Boardwalk Empire’ Season 2, Episode 2 ’21′: TV Recap
During the first season of “Boardwalk Empire,” Steve Buscemi’s Nucky Thompson was the undisputed king of Atlantic City. But as season two kicked off tonight, the city treasurer-cum-alcohol supplier found himself suspicious of almost everyone in his inner circle — for good reason.
The season two premiere, entitled “21,” begins with a literal bang as several member of the Ku Klux Klan gun down the supply house of Chalky White (whose portrayer, Michael Kenneth Williams, is also bringing his steely-eyed stare to Greendale Community College this season on “Community.”). White is able to shoot back at one member, but the damage is done. The white citizens of Atlantic City want him dead after the man he shoots dies, and Nucky has to have his brother arrest Chalky for his own safety.
White’s liquor is consequently raided by Jimmy, who we know from last season, is now in cahoots with his father, the Commodore, and Nucky’s brother Eli. Newly married to Angela, who looks increasingly like a 20s-era Winona Ryder, Jimmy plots with his father to met the Governor and better insert himself into Atlantic City politics. He also dominates his wife, who feels continuously undercut by both her husband and mother-in-law Gillian (who shares a little too much about her mothering skills tonight.)
As a wedding gift, Nucky gives Jimmy a stack of money, naturally, and also a statue meant to remind Jimmy of their once father-and-son-like relationship. Unimpressed, Jimmy shoves the statue into his closet. Nucky also gives a wad of cash to his latest son substitute, Margaret’s trouble-making son Teddy. Clearly, if how Jimmy has turned out is any indication, Nucky’s easy dispersal of money isn’t going to win him any parenting awards.
On the other side of the law, Agent Van Alden shows his wife Rose around Atlantic City, where she is horrified by the loose women and not-so-hidden selling of alcohol. While at dinner, she becomes completely turned on by her husband after he raids the restaurant they are at and arrests the proprietor for violating the Volstead Act. He also pockets the restaurant’s extra money to give to Lucy Danzinger, whom he knocked up at he end of last season, but at least Rose goes home satisfied and happy.
The episode ends with Nucky getting arrested for election fraud by a representative from the State’s attorney’s office, and Margaret and her children wait for him at the movie theater. Things look they’re about to get bumpy.