Looked around, couldn't find a pre-existing thread on this show.

Just watched the season finale of BE.  I don't watch much TV these days - too busy, and so much of it is...well...sub par.

But, this show's been consistently engaging - and these last two episodes downright amazing - re: character development and sheer writing.  

God, let's hope it keeps it up through at least one more season...!

I felt the second season was not quite up to the first.
But it's still pretty engaging stuff.
Didn't care for them starting the new season the same as the previous.
In season one, a booze theft/massacre is the inciting event.
And this season, it kicked off with another booze power play killing.
But this time, there were KKK and machine guns. Meh.

Rumors got out that Michael Pitt was a tad difficult on set.
To that end, I'm not surprised how the season ended.
It was a virtual clean sweep of all the storylines his character drove.
Thank the TV gods they didn't whack Richard, love that character. Who doesn't?
And I dug the insinuation that there's more William Forsythe in our future.
I liked Agent Van Alden better when he wasn't a murderer.
Now, he's just a goof on the run with a baby. Shrug.

Still, I love watching Steve Buscemi every week.
And what a treat to have Dabney Coleman back on the screen!

E.D.

Richard is probably my favorite character.  I wonder how they're going to keep him now.

Don't think they'll keep Van Alden.  There's nothing left for him.

Glad to see Dominic Chianese back on a show.


Phil

I've only seen bits and pieces of the show but I think it's quite solid. It definitely has one of the most amazing casts in TV history and everyone seems to be on their A game. I'm particularly glad to see Michael K. Williams with a second TV outlet to showcase his talent. That dude needs to blow up already. "I ain't building no bookcase." Utterly pimp.

One of the better shows I've seen on TV as of late.

Quoted from dogglebe Richard is probably my favorite character.  I wonder how they're going to keep him now. Don't think they'll keep Van Alden.  There's nothing left for him. Phil

Richard is adrift in Atlantic City now, agreed.
I'd hate to see the character go though.
But his only "friend" and the woman he had feelings for are rather dead.
Perhaps he could stay with Jimmy's kid, get bewitched by Jimmy's mom?
They are two characters that need a new direction in their lives. Could work.
And she's great at making men feel like boys that need their "mother".

Perhaps Van Alden is getting written out of the show.
All the Superman buzz will likely translate into big roles for Shannon.
Which means, BE prolly can't afford to keep him anyways.
My two cents.

E.D.

Van Alden moved to Cicero, so I suspect they have plans for him. Cicero is outside Chicago and where Capone and Torrino set up shop when they lost control of Chicago city hall. It's also where Capone's brother gets shot and killed in real life on the day of a major election. AND, I thought I saw something about a zombie outbreak there and a big Tesla project, but that could be classified...

What did you guys think when they failed to kill the Jewish in Philly, and he puts a finger on who sent the men by finding Atlantic City matches? Man, just a little contrived. That was like an old movie from the 30s.

I like the show. Actually the only thing I watch on TV other than news and sports. I do think they make the mistake of making the characters not very easy to like or care about. Sopranos was outstanding at making the audience love the characters, no matter what they did. Part of that was the humor. Part of it was they did a much better job making the characters motivations plausible. You always felt that Sopranos characters, even when they were illogical, were acting according to impulses that made perfect sense within the character.

Richard is an outstanding character, I agree. Nucky is as well. Margaret has been an annoying pain since day one. They didn't do much to make Jimmy sympathetic until the last couple of episodes.

Quality dialogue writing, so I like to watch and learn!

Quoted from leitskev What did you guys think when they failed to kill the Jewish in Philly, and he puts a finger on who sent the men by finding Atlantic City matches? Man, just a little contrived. That was like an old movie from the 30s.

An out of character contrivance from the show, indeed.
Which indicated to me, that change was in the wind.
Switch one prominent actor/gangster, for another to set up next season.

Quoted from leitskev They didn't do much to make Jimmy sympathetic until the last couple of episodes.

And this was the second indicator that a change in the regime was coming.
On many levels, the last couple episodes felt like "housekeeping" at times.

E.D.

Yup. I could tell Jimmy's death was coming when they started the flashbacks. And really the only sensible way, drama-wise, was to have Nucky do it.

How do you guys feel about the whole incest thing? I have to say, I feel I don't understand why they chose this route, though they've been setting it up for a long time. Incest between a mother and son is just something I don't understand, Oedipus be damned. Working in bars all those years, I've seen a lot of messed up stuff, but never knew of anyone that did that. There've been a few scripts here at SS that deal with that too, and I don't really understand. Does that stuff really happen, in the real world, not in some Freudian subconscious world?

