“The Newsroom” has been an excellent show on HBO for its first two seasons, but unfortunately this drama from Aaron Sorkin will end this year with its third season being its last. Jeff Daniels was excellent on this show winning an Emmy for his performance. Bullz-Eye.com recently named star Olivia Munn as one of the 30 sexiest TV actresses from 2013, and had “The Newsroom” ranked as the 5th best show on TV.

Perhaps Sorkin decided not to push for more season, but it’s disappointing that this one will end.

Meanwhile, “Boardwalk Empire” will also have its last season this year, but that show tailed off after the first couple of seasons.

Oh, and one other note: in a further effort to avoid conceptual duplication, I’ve only written about each show once, so if you see a show’s title without anything written beside it, look back and you’ll find where I’ve already written about it. That, or I screwed up. Either’s possible, really. (I’m only human, after all.)

Best Shows to Come and Go within 2010

1. Terriers (FX) – It’s a testament to the quality of “Terriers” that FX president John Landgraf held a teleconference with journalists after breaking the news of the series’ cancellation in order to explain his actions, but I don’t think anyone really blamed the guy, anyway: the show’s ratings were as deplorable as the writing was phenomenal. Between the awful ad campaign for the show (no, it wasn’t about dogs) and the fact that many of the viewers who did tune in were kind of bummed out by too-real character traits and developments like alcoholism, infidelity, divorce, and mental illness, it’s not a surprise that it wasn’t a huge hit. But that doesn’t make it any less depressing.

2. Lone Star (Fox) – I’d like to think that this “Dallas”-esque series about a con man leading two lives would’ve been battling with “Terriers” for the top spot if only Fox hadn’t canceled it after only two episodes…but, then, if they can’t canceled it after only two episodes, then maybe viewers might’ve embraced “Lone Star” enough that it wouldn’t have been canceled at all. Oh, wait, never mind, I forgot: it was on Fox, so it probably still would’ve been canceled, anyway. Even so, Kyle Killen provided an intriguing concept and delivered it with the help of a top-notch cast. It’s just a shame we didn’t get to see more of it.

3. Warren the Ape (MTV) – So falls another network effort by one of our favorite fabricated Americans. Greg the Bunny couldn’t keep a show alive on either Fox or IFC, but it really seemed like a given that the shenanigans of Warren the Ape were tailor-made for MTV viewers. Not so, apparently. Frankly, the whole thing smacks of anti-puppetism. Warren himself has conceded that “fabricated Americans still have a very long way to go in this country, and I think it’s always going to be an uphill battle.” How right he was.

4. Happy Town (ABC) – Note to ABC’s publicity department: while I appreciate your intentions when you underlined the comparisons between “Happy Town” and “Twin Peaks” with a giant Magic Marker, you have to expect that “Twin Peaks” fans are going to offer up their equivalent of the old “I knew Jack Kennedy” line. Yeah, I know, you only meant it as a point of reference, and you never intended to imply that the two series were on even creative footing, but try telling them that. For my part, I thought it was a creepy little sleeper of a show…but, unfortunately, the other five people who agreed with me weren’t enough to keep it on the air.

5. Sons of Tucson (Fox) – I’m still not quite sure what Fox was thinking by trying to slot this poor live-action sitcom into the midst of their otherwise-animated Sunday night line-up. Maybe they’d hoped it would instill viewers with a bit of nostalgia for the days of “Malcolm in the Middle,” given the similarity in feel between that show and “Tucson.” If so, the plan failed miserably. In a perfect world, the network would raise the series from the dead and team it with “Raising Hope.” Now that’s a double bill I could get behind.

Best Shows I Discovered in 2010

1. Parenthood (NBC) – Although I was on board with this series since the first time I read the names of the cast members (which, at the time, still including Maura Tierney rather than Lauren Graham), I admit that I’m way late in officially joining the “‘Parenthood’ is awesome” club. What can I tell you? Too many shows, not enough hours in the day. Having finally had the time to devour Season 1 on DVD and begin to dig into Season 2, however, I just can’t say enough good things about the series. It’s about as realistic as family dramas get, full of strong performances and writing that’ll make you laugh and cry, sometimes even simultaneously.

