"Boardwalk Empire" (Photo: HBO)
SPOILER ALERT
I don’t think Chalky White is really about that life. Nope. Too bad he didn’t realize this before his oldest daughter, Maybelle, was fatally shot. Pretty sure many viewers didn’t see that one coming. Sunday’s “Boardwalk Empire” season 4 finale was full of surprises like this. And that’s one of the reasons why viewers like me return season after season. I’d wondered what happened after Maybelle and Dr. Valentin Narcisse met a few episodes ago and then we found out he held her hostage, a ransom in exchange for Daughter Maitland, who’s her father’s mistress. Yep, I said Daughter Maitland would lead to Chalky’s undoing. I had always thought of Chalky as a responsible, family man who rebuked drama, especially where his family was concerned. But this season, he seemed irresponsible in that regard. Even when he had to leave town, he could’ve ensured his family was safe or at least steered them clear of danger. Why was his son still performing at the Onyx club, especially with a war underway? His actions were sloppy and selfish. Even though skilled marksmen Richard Harrow was there to shoot Narcisse, Chalky was unaware that he held Maybelle hostage. When Richard, who’s becoming a different man, got shaky and missed his clean shot, he tried again but didn’t see Maybelle stepped in the line. Shot, she fell quickly and Chalky was petrified. The scene immediately reminded me of “The Godfather III” when Mary was shot by a bullet meant for her father, Michael Corleone. Both Mary and Maybelle loved their fathers and wanted to be with men like them (Maybelle express this in a past season.). Quite unfortunate. Like I said earlier, there were other unexpected turns. To keep it short and tidy, I’m going to list my own personal shockers.
Watch the surprising “Boardwalk Empire” season 4 finale
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Gillian Darmody’s trial: Thought Gillian’s story ended last week? Not a chance. We saw her case go to trial and to ensure she stayed locked up and far away from her grandson Tommy, convinced Nucky Thompson to give up the location of her son Jimmy Darmody’s body to ensure Gillian would stay incarcerated. The body was exhumed and confirmed as Jimmy’s (yes, all of those still hoping Jimmy would make a return can finally let it go).
Richard Harrow: Richard’s life was a dream deferred. He was one of my favorite characters on the show and I’ve been rooting for him from the start. My sister likened him to homeless junkie Bubbles from the other HBO hit, “The Wire,” you know, someone who you wanted to make it. Unfortunately, Richard, who for the first time, lost his never pulling a trigger, accidentally shot Maybelle while aiming for Narcisse. It tore him a part and he took his own life, alone under the boardwalk.
Eli Thompson: I had a feeling he was going to meet his maker last night. And he would’ve if his eldest son, William, hadn’t interrupted. Older brother Nucky Thompson had him on his knees with a gun to his head but let him go after his nephew interfered. Eli killed that Fed agent Warren Knox and now there’s a warrant for his arrest. Where did we find him? In Chicago getting into a car with Van Alden. Say what?!?
Dr. Narcisse: Narcisse lives. The thing is that I didn’t want him to die (I know, I know). I got my wish. But we see that Narcisse was a con man all along. In probably one of the most important scenes from the series, we see Narcisse sitting with future FBI head J. Edgar Hoover, making a deal to infiltrate his idol Marcus Garvey’s organization (similar deals were likely made to infiltrate the inner circles of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and countless others). Just like that Narcisse sold out, easily becoming the very thing he said he despised.
Here’s what else is happening…
I caught some of the American Music Awards last night but you know, my attention was focused on “Boardwalk Empire” and even the latest episode of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” (gasp!) from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. EST and for the last hour, I was flipping back between the new HBO series “Getting On” starring Niecy Nash and Laurie Metcalf.
Watch HBO’s newest series “Getting On”
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I did catch Lady Gaga and R. Kelly’s performing “Do What U Want,” which was meh, but better than their “Saturday Night Live” offering a few weeks ago (watch it here), and Miley Cyrus, who was OK (she does have a pretty descent voice.) What did I enjoy? TLC. Remaining members Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas performing their 1995 hit “Waterfalls” at the AMAs was better than expected. And while no one could ever replace the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, Lil Mama–who played Left Eye in “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story”–did pretty good as a stand in. I can be a little squeamish about such replacements but this was cool. Have you seen the current issue of “Entertainment Weekly?” If you’re an “American Horror Story: Coven” fan, then you’ll want to grab it as Angela Bassett, Jessica Lange and Kathy Bates ‘head are on the cover repping the series. It appears that a new episode won’t air this week but you can catch up on the show here. Another awesome cover worth checking out? The Dec. 6 issue of “The Hollywood Reporter.” Talented bronze lovelies Oprah Winfrey, “12 Years a Slave” actress Lupita Nyong’o and Olivia Spencer join Julia Roberts, Amy Adams and Emma Thompson as part of the Actress Roundtable and share the cover. Nice! So when my sister and I were recapping Thursday’s “Scandal” episode Sunday it dawned on me that actor Jack Coleman, who portrays Daniel Douglas Langston, the philandering down-low husband of conservative Vice President Sally Langston, also played a somewhat similar role on NBC’s “The Office.” Many remember Coleman as Noah Bennet from NBC’s “Heroes” but in “The Office” he played Sen. Robert Lipton, a philandering down-low politician married to the prudish Angela Martin. Talk about typecasting, LOL. Watch a flashback of Coleman’s “The Office” appearance here.
On my watchlist? What I’m tuning in to see and what I’ll catch up with XFINITY On Demand…
“Sleepy Hollow”: Enjoying the chemistry between Nicole Beharie’s Abbie Mills and Tom Mison’s Ichabod Crane. It airs tonight at 9 p.m. EST on Fox. [Watch here]
“Almost Human”: If you enjoyed last week’s two-night series premiere you’ll want to tune in. It airs tonight at 8 p.m. EST on Fox. [Watch here]
“Dancing with the Stars”: The two-night finale begins tonight. It airs tonight at 8 p.m. EST on ABC. [Watch here]
The Hot List: Who/What’s Hot, Not
HOT: Rihanna’s mother, Monica Braithwaite, presenting her with the first Icon Award at the AMAs(many will argue about Rihanna’s “iconic” status but all will have to say agree this was a cute moment.).
NOT: The Aryan Brotherhood putting a huge bounty on the heads of two black teens–Kenan Adams-Kinard and Demetrius Glenn–accused of murdering a World War II veteran Delbert “Shorty” Belton (This could get messy.).
HOT: Word that Outkast will reunite at Coachella 2014 (It would mark the 20th anniversary of the group’s debut album “Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik”).
NOT: Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose out for the season with a ?torn right meniscus that occurred Friday (Take all the time you need. We’re pulling for you DRose!).
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
The post Can’t Stop Watching: ‘Boardwalk Empire’s’ Chalky White’s Loss, Niecy Nash in HBO’s ‘Getting On,’ TLC at the AMAs & More appeared first on Xfinity TV Blog.