September 24th, 2012
01:45 PM ET
'Boardwalk Empire': Gyp, guns and 'Spaghetti'[This post contains spoilers for the September 23 episode of HBO's "Boardwalk Empire."] If there’s one thing I learned after watching last night’s “Spaghetti and Coffee,” it’s that Nucky Thompson is whipped and it’s going to be bad for business. He needs to put his game face on, because Gyp Rosetti is already playing hard ball.
But let’s start at the beginning, when we opened in the Big Apple with someone taking care of their goldfish. Make a note – we’re coming back to that fishbowl. Meanwhile, Eli became a free man, looking worn and skinny as he walked out of the pokey to be greeted by Mickey Doyle. “He sends you?” Eli asked, which is the same reaction I’d have if Doyle picked me up from anywhere. Eli then asked the million dollar question of Paul Sparks’ character: “How the **** are you still alive?” Doyle rambled on about how Nucky and folks are on the hunt for who shot Manny Horvitz. Eli now works for Doyle, and I picture a forthcoming Eli/Nucky brother spat coming sooner than later. In Tabor Heights, Gyp’s staying at a bed and breakfast and questioning the kid pumping gas nearby. (Anytime he approaches someone, I get this Anton Chigur/“No Country for Old Men” vibe going.) Gyp wanted to know about the distances and details between Tabor Heights, Atlantic City and NYC, including who monitors the traffic and cargo. He knew alcohol would have to pass through that stop to get to Rothstein. Nucky was busy shacking up at Billie Kent’s place in NYC, but she has other suitors. She took a call and flirted with the voice on the other end, and Nucky later found a razor in Billie’s bathroom that’s not his. While in the city, he dropped off Daugherty’s protection money and found the fishbowl from our opening scene. Nucky wanted to see the face of the man he’s giving $40K to, and it wasn’t who it was supposed to be. Instead, he listened as the man, Gaston Means, a special investigator for the U.S. Department of Justice, talked in riddles about how the clandestine transaction was supposed to work. Later on, Eli and Doyle pulled up to the same gas station where Gyp and his gang were setting up shop. Doyle met with Sheriff Sickels, and paid him off for the next night’s shipment. When Eli got home, his kids and wife greeted him with open arms, but he felt a certain way when he found out that his eldest son has been working to support the family in his absence. Looks like he’ll suck it up and work for Doyle after all. While Gyp and his partner stopped at a diner for some spaghetti and coffee, Sheriff Sickels confronted them and let them know he knows they’re from NYC and that they’re up to no good. Speaking of loverboy Nucky, he and Rothstein went over his protection deal. Rothstein asked about the death of Manny, and if there were any suspects. The two discussed the shipment going out and couldn’t agree on the date, and Rothstein suggested that Nucky spend less time worrying about Billie and more time on his business. True, indeed. Nucky was also forgetting about his duties at home. Margaret was still on her mission, talking about prenatal care at the hospital and bothering Dr. Mason to do something about it. Owen Sleater, meanwhile, was still trying to get back in her pants. He stopped by her place to drop off money, and Margaret asked him to ask Nucky to show up for the St. Gregory Awards ceremony. Given the independent streak she’s been on, when Margaret learned that Nucky wasn’t going to attend the awards ceremony, she fired back, “I believe he’s mistaken.” But Nucky’s off with Billie and a friend having dinner. He saw Billie flirt with another man, and his jealousy was hard to hide. Owen was at Doyle’s warehouse prepping the men for their big shipment. First stop? The oil station in Tabor Heights, a.k.a. Gyp’s new HQ. Uh oh. Eli asked Owen for a gun. Over in Chalky White’s world, Mr. Piano Purnsley was playing the jams when Samuel Crawford showed up looking for Maybelle White’s hand in marriage. After putting the young man to the test, Chalky approved, and he met with Maybelle to talk about Samuel’s proposal. But Maybelle wasn't interested in marrying Samuel; she wants someone “interesting” like her father. Girls always did like the bad boys. When Eli and crew stopped in Tabor Heights for gas, the pumps were locked. Sheriff Sickles and his men refused to let them fuel up, and in the confusion, Gyp appeared and proceeded to pour out the gas and inform the men that they weren't going to NYC. When Owen threatened with “Mr. Thompson” quips, Gyp shrugged them off. It’s official, Gyp has proclaimed himself the bad guy and Bobby Cannavale is killing it! Back at Billie’s, Nucky was making her food. Precious. He told Billie he’d stay in NYC permanently, and asked about the frequent phone calls. The phone rang, but they ignored it – it was Owen Sleater on the other end trying to give Nucky the bad news. Owen and Eli decided they wouldn’t match up against Gyp’s men and that they should head back to Atlantic City. So will Billie Kent end up being Nucky’s kryptonite? How dangerous is Gyp Rosetti? Where will Margaret’s independence take her? Tell us what you think of season 3 so far ...
