Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
09-14-14, 12:42 PM
#1
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Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
Back from Cuba after a dangerous encounter, Nucky pays a visit to the now-retired Johnny Torrio (Greg Antonacci), who agrees to broker a meeting with the new "Boss of Bosses," Salvatore Maranzano (Giampiero Judica). In Chicago, Eli (Shea Whigham) and Van Alden (Michael Shannon) are tasked by Mike D'Angelo (Louis Cancelmi), Al Capone's (Stephen Graham) new right-hand man, to recoup money lost during a federal raid by Eliot Ness (Jim True-Frost). Fresh out of law school, Willie Thompson (Ben Rosenfield) has a job interview. Rebuffed by a group of would-be financiers, Nucky dines with Tonino Sandrelli (Chris Caldovino) before sending a message to Lansky (Anatol Yusef) and Luciano (Vincent Piazza). In 1884, a young Nucky deals with the death of his sister, Susan (Onata Aprile), while his father (Ian Hart) has a standoff with the Commodore.
Written by Terence Winter; directed by Allen Coulter.
Written by Terence Winter; directed by Allen Coulter.
09-14-14, 12:59 PM
#2
Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
Back from Cuba after a dangerous encounter....
In Chicago, Eli (Shea Whigham) and Van Alden (Michael Shannon) are tasked by...
In Chicago, Eli (Shea Whigham) and Van Alden (Michael Shannon) are tasked by...
09-14-14, 10:30 PM
#3
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
Definitely better than last week. Chicago stuff was great -- Elliot Ness! Liked seeing Meyer, Lucky and Bugsy together as well. Still hate the flashback stuff though the guy who plays Ethan was really well cast.
Were we supposed to know who was killed there at the end? Was it the nervous guy who had lunch with Nucky?
Were we supposed to know who was killed there at the end? Was it the nervous guy who had lunch with Nucky?
09-15-14, 12:15 AM
#4
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
Yeah, it was that guy.
Again, good episode, but yet again, with a drastically abbreviated season that has 4 less episodes, I see no reason to waste time on Nucky's childhood.
Again, good episode, but yet again, with a drastically abbreviated season that has 4 less episodes, I see no reason to waste time on Nucky's childhood.
09-15-14, 09:32 AM
#5
Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
Funny thing about BE at this point is that the Chicago stuff is the most compelling. When did Van Alden become Mueller?
09-15-14, 09:36 AM
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
That was the fake name he picked when he went on the lam after killing the other agent a couple seasons back. I don't recall if there was a particular reason he picked Mueller.
09-15-14, 11:06 AM
#7
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
I thought it sounded like an immigrant name that would make sense with his "wife".
09-15-14, 12:45 PM
#8
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Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
Having Gillian pop up out of nowhere sure wasn't a pleasant surprise. Maybe we can spend a nice chunk of the abbreviated season watching her and Margaret bitch and moan.
09-15-14, 01:22 PM
#9
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Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
I thought it was a great episode aside from Gillian. I was expecting some lesbian action and was utterly disappointed. It's also hard to critique the flashbacks until you know the overall reason for their inclusion.
09-15-14, 01:52 PM
#10
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
I gotta believe the final season is the rise and fall of Nucky, why else for these flashbacks?
Weak start.
Capone stuff is the best right now.
Weak start.
Capone stuff is the best right now.
09-15-14, 02:24 PM
#11
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
I agree about the flashbacks. I seem to be the only one that doesn't mind them. Ian Hart is doing a great job of being despicable. I still remember him from way back in Loved Up with Lena Headey.
09-15-14, 02:47 PM
#12
Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
There was some action they just did not show it I assume. I should have remembered Van Alden changing his name for his escape.
09-15-14, 04:22 PM
#13
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
There better be a reason for Gillian's inclusion in this shortened season. Will she be involved somehow in Nucky's death as payback for killing Jimmy?
There better be a "holy shit" moment with the Nucky flashbacks. We don't really need Nucky's backstory unless it tells us something we don't know... and something that makes it worthwhile. Otherwise, it's pointless.
Someone refresh my memory... is Mickey Doyle still alive? Eli once asked him once "How the fuck are you still alive?", yet if he died - I think I'd remember it.
There better be a "holy shit" moment with the Nucky flashbacks. We don't really need Nucky's backstory unless it tells us something we don't know... and something that makes it worthwhile. Otherwise, it's pointless.
Someone refresh my memory... is Mickey Doyle still alive? Eli once asked him once "How the fuck are you still alive?", yet if he died - I think I'd remember it.
09-15-14, 06:02 PM
#15
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
Well he's going to war against three gangsters who go on to have illustrious careers in crime for many years to come (heck Meyer Lansky lived so long, he figures into the plot of American Hustle), so I don't like the odds of Nucky coming out of this okay.
09-15-14, 06:40 PM
#16
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
What was the significance of Billie in this episode? Was it just to show Nucky has learned from his mistakes, or was there something more to it?
09-15-14, 06:56 PM
#17
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
Yeah, the guy that they ended up killing at the end of the episode used to work for Gyp Rosetti. I missed that at the time too, but they mentioned it briefly in the episode and talked about it more in the Inside The Episode segment after. It's a reminder that Nucky has a long memory.
09-15-14, 09:48 PM
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Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
Yeah, the guy that they ended up killing at the end of the episode used to work for Gyp Rosetti. I missed that at the time too, but they mentioned it briefly in the episode and talked about it more in the Inside The Episode segment after. It's a reminder that Nucky has a long memory.
Spoiler:
09-15-14, 11:12 PM
#20
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Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
09-15-14, 11:15 PM
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
Loved the Chicago stuff as well, especially the Van Alden and Eli scenes.
Van Alden: "Why must there always be pandemonium!"
Van Alden: "Why must there always be pandemonium!"
09-16-14, 09:39 AM
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09-16-14, 09:53 AM
#23
Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
I'm sure when he hits it big he will dig up his sister and give her a "proper burial"
09-16-14, 10:43 AM
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Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
09-16-14, 03:34 PM
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Re: Boardwalk Empire (S5E02) - "The Good Listener" - 9/14/14
Spoiler:
In the Wire
Spoiler:
I know he isn't a major player but technically he's been in both.