Anastasia (Boardwalk Empire)

"Anastasia" is the fourth episode of the first season of the HBO television series ''Boardwalk Empire'', which premiered October 10, 2010. It was written by co-executive producer Lawrence Konner and supervising producer Margaret Nagle and directed by Jeremy Podeswa. The episode received generally favorable reviews from television critics.

The episode centers on Nucky celebrating his birthday while dealing with several simultaneous crises and Jimmy getting settled into his new home of Chicago as he begins to learn the ropes of being a gangster.

The title of the episode comes from a contemporary news story in March 1922 when Anna Anderson, a Polish factory worker, surfaced claiming to be the lost Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia, only for her claims to be proven fraudulent.

Plot

In Chicago, Jimmy finds himself working for Torrio, who puts him up in the Four Deuces, a brothel operated by Capone. Jimmy dislikes having to rely on the notoriously short-tempered Capone but puts up with it as he needs work. Torrio, displeased with Capone's rough treatment of bar owners who refuse to buy his alcohol, requests that he and Jimmy negotiate with Chicago's Irish mob for a larger share of their territory so as to prevent further bloodshed. Ignoring Jimmy's advice to accept a smaller deal and bide his time, Capone physically threatens the Irish boss, Charlie Sheridan, into accepting a blatantly unfair deal.

In Atlantic City, as Nucky plans his "surprise" birthday party, he worries that Chalky might refuse to deliver the black voters his machine depends on if the lynching of his driver is not resolved. Eli delivers the leader of the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan to Chalky, who tortures him until he is satisfied that the Klan was not involved in the killing. As it turns out, the murder was actually committed by Mickey Doyle and the D'Alessio brothers, who mistook the driver for Chalky himself. Mickey, still under pressure to repay the D'Alessio family, convinces them that they can make an easy three grand by robbing one of Nucky's ward bosses during collections.

At Nucky's party, he is displeased to find that many of the attendees are still in denial about the power of the women's vote, a feeling only reinforced when Nucky runs into Margaret and is stunned by her intellect and willingness to challenge male politicians who dismiss women as too "weak" to understand politics. When Nucky's beautiful but airheaded mistress Lucy shows up in a risqué costume, he can't help but watch Margaret as she quietly leaves. Margaret herself becomes increasingly attracted to Nucky after they share a dance and steals an expensive dress from her employer after noticing how well-dressed Lucy is when she's on Nucky's arm.

At a private conference, Senator Walter Edge informs Nucky that he will not receive the roadbuilding funds he needs to complete Atlantic City's development, which will go instead to his political rival, Mayor Frank Hague of Jersey City with a card marked "I do expect to have everything.".

Luciano finds Jimmy's mother Gillian at his house and tells her he is looking for "James", claiming to be a close friend. She sees through his cover story and throws him out. Luciano follows her around for several days; she spots him and initiates a physical relationship when Luciano admits his lust for her. Sheridan's men visit the Four Deuces and vandalize the bar; Jimmy's girlfriend Pearl is left permanently disfigured when one of the men cuts up her face with a knife. Capone quietly comforts a distraught Jimmy.

Reception

Critical reception

The episode received positive reviews from critics. ''IGN'' gave the episode their highest rating up to that point with an 8.5 and said "It's amazing that the writers found a way to commit so much good storytelling into one hour of television." They also said ""Anastasia", Boardwalk's fourth episode, is so far its best, turning its criminals into sympathetic characters despite their vices and secrets, and doing so without resorting to forced or saccharine ways." ''TV Fanatic'' gave the episode 4.5/5.0 and enjoyed the transformation of Margaret. "My favorite moment of the night was Margaret's brilliant transformation into a well-spoken and intelligent character. Her change from a quiet wallflower with small ambitions came at the best time, during Nucky's party. As the Commodore repeated his enraging "test" of female intelligence and political acumen on Lucy ("You're assuming they have minds at all"), Margaret voices an informed opinion about Women's Suffrage by stating, "In most civilized countries, women are afforded that privilege."

Ratings

The episode plunged to a 1.1 adults 18–49 rating this week from a 1.4 the week before, and lost over 800,000 average viewers from the week before.

References

External links

"Anastasia"
at HBO
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{{Boardwalk Empire

2010 American television episodes
Boardwalk Empire episodes
Television episodes directed by Jeremy Podeswa