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"...I gotta gun, He's gotta gun...EVERY body's gotta gun..." Gyp Rosetti, PRICELESS!
a laugh a minute..it truly is...
I love this show. I love the clothes, I love the era. If I didn't like it, I simply wouldn't watch it!
and hbo likes it.
It's just another overdone HBO period piece. Game of Thrones, Tombstone, Boardwalk Empire. All the same fund boring show set in different periods of history. Maybe next season they will try this formula . . . . except, set in space ! YEAH !
You hate the show so much you went on the Internet and looked for an article and then took the time to put in a comment. hmmm. By Tombstone, do you mean Deadwood? and Game a Thrones is not a historical drama rather it is fantasy. Your comment comes off as mostly ignorant in correct. Maybe that is what you were going for. I like the show for what it is worth. Cheers
sounds like a Tracie mix for a bathroom trip.
you know exactly what the character is going to say or do next...can't stand those types of movies.
I have enjoyed the show a lot. I credit HBO with coming up with a wide range of programming. I don't think you could get more different than Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire and Girls. I think they are doing better than any other channel out there - that said, I thought this particular episode was a bit boring. I don't really buy into the Rosetti character. He doesn't play as menacing so much as an idiot. Thankfully, the next episode appears to feature characters that are more enjoyable to watch.
about negative comments...its all the same scripted information–
a dumb old timey show to me. Glad I dropped HBO.
Yet, you still go to message boards and comment ... yet you do not like the show or HBO ... curious!
By reading most comments here nearly all do not have a clue. Boardwalk is well written and well done. You would not know something of good quality if it bit you in the butt. I suspect most can not afford HBO as well. So go watch commercial TV with most of it's simple and lame shows that require no thought that you can swallow like jello that equals your brain cells.
L O. L. :). You must work for HBO or be one of the lame butt script writers for this silly show.
its the one who cuts and pastes from other articles that everyone knows already, other blogs, other peoples material that is tweeked. does it think we do not recognize the material...poor taste and very tacky
no original material and in poor taste. the material is boring and nobody cares..
Yesterday they're real and have probably been visiting Earth since the dawn of mankind and it was
reveal that Rosey ODonnel is really an alien from outer space.
we are about to see clint eastwoods movie in 10min...
have a fun evening...
Lol
i agree with you! this show is FANTASTIC! i love it and now have something to look forward to on sunday nite !
poor scripts
I just don't care for this show. If you paid me $100 per episode to watch it I guess I would. Otherwise, probably not. No wonder HBO is doing so bad.
I'm tired of seeing criminals glamorized. It's time we celebrate honest people that work for a living. Maybe this show appeals toOba voters that want to steal from people that actually worked for what little they have. Stop supporting and glamorizing crime. Whether it be Corporate Bankers, Wall Street Criminals, or Common Thugs.
I meant "to Obama voters".
Maybe it appeals to them who want something for nothing. To those who wish to steal from us that actually work and still have almost nothing.
nobody cares ... its all the same stuff.....pinky
might work
I thought the first episode of season three was disappointing. But episode two is a game changer...chock full of potential. I can't wait to see what happens.
