Boardwalk Empire Ep. 5: Dark Clothes for Dark Times Atlantic City is on serious edge. And getting damned bloody, too. Episode Five opens with a snake pit masquerading as a Memorial Day ceremony, draped with bunting, and fluttering with red, white, and blue flags. It's rare to see Nicky and Jimmy decked out in somber black pinstripes, and greys, and in spite of the tension, they look damn handsome in these funereal tones. While the town unites in remembrance of the heroes of war, they are also arming up for war within their own city limits. Jimmy is humiliated in front of dark-suited octogenarian investors, causing a loss of faith on Ian's part. And later, a vengeful scalping of his antagonist. Rough stuff. Nucky continues to fight his own personal quest for acquittal, having escalated his legal situation to a federal level. He's lightly blown off again, though, by the Attorney General during a social game of golf. The scene features rounded collars, knit vests, and hilariously puofy caps. It's evidence that not all styles lessons from the show are worth emulating. When Nucky's brother, Eli, loses faith in the rogue operation with the Commodore and Jimmy, his fear explodes in a full-on murderous brawl between the brothers, intercepted only by an awesome gun-wielding Margaret. Meanwhile, Ian goes on to brutally beat an equally frightened Mayor Pickford to death in his own woodshop with a wrench. It is horrible stuff, and seems to prove that the planning meetings for season two called for "more gore." But there is a note of tenderness, even optimism, tonight. After his encounter with Angie, Richard Harris hitches a ride into the wooded countryside (wearing some beautifully spare hunting gear). He plans to take his own life. But, when interrupted by a dog and pair of hunters, he regains his footing and returns to the town. In a truly poignant (and well-shot) scene, Richard asks Jimmy if he would fight for him. Without hesitation, Jimmy replies, "to the last bullet." And while the subsequent scalping scene puts a damper on the sentiment, it's nice to see men acting like gentlemen, for just a moment, amidst all this evil and duplicity.