Darmody's travails, 'Boardwalk Empire''s poignant 'Peaches', some thoughts

By April MacIntyre Nov 28, 2011, 16:15 GMT

Margaret (Kelly Macdonald) too is further embroiled in her crisis of faith and redemption.

SPOILERS

One of my favorite characters of "Boardwalk Empire" was killed by another one of my favorites, and the resulting actions will make these last few episodes of this beautiful mood evoking drama set in the prohibition era one for the books.

How astounding is Michael K. Williams as Harlem gangster Chalky this season too? Beautifully written lines for a deserving actor:

“How them new shoes be fitting these days?” says Chalky to Darmody.

Of course, Jimmy (Michael Pitt) is having growing pains, slotting into the power position of Nucky (Steve Buscemi) and his dad (Dabney Coleman). Darmody didn't realize he took a bull by the horns with Philly butcher Manny Horvitz (William Forsythe), who has become a force of nature this season. His scenes are electric.

Darmody unravels and loses his wife on this episode, “Georgia Peaches,” as his betrayal of Nucky is even made more profound by his right hand Richard Harrow (Jack Huston) doubting him and asking him directly for validation of friendship and loyalty.

The young Turks - Darmody, Al Capone, Meyer Lansky, Lucky Luciano and Mickey Doyle - are all growing impatient for becoming Bosses in their own right, and mistakes are made. Big ones, and Chalky is quietly waiting in the wings with his labor force driven to strike and rebel.

The behind the scenes of Nucky and his Irish dealings have hamstrung Darmody, Capone and the rest, as they have to farm out their expensive booze inventory to outlying towns.

Margaret (Kelly Macdonald) too is further embroiled in her crisis of faith and redemption.  She is at crossroads with her children, her actions and her guilt over how she came to fortune, her family turning their backs on her, and the atoning she craves for her carnal moment with Owen, the fetching Irish thug she opened her legs too.

Jimmy also rebukes Meyer’s and Lucky’s lucrative heroin investment, and even more bad blood is created.

Back to Chalky White and his prison "convert" Dunn Purnsley, who size up Jimmy as biting off more than he can chew, which of course is true, as the bosses of AC dismiss the Nickel raise idea of his and Eli (Shea Whigham) who has morphed into this awful schemer who says anything now, proposes a beat-down with Billy-club waving louts who conveniently target (at Eli's behest) Deputy Halloran for his chat with Fed attorney Esther Randolph last week.

The snake in the grass is Manny now. Manny is lethal, unhinged with rage and knows Jimmy was behind the botched murder attempt on his life and he is gunning for Darmody.

Before her shock murder, Angela and Darmody had a poignant husband-wife chat looking out to the sea, and it was real and the stuff that great dramas are made of. The writing in this series is exceptional work and is to be commended.

Then, the shoe drops.

“The most important thing in life, darling…your health. Your husband did this to you.” says Manny, stealthily sneaking into the Darmody seaside abode after killing Angela's lover (a woman) and then Angela herself.

Hats off to a brilliant, emotionally provoking and beautifully crafted series, from the sets, wardrobe, makeup, hair to the casting, writers and lensing/camera work.

Take a bow.