treated. When approached by the Commodore at the end of last season, I think he viewed this as an opportunity to prove his worth to Nucky, to ultimately hurt the Commodore (who I think he hates...), and to get a little something for himself in the process.
  
  I'd be surprised if Eli turned out to be a double agent. I think Eli is too dumb and is having is jealousy of Nucky used against him. He is just being used - I think Nucky's comments on the phone was a nice way of pointing that out to Eli....
  October 3, 2011 at 12:48PM EST
- JerseyRudy I think Jimmy's loyalties are to Jimmy. I agree that he has no intention of working for the Commodore long-term, but I do not believe he has any intention of going back to Nucky, unless they do it as partners and it is beneficial for Jimmy.
  
  That scene at the end of episode 1 was clearly intended to show that Jimmy has no emotional attachment to Nucky. Nobody else was watching him when he discarded Nucky's gift in the closet, so it was sincere. The reason he came back to AC last season was because it was his opportunity to come back home and be with his family.
  October 4, 2011 at 10:33AM EST
- webdiva I'm with you, Jersey -- Jimmy is loyal to himself, and right now, his birth dad seems a more interesting bet, but I doubt Jimmy really trusts him. When it looks like a better thing for Jimmy's interests to be against the commodore than with him, Jimmy will screw him, too. And Eli isn't smart enough to do a double-bluff; if he were that smart, he'd be in Nucky's position of power instead of where he is, which is being used yet again as someone else's pawn. Nah, Eli's got sh*t for brains. And somehow, I think the Commodore ain't as smart as he thinks, either ... and I expect the town power brokers to stiff him the moment he begins to look weak.
  
  Unless you really expect this to be the slow beginning of the end for Nucky, which would make the rest of the series pretty predictable, I suspect that even as the mobsters start infighting, as we already know from they will, Nucky will find a way to keep his head down and even slip through everyone's fingers at the end, probably even with some of his money intact but certainly with some payback dished out and received by then.
  
  I doubt very much that the Commodore will bother himself with Chalky, other than to treat him far more rudely than Nucky does, so Chalky may very well stick it out with Nucky ... which means Lucky still has allies with some muscle, even if the white boys have turned on him. They will yet regret that. They must, or the rest of the series would be too predictable and have no point.
  October 4, 2011 at 12:42PM EST
- D I think there is a bond between Nucky and Jimmy. They are going to survive the Commodore's meddling. Jimmy has matured and Nucky will see this. There is a wild ride coming up! Anxious to see who the men who built this city are and if they still have some power.
  October 5, 2011 at 11:36PM EST
- nath "I doubt very much that the Commodore will bother himself with Chalky"
  
  I thought they made it clear that the Commodore used the Klan last episode in an attempt to drive Chalky out of business.
  October 8, 2011 at 11:12PM EST
Edward Copeland

One little correction: Patrick "Paddy" Ryan wasn't appointed to run a ward like the other aldermen. He got the job of senior county clerk that Jimmy thought should have been his.
October 3, 2011 at 4:17AM EST Reply to Comment
- webdiva Jimmy's not a 'people' person and came back not quite right after the war. And he hates glad-handing. That makes him a bad choice for a job that deals with the public while hiding the graft; no matter that he thought the job should be his, he was wrong about that. He's not thinking strategically, the way Nucky does, even though he's smart enough to have gone to college. Which just means Jimmy is a little too self-fixated to be really smart. You watch: he'll show a self-destructive streak again, at some point, and that will be his eventual downfall.
  