2. Boardwalk Empire (HBO) – I used to be kinda iffy about period-piece series, but “Mad Men” effectively threw that issue out the window for me, so it was pretty easy to embrace this tale of sex, crime, and politics set in Prohibition-era Atlantic City. Frankly, the mere presence of Paz de la Huerta was more than sufficient to inspire me to tune in every week, but it’s been fascinating to see Steve Buscemi step into the role of an unlikely power figure, and Michael Shannon’s eye-popping performance as Agent Nelson Van Alden has been a blast to watch. I’m already ready for Season 2.

3. The Walking Dead (AMC) – It’s based on a comic book, it’s about zombies, and it’s helmed by the dude who did “The Shawshank Redemption,” “The Green Mile,” and “The Mist.” Basically, I was always going to tune in for the first episode…but, holy crap, what a first episode it was. Even if the subsequent installments didn’t always match the premiere, the exploration of humanity through the prism of a zombie invasion has proven consistently intriguing and deliciously gory.

4. Raising Hope (Fox) – Not everyone enjoys the taste of Greg Garcia’s comedies, but I saw a lot of people I recognized in the characters of “My Name Is Earl,” and I’m seeing the same thing with the Chance family. The show could almost coast by on reaction shots from Hope herself, who may well be one of the cutest babies ever to grace the small screen, but the comedic trifecta of Lucas Neff, Garret Dillahunt, and Martha Plimpton – aided ably by the legendary Cloris Leachman – have great chemistry together. Here’s hoping Fox finds the right companion show for the series, because “Hope” deserves the chance to grow up.

5. Justified (FX) – Here’s another one I need to play catch-up with, but I’ve seen more than enough to fall in love with the show already. Timothy Olyphant was the perfect casting choice for US Marshall Raylan Givens – who better to play a modern-day cowboy than an alumnus of “Deadwood”? – and Elmore Leonard’s sensibilities are firmly in place throughout.

Best Sitcoms of 2010

1. Modern Family (ABC) – Given that this ensemble comedy emerged fully formed from the womb, it shouldn’t really be a surprise that it’s managed to maintain its consistency in its second season, but you never like to take these things for granted. It’s a rare sitcom that earns appreciation from the viewers, the critics, and the Emmys, but “Modern Family” deserves every bit of the praise that’s been heaped upon it.

2. Raising Hope (Fox)

3. Community (NBC) – Another second-season series, but one which definitely has taken its time to figure out what it wants to be. When “Community” first kicked off, I didn’t get the impression that creator Dan Harmon actually intended for the driving force of the show to be its pop culture references (I figured the goal was to find the middle ground between heart and snark), but both the show’s ensemble and its writers have found their respective grooves, transforming the show into…an eventual cult classic, probably, since it’s definitely playing to the cool kids rather than the huddled masses. But you don’t hear me complaining.

4. Parks and Recreation (NBC) – Like “Parenthood” above, this is another case where I became a full-fledged series supporter as a result of DVD. If you weren’t impressed by Season 1, fair enough, but you should still check out Season 2. The show really takes off in a big way, fixing the issues from its freshman year and coming back smelling like roses. P.S. I’ve already seen the first few episodes of Season 3, which kicks off in January 2011, and if they counted in the final tally, “Parks and Recreation” would’ve ranked even higher.

5. How I Met Your Mother (CBS) – Last season was somewhat hit or miss, and executive producers Craig Thomas and Carter Bays freely admitted as much, but this season, while still not entirely up to the standards set in the show’s earliest years, has shown a comeback. Jennifer Morrison has begun to settle in as Ted’s friend / nemesis, Zoey Pierson, but the best part about her character is really her husband, The Captain, played to perfection by Kyle MacLachlan. Meanwhile, I don’t know if we’re actually going to see Marshall and Lily get pregnant or if it’s destined to occur in the mists of time beyond the run of the show, but the process of getting there has been an enjoyable one. We’ll see where the rest of the season takes us, but right now I’m enjoying this creative upswing.

