The Good Listener
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Episode 2
| "The Good Listener" | |
|---|---|
| Boardwalk Empire episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 5 Episode 2 |
| Directed by | Allen Coulter |
| Written by | Terence Winter |
| Cinematography by | Bill Coleman |
| Editing by | Tim Streeto |
| Original air date | September 14, 2014 |
| Running time | 55 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"The Good Listener" is the second episode of the fifth season of the American period crime drama television series Boardwalk Empire. It is the 50th overall episode of the series and was written by series creator Terence Winter, and directed by producer Allen Coulter. It was released on HBO on September 14, 2014.
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 asks Torrio for help in his assassination attempt, while Eli's life in Chicago is revealed.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.81 million household viewers and gained a 0.7 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received extremely positive reviews from critics, who deemed the episode as an improvement over the premiere, praising the performances and more focused narrative.
1884
Nucky's sister Susan dies from her illness, devastating the family. Nucky later meets with the Commodore, informing him of her death. The Commodore then visits the Thompsons to offer money, but is forced to leave when Ethan pulls out a shotgun, due to a previous bad encounter with the Commodore. Nucky's father pockets the money and leaves the rest of the burial to Nucky, much to his mother's despair
1931
In New Jersey, Gillian is now living in a women's sanitarium mandated by the court. In the past seven years, she has overcome her heroin addiction. Gillian complies with the hospital's rules, while also making a deal with a worker to get paper.
In Chicago, Eli is revealed to have become an alcoholic since he arrived. He escapes from a warehouse raided by Eliot Ness and the Untouchables. The warehouse is owned by Capone, so Capone's henchman, Mike D'Angelo, orders Van Alden to make up for the lost revenue, since Eli was in charge of the warehouse and he answers to Van Alden. Van Alden's marriage is also dying, as his relationship with Sigrid is becoming more strained. Eli and Van Alden repay Capone by robbing Jake Guzik and his henchmen under disguise. Meanwhile, government agent Frank J. Wilson investigates Capone for tax evasion, while it is revealed that D'Angelo is an undercover agent who works for him. Simultaneously, Capone’s brain is deteriorating due to years of cocaine addiction and early signs of syphilis, causing him to become increasingly paranoid and irrational.
In New York, Nucky meets with the retired Torrio, suspecting that Lansky was involved in his assassination attempt in Cuba. As this coincides with the murder of Masseria, Torrio arranges a meeting between Nucky and Salvatore Maranzano. Maranzano claims that Nucky is not a problem for him, while Luciano denies being involved in the hit, as he hasn't talked with Lansky. Nucky also tries to form a partnership with a company, but the members reject him due to his criminal past, although he catches Joe Kennedy's interest. In Brooklyn, Willie is now a law graduate and is applying for a prosecutor position. However, the Attorney rejects his application upon discovering that he is related to Nucky. Willie convinces him in giving him a chance.
Lansky is revealed to be conspiring with Luciano, Bugsy Siegel and Tonino, intending to hide their involvement from Maranzano. Nucky later meets with Tonino at a restaurant, who confirms that Luciano and Lansky were involved in the assassination attempt. Tonino offers to work for Nucky, who seems interested. When Nucky leaves, Tonino finds that there was a boardwalk caricature of Billie Kent right above their table, and sees Arquimedes staring at him. Later, Lansky is alerted in a brothel about a murder. He goes outside, discovering a dead Tonino with a knife in the back, with a postcard reading "Greetings from Havana".
Production
Development
In August 2014, HBO confirmed that the second episode of the season would be titled "The Good Listener", and that it would be written by series creator Terence Winter, and directed by producer Allen Coulter. This was Winter's 13th writing credit, and Coulter's tenth directing credit.[1]
