It was only a matter of time, wasn’t it? I hate to call I show I adore, like Boardwalk Empire, predictable, but I couldn’t have been the only one counting on Margaret and Owen getting together as soon as the character was introduced. Alas, it was this week’s episode that finally found Margaret succumbing to her lust for Owen. As we learned earlier in the episode, perhaps this sort of behavior isn’t completely out of character for “Peg.”
It was nice to finally see some of Margaret’s history as she went to Brooklyn to visit her long forgotten family. Turns out that she got herself in a family way back in Ireland, lied and said she was raped, and then used the money meant for her brother to travel to America. It doesn’t exactly paint Margaret in the best light. However, as we learned last season she is a resourceful, ambitious, and sometimes quite selfish woman. Sadly, it doesn’t seem out of character.
I believe it was being with her family and reminiscing about her youth that ultimately caused Margaret to give in to Owen. He seems to represent so much of what she left behind in Europe, and when he started talking about how different things were in America, I knew it was a done deal. I know Margaret said that they were never to speak of it again, but I’m wondering if their affair is going to continue, or if Nucky is going to somehow find out about it. I’m also wondering what Nucky’s reaction would be. He has done so much for Margaret (even though, yes, he did order the murder of her husband) that the cheating is a real deep betrayal. Still, I don’t see Nucky doing anything drastic. Not to Margaret at least. If I were Owen, I wouldn’t be getting too comfortable. As we have seen several times over this season, though, Owen can take care of himself.
I feel like I say it every week, but it looks like Nucky has more important things to be worried about than his love life. In fact, his political problems are probably half the cause of Margaret’s wandering eye. He can’t possibly have the time for her that he did when everything was going fine. Now he has assassination attempts to deal with on top of the conspiracy against him, which has grown by a few members. Knowing how things turn out historically for Luciano, Capone, and Lansky, I’m not liking Nucky’s chances in this fight.
Jimmy continues to be the wild card, however. Even as he (reluctantly) agreed to pull the trigger on a hit man for Nucky, it was obvious that he didn’t like the idea. Leave it to Gillian to talk him into sticking with his decision. With Jimmy ordering, or at the very least allowing, a hit on Nucky I’m not sure how the relationship between the two can be mended. Still, it seems like that is where the season is heading. Will Jimmy come to the rescue of Nucky, making it almost impossible for Nucky to turn him away? I’m eager to find out.
Finally, there is Nelson and Lucy. It’s funny. I gave Lucy far too much credit last week when I thought that she was going to have second thoughts about giving up the baby. Turns out she couldn’t get away from her fast enough and was really just sticking around long enough to get paid (even if Nucky ended up being the one doing the paying). With Nelson on Nucky’s payroll, it’s going to be interesting to see if the federal agent gives anything to Nucky. It certainly seemed that Nelson was more interested in aiding the case against Nucky by turning all of his files over to the new prosecutor.
This season may be more than halfway done, but there is still a lot of Boardwalk Empire to go.
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Nov 07, 2011 @ 18:19 EST5EDT
Interesting how Nelson is becoming sympathetic. Margaret, oh Margaret, you don’t have to be a slave to yor shame! Let’s not forget Nucky cheated first, and Margaret has done PLENTY for Nucky, she pulls her weight.
*POST AUTHOR*
I agree, but I’m not sure Nucky is going to be as forgiving as us.
They’ll survive it. I think.