Best Dramas of 2010

1. Breaking Bad (AMC) – Vince Gilligan continues to take Walter White and transform him slowly but surely from Mr. Chips into Scarface, but he’s not the only character going through a transition. In fact, Season 3 found just about everybody on “Breaking Bad” suffering through growing pains of some sort, with Jesse struggling to maintain equality in his relationship with Walt and stay clean and sober, Skyler dealing not only with a disintegrating marriage but the recent changes in the man to whom she’s been married for all these years, and Hank having to conquer obstacles on the way to emotional and physical health. Throw in the enigmatic Gus, the ridiculous Saul Goodman, and the terrifying Cousins, and you’ve got the best season of “Breaking Bad” to date.

2. Mad Men (AMC) – When Season 3 ended, the Sterling Cooper agency was no more, and when Season 4 kicked off, we said “hello” to Sterling Cooper Draper Price. Living up to the previous season’s finale was tough, and it took awhile for “Mad Men” to really build up a head of steam this year, but as America evolves in the ’60s, so have these characters, and creator Matthew Weiner continues to keep us guessing about where their paths will lead them.

3. Terriers (FX)

4. Boardwalk Empire (HBO)

5. The Walking Dead (AMC)

Best Reinvention of a Classic Property

Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated (Cartoon Network)

Like many members of Generation X, I have maintained a soft spot for Scooby Doo and his teenaged mystery-solving companions for many years, but virtually all of that sentimentality comes courtesy of “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” (1969 – 1970) and “The New Scooby-Doo Movies” (1972 – 1973). With all of the damage done to the franchise with the addition of Scrappy-Doo, the ill-begotten attempt to infantilize the Scooby gang (“A Pup Named Scooby-Doo”), and the consistently disappointing live-action films, it’s no wonder that my adoration of the original series had dissipated considerably. Thank heavens, then, for “Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated,” which plays both as a direct sequel to the events which took place within the episodes of “Where Are You” and a love letter to those who loved the original series and have spent 30+ years waiting for the magic to return. Inevitably, the characters have been modernized somewhat, but their back stories have been expanded to make them less two-dimensional. Another nice tribute to the old-school shows: although Matthew Lillard voices Shaggy, the voice of his dad is provided by Casey Kasem. Stalwart Frank Welker continues to play Fred as well as capably filling the shoes of the late Don Messick as the voice of Scooby himself.

Best TV-DVDs of 2010

The Six Million Dollar Man
Every episode of the series, all of the TV movies that preceded and followed it, plus more special features than your brain will be able to process. If you grew up in the ’70s, it’s worth every penny.

The Larry Sanders Show: The Complete Series
First they gave us Season 1, then they didn’t give us anything else for a very long time. Then, instead of Season 2, they gave us a best-of set, which – while awesome – still wasn’t what the fans wanted. Now, at last, Shout Factory cuts to the chase and just gives us the whole damned series…which is all we ever wanted in the first place.

Guiltiest Pleasure of 2010

Hellcats (The CW)
There’s no good reason why a grown man should feel comfortable about watching a drama about college cheerleaders, but surely you can at least understand why I find it hard to avert my gaze.

1. Terriers

Clever, funny, dark and provocative, “Terriers” may have wowed critics with its flawed characters and rich storytelling, but that didn’t change John Landgraf’s recent decision not to renew it for a second season. I don’t blame the FX President for the low ratings (most networks would have given up after only a few weeks), but I do blame the rest of America for failing to tune in to the best new show of the season. Yes, you heard right. Although I enjoyed “The Walking Dead” and the overrated “Boardwalk Empire,” the buddy detective drama delivered better acting and writing week in and week out. Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James had unparalleled chemistry as the scrappy private investigators (the titular terriers, if you will) caught in the middle of the case of a lifetime, so it’s a shame that we won’t get to tag along on any of their further adventures – especially since the season finale left things wide open. Another brilliant but cancelled television show that, ten years from now, will still be missed.

