The marketing behind Boardwalk Empire's final season promised that "no one goes quietly". Devil You Know, the incredible ante ultimate episode of Boardwalk Empire, delivers on this promise and more. Despite arguably being the series' darkest and most dramatic episode since Season 2's To the Lost, this episode was filled with gallows humor. However, this humor never broke the palpable sense of tension present throughout the episode. Of course, the show ultimately parted ways with the beloved Nelson van Alden, also known as George Mueller, and Chalky White. Van Alden died as he lived. Crazily. It felt completely appropriate for Van Alden to go out in one of his characteristic blazes of religious fervor and wrath. And ultimately Chalky, who pretty much lost his purpose in life with his daughter's death, makes a deal with the devil, Narcisse, to save Daughter Maitland and his new daughter, causing his own death. The unceremonious manner of their deaths, much like their predecessors on this show, makes it all the more tragic and hard to accept. The symbolism of devils was prevalent in this episode, Capone to Van Alden, Narcisse to Chalky, and ultimately Nucky himself. This week's flashbacks reveal that Nucky's original sin, giving Gillian to The Commodore, was not the opportunistic move it once was believed to be. It's clear that Nucky groomed Gillian so she would draw The Commodore's eye. The direction in this episode by Jeremy Podeswa never ceases to ease the constant tension present throughout the episode. Nor do the phenomenal performances by Michael Shannon and Michael Kenneth Williams. There was no possible way in which they could have better captured their characters' arcs coming full circle in this episode. Steve Buscemi's Nucky, who is often easy to overlook in such a dynamic cast, also shone this week. The scene in the dive bar was some of his finest work not only on the show but I have ever seen from him. It perfectly encapsulates the anger, guilt, and frustration over his past actions and ultimately it seems to be for nothing. Nucky has reached the point Jimmy once warned him of. He hasn't run out of booze but more importantly he has run out of company. Chalky's final taunt to Narcisse rings true. No one is free in this series. All of the characters are beholden to something else, be it someone else, Narcisse to Luciano now, van Alden to Capone) or their own greed. And ultimately no one is free from death, as shown by the tragic but marvelously executed exits of Nelson van Alden and Chalky White. 9.7/10 incredible
Review of Devil You Know
