No.19 Boardwalk Empire Season 3 Part 2 Eps. 7-12 (2012) 42 of 100

 

The second half of season 3 really ratchets up the action with a lot of long running storylines reaching a satisfying conclusion.

Shannon however is reduced to a virtual bit part with his George Mueller trying to make an honest living but failing miserably. His job at the steam iron company ended when the practical jokes at his expense caused him to use the company’s product on a colleague’s face. He finds work with gangster O’Bannion but he finds the practical jokes with him even worse.

His Norwegian wife Sigrid is clearly a social climber expecting Mueller to build her a house that will be furnished on tick. To pay off some gangsters they are provided with a still and a demand that they produce 24 bottles a week. Sigrid sees the chance to plug a gap in the market with her Norwegian Aqua-vita but inevitably, Mueller’s attempts to peddle her wares only leads to more trouble.

The Gyp Rossetti storyline gathers apace when he blows up Nucky’s nightclub and his girlfriend Billie in the process. Elsewhere Margaret is having it off with Daredevil Owen and the pair make an ill fated plan to elope. Owen’s demise happens off screen, but it’s no less affecting for that when he is delivered to Nucky in a tea chest late at night.

The Jimmy storyline takes a twist when his mental Mom realises she can’t inherit the house where she runs her brothel as Jimmy has been disappeared by Nucky. Ever inventive she snares a young lookalike from the boardwalk and gives him an overdose to secure a body for the inquest. No DNA in those days. Her quiet malevolence is well handled by Gretchen Mol and she only comes undone when she tries the same needle trick on Gyp.

The last two episodes of the season don’t feature Mueller who we last see been bullied in to betraying his boss by Al Capone. Stephen Graham is great in this part and exudes real menace even when just armed with a fork. The series ends with a full out war which is only settled by some back room dealings and the predictable betrayals which are a hallmark of the show.

I thought Gyp’s end, where he was stabbed by a henchman, who was now in Nucky’s pay, on the beach a bit low key but I guess the idea was that he was a minor player in the grand scheme of things. The series ends with Nucky back in charge but with no wife or girlfriends and a bunch of uneasy alliances in place. The scene is set for a clean slate for next season and they will do well to match the spectacle of Season 3.

I was sorry to see the end of Charlie Cox’s Owen but his character had run his course and it was good to see Richard Harrow come to the fore with a Terminator style clearing of the cat house.

This has been the best season to date with a lot of cheques from seasons one and two being cashed. Bobby Carnivale was a great addition and will be a big loss going forward. Still it’s always been Nucky’s show and with only two seasons left I look forward to being reminded where it goes next.

It has been disappointing that Shannon has only flitted around the edges of the larger storylines and his part seems destined never to rise about that of a character piece. He does however add to the show’s wealth and I always sit up when he comes on as he always has a funny line or expression to offer before enduring another mishap.

When is Shannon-On? - (Episode 04.21 Eps 8 )

Outcome? Fork in the face and working for Al Capone

Programme 4.5/5

Shannon Stars 3