2. Modern Family

It hasn’t even completed its second season, but “Modern Family” already seems destined to become a comedy classic. It’s that good, and anyone who says otherwise should get an X-ray to see if their funny bone is broken. Of course, considering that it’s one of the most-watched shows on TV, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t agree. But for those who still haven’t experienced the funniest half-hour of television, it’s about time that you do, because there isn’t a single show that even comes close to matching the number of laughs in an average episode. And although the writing staff certainly deserves some credit, it’s cast members like Ty Burrell, Ed O’Neill and Sofia Vergara who make every joke that much funnier. Even the kids are funny, and that’s saying a lot from someone who isn’t particularly fond of child actors. It’s almost unbelievable the way the show fires on all cylinders so consistently, but that’s what separates a great show from a good one, and “Modern Family” is nothing if not that.

3. Sons of Anarchy

The third season of FX’s outlaw biker drama may not have been its best, but after a sluggish start, the series redeemed itself by getting back to the kind of top-notch storytelling that fans have come to expect. Many of those fans were quick to criticize the ambitious Ireland subplot that dominated most of the season, but along with fleshing out some of the club’s back story, it also set the stage for what turned out to be a killer finale. Many of the supporting players got lost in the background this year, but Charlie Hunnam gave the performance of his career, guest stars Paula Malcomson and James Cosmo proved themselves worthy additions to the cast, and Ally Walker put the finishing touches on what might just be the best TV villain in quite some time. The show may have stumbled a bit along the way, but no matter how you felt about the season as a whole, those who stuck around for the long haul were given plenty of incentive to come back next fall.

4. The Walking Dead

Robert Kirkman’s survival horror comic, “The Walking Dead,” is tailor-made for the hour-long TV format, so its success shouldn’t really come as a surprise to many. Still, fans had to be excited at the prospect of seeing Kirkman’s story brought to life – especially with names like Frank Darabont, Gale Anne Hurd and Greg Nicotero involved. Brimming with great writing, first-rate zombie effects, and a talented ensemble cast including Andrew Lincoln, Laurie Holden, Darabont regular Jeffrey DeMunn, and scene-stealing newcomer Steven Yuen, “The Walking Dead” isn’t just a show for horror buffs, but an edge-of-your-seat drama about a group of people struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. In fact, the only complaint that can be made is that the first season only consisted of six episodes, so it’ll be interesting to see if Darabont and his team can maintain that same level of quality when the show returns for a full, 13-episode second season next year. Here’s hoping we won’t have to wait until October to find out.

5. Mad Men

As a resident of Columbus, OH who couldn’t care less about the town’s college football team, it’s easy to become a little annoyed by the fervent, unrelenting worship of the Ohio State Buckeyes. It’s kind of how I feel about “Mad Men” as well. Although I’ve been a loyal viewer since Season One, I still think that the show has received more acclaim than it probably deserves. But while previous seasons have run a little hot-and-cold for my taste, this year really took things to the next level with the opening of a new agency, the financial struggles that plagued its growth, and the personal changes that developed as a result. Don Draper is a much more likeable guy now that he’s not boozing or womanizing (and Jon Hamm’s performance should finally net him an Emmy), Elisabeth Moss continues to deliver strong work as the cute but headstrong Peggy, and Kiernan Shipka was nothing short of incredible as Don’s psychologically complex daughter, Sally. So yeah, I’ll admit it, “Mad Men” was pretty damn good this year, but one has to wonder how much longer Matthew Weiner can keep it going.