I tried watching Boardwalk for two seasons (because I love Steve Buscemi), but the characters were unlikeable and the writing and plot development were bad. I was hoping it would pick up at some point but it didn't, so I don't watch anymore.
scripts are poorly written and the audience is fully aware of it at this point.
its a show that is in poor taste.
I would stick to sports and stay away from poor taste shows.
I didn't like The Wire. It was about prison and people being mean. I've tried watching Boardwalk Empire but their clothes look so uncomfortable. And I don't love the old looking cars.
No one cares what you or any of the other haters think.
anymore..
no nomination - badly scripted and the acting must be so embarrassing for the directors.
The Wire never won any major Emmy's and that's still considered the best show ever, so Emmy Awards don't really mean anything they're just "gold stickers". Besides, Boardwalk cleaned up pretty nicely last year at the Emmy's and Steve Buscemi got his Golden Globe so if we are going for a track record of awards, Boardwalk still has a lot to show for itself. I think Season 3's gonna be good, but right now there's too many characters and too many major stories. The whole things a slower burner, but it's doing well. We're only two episodes into the third season, give the show some breathing space. More Van Alden, Rothstein, Richard Harrow/Gillian Darmody and less of this Congress Politics stuff. At the end of the day it's about gangsters and prohibition, not corrupt politicians.
i would stick to sports and stay away from poor taste shows.
the segment was in poorly acted, same thing over and over and nothing gained.
Of the negative comments...Hey, it's not my fault Jersey Shore was cancelled... Season three off to a great start, right now other then sports one of the few things worth watching.
nothing there-bad rehearsals.
very poor ratings and an embarrassment the network.
By the way, one of the best shows that ever appeared on television was a show called "The Wire". In fact, some of the best performances and shows on television were snubbed by television awards. Only an idiot would look to an award show to tell them whether or not something is worth watching.
You have two eyes and a functioning brain...or should. Watch a show yourself, and I mean watch the actual season. Because people tend to stop watching after an episode or two and then fail to understand why a show became popular (hint: it was the other people who kept watching when you stopped). No, WATCH THE SERIES, and then form a sensible opinion: It's good or it's bad.
And then move on.
Anyone dissing HBO in favor of STARZ of all networks either has no taste or is a corporate plant. :/
As for those of us that actually WATCH the show (which the trolls clearly don't), I'd say I liked last nights episode. It was a slow burn, but then that is the tradition of this show: It can't be guns blazing all the time, you actually have to have a story.
I agree about Gyp. He terrifies me because he can flip out on an innocent well-meaning person at the drop of a hat. I was scared for anyone he interacted with. I think women are just Nucky's Achilles heel, and nothing good will come of forming serious designs on any woman for any kind of serious relationship. Given his line of work it's too risky both for him and them.
I'm interested to see where things go.
its a show that will never be nominated.
it has been nomminated people! pay attention!!! it's an awesome show. yes, some episodes are slow but that's becuase of the character bulid-up. if you don't like it then quit complaining and don't watch it!
no nomination again?
Jenna won again.
most of us feel the performance was not real and in poor taste.
It is a show of fiction ...
HBO doesn't get my money anymore either. The seem to base their whole network on this tired old show and True Blood. I'll stick with The Starz Network and Showtime.
It wasn't even nominated for a single big award. Not much of a show.
i agree a completely lame performance.
I cancelled HBO last week because there is never anything on it worth watching. They pretend this horrible show is their Sopranos replacement. Booooo. Boardwalk Empire is a miserably bad show. Every year Sopranos would clean up on Emmy night. Notice that Boardwalk Empire didn't do so well. It is a lame show.
I guess that's why the show has an 8.7 on IMDB and a 88 on metacritic. Most people don't agree with your "lame" opinion.
Once again someone who claims they hate the show and HBO ... but they take the time to go onto the Internet and select an article about the show they claim to despise, read it, then have to go and log in and to say in essence, "I hate the show. You don't, so I am better then you! nah nah nah!" .... Who cares if you do not like the show? That is why they make hundreds of shows. Find something you like and go an message on those boards!!!