Skip to Content

Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 4.01: “New York Sour” an efficient, promising reintroduction to the show’s world

Jumping into a series partway through its run can be a tricky endeavor. There’s a lot you miss- nuances of meaning in character interaction, thematic development, and stylistic callbacks to previous significant moments, to name a few. It does, however, provide an often underrepresented perspective, that of the more casual viewer, and sometimes, fresh eyes are useful in examining a show’s strengths and weaknesses.

Read More about Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 4.01: “New York Sour” an efficient, promising reintroduction to the show’s world

The Art Of The Title: 50 Of The Best TV Title Sequences

When starting a new television show, the thing I look forward to the most is the title sequence, so it only felt right to devise this list when I heard the theme was favourite television shows this month. In early television there wasn’t a huge focus on title sequences; their only purpose was to present the …

Read More about The Art Of The Title: 50 Of The Best TV Title Sequences

Scorsese & Tarantino: Whose Streets Are Meaner?

I’ve got Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino on my mind these days.  It’s a product of the end-of-year hurrahs for Scorsese’s Hugo.  The film goes into the Academy Award ceremonies with 11 Oscar nominations – the most of any film this year – including a Best Director nod for Scorsese.  Win or lose, Marty’s on …

Read More about Scorsese & Tarantino: Whose Streets Are Meaner?

“Hey You Geeks!!” Looks Back at the Best TV of 2012

When it came to devising a list of what I felt were the top ten Television shows of 2012 I contemplated sticking with the theme of “Hey You Geeks!!” and centering the list solely on the best sci-fi and nerd related shows on TV. I generally group “Geek TV” into a segment of shows exclusively …

Read More about “Hey You Geeks!!” Looks Back at the Best TV of 2012

Boardwalk Empire s03.12 ‘Margate Sands’: Missed Opportunities

Boardwalk Empire Season3.12 ‘Margate Sands’ Written by: Terence Winter and Howard Korder Directed by: Tim van Patten Airs Sunday 9.00pm EST on HBO This was the show when I thought the talking would stop. Boardwalk Empire, always a little dialogue heavy, had moved itself into prime position for an episode where plotting was kept to …

Read More about Boardwalk Empire s03.12 ‘Margate Sands’: Missed Opportunities

Boardwalk Empire Ep3.10 ‘A Man, A Plan’: Farewell Charlie

Boardwalk Empire Episode 3.10 “A Man, A Plan” Written by: Dave Flebotte Directed by: Podeswa Airs Sunday 9.00pm EST on HBO This show featured beaches. The same beach, three ways. First we got the kind of set piece for which the series is rightly famous: bathers clad in vintage knitted swimsuits discover whisky bottles washing …

Read More about Boardwalk Empire Ep3.10 ‘A Man, A Plan’: Farewell Charlie

One of the best films of 2012, ‘Lincoln’ is a thrilling and exciting piece of American history

Lincoln Directed by Steven Spielberg Written by Tony Kushner USA, 2012 The American political system is hopelessly fractured. Its legislators are viciously divided on how to govern the nation. The president, about to begin his second term in office on a groundswell of grassroots public support, is either too much or not enough of a …

Read More about One of the best films of 2012, ‘Lincoln’ is a thrilling and exciting piece of American history

Boardwalk Empire ep3.09 ‘A Milkmaid’s Lot: Nucky goes a few quarts short of a pint

Boardwalk Empire Episode 3.09 ‘A Milkmaid’s Lot’ Written by: Rolin Jones Directed by: Ed Bianchi Airs Sunday 9.00pm EST on HBO Three episodes out and we’re building for the season finale. This is always a difficult time for a series fan. The writers have to keep the big plot twists both secret, but also completely …

Read More about Boardwalk Empire ep3.09 ‘A Milkmaid’s Lot: Nucky goes a few quarts short of a pint

Boardwalk Empire Ep. 3.08 “The Pony”: Out with a Bang

Boardwalk Empire Episode 3.08 “The Pony” Written by: Terence Winter & Howard Korder Directed by: Tim Van Patten Airs Sunday 9.00pm EST on HBO Nucky has his mojo back. Nelson Van Alden has his mojo back. After a quiet beginning to the series, what else do we need to up the pace? When Gyp Rosetti …

Read More about Boardwalk Empire Ep. 3.08 “The Pony”: Out with a Bang

Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 3.06, “Ging Gang Goolie”: Skating on thin ice

Boardwalk Empire, Season 3, Episode 6: “Ging Gang Goolie” Written by Steve Kornacki Directed by Ed Bianchi Airs Sunday 9.00pm EST on Sunday Ever since the sad departure of showgirl Lucy Danziger from the show in Season 2, leaving her baby girl to the tender care of Nelson Van Alden (which is a bit like …

Read More about Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 3.06, “Ging Gang Goolie”: Skating on thin ice

Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 3.05 “You’d Be Surprised”: Bobby Cannavale gives it all he’s got

