New York Sour (Boardwalk Empire)
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Episode 1
| "New York Sour" | |
|---|---|
| Boardwalk Empire episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Tim Van Patten |
| Written by | Howard Korder |
| Cinematography by | David Franco |
| Editing by | Kate Sanford |
| Original air date | September 8, 2013 |
| Running time | 59 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"New York Sour" is the first episode of the fourth season of the American period crime drama television series Boardwalk Empire. It is the 37th overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Howard Korder and directed by executive producer Tim Van Patten. It was released on HBO on September 8, 2013.
The series is set in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era of the 1920s. The series follows Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, a political figure who rises to prominence and interacts with mobsters, politicians, government agents, and the common folk who look up to him. In the episode, Nucky has abstained from the boardwalk while continuing business with Chalky and Eli. Meanwhile, Richard leaves on a trip, while Gillian is forced to resort to prostitution.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 2.38 million household viewers and gained a 0.9 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received mostly positive reviews, who praised the performances and directing, but criticizing the pacing.
In February 1924, Richard Harrow goes to Warsaw, Indiana, and kills two men in order to retrieve the address of an insurance company. With the paper in his possession, he then goes to Michigan and holds a businessman at gunpoint. When the man provides him with a name and an address, Richard kills him and leaves.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, Al Capone has brought his brothers Frank and Ralph to help with his operations alongside Johnny Torrio. Capone and Torrio are interested in influencing upcoming municipal elections. Later, Capone has a reporter assaulted for writing an article about him, but only because the reporter misspelled his last name.
Back in Atlantic City, Chalky White has opened his new club, the Onyx Club, but feels dissatisfied with the performers. His partnership with Dickie Pastor, a talent agent, is put in jeopardy when Chalky's right-hand man, Dunn Purnsley, is caught having sex with Dickie's wife Alma. Dickie holds Dunn at gunpoint. However, instead of killing Dunn, he orders him to continue having sex with Alma, revealing the couple conspired to trick Dunn as part of their shared fetish. After initially pretending to play along, Dunn kills Dickie while Alma flees. The situation angers Chalky, as Dickie was connected to mobster Owney Madden.
Nucky Thompson now lives in the Albatross Hotel and has an office on the top floor of the Onyx Club. There, he meets with Joe Masseria and Arnold Rothstein, who are both upset over his actions in the past year. Nevertheless, they both agree to put aside their differences, with Masseria placated by Nucky's offer of a suitcase of money. Nucky meets an attractive young dancer who attempts to seduce him in his suite. When she mentions the now deceased Billie's Broadway success was likely due to her relationship with Nucky, he realizes she is using him to advance her career. Nucky feigns interest and excuses himself, ultimately having his butler Eddie send her away.
Nucky's brother Eli now manages the warehouse with Mickey Doyle, supervising work with Agent Sawicki and his new partner, Warren Knox, although the latter proves to be naive and insecure. Eli's son, Willie, is disappointed that he is kept from becoming involved in the business. Willie asks Nucky for help but is told that he should focus on his studies at Temple University. One of their associates, Elmer Borst, pays Knox to protect a barn under which liquor is stored. Knox convinces Sawicki to steal the liquor, knowingly leading him into a trap that kills Sawicki. When Borst comes out to investigate, Knox kills him.
Gillian attends a trial in which Julia wants to maintain custody of Tommy. The judge berates her for her current living situation and calls upon Gillian and Julia to explain the circumstances under which Tommy came into the care of Julia. Neither would explain, so the judge adjourns. With a lack of funds, she is forced to sell her house and work as a prostitute. During an open house, Gillian meets Roy Phillips, a Piggly Wiggly executive who is interested in spending time with her. Somewhere, Richard arrives at a house. As he tries to find a way to enter, he is held at gunpoint by a woman, revealed to be his sister Emma.
Production
Development
In August 2013, HBO confirmed that the first episode of the season would be titled "New York Sour", and that it would be written by executive producer Howard Korder, and directed by executive producer Tim Van Patten. This was Korder's twelfth writing credit, and Van Patten's 13th directing credit.[1]
