Boardwalk Empire ended its second season tonight, and it felt like it closed the book on big chapter of the story. Gone is Jimmy Darmody, dispatched by Nucky himself, putting an end to the young man’s power grab. It was certainly a dark turn for the story. For most of the season, it seemed like there was going to be a reconciliation, a forgiveness between the two. These two men were like family, right? Nucky was like a father to Jimmy, right? This isn’t how it could end, right? On any other show I’m sure that’s what we would have been served on this week’s finale, but this is Boardwalk Empire. A reconciliation was not in the cards, and therefore there was only one way this could end. It certainly made for a dramatic finale.
Nucky’s trial ended a bit anticlimactically earlier in the episode. Jimmy had his hand in helping “put things right” for Nucky, even though it couldn’t save him, and a marriage to Margaret certainly helped to seal the deal. I have a feeling, however, that we haven’t seen the last of Esther Randolph, as it seemed like she was going to “get her ducks in a row” and be back for Nucky again. I wouldn’t mind seeing a return for the prosecutor.
Season three is going to feel like a completely new show, that’s for sure. We lost a lot of characters at the end of the season, and I’m wondering if and how some others will return. With Jimmy and the commodore both out of the picture, have we seen the last of Gillian? I can’t imagine that she will let the “re-enlistment” of her son go without some sort of action. We have seen time and again that she is a capable woman … and she holds a grudge. What about Richard Harrow? What does the future hold for him? Will he hook up with Lucky and Lansky? I can’t imagine that he would work for Nucky.
Things are going to look very different for Van Alden in the third season too. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t see much of him when the show returns. It seems like the writers are perfectly happy to cycle characters in and out. This season we saw Lucy quite easily tossed aside story wise. Is Van Alden next to go? Or, will we get to see his life on the lam? I’m hoping not to lose Michael Shannon from the show.
It looks like the third season is going to focus heavily on the rising drama between Nucky and Margaret. There is still the matter of her infidelity, which was not revealed in this episode. Then there is the business of her signing over Nucky’s land to the church. I’m thinking that’s going to cause Nucky some problems. Just a few.
Season two is done and it turned out to be an incredibly dramatic year. It’s still fresh, but I think with these last few episodes, it may have surpassed the excellence of season one. How do you feel about the events of season two? Will you miss Jimmy?
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Dec 11, 2011 @ 22:41 EST5EDT
Won’t are much of van Alden in season 3? Do you not know anything about Cicero (the little Midwestern town he moves to)?
I knew Jimmy had to go but I really didn’t think he was going to be killed off yet! Best character on the show, in my opinion. I’m really not interested in season 3 now, as silly as that sounds, but I guess we’ll see what happens….
I agree 100%, he was my favorite char. by far. I don’t have much hope for S3.
Just have him be wounded, and come back for Season 3. They can’t kill off Jimmy just yet…otherwise, why spend multiple episodes and a major characterization arcs on him?
Why did Nucky ask Rothstein if it was okay if Manny Horvitz disappeared if he didn’t intend to kill him? Am I missing something.. did he talk to Eli after he talked to Rothstein or something? Or is there some way that doing that would help manipulate Jimmy?
This is so that Jimmy would not suspect the meeting was about killing him?
why did they kill jimmy this way?in real life he went to work for al capone in chicago,then he was shot and killed comming out of a gambiling hall.
Jimmy was aware of what he was walking into. Hopefully that means he had a will drawn out that says “I leave to my son my father’s fortune. And may my loving son be raised by my good friend Richard Harrow, because unlike my mother he isn’t going to molest the poor kid.”
Super agree w/ AC. That she-devil should not be around children.
Jimmy could not be honest about his real torment to Nucky, and Nucky smelled that he was witholding truths. Too bad Nucky could not sense that his brother was the real liar. Tragic.
Now we see the ugly side of Nucky, and Maragret is going to bring the Church into thw fray. Father whats his name seems like someone you would not want to burn. Oh Margaret! Is she brilliant or stupid?
They already established that the priest has a bit of a soft spot for Jack Daniel’s Magical Brown Sleepy Time Juice so Nucky will probably find a way to work with that.
I honestly do not know what is up with Margaret. She was such a brilliant schemer in the beginning and they totally degraded her character the moment the daughter got polio. I was expecting more from her following her family visit.
Jimmy asked his lawyer, after he tore up his Father’s will, if I die the money goes to my son? Gillian remarks to Tommy,her grandson, that he is going to be the biggest man in this town. So…could the story line be advanced to open season 3 with toddler Tommy grown and looks just like his father? And running Atlantic City? We could then have Jimmy back. I really
Was bummed out about Jimmy being shot. By Margaret deeding the land to the church,Nucky will go ballistic. He could
Even kill her.
WoW… They killed Jimmy off. So soon. Maybe he wanted a raise and so they killed him:) It would have been nice to see him one more season. What do you do… I am really not looking forward to seeing the actor that plays Al Capone. They have no choice but to give this guy a bigger part now since Jimmy is gone. He gives me the creeps. I kind of thought Al Capone has a little charisma but this guy looks like a bit of a creepy slob. I guess we’ll see next year. Wooo… a whole 12 episodes per year. I hope they didn’t over work themselves. I like the Margaret character but why oh why did they put her doing that one night stand. It was so out of character for her to do this and then buying her way to heaven when her kid got sick. I thought it was dumb. Oh well it’s just a show I guess… but I think it is one of the better ones at that.