Boardwalk Empire 5.2 FAQ
What’s it called?
“The Good Listener.”
Who’s responsible?
Teleplay is credited to series mastermind Terence Winter.
What says HBO?
“Back from Cuba after a dangerous encounter, Nucky pays a visit to the now-retired Johnny Torrio (Greg Antonacci), who agrees to broker a meeting with the new “Boss of Bosses,” Salvatore Maranzano (Giampiero Judica).
“In Chicago, Eli (Shea Whigham) and Van Alden (Michael Shannon) are tasked by Mike D’Angelo (Louis Cancelmi), Al Capone’s (Stephen Graham) new right-hand man, to recoup money lost during a federal raid by Eliot Ness (Jim True-Frost).
“Fresh out of law school, Willie Thompson (Ben Rosenfield) has a job interview. Rebuffed by a group of would-be financiers, Nucky dines with Tonino Sandrelli (Chris Caldovino) before sending a message to Lansky (Anatol Yusef) and Luciano (Vincent Piazza).
“In 1884, a young Nucky deals with the death of his sister, Susan (Onata Aprile), while his father (Ian Hart) has a standoff with the Commodore.”
How does it start?
With Eli Thompson struggling to his feet as The Untouchables raid Al Capone’s Canadian Club.
How goes Nucky’s sitdown with the new Boss of Bosses?
The sitdown is friendly, but pay attention to what Luciano says about Lansky.
How are Nelson Van Alden and Eli Thompson getting on?
Eli reports to “George Mueller,” who is not excited about being trapped in a hotel elevator with his urine-soaked underling.
With whom does Willie Thompson interview?
Robert T. Hodge
United States Attorney
Southern District Of New York
Is Nucky’s message to Lansky and Luciano a friendly one?
It is perhaps less friendly than the message Nucky tried to send Luciano last week.
Who does one root for in a standoff between Ethan Thompson and Louis Kaestner?
It’s hard to find a strong moral compass among this series’ characters, but Nucky’s pop is indisputably a mammoth swine.
The big news?
Nucky meets this week a man whose testes will precipitate a substantial impact on world history in the Dick Draper era.
What else is HBO not telling us?
* As Michael Apted’s “Seven Up” sequels remind us, a great deal changes in seven years when you’re young. Willie’s in a very different place now, as is the Muellers’ daughter.
* Gillian Darmody’s back, so we get to see what’s become of her since her murderous ways became public knowledge.
* A reporter from the Hollywood trade paper Variety turns up in Chicago to ask Capone about the movies they’ve been making about him.
What’s great?
Willie Thompson’s measured responses. The nudity-rich environment in which we rejoin Gillian. The bespectacled man’s smile when Nucky explains he’s one of the nation’s biggest bootleggers. Hodge’s embroidery of a hypothetical. Nucky’s muscle. Van Alden’s misadventures. True-Frost, so commanding as Eliot Ness that fans of “The Wire” may not recognize him. The portrait of Meg Steedle. “My child too.” “Shoo! Upstairs!” “What is difference??” “Fuck is this guy.” “Fill it in.”
What’s not so great?
Chalky and Margaret have the week off (but they have a lot to do next week). And seeing Gillian again reminds me how much I miss the phantom Richard Harrow.
How does it end, spoiler boy?
With greetings from Havana.
9 p.m. Sunday. HBO.
