# Boardwalk Empire **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 25, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008 "2010-09-25T14:53:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/121 "2010-11-30T20:10:13Z")
Van Alden ACTUALLY drowned that guy in front of all those people??? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/122 "2010-11-30T20:15:57Z")
Does Michael Shannon ever play a character who isn’t around the bend? I just saw him in a movie called _Bug_ last night where he played - you guessed it - a raving nutcase. He also played crazy in _Revolution Road_ and a borderline religious fanatic (though a heroic one) in _World Trade Center_. Has he ever played anybody normal? ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/123 "2010-11-30T20:27:00Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Van Alden ACTUALLY drowned that guy in front of all those people??? Oh yes. The self-flagellater off’ed that servant of Satan. I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt and believe that he thought Sepso would cave and accept Jesus. But realistically, I would say he knew that wouldn’t happen and even if it did, it would be insincere and still warrant death. The thing is, blacks didn’t have anything resembling real freedom at that time and the people in the North were probably only marginally less racist than those in the South. So absent some sort of unconventional persuasion technique, I seriously doubt anyone in that congregation will ever fess up to what happened. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/124 "2010-11-30T20:35:32Z")
So judging from the talk of Ponzi being arrested and one of the inner circle being wiped out by falling for the swindle that would put this episode smack in the middle to end of August. Interesting episode… Regarding the Commodore and Jimmy’s mom… just plain eeeecccchh. Nucky, becomes less sympathetic with each new bit of information about him. He actually brought a 13 year old to him knowing exactly what was going on. Even if he felt badly he still chose the chance to move up over his morality. I’m wondering if the two tickets to Paris were already purchased by Angela and the two used them. The “tin Man” once again turns from sympathetic to someone with a bit of blood lust by his offer of slaughtering the innocent half of the family to flush out the remaining brothers. My guess is no one will report the death by wrath of the lord seeing as this is 1920 and the average black church person wouldn’t likely try to report an agent to the authorities… The main theme, for this season so far, seems to me to be the lengths people would go to obtain power and luxury and how much of their integrity is up for sale. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/125 "2010-11-30T20:42:56Z")
> [@kingpengvin](#): > > My guess is no one will report the death by wrath of the lord seeing as this is 1920 and the average black church person wouldn’t likely try to report an agent to the authorities… . I dunno. A few black people might be wary of putting their word against a federal agents, but there were like 40 witnesses, plus a body. Even with the prevalent racism, its a little hard to believe the entire congregation would look the other way or the feds would ignore the death of one of their own just because they didn’t like black people. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/126 "2010-11-30T20:54:27Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > I dunno. A few black people might be wary of putting their word against a federal agents, but there were like 40 witnesses, plus a body. Even with the prevalent racism, its a little hard to believe the entire congregation would look the other way or the feds would ignore the death of one of their own just because they didn’t like black people. Normally these days I’d say yes, but considering the amount of rampant corruption going on in the area at that time I wouldn’t think anyone would have risked it. Don’t forget we are talking about a time when the police would give a person a good going over to get a confession or simply made them disappear. We are also talking about an area with a local law enforcement that turned over a man to a criminal to be tortured to death (Sure he was a clans man and I’'m sure no one knew the specifics) and I’m sure it wasn’t the first time when people were arrested and turned up dead found in fishing nets.. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/127 "2010-11-30T20:55:26Z")
Well, there’s nomway that news of the drowning is going to be quashed altogether. The question is what Van Alden is going say about it. Conceivably he could come up with a story that the baptism group would go along with. However, I think he’s way beyond making something up. He’s crazy enough to tell the truth, or his version of the truth anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/128 "2010-11-30T21:10:20Z")
> [@kingpengvin](#): > > He actually brought a 13 year old to him knowing exactly what was going on. A 13 year old living on her own and dancing in a girlie show in 1897. A very different time, place, and morality. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/129 "2010-11-30T21:32:29Z")