When we first see Agent Van Alden this evening, he’s quoting St. Augustine. Moments later, he’s smacking the living shit out of a potential new recruit and lying about Agent Sepso’s cause of death, claiming it was a heart attack rather than, y’know, at Van Alden’s own hand. Clearly, he’s losing it…oh, who are we kidding? He lost it long ago. One presumes, however, that a certain part of him knows he’s losing it, as he’s decided to depart the bureau. I can’t see him getting away with having murdered Sepso, however. Not with all of those witnesses.

Nucky’s pretty pissed off about the current state of affairs in the mayoral race of Atlantic City, with the democratic candidate, Fletcher, poised to take home the victory. In asking his team – which includes Chalky White – to hunt up as many potential voters as possible for his candidate, Bader, Nucky’s seething with anger over the goings-on his personal life is palpable, and it doesn’t help that he’s being constantly told that his decision to remove Eli was a wrong one. Chalky admits, however, that Fletcher’s people have approached him in an attempt to get him to use his sway with his “people” and get them to vote for him. In truth, however, he says he’s only doing it for the money, that he’s really doing it for Nucky…particularly if he can get a little bit more money out of the deal. In addition to the money, Chalky wants a new car and an invitation to the new mayor’s victory party. Nucky said it’s tough to promise the latter, but Chalky calmly suggests it’s probably in both their best interests if he comes through.

Although she’s evacuated from the love nest provided to her by Nucky, Margaret and her kids are still in the general area, hanging out with Nan, mother of Warren Harding’s love child. Nan’s still quite naive, the poor thing, expecting to hear from Harding any day now. (Yeah, right…) As such, she can only offer Margaret a place to stay for a few more days, focusing on her future as a resident of the White House. In the meantime, Margaret keeps her chin up as best she can, baking a barn brack but clearly worrying a bit about her new friend’s state of mind.

Wow, so the person trying to kill the Commodore via arsenic poisoning was his maid? Not that I can’t see why she’d do such a thing, given how he treated her, but in addition to feeling really predictable – shades of “the butler did it” – it was a real moment of deflation when it felt like we were going to be getting some fantastic payoff for this unexpected storyline. Instead, Nucky just paid her off (in fairness, it was kind of funny when he sympathized with her decision) and, for his trouble, got a Bible with a particular passage noted. Oh, okay, I do want to know what passage, so I guess they still managed to get me…

Cut to NYC, where Rothstein is giving his boys their final instructions before he hops a boat and heads for the UK. Personally, I thought the idea of visiting distilleries and learning to play the bagpipes sounded like a pretty good plan, but they weren’t having it, instead offering to “get their hands dirty” and try someone between New York and Chicago who might be able to assist in keeping Rothstein on American soil. He seems resigned to his departure, but I’m thinking otherwise. They wouldn’t have spent all damned season setting up this Black Sox storyline to have Edelstein just say, “Well, that’s it, boys, I’m out of here!”

Jimmy comes home, and it’s clear that he and Angela are still on frosty terms…which, frankly, is to be expected, given that she’d taken their son and hit the road, only to have to come back with her tail between her legs. As it turns out, she’s scared for a different reason than we’d expect: apparently, he’s been having war flashbacks while he’s been asleep, screaming and grabbing Angela. It’s scaring Tommy, and…well, given that she shares a bed with him, you can imagine Angela’s a little worried, too. But why is this the first we’re hearing of these sleepytime flashbacks? Seems pretty ham-handed to have them pop up in the season finale when they’ve never been mentioned before now, as it does for Jimmy and Angela to suddenly reconcile. Then again, Angela’s expression gives us a pretty good idea that she’s not entirely sure about Jimmy’s interest to simply let bygones be bygones. Later, when she receives the postcard from Paris from the disappearing Mrs. Dietrich, her sadness is palpable. It’s been a rough couple of days for poor Angela…

Into the graveyard we go, where Margaret finally learns that she and Nucky have something in common: the loss of a child. Once again, we’re presented with a woman whose expression speaks volumes about her thoughts, and Margaret’s reveals that she’s taking this new information and wondering if she’s been wrong about Nucky.