  Paddy Ryan may not be the ideal choice for county clerk, either, but I'll bet he's better at interacting with the public than Jimmy would be. Jimmy doesn't have the wherewithal or the inclination to schmoozing. He's not willing to suck up to the public as Nucky does, nor does he admire it/think it necessary. The fact that Jimmy doesn't see Paddy Ryan was a better choice for that job than he was -- and that he himself would have hated the job once he was in it -- is telling. Not so smart after all, Jimmy.
  October 4, 2011 at 12:52PM EST
virginia

Write a comment...This is the first time I felt the show really really come into its own, and I have watched all the episodes at least twice and enjoyed them greatly. Perfect episode. I was thrilled to see Margaret take charge of the situation and was delighted for Nucky--that's the way to celebrate Valentine's Day. I loved how she looked like a young and beautiful Lady Macbeth coming down the stairs in her nightshirt to get the day underway, prepare for the dinner party, and take care of business. Every time I see Michael Pitt, I think of how perfect he would be in an F. Scott Fitzgerald biopic--or a remake of Tender is the Night. He looks like he stepped out of an old illustrated Chesterfield cig ad.
October 3, 2011 at 6:03AM EST Reply to Comment
- Victorycurtis Agreed. Last night the show really "clicked" for me. I'm still not sure about Buscemi (he still doesn't feel comfortable to me) but, I have a feeling that by the end of its run, it will go down as one of my all time favorite shows. Last nights episode was outstanding.
  October 3, 2011 at 1:57PM EST
- JerseyRudy I agree that this was a great episode. Margaret is becoming the most interesting and complex character...she showed so many sides of herself in this episode.
  
  She actually proved Eli's quote about power to be wrong. In this episode she took power. The expression on Nucky's face at the end as he looks at Margaret was fantastic...a mix of awe and admiration and love and fright
  October 4, 2011 at 10:40AM EST
- webdiva Eli making that remark actually shows you how stupid he really is. And how he doesn't get it. He'll be a pawn forever, just maybe not Nucky's.
  October 4, 2011 at 12:54PM EST
- L Agreed. For sheer visceral entertainment, I thought the stabbing scene was great: "the other boot," and then the one-two stabbings. The only off note to me was the talk with the maids after Margaret came downstairs. The dialogue and acting seemed awkward.
  
  I also agree that Eli is a dolt. He'll go down hard.
  October 4, 2011 at 10:58PM EST
Jon

i think Chalky is illiterate....
October 3, 2011 at 9:51AM EST Reply to Comment
- Yup. That was the whole point of Chalky passing the book to the guy who "has his letters". It's a reveal.
  October 3, 2011 at 10:36AM EST
- webdiva No -- we disagree. It was about Chalky subtly consolidating his power and influence over the other guys and making them think it was a better thing to want to be like him than like the guy they just beat up. At once empowering for his people (sending the message that learning to read is a good thing, ammunition against whitey, etc.) and manipulative on his part. He's every bit as good a manipulator as Nucky is, or he wouldn't be in power. See my comment above.
  October 4, 2011 at 12:59PM EST
- L When I was watching the episode, it didn't even occur to me that Chalky might be illiterate. (What did we do before web forums?) Both readings have a lot going for them. If Williams says the character can't read, then to me that pretty much settles it.
  October 4, 2011 at 11:02PM EST
- While I agree Chalky cannot read, don't take Williams word for it, he also said that he was supposed to die in s.1 of The Wire which we find out is wrong.
  October 5, 2011 at 6:02PM EST
buzzprovider

Great writing and acting in this episode. The most jarring scene was seeing Dabney Coleman in dyed black hair. He didn't look like himself last season. Now, he's back to looking like the boss from '9 to 5' and the 'go to' corporate jerk he played so fantasically in the 80s. Thumbs up for retro Dabney!
October 3, 2011 at 11:12AM EST Reply to Comment
Robert

Wasn't Nucky's lawyer played by the same guy who played Tony Soprano's lawyer? I feel certain he was.
October 3, 2011 at 11:32AM EST Reply to Comment
MikeP

I hope we get to see more of Dominic Chianese.... That was a creepy looking group of elders that, as the Commodore pointed out, built the city of AC....
October 3, 2011 at 12:52PM EST Reply to Comment
South Side Irish

The title is interesting to me. Its the common Gaelic translation of Sinn Fein - the former political wing of the IRA
October 3, 2011 at 2:45PM EST Reply to Comment
- JerseyRudy Great point! Also interesting is that "ourselves alone" is a common mistranslation of "Sinn Fein." The translation is actually "ourselves" or "we ourselves." Maybe I am now reading too much into it, but this show is full of people who are currently misreading the situation and each other.
  
