"Resignation" is the second episode of the fourth season of the American period crime drama television series Boardwalk Empire. It is the 38th overall episode of the series and was written by consulting producer Dennis Lehane and executive producer Howard Korder, and directed by Alik Sakharov. It was released on HBO on September 15, 2013.
The series is set in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era of the 1920s. The series follows Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, a political figure who rises to prominence and interacts with mobsters, politicians, government agents, and the common folk who look up to him. In the episode, Chalky faces trouble when a New York associate visits, while Richard reconnects with his sister and questions his nature.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 2.21 million household viewers and gained a 0.9 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances and directing, but feeling that the episode was more set-up for incoming storylines.
Plot
In Chicago, Van Alden now works for Dean O'Banion, both as a delivery man and as an enforcer sent to collect debts. O'Banion then has him cooperate with Capone in the incoming municipal elections, much to Van Alden's chagrin. Capone is reluctant to employ Van Alden, but eventually decides that he could use him as a spy.
Suspecting Knox of hiding something, Nucky asks Gaston Means for information. Nucky's suspicions are confirmed when Knox has his associate, Supervisor Frederick Elliot, arrested in Washington, D.C. Knox is revealed to be an undercover Bureau of Investigation agent, responding to his boss, J. Edgar Hoover. Back in Atlantic City, Eddie feels that he was never respected or taken seriously Nucky, something that the latter rebuffs. Later, Eddie informs Nucky that he is resigning, upsetting him. To keep Eddie, Nucky promotes him to take care of his business' financial status.
Richard has settled with his sister Emma in Plover, Wisconsin. Emma is pregnant and warns Richard that while he can stay, he should never return if he ever abandons her again. Later, Richard travels to Milwaukee to kill a man, which was in the address he received in Michigan. However, Richard decides to let the man live when the latter claims he is a family man. Richard starts changing his perspective in guns, such as refusing to put Emma's dog out of its misery. Later, Richard answers a phone call, in which a county assessor talks about debts on Emma's name. However, the assessor is Carl Billings, the person who hired Richard to kill the man at his office and was forced to do it himself, now finally discovering Richard's location.
At the Onyx Club, Chalky meets Valentin Narcisse, an associate from New York. Narcisse reveals that Dickie Pastor, whom Dunn Pursley killed, worked for him. When Chalky refuses to disclose the identity of the person who killed Dickie, Narcisse ends their partnership. To save the club, Nucky offers 10% of the club's profits, which Narcisse accepts. On a vehicle, Narcisse talks with Alma, who thanks him for "rescuing" her, but Narcisse questions her accusations against Dunn. Aware that Alma conspired with Dickie, Narcisse orders his henchmen to strangle her and dump her body. The following morning, the body is found in one of Bader's construction sites, attracting unwanted media attention.
Production
Development
In August 2013, HBO confirmed that the second episode of the season would be titled "Resignation", and that it would be written by consulting producer Dennis Lehane and executive producer Howard Korder, and directed by Alik Sakharov. This was Lehane's first writing credit, Korder's 13th writing credit, and Sakharov's second directing credit.
Reception
Viewers
In its original American broadcast, "Resignation" was seen by an estimated 2.21 million household viewers with a 0.9 in the 18-49 demographics. This means that 0.9 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode. This was a 8% decrease in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 2.38 million household viewers with a 0.9 in the 18-49 demographics.