Atlantic City is in a state of flux. Nucky’s situation has become more precarious as he’s learned the hit called on him was likely done by one of his former flunkies, although not necessarily how close to home the idea started, and worse still, that Esther Randolph may not be as willing to work with him as that smarmy creampuff Thorogood. But she does give up that the shooter was from Chicago and lived in a building owned by Torrio and managed by Capone. Oops. Nucky convenes a geezer meeting of himself, Torrio and Rothstein to discuss this development and they all figure out that their underlings are staging a coup. Nucky wants to act swiftly, but Arnold works his weirdo mumbo jumbo and convinces Nucky to do nothing until he has a play, which Nucky figures out while playing house with Margaret and the children where he not at all creepily asks them to call him “Dad.”
Jimmy, meanwhile, has decided that he wants to stage his own version of Hamlet in his head and really starts unraveling. He and Angela have a very direct and sad discussion about the state of their marriage and exactly what Jimmy does to provide and she admits that she only married him because it’s what’s expected of her now that she has Tommy, and besides, she was tired of being hectored by Jimmy. With this resolved, they pretty much go their own ways, Jimmy keeping his nascent empire together as he falls apart while Angela is tickling her Sapphic fancy with some boho novelist from San Francisco. No word on exactly who’s taking care of Tommy during all this.
Margaret is getting squirrelly about hitching her wagon to Nucky now that he has a legitimate prosecutor and all his money is sunk in property he was supposed to sell back to the city to build the roads. She wants him to walk away from all the organized crime since he’s getting shot at now and he’s all “Whatever, whatever. I stole this city fair and square I’m not giving it up without a fight.” Then he pulls a pretty ruthlessly brilliant stunt that well and truly screws Jimmy et al.
But Jimmy’s too busy counting all his chickens before they hatch and convincing Richard that he’s the only one Jimmy really loves and suggests they buy Richard a new suit and fix up his mask so he can find a nice girl (Jimmy really was rather sweet in his dunderheadedness) but Richard’s ambivalence tweaks Jimmy’s paranoia and he has a really weird fight with Mickey and Manny that doesn’t end well. Eli tries to warn Jimmy that Nucky is smarter and more dangerous than Jimmy is, but no one listens to Eli, so I guess he’s the idiot full of sound and fury signifying nothing? And when did we leave behind The Sopranos and start in with Shakespearean symbolism?
Meanwhile, fatherhood has not softened Nelson one bit as he hires a nanny to spend all her time with baby Abigail so Nelson doesn’t have to and he’s also not fully repentant as he’s still skimming off the top of their raids. Hmmm. He was so sweet with her last week.
Finally, old man Thompson dies after Eli is subpoenaed to testify against Nucky. Nucky tries to attend the wake in private but Eli shows up and tries in his bitter, ham-handed way, to reach out to Nucky to which Nucky responds with snarling invective before breaking down, after Eli leaves, because that was one fucked up relationship he had with his father to end so quietly.
By the way, I spent Saturday morning in the presence of none other than Nelson Van Alden himself, Michael Shannon. I saw his new movie Take Shelter, which is brilliant and unnerving and he’s phenomenal in it (with an assist from Shea Whigham as his best friend), but during the Q&A afterwards he showed himself to be rather hilarious in just how unseriously he takes virtually everything but the work. Totally charming right down to his turquoise and black striped socks. And his face is that amazingly odd in person, not that I got that close.
Full recap in a few days, but until then you can read last week’s here.
To get the funniest quotes from TVgasm recaps as they're posted, follow us on Twitter or like our Facebook page! You can post your favorite lines right back at us. Thanks for being here!
