Boardwalk Empire
Boardwalk Empire

Episode Report Card
Joe R: B- | 261 USERS: B-
YOU GRADE IT
Do I Amuse You?

On the road back from Atlantic City, Gyp Rosetti sits in the back of his car and steams about "bone for tuna." His righthand good tries to explain that it's just a weird pronunciation thing, but it turns out that Rosetti isn't taking some fish-based offense at this. He actually has found a way to be insulted by another man wishing him good luck. After all, who is Nucky Thompson to wish HIM good luck, after this lame payoff that won't even last him a month. "And in Italian no less, like he's mocking me?" Oh, brother. Remember how after Goodfellas, every mafia stereotype was a hair-trigger personality who did some variation on the "am I funny to you?" line? Remember how that was over 20 years ago and we all moved on? Rosetti feels like a warmed over mob trope trying to pass as a genuinely interesting personality trait, and either way it doesn't add up to an actual character. So whatever, Rosetti works himself up into a lather over the gall of Nucky to fuck him over and then wish him luck, while his sidekick tries in vain to calm him. "Nothing's personal?!" Rosetti rages to no one. "What the fuck is LIFE if it's not PERSONAL?!?!" Okay, so that. Still.

Speaking of "still," guess who's trying to call his mistress in New York but not getting an answer, again, some more? Eddie Kessler is reading from a list of political cronies who have called to extend their congratulations on Nucky's honor. Nucky seems awfully dismissive of the kudos, especially for a man who is still wearing the medal around his neck. He tells Eddie they're heading out, though he won't say where. Eddie skitters out to get the car, and while he's out, Nucky is subject to two uninvited guests: a petrified and whimpering Mickey Doyle, marched into Nucky's office at the end of Richard Harrow's gun.

Richard makes Mickey get on his knees, and Mickey starts blubbering about "It was only a joke!" Nucky doesn't know what this is all about, but he's certain he doesn't want it happening in his office. Richard says a man's death is no laughing matter and orders Mickey to tell his boss the truth as he cocks the gun. "Didn't do it! Didn't do it!" Mickey sputters. "I didn't kill Manny Horvitz!" Nucky's all, "Who the fuck said you did?" Richard informs him that Mickey himself said it, and Mickey admits he was just blowing smoke. "Just to keep things lively." Well, that worked, I'd say. Richard looks at Nucky and says Mickey is telling the truth. Nucky asks him how he would know, and Richard says, "How do you think?" Nucky is honestly shocked -- of all the people, Harrow was never on his radar. Mickey begs Nucky to tell Richard to put the gun away, and Nucky is actually very polite in asking, "Would you?" Two people respect each other in this room, and Mickey Doyle sits well outside that circle. Mickey gets up and whimpers his way into the night, leaving Nucky and Richard alone for a talk. As much as Richard will hold any kind of conversation.

Boardwalk Empire

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