HBO says of “Resolution,” tonight’s third-season premiere of “Boardwalk Empire”:
While hosting a New Year’s Eve party for 1922-23, Nucky makes a resolution that does not sit well with Gyp Rosetti, a touchy gangster with a thirst for bootleg whiskey. Margaret looks to build on the Thompson endowment at St. Theresa’s Hospital, to her husband’s displeasure. In the absence of Jimmy and the Commodore, Gillian builds a new business while monitoring Richard’s mentoring of her “son,” Tommy. In Chicago, Al Capone is rankled by Irish mobster Dean O’Banion, and Van Alden stumbles onto a confrontation that could change his career path. Written by Terence Winter; directed by Tim Van Patten.
Notes on tonight’s installment:
* Those who think nothing ever happens on “Boardwalk Empire” will be rethinking this evening.
* The first character we meet tonight is Gyp Rosetti, played by Bobby Cannavale (“The Station Agent,” ABC’s “Cupid” reboot). I fell in love with Rosetti from his very first scene. If Jimmy Darmody had to die to bring this character into the series then I am down with it.
* The second scene brings back Nucky and giggling Doyle. I love this scene almost as much as I love the first scene with Gyp Rosetti. It’s so good the Coen Brothers could have written it.
* There’s another character introduced tonight, one named Lillian “Billy” Kent, a new onstage partner for Eddie Cantor. Billy is played by actress Meg Chambers Steedle, who could be the hottest woman alive. The minute I laid eyes on her, my lizard id cried out “get her naked.” Wish granted! We get to see a lot of her naked, in this episode and next.
* Fugitive former G-man Nelson Van Alden is back tonight, and his scenes are wonderful. He’s calling himself George Mueller these days. I’m loathe to reveal more.
* It’s a big episode for loveable phantom assassin Richard Harrow tonight, for all you Harrow fans.
* Nucky has kind of an Oprah moment tonight.
* He’s not mentioned in HBO’s logline, but Micahel Stuhlbarg is terrific as always tonight as Arnold Rothstein. Ditto Christopher McDonald as U.S. Attorney General Harry Daugherty.
* Not everybody is back this week. Chalky White skips the premiere, as does Nucky’s incarcerated brother Eli Thompson. Both come roaring back in 3.2.
* How does it end, spoiler-boy?
Margaret spies an aeroplane.
9 p.m. Sunday. HBO.
