Boardwalk Empire: The Good Listener

September 16, 2014 6:58 PM - Season 5, Episode 2

Eli and Van Alden raise funds after a bust. Nucky, who is contemplating retirement, goes to New York to find out who ordered the hit on him in Havana. We learn a little about the history between Nucky's dad and the Commodore. Gillian makes a trade. Willie interviews for a job. Capone gets measured for a suit, and Eliot Ness comes to town.

This episode is the only one for this final season which was written by Terence Winter.

posted by computech_apolloniajames (5 comments total)

Was SO pleased to see Pryzbylewski as Elliot Ness! Also, I know Eli has betrayed Nucky about 50 times at this point but he is still my favorite (not-already-dead) character. Looking forward to his shenanigans* with Van Alden/Mueller.

*probably way too whimsical a term for what likely lies ahead...
posted by lovableiago at 9:22 PM on September 16, 2014 [1 favorite]

The main thing keeping me watching this show is Michael Shannon's reaction shots and line delivery.
posted by gaspode at 5:36 AM on September 17, 2014

Seriously, an exasperated Shannon is always gold. "Why must there always be pandemonium!" was a perfect line for him and a perfect line reading.
posted by Falconetti at 10:12 AM on September 17, 2014 [3 favorites]

I hope we get to see a few choice scenes with Ness. (Although most of you may know Jim True-Frost from "The Wire," I still think of him in this.)

Michael Shannon has been criminally underutilized in the last four seasons! Where can I sign a petition for a Van Alden/Mueller spinoff series?
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 6:18 PM on September 17, 2014

I'm liking the fast-forward for this season, moving things into the thirties. The crash, end of prohibition and the depression all seem like they'll add some narrative interest to things.
posted by octothorpe at 6:39 AM on September 20, 2014