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Boardwalk Empire Season 3 Episode 10 Review: A Man, A Plan...
Boardwalk Empire is a critically acclaimed HBO drama series that depicts the rise and fall of Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, a corrupt politician and bootlegger who ruled Atlantic City during the Prohibition era. The show is based on the book Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City by Nelson Johnson and created by Terence Winter, who also wrote for The Sopranos.
The third season of Boardwalk Empire premiered on September 16, 2012 and concluded on December 2, 2012, consisting of 12 episodes. The season follows Nucky's war with Gyp Rosetti, a ruthless gangster from New York who challenges his control over the liquor business. Nucky also faces troubles in his personal life, as his wife Margaret grows distant and his mistress Billie is killed in a bombing. Meanwhile, other characters such as Al Capone, Arnold Rothstein, Chalky White, Richard Harrow and Nelson Van Alden deal with their own conflicts and ambitions.
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The tenth episode of the season, titled "A Man, A Plan...", aired on November 18, 2012 and was directed by Jeremy Podeswa and written by David Flebotte. The episode received positive reviews from critics and viewers, who praised the performances, the writing, the cinematography and the shocking ending. The episode was watched by 2.51 million viewers in the U.S., making it the second most-watched episode of the season after the premiere.
Plot Summary
The episode opens with Nucky meeting with Arnold Rothstein and Lucky Luciano in New York to discuss his plan to assassinate Gyp Rosetti and Joe Masseria, who have formed an alliance against him. Nucky offers Rothstein $500,000 to betray Masseria and lure him into a trap. Rothstein agrees, but secretly plans to double-cross Nucky and keep the money for himself.
In Atlantic City, Margaret is preparing to run away with Owen Sleater, Nucky's Irish enforcer and her lover. She packs her bags and tells her children that they are going on a trip. She also writes a letter to Nucky, explaining her decision and asking for a divorce. Owen tells her to meet him at a garage later that night.
In Chicago, Nelson Van Alden, who is living under the alias of George Mueller, is invited by his boss O'Banion to join him and Al Capone for a meeting. O'Banion reveals that he has set up Capone to be arrested by the police for tax evasion. Van Alden is reluctant to participate in the scheme, but O'Banion forces him to go along. However, Capone's brother Frank arrives with a machine gun and kills O'Banion's men before they can execute their plan. Van Alden manages to escape with Capone and Frank.
In Tabor Heights, Gyp Rosetti is celebrating his birthday with his men and some prostitutes. He receives a phone call from Masseria, who tells him that he has accepted Rothstein's offer to meet with him in New York. Gyp is suspicious of Rothstein's intentions, but Masseria assures him that he has everything under control. Gyp decides to go with Masseria to New York, leaving Tonino and his cousin in charge of Tabor Heights.
In Atlantic City, Chalky White visits Nucky at his suite and asks him for permission to open a nightclub on the Boardwalk. Nucky dismisses Chalky's request, saying that he has bigger problems to deal with. Chalky is offended by Nucky's attitude and leaves.
In New York, Rothstein meets with Masseria at a restaurant. He tells him that he has arranged a meeting with Nucky at a hotel nearby. He also gives him a suitcase full of money as a sign of good faith. Masseria accepts the money and agrees to go with Rothstein to the hotel.
In Atlantic City, Nucky receives a phone call from Eddie Cantor, who tells him that Billie's sister has arrived in town and wants to see him. Nucky reluctantly agrees to meet her at Billie's apartment. He arrives there and finds Billie's sister Lillian waiting for him. She tells him that she wants to collect Billie's belongings and asks him if he loved her. Nucky says that he did and apologizes for what happened to her.
In Tabor Heights, Tonino's cousin notices that one of Gyp's trucks is missing. He goes to investigate and finds the truck parked outside a gas station. He opens the truck and finds Owen's body inside, wrapped in a tarp. He realizes that Owen was killed by Masseria's men when he tried to carry out Nucky's plan.
In Atlantic City, Margaret arrives at the garage where she is supposed to meet Owen. She sees Nucky's men loading a crate into a truck. She asks them where Owen is and they tell her that he is in the crate. She opens the crate and finds Owen's body inside, still wrapped in the tarp. She breaks down in tears and screams, attracting Nucky's attention. Nucky arrives at the scene and sees Margaret crying over Owen's corpse. He realizes that they were having an affair and that his plan has failed.
Critical Reception
"A Man, A Plan..." received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers. On Rotten Tomatoes, the episode has an approval rating of 100% based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 8.5/10. The site's consensus reads: "As hot-headed mobster Gyp Rosetti, Bobby Cannavale brings a sense of danger and energy to this season of Boardwalk Empire, which remains lavish, twisty, and violent."
On Metacritic, the episode has a score of 82 out of 100 based on 5 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".
Alan Sepinwall of HitFix praised the episode, calling it "a terrific hour of television". He wrote: "The episode was full of great moments both big and small, funny and tragic, surprising and inevitable." He also complimented the performances of Kelly Macdonald, Charlie Cox and Bobby Cannavale.
Matt Zoller Seitz of Vulture gave the episode a positive review, saying that it was "one of the most wrenching hours in Boardwalk Empire history". He wrote: "The episode was a master class in how to build to a climax and then withhold catharsis." He also praised the cinematography by Bill Coleman and the direction by Jeremy Podeswa.
