Boardwalk Empire on HBO

[Poppy Fields]

At Babette's, draped with whores, baby-faced Jimmy looked like he was about to throw up on his own cigar. He has all of of Nucky's trappings, now, with none of Nucky's bland and dryly humorous detachment.

His pissing off the sadistic Manny, who's playing a spider-in-the-web game with him, was Jimmy's announcement that we may now consider him completely psycho. But his tenderness toward Harrow reminded me that he still has Richard in his corner. He's going to need him more than ever now. And his frankness with Angela indicates to me that he's done playing games, no matter what further drama mama wants to involve him in.

Nucky's resurrection, complete with stigmata, was heartening. His Lifeguard story succintly gave us his philosophy - God has sent him the IRA and Chalky's ability to call a strike. I wonder what the third will be? Tommy guns for the IRA in exchange for good liquor?

And things are not looking up for poor little Emily. She won't be making the voyage to Belfast. I wonder if Margaret will.

[buglover]

Did I hear Nucky correctly at the end? He wants to head to Ireland? I got a little confused as to why he would want that.

[Poppy Fields]

I'm thinking Nucky is going to Ireland to set up an arms deal, with liquor being the currency for them.

[Poppy Fields]

Only 4 episodes left! Tonight's is "Battle of the Century." I'm wondering if that refers to more than a championship boxing competition.

[AlwaysVeg]

Oh dear -- only 4 episodes left? Then are we going to have to wait till Sept. 2012 for the new season? I hate that long gap! This is by far my favorite show.

[Poppy Fields]

It's my favorite, too Hands down.

[AlwaysVeg]

Wow, tonight's episode flew by, action-packed. I was surprised that Mickey is still Jimmy's lackey. Manny now knows the truth about his "boychik." Jimmy is in no way prepared for the position of power he's taken on. Nucky has every reason to doubt Owen's loyalty, now that he saw how Owen handled the situation with the Irish boss's betrayal. It was sweet how distraught Nucky was upon finding out about Emily. He's really embraced those kids as his own. And how about Esther in bed with her assistant?! I thought she was too by-the-book for that.

[Poppy Fields]

I'm going to watch it again in 15 minutes. I missed a lot of the Irish dialogue and, yes, it did go by fast!

[prhoshay]

I spent a lot of time backing up and turning on the closed caption!

[buglover]

Who was killed as they were pulling away from the Irish place? Margaret's daughter has polio.........tons of stuff in one episode!!