- A Return To Normalcy What people really mean when they say this is that there are aspects about this ‘thing’ that work, and aspects that don’t. That they don’t say this is because it doesn’t compute that something can be both be loved and hated, that it can exist in an equal state of adulation and contempt. But it can, of course. All of which hopefully explains away the somewhat inconsistent tone that these Boardwalk Empire reviews have had over the course of this first season. The things I’ve loved about the show, I’ve genuinely loved, and generally they have more than outweighed the stuff that I don’t. I refer you back to my review of last week’s Paris Green, an episode where I found virtually nothing that worked for me, and where I felt that a great deal of the momentum Boardwalk Empire had been building in recent weeks was squandered. I guess a bad episode is always going to seem a lot worse when it’s preceded by some excellent ones. So, consistently with this inconsistency, then, Paris Green is followed up with A Return To Normalcy, the finale of this first season of Boardwalk Empire, and an absolutely awesome piece of television to boot. Last week I said that there’s no way the finale would be good enough to ignore the fact that some of this series has been a slog, and I’ll stand by that (because I have to), but, my God, do they ever come close. The key scene in this episode came at around the halfway point, where Nucky is sandbagged into a meeting with his antagonist and rival, Arnold Rothstein, by Johnny Torrio. The beleaguered and usually unflappable Rothstein is feeling the heat after being indicted for fixing the World Series, and offers to end the war between New York and Atlantic City that has been raging since the pilot, if Nucky agrees to use his political influence to help him hide out in Chicago. Without missing a beat, Nucky agrees, on the condition that Rothstein gives him the location of the D’Alessio brothers, Nucky’s other irritants this season, and a $1 million tribute. Grudgingly, but with respect, Rothstein agrees, and we then get to see the forces of hell (namely Jimmy, Al, and a particularly badass Richard Harrow) unleashed on the unwitting D’Alessios. In the review of the pilot, I mentioned that the murder montage may have become a bit clichéd, but here it was totally earned, and seeing the series’ strongest characters finally clean house provided one of the most purely thrilling moments of the entire series. This was intercut with Nucky holding a press conference congratulating his brother Eli for revealing the D’Alessios and the unfortunate Hans Schroeder (Margaret’s deceased husband) as a gang of bootleggers, citing the successful bust as a reason to re-elect the Republicans on the eve of the election. It’s exhilarating, watching Nucky as the quick-witted criminal mastermind solving all of the disparate, deadly serious problems he has faced all series in one fell swoop. And the reason it doesn’t come across as a deus ex machina is because we’ve seen Nucky’s Machievellian skill many times before, most notably in the episode where Nucky almost single-handedly negotiates Harding into the position of Republican presidential nominee. And it’s the election of Warren Harding as President that finishes up this series and gives it its rather pointed title. Harding pledges a “return to normalcy” after the tumultuous events of the progressive era. With Margaret back at his side, the control of Atlantic City secured for another term, and most of his enemies either dead or in exile, on the surface it looks as if Nucky can relax for a while, and, indeed ,return to his ‘normal’ existence (as much as being the boss of Atlantic City is normal). It’s a hell of a setup for the next season, and it brings me to my only real criticism of the episode. It’s so good, that I feel it could have been spread out a little more evenly across the series. There have been a few episodes which have hinged a lot of entertaining, but ultimately disposable filler around a couple of very good scenes, whereas this episode is great bit after great bit. I think that the series as a whole should have been a lot shorter, eight episodes, maybe, as it really did get a bit flabby in the middle. As I’ve said before, this season has been about people who are on the journey to embodying and defining the modern definition of ‘gangsters’, rather than just a traditional gangster story. It’s been enjoyable, but the luxury of knowing that Boardwalk Empire is going to be on HBO for at least another series may have been of a slight detriment to its pacing, and ultimately, its overall quality. But this doesn’t take away from A Return To Normalcy being a totally triumphant season finale. There were so many awesome little moments and payoffs:Al cheerfully tossing the apple into the air after killing a D’Alessio, the shot of a masked Nucky preparing for the Halloween ball reflected between three mirrors, Al scolding Luciano: “Stop with your stupid jokes!”, the unrepentant maid claiming through gritted teeth she would have killed the Commodore with a shotgun if she didn’t know she would have to clear it up herself, Chalky lording it up at the election party with his girlfriend, and the reveal that rotund comic relief Baxter is stepping out with money-grabbing hussy Annabelle. Messy, gorgeous, slow, riveting, laboured and thrilling, often all at once, you will occasionally be frustrated, if you’re anything like me. But once it’s all over you won’t be able to wait for the next series. Or at the very least, you’ll be crossing your fingers for that Chalky and Richard spin-off, The Adventures of Scarface and Tinface. Because that really would be better than The Sopranos. Read our review of episode 11, Paris Green, here. Boardwalk Empire Season 1 will air on the new Sky Atlantic channel in the New Year. Follow Paul Martinovic on Twitter @paulmartinovic.
