Boardwalk Empire: Season 2, Episode 8 “Two Boats and a Lifeguard” (B+)
There are game-changers, and then there are game-changers. We’re still a few episodes from the end of the season, but it seems that everything is being transformed in a major way right now. Nucky’s response to Margaret’s thought about signs from God, referencing the classic joke about a drowning man being offered three ways to survive, made it seem like he didn’t take the idea of settling down and getting out of things seriously. Crying by his father’s dead body was a moment of weakness, but after that, he snapped right back into control, sending the agent who saved his life peaches and announcing his resignation to his sworn enemies. His recommendation to Chalky about his people going on strike may lead to something in the future, but as he noted, that will be someone else’s problem. Jimmy is now going to be in charge, for all intents and purposes, and throwing a man off a balcony is a good way to establish power. His complete honesty with Angela about trying to have Nucky killed was refreshing, and Angela is getting quite a showcase as she makes a new friend who brings out her affection once again. Nelson is one strict employer, permitting his new au pair a whole one Sunday off in a given month and refusing to allow his subordinate to accept a free meal simply because he’s a policeman. This episode was full of terrific lines, and my favorite one came from a scene with Esther and Nucky, where she likened him to an artichoke and he said that he preferred to think of himself as an artichoke. Arnold made a memorable point as well with his explanation that sometimes he makes no bet because there simply is no play.
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