Boardwalk Empire: Complete Episode Guide
Boardwalk Empire – Spaghetti and Coffee
Season Three: Episode Two
Directed by: Alik Sakharov
Written by: Terence Winter and Howard Korder
The Spin: Home is where the spaghetti and coffee are in this Winter & Korder penned family-focused episode. That old dope Eli (Shea Whigham) must’ve learned him a few things in prison as he comes out contemplative and humbled to a loving brood of children and a kind wife he knows he doesn’t deserve while having to suffer the humiliation of now working under that even bigger dope Mickey Doyle (Paul Sparks). Meanwhile, Chalky White (Michael K. Williams) shows up and is served a compelling self-contained story-arc concerning his eldest daughter. After having a turn of heart and blessing her well-groomed boyfriend’s intent to marry her (a doctor will be good for the family is his train of thought), his daughter rebuffs the idea thinking her suitor a bore and longing for the romantic thrills of gangster life. Well, my friends, expect a lesson to be learned here. Chalky ain’t havin’ none of that youthful foolishness in his house. Up in NYC, Nucky can’t seem to get enough of that youthful foolishness and has become totally enamored with the flighty but charming Billie Kent (Meg Steedle – again stealing the show) to the point it might affect business. Lo and behold, in Tabor Heights, Gyp Rosetti (an increasingly interesting Bobby Cannavale) sets up shop to get back at Rothstein and Nucky for their rebuke of his business offer last week by blocking their fuel supply on their route from AC to NYC.
Favorite Line of the Week: Eli to Mickey, “How the hell are you still alive?”
Plotline I Didn’t Really Care About This Week: Margaret’s hospital drama and iciness towards Slater.
Wait Until Next Week: How’s Rothstein going to react to not getting his liquor? How long before there’s a Nucky’s Gang vs. Gyp shoot-out? What’s going on out in the Midwest? When are they gonna get a clue that Harrow offed Manny (and not Waxey Gordon)?
Commentary by David H. Schleicher
To my readers and Boardwalk strollers: Thoughts, reactions, comments?
The Schleicher Spin 
I’m worried for Harrow’s future, if only for the great actor behind the mask. He took an elective hit for personal reasons in a business that makes no quarter for that sort of thing. The wikipedia page of Boardwalk seems to shed a little light on this season (maybe from promotional materials by HBO?) saying that Harrow’s future is with Nucky’s outfit. That’s *interesting*.
Mickey is a survivor because everyone thinks he’s a harmless buffoon. I, Claudius, anyone?
I thought Harrow was already working for Nucky? I can’t remember – was he present at Jimmy’s murder?
Interesting thought on Mickey Doyle – maybe he’s craftier than we think.
Harrow wasn’t present, and in fact asked Jimmy if he could handle it for him (killing Manny was the pretense Nucky lured Jimmy with).
Ahhhh, that’s right. Thanks for jogging my memory. I wonder, too, what Harrow’s character arc will be this season.
I feel like there’s going to be a major gangster shoot out very soon! I’ve been recording every single episode of this season, not only because my Hopper’s 2-terabyte hard drive can certainly afford it, but because sometimes it’s hard to remember what happened in previous episodes, and it’s nice to have refreshers. I love the new Rosetti character! I think the writers made a wise decision in trading in Jimmy for Rosetti because he adds more spice to the show, and he’s the flame that’s going to set Atlantic City on fire. Some of the people I work with at DISH were disappointed when Jimmy was killed off last season, but I was happy to see him go. When writers have the guts to eliminate a main character that means they’re willing to take risks, and that leads to better TV in my opinion.