  I thought the portrayal of the Sinn Fein leader McGarrigle was great. He is most likely based on real-life New York born Irish leader Eamon De Valera. Spending his time eating and drinking in luxury while raising money so that kids can go fight and die for the cause...that never changes!
  October 4, 2011 at 11:05AM EST
Timm S

A couple of thoughts/questions:

When did Jimmy bait the two guys to meeting him in the park? I recognized who it was from their interaction with Meyer, but I didn't see Jimmy interact with them or set anything up. Did I miss something, or are we to assume that it happened because of the resultant action?

Also, it sure seems to me that Eli, while angry with his brother, seems quite uneasy by all the machinations against Nucky. The call was cold and calculated, but it was clearly the Commodore pulling the strings and telling him what to say. And then he looked quite uncomfortable meeting the power brokers at the Commodore's house. It's obvious he's still mad at Nucky, but he is still his brother, and the strings seem to be a lot tighter under the Commodore than they ever were with Nucky. If anything, Nucky didn't keep his reigns tight enough and had to clean up messes Eli made for the machine.

Great stuff from Margaret this week, too. She's proving to be Nucky's most powerful/formidable ally.

Great stuff!
October 3, 2011 at 4:17PM EST Reply to Comment
- sepinwall Jimmy makes sure to ask for his winnings while the guys are in there, knowing that they'll see him being handed a large amount of cash.
  October 3, 2011 at 5:30PM EST
- D I don't think Jimmy planned/baited the attempted robbery. I think he is just street wise enough to know that there could be trouble leaving the game with his winnings. Amazing scene of him trying to avoid the conflict and then slicing their throats as they tried to rob and maybe kill him.
  
  What will be the reaction to this? A.R.'s, Lucky's, Meyer's, the Don who they work for's reaction?? It seems there are so many twists and future plots created in this episode. I can't wait for next weeks show.
  October 5, 2011 at 11:44PM EST
- JerseyRudy If you watch this episode again and focus on Jimmy's face, it seems fairly clear that his intent was to bait these two guys. The wheels start spinning the moment Jimmy observes the two guys arguing with Lansky.
  
  I agree that we don't know Jimmy's specific plan at this point, but it makes sense that he wants to get in good with Lansky and Luciano. Killing these two guys and starting a war with Massario(sp?) seems like a good way to do it...Lansky and Luciano will need someone like Jimmy on their side.
  October 6, 2011 at 10:11AM EST
Tony M

A side note, but I’d say the IRA man raising the funds was modeled on Eamon De Valera. He certainly looked enough like him – tall, thin, rather severe. Of the men and women who led the Irish rebellion, it was tragic that De Valera was the one who most shaped Ireland through the 40s and 50s. While I don’t think he was as bad as the character in the episode, De Valera was overly pious, conservative and narrow minded. He also toured America to raise funds after being broken out of prison by Michael Collins. (Similar to the situation in the show.) It’s a safe bet that he was the model for the character in broad strokes.

Other than that, it seems to me that Boardwalk Empire has taken a huge leap forward this season. Two great episodes so far.

October 3, 2011 at 5:21PM EST Reply to Comment
TRAV

Anybody catch the caption from the illustration on the David Copperfield page that got torn out/held onto by Chalky?
I couldn't quite make it out, but curious if it was relevant to the story, and betting it was
October 3, 2011 at 8:17PM EST Reply to Comment
- AJ I couldn't quite make it out either, (and rewound my DVR twice!) but someone at my gym said it was "I fall into captivity." Anyone else see it?
  October 4, 2011 at 12:57PM EST
- qrter Just freezeframed it - it does indeed say "I fall into captivity".
  October 4, 2011 at 6:00PM EST
- Lee I believe it was, "I fall into captivation." Most likely referencing David Copperfield falling in love.
  October 4, 2011 at 6:07PM EST
- Lee ...or maybe it was captivity, as that is a chapter title.
  October 4, 2011 at 6:11PM EST
tina

