Re: Boardwalk Empire -- "Peg of Old" -- 11/06/11
 

Nucky died in 1968. He didn't go to prison until 1941 and that was for tax evasion. Prohibition ended in 1933. The Ritz, where he lived and threw massive parties, opened in 1921. So it appears they may be playing fast and loose with the time scale. Oh, and the fight took place in Jersey City on 07/02/21.

The Jimmy Darmody character is based on Jimmy Boyd. He started as a bellhop at the Ritz and rose up thru to ranks to become the 4th Ward boss. He wasn't a stick up man and after Nucky's fall from power was a bridge for the transition between the Nucky and Frank Farley.

Nelson Van Alden is based on William Frank, except he didn't come into the picture until 1936 as head of a joint task force of IRS and FBI. He was a lawyer.

There was no Chalky White.

The Commodore Louis Kaestner was based on Louis Kuehnle, who chaired the yacht club and as such was known as the Commodore. He was Nucky's mentor and went to prison in 1913 for corruption.

Nucky's brother Alf, portrayed by Eli, wasn't Sheriff during this time period. He was sheriff later on.

But, time line not withstanding I'm loving the show. Oh, and Margaret was Mary and was the basis of much of what is known about Nucky for the show.

Re: Boardwalk Empire -- "Peg of Old" -- 11/06/11
 

I've never really had any troubles following anything that's going on in this show but I have a few questions regarding this episode.

Who was the guy that Owen snubbed out in the bathroom and what did he say afterwards? I played the ending to that scene back three times and still couldn't understand what he said before he spit on the body.

What plan blew up?

Re: Boardwalk Empire -- "Peg of Old" -- 11/06/11
 

An Irishman who had sided with the Brits. We never saw him before this episode, but it's a reminder that Owen is IRA and, probably more importantly, capable of murder.

The plan to blackmail Van Alden.

Re: Boardwalk Empire -- "Peg of Old" -- 11/06/11
 

Ok, that makes sense. I thought I missed something. At first I thought that maybe that was the guy hired to take out Nucky and Owen was taking care of him first.


I was confused because MrX said "lucky." I'm guessing he meant "Nucky."

Re: Boardwalk Empire -- "Peg of Old" -- 11/06/11
 

I don't think that plan blew up... the blackmail worked. Van Alden appears to be aiding the investigation, but as someone else pointed out - he was on the outside of it and needed to get in on it in order to help Nucky out. The files he sacrificed will help him get on the inside but would only bring the new investigation up as far as Van Alden got - which was still a far cry from being able to nab Nucky.

Re: Boardwalk Empire -- "Peg of Old" -- 11/06/11
 

I might agree with you if Van Alden hadn't admitted to the Prosecutor everything that Nucky is holding over his head to blackmail him. Now that hes done that, what does he care if Nucky exposes him. His wife already left him, what does he have left to lose?

Van Alden had plenty of dirt on Nucky, his boss just stopped him from continuing the investigation. Thats whay he told that prosecutor when he first met her, that Nuck whould chew her up and spit her out. Because of his influence and connections he already got Van Alden's investigation shut down.

Re: Boardwalk Empire -- "Peg of Old" -- 11/06/11
 

I think Nucky's play is centred around Van Alden needing money, and Nucky is dangling that carrot in front of him.