Boardwalk Empire
Boardwalk Empire

Episode Report Card
Joe R: B- | 305 USERS: B
YOU GRADE IT
Nucky and Margaret's New Year's Rockin' Eve

In Philadelphia, Manny Horvitz and his wife are having a rip-roaring New Year's Eve, her in her dowdy dress and him trying to convince her that champagne isn't just for the goyim anymore. No, it's all rather sweet, for a guy who kills guys with meat cleavers and shoots defenseless lesbian lovers. She kisses him and goes to get changed for bed (ooh la la), and when she's out of the room, Manny retrieves his gun. He's got that one errand to run.

Van Alden returns home to Sigrid and baby Abigail, who I guess not after a year and a half is almost toddler Abigail. The big surprise is in Sigrid's arms, as she and Nelson had a baby of their own. "I lost," he tells her, defeated. She processes that for a moment, then smiles at him and says, "This year will be more lucky." He gives her the flowers from O'Banion's place. I can't imagine married life with Nelson Van Alden could ever be fun, but Sigrid seems to be a good temperamental match for him.

Nucky is seeing his guests out, including Dr. and Mrs. Landau, who -- barrels of laughs 'til the end -- talk about the passage of time and how they wish the world could just slow down sometimes. Awesome attitude to have from your DOCTOR. The last guests are barely out the door before Nucky rounds on Margaret with a hissed "How dare you?" We realize this is the first time we've seen them alone, without anyone to keep up appearances for, all episode. So clearly Nucky hasn't gotten over the part where she deeded over his cash cow highway land to the hated church. He upbraids her for dragging him into whatever cause du jour she was arguing with Landau about. She sticks up for herself, telling him she plays the dutiful wife as she's required, that her name is on that hospital too, and don't pretend he doesn't like playing the benefactor. "You made me the benefactor when you signed that land away!" he yells. Suddenly, they realize Teddy is watching from the stairway, wondering if it's New Year's yet. Nucky counts off a stack of bills and hands them to Margaret, tips for the staff. He collects his coat and hat, tells Margaret he'll think about something or other the bishop's office called about (the St. Gregory award), and heads out into the night, leaving Margaret all alone in her golden palace.

Manny's about to head out when his wife comes down the stairs with a gift for him: a new hat. He's touched by the gesture, after all these years. From outside, a car honks for him, and he yells at them to shut up, then kisses his wife sweetly. He opens the door to find a man there: Richard Harrow, shotgun in hand. Without a word, Richard blasts Manny -- through the eye, I think -- and as Mrs. Horvath's screams echo out into the night, he stomps away, as we see Manny's driver has met an equally sad fate. It's interesting -- we've seen Richard kill from afar before; he's a skilled sharpshooter. I have to think he did this one up close and personal for a reason, whether it was to see the look on Manny's face in that half an instant where he knew he was going to die; or else he wanted Manny to see him, to know exactly why he had this coming. This was for Angela. Not even for Jimmy, I don't think. Maybe Richard has a plan for Nucky later on (if anybody even knows Nucky was the one who killed Jimmy), but this one was for the kind woman who looked at Richard's hollowed-out face and saw something beautiful, worth capturing on canvass. She's now avenged.

Boardwalk Empire

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