It's def Bugsy Siegel, that's how he got the nick by his crazy acting. They were all there on the LES back in the day. That Owen's classic lean and hungry look is going to be a problem for Margaret, more trouble that "the troubles" back home.
October 3, 2011 at 8:28PM EST Reply to Comment
gershomatl

The two gentlemen who were arguing with lansky work for Joe Masseria, otherwise known as Joe the Boss, one of the early dons of the Mafia. You can read more here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Masseria
October 3, 2011 at 10:39PM EST Reply to Comment
Ben

anyone catch the Italian stuff that Meyer says to Lucky as Jimmy enters the room?
October 4, 2011 at 3:43AM EST Reply to Comment
- ondal was wondering that myself
  October 4, 2011 at 4:57AM EST
Gwen

1. Jewish dietary laws are the Opposite-- it MUST have a cloven foot.
2. Dropkick Murphy's-- doubt it. Think that was "the foxhunter" and my money is on Ivan Goff as he is local and knows V ince Giordano. It's solo uillean pipe, not a band.

October 4, 2011 at 7:49PM EST Reply to Comment
gwen_orel

1. OK, nothing based on Jewish dietary laws, to the person who said that. Jewish dietary laws MANDATE the cloven foot.
2. The solo uillean pipe could be anyone, it's a well known reel )I think it was the foxhunter). My money is on Ivan Goff, who is local and friendly with Vince Giordano.
October 4, 2011 at 7:52PM EST Reply to Comment
- Gwen for some reason i couldn't see the whole of the music on hbo.com before, but can now tell you it's Michael Cooney playing "The Bucks of Oranmore."
  October 4, 2011 at 10:02PM EST
L

I appreciated the intelligence comments on this article, and in fact on all of Alan's articles. I wish this level of quality and civility could be maintained on imdb.
October 4, 2011 at 11:09PM EST Reply to Comment
- L Read "intelligent comments" (good one).
  October 4, 2011 at 11:10PM EST
Andy

I'm probably reading too much into this, but when Eli was brought into the room to meet the elders I wondered if the look on his face was meant to express his own doubts about putting his fate into the hands of a roomful of octogenarians. It ties in with the Commodore's dye job (and the feat of strength, which I thought was equal parts impressive and pathetic).
October 5, 2011 at 10:24AM EST Reply to Comment
- D his expression was odd. I agree, he was either awestruck or saying, oh s#$% what did i get myself into! I thought the tusk feat was also lame. It looked like a stage prop at one point as Dabny grabbed it. I'm anxious to see who these men are and if they wield any power. Their political ties may all be dead.
  October 5, 2011 at 11:52PM EST
David

Anyone know the end credits music?
October 5, 2011 at 9:50PM EST Reply to Comment
David

What was the music from the end credits?
October 5, 2011 at 9:50PM EST Reply to Comment
- ma dee It's a reel called The Buck of Oranmore. Not sure who the piper is though. It's a great one.
  
  May 30, 2012 at 12:32PM EST
- ma dee 'The Bucks of Oranmore'
  
  May 30, 2012 at 12:33PM EST
D

Finally found this blog... Why didn't the fed get in trouble for basically murdering his colleague, by drowning, in front of all those witnesses? This seemed to be completely ignored in subsequent episodes.
October 5, 2011 at 11:56PM EST Reply to Comment
- JerseyRudy It was never explained, but the likely explanation is that none of the witnesses came forward. Nobody from the black community would want to get involved in testifying against a Fed in 1920....they were living in their own separate world.
  October 6, 2011 at 10:15AM EST

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Comments

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

eric pimental what was the oath the powerbrokers said? is that illumanti, devil worshipers, etc???

virginia Thank you so much for clarifying that. It would have driven me crazy all day long.

AR Yep, Benny would be a young Bugsy: http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/06/the-allure-of-the-jewish-tough-guy-from-exodus-to-boardwalk-empire/241234/Was wondering they'd end up doing a Capone style reveal, but I'm guessing not.

AR er, wondering if. Wouldn't expect it since it took him years to earn that name...

Lee Siegel hated the nickname Bugsy, and his friends and associates always called him Benny. So I doubt there would be a reveal. Luciano does say that Benny is "meshugah" which is Yiddish for "crazy."