Speaking of the Nuckmeister, he’s on the phone with Torrio, who’s hopping the overnight train from Chicago to New York in order to meet with Rothstein, even if Nucky isn’t exactly aware of this. (I laughed at Nucky’s comment about already having bought the Brooklyn Bridge.) As he’s preparing for the costume ball, Margaret appears at the door. The conversation between the two of them proves to be a dramatic highlight of the episode, if not the season, as Nucky finally breaks down and tells Margaret…and us…everything about his wife and son. It’s a horrific tale, one which would inspire tears in anyone, but the telling is a watershed moment in the relationship between Nucky and Margaret, if not necessarily in the way we might have expected. No, she doesn’t go back to him, but she does acknowledge that, for the first time ever, she’s finally seen the real Nucky Thompson. She may not understand him, but at least she’s seen him.

Van Alden tells his wife how he’d been offered a full-time assignment in Atlantic City but has declined it in favor of joining the family feed business in Schenectady. She’s less than thrilled, but when she dares to suggest that she enjoys being the wife of a federal agent, he accuses her of undue vanity. She says he’s doing God’s work, he says that, if that’s the case, God needs to send him a sign. I expect we’ll be seeing that sign by episode’s end.

The meeting between Nucky, Torrio, and Rothstein starts off tense, but Nucky begins to see reason, no doubt considering the possible benefits of a relationship with Rothstein. Jimmy, however, is less than thrilled at the prospect, though he’s shut down the instant he dares to offer a dissenting opinion. Within moments, Nucky has made his offer, and after tacking on the information that he’s pals with the state’s attorney in Chicago, Rothstein decides it’s a deal worth doing, even with the high pricetag. What Nucky does with the information he receives from Rothstein is a masterstroke of revenge: his boys, including Richard Harrow, take down the remaining D’Alessio brothers, and – neatly tying up a bow from earlier in the season – he holds a press conference to say that they were involved with Hans Schroeder in the massacre but, now that they’ve been identified, are being “sought for questioning.” Boy, that barbershop scene was rough. Clearly, Jimmy’s the most bloodthirsty “questioner” of the bunch. Imagine how much worse he’d be with Angela if he wasn’t able to get some of his stress out via the occasional murder, eh? There’s a lot of blood on Nucky’s hands. I don’t know how much more sin the man can stand…

The look on Jimmy’s face when he sees Angela’s newly-cut hair is one of betrayal, though I’m not entirely sure why. Maybe it’s because he no longer feels that she’s even trying to put on a facade that she’s still the woman he once fell in love with. But it doesn’t matter: the Commodore has called and requested his presence, so out the door he goes…but not to see the Commodore.

Instead, he heads to Nucky’s place, where the win looks to be in, both for the Atlantic City elections and for Rothstein in Chicago. Nucky’s on cloud nine, but he’s the only Thompson brother who is. Even getting a share of Rothstein’s million-dollar payoff hasn’t done anything to make Eli less pissed at Nucky for dumping him as the chief of police. Nucky tells Eli that he has to trust that blood is thicker than water, resulting in Eli’s pointed response: “Yeah, well, why’d it have to be my blood?” Ouch. But Nucky comes through for him: moments after Bader’s election is confirmed, the new mayor kicks Halloran to the curb and gives Eli back his old position. Eli’s expression is one of befuddlement, but he doesn’t turn down the assignment. Shame about Halloran, but, hey, he stepped on Eli’s head to get the gig, so it’s only fair that he should get a kick in the balls on his way back down.

Jimmy’s drunk off his ass and talking out of turn, leading to a confrontation between him and Nucky over the circumstances that led Nucky to help raise him. Interesting how Nucky sees no immediate difference between guilt and duty. Meanwhile, Eli’s watching from the sidelines, seemingly bemused at the way his brother is being forced to deal with this awkward situation. In the end, Jimmy bolts, this time to visit the Commodore, closing by telling Nucky to stop pretending that he gives a shit.