I'm wondering if Richard will be around next season.  Jimmy and Angela were the closest he had to family.  He has no reason to stay now.

The whole incest thing through me for a loop.  And Gillian seemed too young to be Jimmy's mother anyway.


Phil

I had been wondering during the series if there would be some surprise where she was not his mother. But I guess they were just going for the incest is best thing. Couple of more thoughts on that: the way Jimmy reacted in the flash, I would guess that it was not the first time it happened. He was not very reluctant. There had to have been previous experiences to build up to that.

Also, in the previous episodes, when she would kiss him on the lips, he seemed more surprised and confused than reluctant. That doesn't make sense now, considering what happened in college.

I would be shocked if Richard is not back. If people here are representative, audiences dig him, so he'll be back. Maybe he'll take vengeance on Nucky. Pretty sure he'll take vengeance on Manny, or whatever his name is.

Who will they set up as the main sources of conflict with Nucky? Yeah, he'll battle Capone and Luciano at some point, but the conflict needs to be someone close for the sake of the drama. Eli is weak, and they've done that. The father is dead. Who does that leave? The Irish guy? Chalky?

I think maybe they'll have to introduce a whole new story line that becomes the focus. With Van Alden going to Cicero, I wonder if they'll just start a whole new side story there.

In Jimmy's defense... his mom's hot!

Nuckie will probably get caught between Capone, Rothstein and Luciano.  There's also that new treasury agent (you know?  that dame wit' the gams?).  She'll want to get him for her embarrassing court debut.


Phil

Gams! Great word from the era.

All of that is true, but for high drama you need betrayal and conflict between those that have a bond, like family members. There's no a lot of opportunity for that now. They sent Van Alden to Cicero for a reason. I am betting on a strong new story line out there. and it actually makes sense after two seasons to shift things a little. There's only so much you can do with Atlantic City.

Maybe Jimmy's mom becomes a boss. They ripped up the Commodore's will, so the estate goes to Jimmy's kid. They made a point of saying that, and I don't think that was just randomly thrown in.

Maybe that's it too! Maybe Richard becomes a boss now. Jimmy's mom needs a powerful man around.

Quoted from leitskev Maybe Jimmy's mom becomes a boss. They ripped up the Commodore's will, so the estate goes to Jimmy's kid. They made a point of saying that, and I don't think that was just randomly thrown in. Maybe that's it too! Maybe Richard becomes a boss now. Jimmy's mom needs a powerful man around.

I'm sure Jimmy asked that specific question for a reason.
Suggesting that he knew his son would get a chance if he threw in the towel.
I can see Richard sticking around to protect Jimmy's kid.
Jimmy's mother mentoring another male to manipulate, etc.

E.D.

When Jimmy's mother finds the dog tags on the kid, and suspects what is about to happen, she says something to the little boy, I can't remember, suggesting it will all be his. It seems clear they're setting up a new power base that rests on the boy's wealth.

Here's my predictions for season 3:

1) Jimmy's mother will establish a rival power to Nucky, using her influence with Luciano. the 20s were a great time for women's liberation and assertion, so it's appropriate that she become a boss in her own right. If the Irish guy gets caught hooking up with Margaret, maybe he'll go over eventually, but more likely is he remains aligned against Richard, his rival captain and assassin.
2) They'll start a side story in Cicero with Capone's brother being introduced and Van Alden being involved. I would guess Van Alden has to become a gangster now, but it won't be that simple, with his being so conflicted by religious guilt. Unless he changes his name and becomes a Cicero lawman. But I'm thinking he must remain an outlaw.

Something I thought was pretty cool.

Boardwalk Empire VFX Breakdowns of Season 2 from Brainstorm Digital on Vimeo.

Phil

Anyone watching tonight?

New season, starting tonight?  (I've been soaking in the first season of Breaking Bad on Netflix, so I've been out of the loop recently...)  :P

starts tonight

I'm more excited for the series finale of "Weeds", but this is definitely on my list, especially after the season two finale. That was a shocker.

Quoted from Matt Chisholm I'm more excited for the series finale of "Weeds", but this is definitely on my list, especially after the season two finale. That was a shocker.

And we piled on another shocker for the season opener.
I like Richard stepping up and taking some justice in his own hands.
The character already feels more self assured this year...
Hardened by the death of the Darmodys that treated him as an equal.
The show's signature slow pace and impeccable production values shine again.

And a Weeds sidebar... What the hellfire was that junk about?!?
Yet another time jump forward. Too many shortcuts to that show.
Pretty transparent the last couple season they were stretching it out for syndication.

Regards,
E.D.