While I doubt the members of the congregation would come straight out, I have a feeling that the information is going to leak back to Nucky and allow him some leverage over Van Alden. I can’t imagine it isn’t going to be a plot point next season. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/130 "2010-11-30T21:47:11Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > While I doubt the members of the congregation would come straight out, I have a feeling that the information is going to leak back to Nucky and allow him some leverage over Van Alden. I can’t imagine it isn’t going to be a plot point next season. My thought was through Chalky, maybe. I’m sure if he does get wind of it, he’d probably tell Nucky. ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/131 "2010-11-30T21:53:06Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > My thought was through Chalky, maybe. I’m sure if he does get wind of it, he’d probably tell Nucky. Yes. Of course. Chalky is at the very least hooked into the black community of AC even if he’s not necessarily the church going type. I wonder if this becomes a Mexican standoff with Van Alden tracking down Margret and finding out about Nucky’s virtual admission of guilt regarding her husband. This may require breaking out the _good_ popcorn. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/132 "2010-11-30T21:59:32Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > My thought was through Chalky, maybe. I’m sure if he does get wind of it, he’d probably tell Nucky. Nucky also knows Agent Sebso, so this is far from over. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/133 "2010-11-30T22:01:51Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Nucky also knows Agent Sebso, so this is far from over. True. The guy he paid off to kill an inconvenient witness is killed…I’m sure he’s at least a little curious. Even if the black church decides to just get rid of the body, Agent Sebso just disappearing right after mentioning that Van Alden was onto him is going to look bad. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/134 "2010-11-30T22:06:35Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Even if the black church decides to just get rid of the body No way they’re going to make themselves accessories to murder. If Van Alden were to tell them to go along with an “it was an accident” story or something like that, then maybe, but they’re going to be very careful about not getting blamed for this. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/135 "2010-11-30T22:07:33Z")
> [@kingpengvin](#): > > My guess is no one will report the death by wrath of the lord seeing as this is 1920 and the average black church person wouldn’t likely try to report an agent to the authorities… And the writer’s missed a perfect opportunity to have VanAlden, as he is walking away, turn on his heel to the congregation and say, “One last thing … has anyone seen a still around here?” ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/136 "2010-11-30T22:33:36Z")
Van Alden even left behind by the lakeside, Sebso’s shoes and handgun! Also, the church deacon guy seemed like he had it together, possessed a strength of the truly good. For this reason alone, don’t believe for a second that this incident would be covered up. Deacon guy seemed like the type to do the right thing, even in face of resulting dangerous possibilities. (Recall how with his first challenging encounter with Van Alden, he stood his ground without flinch.) ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/137 "2010-12-01T06:38:56Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > A 13 year old living on her own and dancing in a girlie show in 1897. A very different time, place, and morality. To be fair, I’m not entirely sure said 13 year old was all that OK with it. Gillian was poisoning the Commodore with arsenic. She might be doing it just for the money (wasn’t she put into his will?) but maybe she does harbor some resentment towards the guy. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/138 "2010-12-01T06:46:22Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > To be fair, I’m not entirely sure said 13 year old was all that OK with it. Gillian was poisoning the Commodore with arsenic. She might be doing it just for the money (wasn’t she put into his will?) but maybe she does harbor some resentment towards the guy. Sure, but my point was more about Nucky… hardly makes him the slime of all time givn the circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/139 "2010-12-01T06:56:55Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Sure, but my point was more about Nucky… hardly makes him the slime of all time givn the circumstances. In anycase, he’s been responsible for the murders of half a dozen or so people in just the few month period covered by the show. I’m not sure pimping out a 13 year-old or two 20 years ago is really going to make him much slimier. ---
**Author:** ![ptr2void](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ptr2void/32/3406_2.png) [@ptr2void](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ptr2void)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008/140 "2010-12-01T13:12:11Z")
I’ve been living under the assumption that Jimmy is actually Nucky’s son for quite a while. I’m not convinced that isn’t the case; perhaps Nucky also was involved with teenaged Gillian and they’ve hidden this from the Commodore. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boardwalk-empire/555008.md?page=8)