Rob Cool to see Michael Zegen get a part where he can do some acting. In the last 2 seasons of Rescue Me, he was given very little to do.

bmfc1 From "Dwight the Troubled Teen" to become "Bugsy Siegel."

Brendan I found the Commodore elephant tusk thing to be very similar to Tony Soprano beating up his driver.

David Ehrlich not exactly. you're forgetting that after tony beats up his driver he goes into the bathroom and throws up, thus showing his actual weakness. in this scene the commodore comes out physically on top and it's genuine.

thegoche I wasn't sure what the deal was with the David Copperfield/Tom Sawyer thing, but I got the impression that Chalky can't read and he was pretending so that Purnsley wouldn't figure it out.

sepinwall Chalky can read. His wife wouldn't have given him the book otherwise. He wasn't going to give Purnsley the satisfaction of even knowing the name of the book he was reading. Purnsley got nothing out of Chalky except what Chalky wanted him to know.

Richard Crow Chalky cannot read. It is evident that he enjoys the book for the pictures. The parallel is obvious with Richard Harrow who also enjoys looking over the pictures in books and magazines. Chalky gives the book to the other prisoner to read aloud because Chalky wants to hear the story.

Swearin I just figured he did it because Tom Sawyer is an American novel he might have heard of, whereas Copperfield, and Dickens, was too highfalutin for a meathead like Purnsley.

virginia I too came away thinking that Chalky can't read although I'm tempted to review earlier episodes. The man who could read in that jell cell and who does so after the beatdown will have earned Chalky's special favor. Stunning scene.

Chalky is illiterate. If you watch the extra features on HBO Go, Michael Kenneth Williams flat out says so.

brentalistair Yeah I have to agree with everyone else Alan. It seemed pretty clear to me that Chalky can't read.

sepinwall Fair enough. I'll take Williams' word on it, and the storyline certainly works with that interpretation - and draws more parallels between Chalky and Purnsley than Chalky would ever admit to the man.

davidbc I don't think Chalky's wife knows he can't read, because when she handed it to him he looked at the cover and said "This is a good one."

Lewah wow. I never even considered he couldn't read. I just figured that he didn't want to come across as an 'Uncle Tom.'

Blaze Domingo Just got around to watching this last night. Surprised that there is debate about this scene. I thought it was pretty obvious that Purnsley could read and Chalky couldn't.

Rob I found it funny that Chalky's tormenter was from Bmore.

Freakin What I especially like about the scene and knowing after that Chalky can't read is that he sat there pretending to read the book the whole time just waiting for Purnsley to start something.

@Freakin I agree, the fact that he pretended to read the whole time made the scene. The look the wife gives Chalky after mentioning the son wanted him to have the book sells it completely. Also, it would be beneath Chalky to read to the others which is why he had the only guy who could read do it.

D Chalky can't read. Neither can Dunn. What made these scenes so powerful for me were the racist challenging dialogue each delivered. That Dunn character was intense. I love how Chalky calmly named his allies and they put the beatdown on Dunn. Purnsley be done!

Mkh531 You didn't note that Margaret liked him until he left? Did you see her body language with him when she first met him? She is all aflutter for the Irish lad.

sepinwall I saw it earlier; I just made the note when he left.

virginia Unless the writers opt not to pursue it, those two will wind up in bed sooner rather than later. Great little meet cute scene. Owen's smiles of amusement at the dinner party were charming as hell.

qrter Margaret already became a major player towards the end of the first season, it's just that most of the men are too stupid to even entertain the idea (which actually gives her even more power).

paddyotoole It's Paddy Ryan. Patty is short for Patricia.

webdiva And Paddy is short for Padraic, the more Celtic spelling of Patrick. Even this northeastern-European-extraction gal knows that.

Jay Good catch on the Benny/Bugsy, but I can't believe that everyone missed how the Slater character is supposed to be a young Bono.

nfieldr Wasn't that Eli that the Commondore introduces to the power brokers in this episode?

aforkosh Given that the scene immediately followed the phone call to Nucky and that Jimmy was in New York, I would say so.

