Boardwalk Empire 2.04 "What Does the Bee Do?" Review

Boardwalk Empire pours along with its fourth entry into season 2 with the cryptic, if deliberately titled 'What Does the Bee Do?', which sees a surprising turn in momentum for Jimmy, Eli and the Commodore's power-play against Nucky as well as a glimpse into several unexplored characters. Whereas last week's 'A Dangerous Maid'lent a great deal of exploration to family, fathers and sons, 'What Does the Bee Do?'explores how powerless we become in our efforts at control.

There's an old standby I go to whenever someone asks my feelings on Mad Men, specifically one random season 4 scene where Don Draper watches an old man across the hall yelling at his wife about pears. I recall fellow critics racing to heap symbolism upon the scene, as well as various scenes across the series itself, though I could never see the patterns that weren't there. Boardwalk Empire employs a similarly rich tapestry of symbolism and subtlety, one which plays out far more effectively in an episode like 'What Does the Bee Do?'

One of the things the episode does so well is to find the smaller moments and relationships of Boardwalk Empire, and breathe life into what we weren't already seeing. There's the obvious fleshing out of Chalky White's home life, but also the very natural and tender relationship between Angela Darmody and Richard Harris. Even Van Alden's underlings (you know, the one's he hasn't murdered yet) get their moment to shine, however too close to the heat they get.

In particular 'What Does the Bee Do'finds a great deal of depth in the parallels between Chalky White and Gillian Darmody, namely in how they struggle to wield their high standing and powers from beneath a glass ceiling of Boardwalk Empire's men. Chalky White may be a respectable leader in his community, but it all falls apart without Nucky's approval to avenge the African-American men killed through Chalky's operation. Chalky's only recourse erupts at the dinner table (in a spectacular display of Michael K. Williams'abilities), as he channels his impotent rage through the all-too-apparent class separation between him and the rest of his well-educated, high-society family. So too does Gretchen Mol exhibit a spectacular range in which she struggles to maintain order and control of Jimmy (Michael Pitt) in the wake of the Commodore's stroke, but by the end completely loses her ability to hold back years of psychological trauma and anger toward him.

-HBO

Small stories don't take up the entirety of 'What Does the Bee Do,'of course, and we've got plenty of movement on the main storylines, however incidental. A strong presence of pure dumb luck permeates the episode, in the Commodore's plot fortuitously de-railed coup, an opportunity for the Attorney General to dismiss Nucky's case literally falling into their laps, or Van Alden's men prevented from bringing their superior to justice by a well-placed explosion. And with Nucky striking up business once more with Arnold Van Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg), in turn stirring more bad blood with Lucky Luciano (Vincent Piazzo), as well as Jimmy entering business with the Jewish mafia (The Untouchables'William Forsythe), Boardwalk Empire has plenty of pieces moving to keep its second season afloat.

To quote Nucky Thompson, in the end it's always about money, and 'What Does the Bee Do?'ends no differently. The maids clamor for a raise, while Margaret squirrels away money from Nucky, her children sing about it, and characters main and supporting all desperately move to either avoid the poorhouse, or break free of their social standings.

They're exactly the questions Boardwalk Empire poses so eloquently, and 'What Does the Bee Do?'doesn't have to ask us why we'll be back next week.

And Another Thing...

• On a cruder, cathartic note...boobs, more boobs, and slapping a man who's had a stroke. The other reasons to watch Boardwalk Empire.
• There are still eight episodes to go, but I'll be very remiss if we don't get some Richard/Angela action, Margaret/Mr. Slater, or at least a fight between Slater and Richard.
• What was going on with Arnold Rothstein and the apple bread? Without consulting history, were they alluding to health problems of some kind?
• Van Asshole. '�Nuff said.
• Every time Nucky pulls out his wallet to hand out cash, my brain shouts out 'Meet George Jetson!'
• Commodore, what did the five fingers say to the face? Someone make a GIF, or Tyrion Lannister/Joffrey style video, plz.

What did you think?