Boardwalk Empire
Boardwalk Empire

Episode Report Card
Joe R: B | 250 USERS: B
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Trapped in the Basement

With Benny gone, Lansky says he wants to join Lucky at his summit with Masseria today. Lucky says that's a bad idea, since Masseria hates Lansky's Jewish face. Seems Lansky's been radicalized a bit after the shootout, and he's through wanting to come to terms with Masseria. Lucky talks him down, noting the irony of Lansky being the hotheaded one for once. Lansky instructs Lucky to "offer two, settle at five," and also not to sit by the window.

In Tabor Heights, the local cops watch warily as Rosetti's men -- a half-dozen or so -- roll dice across the street. A more clear-cut picture of villainy you could not paint. The cops discuss their plan of action for tonight, when it seems a confrontation will go down. But no one's using specific names, which should have any seasoned TV viewer on alert.

In Chicago, Capone tries to teach his young son how to defend himself. Of course, he does so by yelling "Hit me! Hit me! Defend yourself!" at him. The kid doesn't know how to throw punches at age six or whatever, and he also doesn't have the aggressive temperament. After Capone gets more aggressive and starts berating the kid for "letting" kids bully him, the kid starts to cry. Capone finally sees what he's doing to his son and pulls him into a comforting hug. Poor little thing.

In Atlantic City, Eddie Kessler gets off the phone with Margaret and declares that no one knows where Nucky is. Not even Miss Kent in New York. Meantime, Eli cautions Mickey against making this shipment -- the backroads are unpassable, and Tabor Heights is off limits, per Nucky. Mickey lords his rank over Eli and says the Tabor Heights sheriff is on it. Eli doesn't put a lot of faith in a guy who's been on the job one week, but Mickey once again reminds him it's not his call. "Sure thing, boss," Eli replies, without even a little bit of confidence or deference.

In Philly, two of Waxey's guys continue to stake out the house, standing right by the car, so Nucky and Owen have been holed up in that basement all night. Rowland's unfazed enough that he's actually fallen asleep, which should tell you a lot about how this kid handles pressure. Nucky's too uncomfortable to sleep. Sleater reminisces to him about a few nights like this back in Ireland, when he would get through it by counting the steps to his home and to all his hometown haunts. What follows is a somewhat elliptical conversation about how Nucky thinks that Sleater is dissatisfied with Nucky's leadership, but Sleater says what he wants doesn't matter. "What have I done to earn loyalty?" Nucky asks him. "You made a place for me," Owen says, though when Nucky presses him to try again without the goopiness, Sleater smiles and says, "You pay me."

Boardwalk Empire

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