Swearin And I should add that the reason the outsiders, most who don't like Nucky, won't be enraged by the news that Jimmy brings Nucky their business is because with the Commodore's defeat, Nucky will be the only game in town again.

PotatoSolution I actually got the feeling that Eli is also being a double agent, and in his heart is still secretly playing for Team Nucky.

D I think there is a bond between Nucky and Jimmy. They are going to survive the Commodore's meddling. Jimmy has matured and Nucky will see this. There is a wild ride coming up! Anxious to see who the men who built this city are and if they still have some power.

nath "I doubt very much that the Commodore will bother himself with Chalky"I thought they made it clear that the Commodore used the Klan last episode in an attempt to drive Chalky out of business.

Edward Copeland One little correction: Patrick "Paddy" Ryan wasn't appointed to run a ward like the other aldermen. He got the job of senior county clerk that Jimmy thought should have been his.

Victorycurtis Agreed. Last night the show really "clicked" for me. I'm still not sure about Buscemi (he still doesn't feel comfortable to me) but, I have a feeling that by the end of its run, it will go down as one of my all time favorite shows. Last nights episode was outstanding.

webdiva Eli making that remark actually shows you how stupid he really is. And how he doesn't get it. He'll be a pawn forever, just maybe not Nucky's.

Jon i think Chalky is illiterate....

Yup. That was the whole point of Chalky passing the book to the guy who "has his letters". It's a reveal.

L When I was watching the episode, it didn't even occur to me that Chalky might be illiterate. (What did we do before web forums?) Both readings have a lot going for them. If Williams says the character can't read, then to me that pretty much settles it.

While I agree Chalky cannot read, don't take Williams word for it, he also said that he was supposed to die in s.1 of The Wire which we find out is wrong.

Robert Wasn't Nucky's lawyer played by the same guy who played Tony Soprano's lawyer? I feel certain he was.

MikeP I hope we get to see more of Dominic Chianese.... That was a creepy looking group of elders that, as the Commodore pointed out, built the city of AC....

South Side Irish The title is interesting to me. Its the common Gaelic translation of Sinn Fein - the former political wing of the IRA

sepinwall Jimmy makes sure to ask for his winnings while the guys are in there, knowing that they'll see him being handed a large amount of cash.

TRAV Anybody catch the caption from the illustration on the David Copperfield page that got torn out/held onto by Chalky? I couldn't quite make it out, but curious if it was relevant to the story, and betting it was

AJ I couldn't quite make it out either, (and rewound my DVR twice!) but someone at my gym said it was "I fall into captivity." Anyone else see it?

qrter Just freezeframed it - it does indeed say "I fall into captivity".

Lee I believe it was, "I fall into captivation." Most likely referencing David Copperfield falling in love.

Lee ...or maybe it was captivity, as that is a chapter title.

tina It's def Bugsy Siegel, that's how he got the nick by his crazy acting. They were all there on the LES back in the day. That Owen's classic lean and hungry look is going to be a problem for Margaret, more trouble that "the troubles" back home.

gershomatl The two gentlemen who were arguing with lansky work for Joe Masseria, otherwise known as Joe the Boss, one of the early dons of the Mafia. You can read more here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Masseria

Ben anyone catch the Italian stuff that Meyer says to Lucky as Jimmy enters the room?

ondal was wondering that myself

Gwen 1. Jewish dietary laws are the Opposite-- it MUST have a cloven foot.2. Dropkick Murphy's-- doubt it. Think that was "the foxhunter" and my money is on Ivan Goff as he is local and knows V ince Giordano. It's solo uillean pipe, not a band.

gwen_orel 1. OK, nothing based on Jewish dietary laws, to the person who said that. Jewish dietary laws MANDATE the cloven foot.2. The solo uillean pipe could be anyone, it's a well known reel )I think it was the foxhunter). My money is on Ivan Goff, who is local and friendly with Vince Giordano.

Gwen for some reason i couldn't see the whole of the music on hbo.com before, but can now tell you it's Michael Cooney playing "The Bucks of Oranmore."