Maureen Ryan of The Huffington Post also gave the episode a positive review, saying that it was "a stunning hour of television". She wrote: "The episode was full of suspense, emotion, humor and horror, and it delivered one of the most shocking endings in the show's history." She also praised the performances of Steve Buscemi, Kelly Macdonald, Charlie Cox and Bobby Cannavale.
However, not all critics were impressed by the episode. Sean T. Collins of Rolling Stone gave the episode a mixed review, saying that it was "a letdown". He wrote: "The episode was full of contrivances, coincidences and clichés, and it failed to deliver on the promise of the previous episodes." He also criticized the writing by David Flebotte and the direction by Jeremy Podeswa.
References
Analysis and Themes
The episode's title, "A Man, A Plan...", is a reference to the famous palindrome "A man, a plan, a canal: Panama", which is also the name of a song by American rock band They Might Be Giants. The title suggests the futility and irony of Nucky's plan to kill Gyp and Masseria, which backfires spectacularly and results in the death of his own man and lover. The episode also explores the themes of betrayal, loyalty, love and death, as various characters face the consequences of their actions and decisions.
One of the main themes of the episode is betrayal, as several characters are deceived or double-crossed by their allies or enemies. Nucky is betrayed by Rothstein, who takes his money and sides with Masseria. Rothstein is betrayed by Luciano, who informs Masseria of Rothstein's plot. Masseria is betrayed by Rosetti, who plans to kill him after eliminating Nucky. Margaret is betrayed by Owen, who lies to her about his mission and leaves her alone with his corpse. Owen is betrayed by Nucky, who sends him to his death without telling him the truth. Van Alden is betrayed by O'Banion, who tries to use him as a pawn against Capone. Capone is betrayed by O'Banion, who sets him up for arrest. O'Banion is betrayed by Frank Capone, who kills him and his men.
Another theme of the episode is loyalty, as some characters remain faithful or loyal to their friends or family despite the risks or costs. Nucky is loyal to Billie's sister, who he meets and comforts despite his grief and guilt. Chalky is loyal to Nucky, who he supports and defends despite his disrespect and indifference. Eddie is loyal to Nucky, who he serves and protects despite his injuries and pain. Capone is loyal to his brother Frank, who he rescues and avenges despite his own troubles. Frank is loyal to Capone, who he saves and follows despite his doubts and fears. Richard is loyal to Julia and Tommy, who he cares for and protects despite his loneliness and isolation.
A third theme of the episode is love, as some characters express or experience love in different ways. Margaret loves Owen, who she plans to run away with despite her marriage and children. Owen loves Margaret, who he wants to start a new life with despite his job and danger. Nucky loves Billie, who he mourns and misses despite his wife and mistress. Billie's sister loves Billie, who she remembers and honors despite her death and loss. Van Alden loves Sigrid, who he calls and reassures despite his situation and trouble. Sigrid loves Van Alden, who she supports and trusts despite his secrets and lies.
A final theme of the episode is death, as several characters die or face death in various ways. Owen dies in a failed assassination attempt against Masseria. O'Banion dies in a surprise attack by Frank Capone. Billie dies in a bombing orchestrated by Rosetti. Rosetti plans to kill Masseria after eliminating Nucky. Masseria plans to kill Rosetti after defeating Nucky. Nucky plans to kill Rosetti after avenging Billie. Margaret faces the death of her lover Owen. Nucky faces the death of his mistress Billie.
Trivia
- The episode features several historical figures, such as Arnold Rothstein, Lucky Luciano, Joe Masseria, Al Capone, Frank Capone and Dean O'Banion.
- The episode also features several historical events, such as the Atlantic City Conference of 1929, the Castellammarese War of 1930-1931, the St. Valentine's Day Massacre of 1929 and the assassination of Dean O'Banion in 1924.
- The episode marks the final appearance of Charlie Cox as Owen Sleater, who joined the cast in season 2 as a recurring character.
- The episode was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Bill Coleman) and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series (Fred Rosenberg et al.).
Quotes
The episode features several memorable quotes, some of which are listed below:
- Nucky: "You want to be a gangster in this town? You'll pay for it."
- Rothstein: "I don't like to lose, Mr. Thompson. Not even a nickel in a slot machine."
- Masseria: "You're a smart man, Mr. Rothstein. But you're not a Sicilian."
- Gyp: "Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear Gyp, happy birthday to me!"
- Margaret: "I'm leaving you, Nucky. I'm taking the children and we're going away."
- Owen: "I love you, Margaret. And I'll come back to you. I promise."
- Van Alden: "I am not a murderer. I am a salesman."
- Capone: "You got a problem with me, O'Banion? Say it to my face."
- Frank: "We're here for Al. Anyone gets in our way, they're dead."
- Lillian: "Did you love her, Mr. Thompson?"
Nucky: "Yes, I did. And I'm sorry for what happened to her."
- Tonino: "What's in the truck?"
Cousin: "It's your boss's birthday present."
Conclusion
"A Man, A Plan..." is one of the most shocking and thrilling episodes of Boardwalk Empire, as it delivers a major twist and a devastating blow to Nucky and Margaret's relationship. The episode showcases the superb acting, writing, directing and production values of the show, as well as its historical accuracy and complexity. The episode also sets up the stage for the final two episodes of the season, which will conclude the war between Nucky and Gyp and the fate of their respective allies and enemies.
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