Episode Title: “All In”
Writer: David Matthews
Director: Ed Bianchi
Previously on “Boardwalk Empire”
Episode 4.03 “Acres of Diamonds”
“You really don’t know a man until you’ve played cards with him,” according to Arnold Rothstein. Or more specifically, you don’t know a man until you’ve taken a risk with him. And by the end of this episode of “Boardwalk Empire,” the Capones have a better understanding of the type of man Nelson Van Alden aka “George Mueller” is and Nucky sees Arnold Rothstein and Meyer Lansky in a whole new light.
When he’s on top, Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg) is a levelheaded businessman who’s able to cut through bullsh*t like a hot knife through butter. When Nucky (Steve Buscemi) approaches him about the opportunity in Tampa, Rothstein wonders why the once content king of Atlantic City is suddenly looking to expand. Rothstein doesn’t turn the deal down, but he’s not especially eager to front Nucky, a man he’s had a touch-and-go relationship with, half a million dollars.
Instead, Rothstein takes the night to think over the deal and play some poker in Nucky’s private game. He insists Nucky join the game, so he can get a better read on his potential new partner. It’s typical Rothstein behavior, as the man does love his games, be it poker or billiards. But more importantly, “A.R.” likes to win and when the cards don’t come his way, Rothstein goes on tilt. He asks the house for a two-hundred thousand dollar marker and promptly loses to Nucky. Considering the fact that Rothstein is hesitant about putting up five hundred grand for what appears to be a sound business deal, the wager and subsequent loss make him look like a fool. And when he won’t stop gambling long after Nucky’s left the table, Meyer Lansky (Anatol Yusef) starts to worry about Rothstein’s image.
Despite Lansky’s best effort, the damage has already been done in Nucky’s eyes. He doesn’t want to go into business with a man who acts on emotion the way Rothstein does and Lansky is ready for his moment. He offers up the money himself, cutting Rothstein out of the deal and Nucky tentatively agrees after asking Lansky to tell him something about the kind of man he is. Lansky tells Nucky his father was weak and that although he allowed Charlie Luciano to bully him when they were kids, it was Lansky’s refusal to back down that got him a spot in Luciano’s gang.
Lansky’s move mirrors goings-on in Harlem, where Dunn Purnsley (Erik LaRay Harvey) tries to win favor with Dr. Valentin Narcisse (Jeffrey Wright). Narcisse wants in on Chalky White’s territory and Purnsley wants to be his man in Atlantic City. As they walk down a Harlem street, Narcisse waxes philosophical about the plight of the “Libyan” and it’s unclear how much of it Purnsley is taking in. What is clear is that Narcisse wants Purnsley to deliver a beating to a man sitting outside the building he’s headed into. Purnsley does so and now, perhaps like Nucky and Lansky, Narcisse feels he knows him better.
Out in Chicago, the Capone brothers are getting to know Van Alden (Michael Shannon) and vice-versa. Van Alden isn’t happy working for O’Banion, whose sadistic sense of humor he finds disturbing. At the same time, Van Alden is hesitant to get too close to the Capones. When Van Alden stops by with the wilting flowers O’Banion provided for the convalescing Jake Guzik, the Capones insist he join them while they pick up Guzik’s collections. Along the way, the men steal one of O’Banion’s bread trucks with one of the Irish gangster’s men inside. The man recognizes Van Alden and the Capones suggest he kill the man before he can get word to O’Banion. It’s right then and there that Van Alden switches allegiances, once again. He shoots the man but his gun jams, allowing a coked up Al Capone (Stephen Graham) to finish the job with a machine gun.
Finally, there’s one last but very significant pivot in Atlantic City after Eddie Kessler (Anthony Laciura), heading home after a night of drinking with Ralph Capone (Hey, it’s “Herc” from “The Wire,” Domenick Lombardozzi), gets collared by Agent Knox (Brian Geraghty). Earlier in the episode, Knox tells his boss, J. Edgar Hoover (Eric Ladin) of his plans to take down Nucky’s organization by “breaking the weakest link in the chain.” Though he may not appear threatening, Eddie is fiercely loyal to Nucky and now that he’s been given a “promotion,” it would stand to reason he’s more devoted than ever.
However, Eddie’s eleven years of service to Nucky didn’t include bearing the kind of responsibility he has now. Yes, he’s taken a bullet for his employer but up until now, Eddie hasn’t been given much autonomy in his role. Now that Nucky’s made him a player of sorts, Eddie will have to make a decision and it’s not one he’s necessarily prepared to make.
“Boardwalk Empire” continues to feel thinned out about by too many characters. This week, we also revisited Willie Thompson (Ben Rosenfield) at college. Long story short, he gets revenge on Henry by putting a home brewed laxative in his drink that ends up killing the boy. Needless to say, if Willie thought Eli would be pissed about his chemistry grades… All kidding aside, Willie could be an interesting character to follow, but we’ve already got enough of those. On a positive note, this episode makes good use of the time spent with each, shaking things up enough to make us wonder what the consequences of these new alliances will be and who, like Arnold Rothstein, will end up a victim of their own ambition.