L I appreciated the intelligence comments on this article, and in fact on all of Alan's articles. I wish this level of quality and civility could be maintained on imdb.

L Read "intelligent comments" (good one).

David Anyone know the end credits music?

David What was the music from the end credits?

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Boardwalk Empire is updated

eric pimental

what was the oath the powerbrokers said? is that illumanti, devil worshipers, etc???

AR

Yep, Benny would be a young Bugsy:
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/06/the-allure-of-the-jewish-tough-guy-from-exodus-to-boardwalk-empire/241234/

Was wondering they'd end up doing a Capone style reveal, but I'm guessing not.

Brendan

I found the Commodore elephant tusk thing to be very similar to Tony Soprano beating up his driver.

thegoche

I wasn't sure what the deal was with the David Copperfield/Tom Sawyer thing, but I got the impression that Chalky can't read and he was pretending so that Purnsley wouldn't figure it out.

Richard Crow Chalky cannot read. It is evident that he enjoys the book for the pictures. The parallel is obvious with Richard Harrow who also enjoys looking over the pictures in books and magazines.

Chalky gives the book to the other prisoner to read aloud because Chalky wants to hear the story.

Mkh531

You didn't note that Margaret liked him until he left? Did you see her body language with him when she first met him? She is all aflutter for the Irish lad.

paddyotoole

It's Paddy Ryan. Patty is short for Patricia.

Jay

Good catch on the Benny/Bugsy, but I can't believe that everyone missed how the Slater character is supposed to be a young Bono.

nfieldr

Wasn't that Eli that the Commondore introduces to the power brokers in this episode?

nath "I doubt very much that the Commodore will bother himself with Chalky"

I thought they made it clear that the Commodore used the Klan last episode in an attempt to drive Chalky out of business.

Edward Copeland

One little correction: Patrick "Paddy" Ryan wasn't appointed to run a ward like the other aldermen. He got the job of senior county clerk that Jimmy thought should have been his.

Jon

i think Chalky is illiterate....

Robert

Wasn't Nucky's lawyer played by the same guy who played Tony Soprano's lawyer? I feel certain he was.

MikeP

I hope we get to see more of Dominic Chianese.... That was a creepy looking group of elders that, as the Commodore pointed out, built the city of AC....

South Side Irish

The title is interesting to me. Its the common Gaelic translation of Sinn Fein - the former political wing of the IRA

TRAV

Anybody catch the caption from the illustration on the David Copperfield page that got torn out/held onto by Chalky?
I couldn't quite make it out, but curious if it was relevant to the story, and betting it was

tina

It's def Bugsy Siegel, that's how he got the nick by his crazy acting. They were all there on the LES back in the day. That Owen's classic lean and hungry look is going to be a problem for Margaret, more trouble that "the troubles" back home.

gershomatl

The two gentlemen who were arguing with lansky work for Joe Masseria, otherwise known as Joe the Boss, one of the early dons of the Mafia. You can read more here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Masseria

Ben

anyone catch the Italian stuff that Meyer says to Lucky as Jimmy enters the room?

Gwen

1. Jewish dietary laws are the Opposite-- it MUST have a cloven foot.
2. Dropkick Murphy's-- doubt it. Think that was "the foxhunter" and my money is on Ivan Goff as he is local and knows V ince Giordano. It's solo uillean pipe, not a band.

gwen_orel

1. OK, nothing based on Jewish dietary laws, to the person who said that. Jewish dietary laws MANDATE the cloven foot.
2. The solo uillean pipe could be anyone, it's a well known reel )I think it was the foxhunter). My money is on Ivan Goff, who is local and friendly with Vince Giordano.

L

I appreciated the intelligence comments on this article, and in fact on all of Alan's articles. I wish this level of quality and civility could be maintained on imdb.

David

Anyone know the end credits music?

David

What was the music from the end credits?

D

Finally found this blog... Why didn't the fed get in trouble for basically murdering his colleague, by drowning, in front of all those witnesses? This seemed to be completely ignored in subsequent episodes.

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