During the beginning of Boardwalk Empire‘s fourth season, I mentioned that while I was interested in each of the characters’ storylines, I had lost an intrinsic sense of connection or feeling with any one of them in particular. It’s enjoyable to watch Nucky calculate his next strategy, see Harrow try to live the straight and narrow, or to watch Willie do…….well maybe not Willie but what I’m trying to say is that while all of those stories were intriguing they never made me emotionally connect or engage with any of those respective characters. I was starting to worry early on if Terrence Winter and his merry band of writers had a little bit too much to chew on when it came to facilitating each of these characters with a compelling story. Well, the best thing I can say about Boardwalk Empire’s latest “White Horse Pike” is very simple: it made me care.
Don’t get me wrong, when I say I finally “care” I don’t mean to say that I haven’t been caring about this fourth season (check any of my reviews). What I’m trying to say is that I now finally care for some of these bootlegging individuals in ways I previously hadn’t. In particular, it’s Michael Kenneth Williams’ Chalky White that really has been my gateway in terms of engaging with a character. I’ve mentioned in past reviews how before this season Chalky has been a wasted side character, but this season’s strong emphasis on Chalky’s exploits has been well worth the wait as Williams brings his ‘A’ game as an actor making any scene where he squares off with Jeffrey Wright’s deliciously mad Dr. Narcisse impossible to look away. “White Horse Pike” is the episode that brings together many (but not all) of the disparate storylines together centering them on the ever pragmatic Nucky who must choose between the sensible business deal or loyalty to an old friend.
“White House Pike” began with Eli and Agent Knox/Tolliver as Eli gives away secrets for Willie’s safety (ugh). Even with my utter contempt for Willie, I can’t help but feel for Eli who’s stuck in a terrible jam and won’t just give up like a certain somebody did in “Erlkonig.” Agent Knox sure had “gumption” when he decided to go to Eli’s house and threatened him right at the breakfast table. Knox may say words like “gumption” but after his quick no-conscience head shot to one of Lansky’s men, I wouldn’t underestimate his ability to get a job done. Speaking of getting a job done (I segue to this storyline better than the show), Schroeder was hired by Rothstein to do some insider trading. I was wondering if this would be a heavy moral decision for Margaret, but after hearing that his boss is basically a petty thief and later hearing him rant anti-Semitic blows about Rothstein it didn’t seem to a very hard decision to make.
Over in Chicago, we saw Capone almost bite the bullet (or should I say bullets) by an unknown antagonist who could be Torrio given his disdain for Capone this episode. It was a great scene, but why didn’t the killers shoot Capone right when he picked up the phone instead of giving him the time to get down. I know, gangsters and their theatrics, but both this and Chalky’s shooting of the “Universal Negro Improvement Association” building annoyed me. I love the Chalk man, but what went through his mind when he was planning this: “okay boys, let’s shoot chaotically into the window not aiming at anything or anyone in particular and then when we finish our first rounds we’ll just assume we killed them all and look cool by not checking their bodies and walking back to the car with a nice strut” (not a real quote but should have been).
And then there was the main plot which had Dr. Narcisse’s plans come straight up against Nucky’s which begged the question of whether Nucky would choose business over loyalty? He chose loyalty, but it might blow back in his face as now both Narcisse knows he went back on his promise and Chalky might think that he tried to have him killed under Narcisse’s orders. Speaking of Chalky almost dying, wow, was that an incredible scene. Whenever Daughter Maitland starts to sing I just know something bad is going to happen and this was no different as Chalky brutally saved both of their lives. Both Lanksy and Chalky were able to survive “White House Pike,” but knowing Boardwalk Empire and especially knowing its season finales, not everyone will be so lucky in the short future they have left.
Novel Notices
– Sally’s (Patricia Arquette) a real Hawksian woman saying “and don’t think I don’t know it sport” with such determinate ease after Nucky says he owes one.
– They sure took their darn time getting Chalky and Harrow to shake hands but that shot where the two come together is the stuff fan boys dream about (well that and something called a Khalessi).
– Mickey’s seen the “Thief of Baghdad” and likes Douglas Fairbanks! I hope Rothstein doesn’t kill him so he can see the 1940 “Thief of Baghdad.” It’s a better film Mick, it’s a better film.
– See you next episode where we will “sort it out.”
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Umm, am I missing something? Where’s the review? You just gave a plot synopsis with some snide remarks. What did you think of the episode? Of the season? I would like to see a grade. After all, that’s what a review is.
An unfortunate side-effect of the modern world is that lot of people out there enjoy synopsis-style reviews. It’s not easy to make something a pure opinion piece and have all the readers be happy (and that isn’t even talking about whether or not they agree with the opinion; that’s about the style of the article).
With these types of reviews, it’s about reading between the lines, and catching on the writer’s opinion AS he writes the recap. It seems pretty clear to me from this recap/review, that the writer really enjoyed the episode, especially compared to the earlier episodes of the season. The first paragraph makes that quite clear, and the language throughout the rest of the article cements the writer’s opinion of the episode as a high one.
You shouldn’t need some kind of number grade at the end to understand the writer’s intent with reviews of this type.