She has two blockbuster films set to debut next month and, to help with the promotions, Charlize Theron graces the cover of the June 2012 issue of Madison magazine.The 36-year-old South African actr [ ... ]
Appearing chic and natural, Jennifer Aniston once again appears in two SmartWater ads that are set to release in the June issues of various magazines.The ads feature the 43-year-old actress looking a [ ... ]
After working up a sweat, Elle Fanning was spotted leaving a dance studio in Los Angeles, California on Tuesday (May 15).Carrying a water bottle and her cell phone, the "We Bought A Zoo" actress made [ ... ]
It’s going to be an exciting time in television this fall, as the ABC network has unveiled some fabulous new shows on deck for their primetime schedule.In the months ahead, shows like “666 Park Av [ ... ]
Doing her best to stay in tip-top physical condition, Vanessa Hudgens was spotted heading to the gym for an early workout in Los Angeles, California on Tuesday (May 15).The former "High School Musica [ ... ]
Thomas F Wilson, who played Biff Tannen in the Back to the Future movies, has a unique way of dealing with over-curious fansThe internet is awash with an image of a card that actor Thomas F Wilson pur [ ... ]
After a consultation with her gender reassignment surgeon, the reality of impending surgery dawns on Juliet Jacques. Is she doing the right thing?I'm finally moving towards the second major stage of t [ ... ]
If Adele, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj are proud to talk about their wigs, there's hope for those of us with bad hairWigs seem to have gone mainstream. How? And why?Orla McGarry, BelfastAs ever [ ... ]
Was your baby's name inspired by a Kardashian, a Twilight werewolf or the reality TV show Glam Fairy? You're not aloneDepending on your view of the world, the name Jacob either makes you think of the [ ... ]
Inspired by the success of Ashleigh and Pudsey, I tried to teach Nellie some new tricks …The triumph of Ashleigh and Pudsey in the Britain's Got Talent final has already got pet-owners across the na [ ... ]
Yoga can help fight stiffness, hardening of the arteries, hormonal fluctuations, depression and loss of bone density. And, says Josephine Fairley, you can start at any ageLooking at the famous photogr [ ... ]
A grinning Maria Menounos had reason to celebrate on Monday night’s (April 30) episode of “Dancing with the Stars” - as she and partner Derek Hough received a perfect score.They are the first [ ... ]
Ready to pass out another batch of golden popcorn trophies, the nominees for the 2012 MTV Movie Awards were unveiled on Monday evening (April 30).With the show being held at the Gibson Amphitheater i [ ... ]
It's been one week since the murder trial for Jennifer Hudson's three family members got underway and, on Monday (April 30), the judge released the emotional 911 call from the "Dreamgirls" star's sis [ ... ]
Coming as music to her adoring fans' ears, Jennifer Lopez took center stage at Boulevard3 in Hollywood, California to make a big announcement on Monday afternoon (April 30).Looking dashing in a peach [ ... ]
Helping to unveil the new look of the network that made them household names, the Kardashian sisters along with their momager, Kris Jenner, attended the E! 2012 Upfront on Monday (April 30).Before hea [ ... ]
'Debo' has sartorial wisdom to share – however old you areI am a 65-year-old woman. Where on the high street should I be buying my clothes?Margaret, BristolI'm going to let you in on a little secret [ ... ]
Once, Nigella ruled. Now there's a battle for her domestic goddess crown – and style is just as important as the ability to whip up a crème brûlée. Meet the contenders…Rachel KhooStyle From her [ ... ]
The 'natural beauty' Beyoncé has taken to Twitter and Tumblr to show us how normal she looks, but that's no bad thingBeyoncé is the most beautiful woman in the world – People magazine told me so. [ ... ]
Looking as if she's all healed up following her blender incident, Miley Cyrus paid a visit to a local Burbank, CA hospital for a doctor's appointment on Thursday (April 26).Accompanied by her mother, [ ... ]
Though she always looks flawless in every outfit we see her in, Scarlett Johansson explained that she's just like every other woman when it comes to body insecurities.In an interview with ITV1's Dayb [ ... ]
With just over two weeks left until its theatrical release is upon us, Phase 4 Films has debuted the red band trailer for the upcoming film titled "Hick".Released via Yahoo! Movies, the two and a half [ ... ]
Capping off a full day in the spotlight, Prince William and Kate Middleton made their grand arrival at the Imperial War Museum in London, England on Thursday evening (April 26).With the Duchess of C [ ... ]
It has been seven years since she split from Brad Pitt, and Jennifer Aniston doesn’t particularly care that her ex popped the question to Angelina Jolie.The “Friends” actress, who is in a lov [ ... ]
