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Am I the only one who fears for the life of any character Gyp Rosetti is talking to? Rosetti leapt to the forefront this season as the scorned and hotheaded gangster to watch out for. So violent, so ruthless, so short-sighted…it’s almost a shame Joe Pesci isn’t playing him. Bobby Cannavale is slayin’ it thus far this season, as Gyp makes sure no slight goes unpunished. After this week’s shenanigans, I’m stoked, and a little nervous about what Gyp Rosetti will do next.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The episode begins with Nucky’s older brother coming back on the scene. Former Sherriff Eli Thompson is out of prison today, letting viewers know that sixteen months have passed since we last saw him. Eli expresses annoyance that Nucky sent Mickey Doyle to pick him up from the prison—and probably some annoyance at looking like he’s aged a decade. Who can blame him? The former Sherriff Thompson asks Mickey the very question I asked after last week’s ep: How the F&%$! are you still alive?!

Not sure where Eli gets the stones to expect so much of Nucky. Sure, outwardly, Eli did two years in prison to keep Treasurer Enoch Thompson our. But in reality, Eli conspired to murder his brother along with The (late) Commodore, and Jimmy Darmody. Given what happened to Jimmy and his beautiful wife, I’d say Eli got off easy with a mere two years in jail. Still, he’s angry. Angry that Nucky continues to do better than him, angry that Will (his oldest son, and the only one with a name) has become a man without him, and angry as hell that he’s loading booze for Mickey Doyle. We already know how well Eli handles feeling marginalized. Just a matter of time before this leads someplace violent.

Then there’s Mrs. Margaret Thompson. I want so much for Margaret to be the moral center of Boardwalk Empire. Because I do empathize with her story and where she came from, I want her behavior to be above reproach. I believe she meant well when she spoke to the chief of medicine at the party last week. I believe her intentions were good when she went to the hospital to follow up with the unfortunate patient, and the handsome young doctor. Still, when Margaret gives us the exasperated line You have a maddening way! We can’t help but be reminded of her early days with Nucky, and with Owen Slater. It lets us know that an affair with the handsome young doctor is not far off. But seriously, what woman could resist an affair with Owen Slater? And what the hell kind of doctor smokes a pipe inside of a hospital?

On the loose side of town, Lillian “Billie” Kent and her naked radiator repair service seems to be catching on. She’s got her hooks in Nucky, big time. Her coquettish delivery of authentic 20’s lingo is super cute to watch. Everyone is warning Nucky that Billie is a bad girl with a ulterior motives. Nucky being Nucky, he clearly believes that a beautiful young showgirl must love a guy who looks like Steve Buscemi for reasons that have nothing to do with money. Can’t wait to find out what her endgame is, and what her real relationship with Rothstein is.

Speaking of Rothstein, that business is getting sticky. Rosetti isn’t over Nucky’s decision to make Rothstein his only customer. And why would he be? Rothstein is already irritated his shipment is a day late when Rosetti blocks the shipment completely. Some local fuzz in Tabor Heights get heavy, and it’s a slight Eli may not be willing to forgive. Nucky is certainly not going to be able to stand for it. We know Rosetti is committed, since setting up this caper required him to suffer through diner spaghetti and meatballs with a cup of * gasp * coffee.

Chalky White returned this week, with the whole White family (that is not, in fact, a white family). Samuel, the soon-to-be doctor, and Maybelle’s romance continues unabated. In the style of a respectful suitor, Samuel approaches Chalky for permission to wed his daughter. Chalky considers, and then assents. It seems almost too easy. This is HBO, and there’d be no reason to tell us about Maybelle unless something goes terribly wrong.

What do you know? Maybelle is of that tender age where she romanticizes gangsters and tough guys and excitement and fun. She doesn’t want to marry the boring old doctor. Chalky handles his outrage predictably—which is to say, badly. I was with him up until he almost told her that her life was his. Life ends up being the better teacher though, as Maybelle gets a good look at what a real bad-boy is like. The look on her face when her father catches her in a rough speakeasy tells us that she understands her father’s point. An interesting life is not usually a happy one. And being a doctor’s wife would probably not be so bad.

A delightful new addition comes in the form of Stephen Root as Gaston Means. This character has a historical basis, but I hate spoilers so I’m not reading ahead. Stephen Root is a wonderfully versatile character and voice actor. You may have seen him as Eddie on True Blood, or in the movie Dodgeball, or heard him as lovelorn neighbor Bill Dautreive on King of the Hill. I’m excited to watch the arc of this “special investigator,” and I hope he has more awesome lines dripping with wisdom.

“Ordinary Men avoid trouble. Extraordinary men turn it to their advantage.”



Truer words are seldom spoken.

Overall, Spaghetti and Coffeeis an entertaining episode, chock-full of things that will pay off handsomely later on. I might argue that the storylines are getting fragmented. I’m not seeing enough of characters I love, like Richard Harrow, Esther Randolph, and Al Capone. I’m also missing characters I love to hate, like Gillian Darmody and Nelson Van Alden. I worry that splitting up so many storylines will water the whole show down. I tend to give HBO the benefit of the doubt on these matters…well, I did until Season Five of True Blood. After that wretched, insulting, appallingly scripted waste of acting talent, I’m warier than I once was. Still, Boardwalk Empire is as good as ever so far.

-Wednes