Boardwalk Empire, Season 3, Episode 5: “You’d Be Surprised” Written by Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider Directed by Tim Van Patten Airs Sundays at 9pm (ET) on HBO An auspiciously titled episode: we begin with the customary sex scene and discover that Gyp Rosetti is a man of very specific needs. The fact that Rosetti …

Read More about Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 3.05 “You’d Be Surprised”: Bobby Cannavale gives it all he’s got

Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 3.04, “Blue Bell Boy”: Nucky is back and with a vengeance

Boardwalk Empire, Season 3, Episode 4: “Blue Bell Boy” Written by David Stenn Directed by Kari Skogland Airs Sundays at 9pm (ET) on HBO Another episode without Michael Shannon and that disappointed me. I love the way he keeps his features granite still, signifying extreme emotional stress, like when Nelson Van Alden’s wife makes a …

Read More about Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 3.04, “Blue Bell Boy”: Nucky is back and with a vengeance

Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 3.03, “Bone For Tuna”: The women take over

Boardwalk Empire, Season 3, Episode 3, “Bone For Tuna” Written by Chris Haddock Directed by Jeremy Podeswa Airs Sundays at 9pm (ET) on HBO Top moment this week: watching Bobby Cannavale and Gretchen Mol in their first scene together. It’s like watching a Great White and a cobra face off. Two entirely different but equally …

Read More about Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 3.03, “Bone For Tuna”: The women take over

Boardwalk Empire, Ep 3.02, “Spaghetti and Coffee”: As unappetizing as the title

Boardwalk Empire Review, Season 3, Episode 2, “Spaghetti and Coffee” Directed by Howard Korder Written by Alik Sakharov Airs Sundays at 9pm (ET) on HBO I knew this episode of Boardwalk Empire was in trouble before it even started and that was because of the length of the recap. We’re only two episodes into the …

Read More about Boardwalk Empire, Ep 3.02, “Spaghetti and Coffee”: As unappetizing as the title

Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 3.01: “Resolution”: New Year’s brings new faces and new tensions to Atlantic City

Boardwalk Empire Review, Season 3, Episode 1, “Resolution” Directed by Tim Van Patten Written by Terence Winter Airs Sundays at 9pm (ET) on HBO If we were all asking ourselves how Season 3’s premiere would top the dark and bloody finale to Season 2, it took about thirty seconds for the answer to be handed …

Read More about Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 3.01: “Resolution”: New Year’s brings new faces and new tensions to Atlantic City

Boardwalk Empire Ep. 2.12, “To the Lost”: A measured finale signals big changes for season three

It’s time for a settling of scores and a clearing of consciences. Jimmy is finally free of his father and ready to come to terms with Nucky, but Manny Horvitz, killer of Jimmy’s wife, is still at large. Nucky’s legal problems come to a head and as usual, he finds a sophisticated way of resolving …

Read More about Boardwalk Empire Ep. 2.12, “To the Lost”: A measured finale signals big changes for season three

Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 2.11, “Under God’s Power She Flourishes”: Old secrets uncovered propel the story towards the season finale.

Devastated by Angela’s death, Jimmy recalls how she and his mother met for the first time, a visit which had far reaching consequences for the future. Nucky’s position seems to improve with the digging up of another skeleton, this time from Van Allen’s closet, but Margaret is struggling with the guilty certainty that Nucky was …

Read More about Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 2.11, “Under God’s Power She Flourishes”: Old secrets uncovered propel the story towards the season finale.

Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 2.10: “Georgia Peaches” lacks grandeur, but builds to a compelling finale

Nucky’s new source of booze means he can begin to regain his hold on the Boardwalk and it doesn’t hurt that his rival Jimmy is struggling to control his partners and deal with the consequences of previous poor decisions. But Nucky’s court case is looming and his home life is fracturing as Margaret tries to …

Read More about Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 2.10: “Georgia Peaches” lacks grandeur, but builds to a compelling finale

Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 2.09, “Battle of the Century”: Shifts in focus make for jerky storytelling

Boardwalk Empire, Season 2, Episode 09, “Battle of the Century” Written by Steve Kornacki Directed by Brad Anderson Airs Sunday at 9pm ET on HBO Jimmy Darmody consolidates his new position as King of Atlantic City boardwalk, but also makes some bad decisions. Nucky travels to Ireland with a proposition for its whiskey distillers, while …

Read More about Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 2.09, “Battle of the Century”: Shifts in focus make for jerky storytelling

Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 2.08, “Two Boats and a Lifeguard”: Calm waters with a storm on the horizon

Boardwalk Empire, Season 2, Episode 8, “Two Boats and a Lifeguard” Written by Terence Winter Directed by Tim Van Patten Airs Sunday at 9pm ET on HBO Recovering from an assassination attempt, King of the Atlantic City boardwalk, Nucky Thomson, takes stock. His common-law wife Margaret wants him to treat his lucky escape as an …

Read More about Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 2.08, “Two Boats and a Lifeguard”: Calm waters with a storm on the horizon