2.6 The Age Of Reason Boardwalk Empire is very much of that pedigree, with The Godfather, Goodfellas and The Sopranos alumni on board. In this episode, The Age of Reason, it is the institution of Confession that is examined, and it goes way beyond the needs of ceremony. There are a lot of troubled souls in Boardwalk, not least of all Nelson Van Alden. Although not a Catholic, he is certainly the most prone to religious mania, as the unfortunate Agent Sebso could testify. Margaret’s relationship with her faith is slightly less troubled than that of her erstwhile stalker. Not so much a lapsed Catholic, as a ‘forgotten-she-ever-was’ a Catholic, Margaret nevertheless wants to see her son Teddy educated in the faith. As he approaches his coming of age, she wants him to be ready to make his first confession. She seems genuinely taken aback when the priest suggests she does the same. This sparks a crisis for her as she is forced to confront her relationship with Nucky. Once again, we’re back in Sopranos territory. Several of Carmela’s storylines were driven by the conflict between her faith and her marriage to a violent criminal. I can’t help but feel that the topic was handled better in the earlier show. Although it feels like we’re stepping ever closer to some major revelations concerning Margaret’s past, this reconnection with her culture seems a little forced. With Carmela, the conflict emerged fairly naturally, with Margaret it is a little forced. It was only a few weeks ago that she was taking the lead in her relationship with Nucky. Maybe we just knew Carmela better. In all honesty, if there is a top billing up for grabs, it really ought to go to Michael Pitt. His Jimmy Darmody is increasingly the narrative heart of the show. He is learning and growing all the time. This is demonstrated, sometimes clumsily, through the use of telegraphed phrases, such as ‘not every insult requires a response’. The show is better than that, and it is much more interesting to see his development through the ways he his taking control of his own destiny and winning the respect of others. He has earned the admiration of his elders, Leander Whitlock and Manny Horvitz, as well as that of his peers. By the end of this episode, the rising generation of Luciano and Lansky have begun to recognise their own potential for what it is, rather than simply empty youthful bravado. It is Jimmy who is showing them the way.Read our review of the last episode, here. Follow Den Of Geek on Twitter right here. And be our Facebook chum here.
