Van Alden, Margaret, Billie, Gillian, Nucky (and Capone?)

all try their hand at securing ways to make their futures tenable, with varying degrees of success.

Hit the jump for why you ain’t the lead, you’re just the pony.

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Gillian knows Nucky killed Jimmy no matter what he says about it.

“The Pony” was the first time I didn’t really hate Billie.

Her scenes were actually pretty cute, mostly because they largely didn’t include Nucky (a.k.a.

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As for the deal he offers her, is it similar to the one he had for Margaret originally?

To keep her as a concubine, to live her life as she wished?

Why don’t I meet men like this?

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She wants him to be the only gangster in her life?

Well that’s what happens.

It’s a tough road, Billie, but I’m not sorry to see you go.

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In the meantime though, it seems Margaret would like a Dutch Cup of her own, kindly.

Elsewhere, Van Alden’s story and Al Capone’s Chicago one met in an unexpected way.

Not just to attack that obnoxious goon with the iron, but to then rampage through the office itself!

Weirdly though, Van Alden doesn’t seem to think anyone will come after him.

Mellon dismisses Nucky for show, but rings him up later to say the deal is on.

Episode Rating: B

Musings and Miscellanea:

– What do you do for fun, Esther?

“I run naked through the pages of the U.S. criminal code.”

I mean anyone could have overheard their conversation the way it was presented.

Nitpicky but, you know.

– Michael Shannon’s Crazy Eyes were set to MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE during the iron scene!

– The meatpacking district and that aerial shot of Chicago was bleak.

– At some point I would like to see what Gyp’s wife is like.

– “Jimmy deserved better than this” - Harrow.