Time for a bit of barn brack. Silly superstition though it may be, it nonetheless gives Margaret pause when she gets the rag and Nan, with her ridiculous belief that President Harding is going to invite her to live in the White House, gets the ring. We know from the historical record that Nan needn’t start packing now nor ever, but we don’t know what the future holds for Margaret…nor, obviously, does Margaret. Will her concern over this “silly superstition” worry her enough to send her back to Nucky?

Van Alden and Lucy are reunited, but as soon as Lucy said she was pregnant, the expression on Van Alden’s face made me think there was a very good chance that she wouldn’t be long for this world. I mean, he’s killed once. There’s no reason to believe that he won’t kill again, especially if he convinces himself that she’s a dirty whore who deserves to suffer God’s wrath via his hands…and, given his feelings on matters of religion (not to mention the way he looks at his Bible), that’s not likely to be hard to do. And yet when you consider that his wife isn’t happy with his change in job and she’s unable to bear him a child, the fact that this gorgeous sex machine is able to do what his wife couldn’t…well, you know, maybe this is the sign he was asking for.

Given how much alcohol Jimmy’s tossed back tonight, there’s really nothing good that can come of him continuing to drink…or, I’m guessing, of the Commodore sharing a snort with him. I was expecting him to drop dead before the end of the scene, but, no, there’s something about the possibility of revenge that proves to be a highly rejuvenating tonic. It’s pretty sad to realize that this is the first time this father and son have ever shared a drink together, but their bond grows as the Commodore spins a story which reveals a heretofore-unrealized bond between the two of them: a mutual festering anger toward Nucky Thompson. Moments later, we learn that Eli makes three. Yikes. Talk about setting up a storyline for Season 2…

The post-election celebration is underway, with entertainment provided by Eddie Cantor, he of the big ears and rather googly eyes. I got a good laugh out of the sight of Baxter walking into the festivities with Annabelle on his arm. While looking around for Chalky White and his boys, however, I was pleasantly surprised to see Margaret walk in. I half expected Annabelle to swoop in and embarrass him before Margaret could make her way over to him, but, no, they successfully reunite…in more ways than one, it appears. Guess the superstition was enough to bring her back. Will there be a happy ending for her? Maybe, maybe not…which is ultimately the most you can say for Nucky, too, given all of the glimpses we get of the goings-on happening behind his back, the repercussions of which we won’t see ’til next season.

So there you have it, folks: the conclusion of Season 1 of “Boardwalk Empire.” What did you think?

Angela’s drifting off in thought while sitting at the dinner table, which really apparently pisses off Jimmy. Fair enough: he’s still smarting from the situation with the photographer, clearly distrusting his wife despite her assurances that she never slept with the man…which is true insofar as it goes, but let’s not go there right now. What’s more important is that he receives a phone call. It sounds like business, but he says it was his mother, letting him know that his father is dying. Given that Jimmy seemed to have viewed Nucky as a father figure when the season kicked off, I think it’s fair to say that the bond between him and his real father must be pretty weak.

Agents Van Alden and Sepso are enjoying a spot of Chinese when Van Alden unsurprisingly turns the topic of conversation to that of Sepso having killed Billy, and it’s not exactly what you’d call a polite dinnertime chat. Sepso maintains his cool, relatively speaking, but it’s clear that this won’t be the last time Van Alden brings up the matter.

The evening with Hardeen continues beyond his proper show, as he entertains the troops back at Nucky’s place. Once again, Margaret and Annabelle are enthralled, while Nucky shrugs and Harry sweats. It’s pretty funny to watch Hardeen play up his reputation even as he plays down his brother’s, but the fun stops when Harry explodes and at least explains why he’s been looking so sketchy all night: he’s lost a huge amount of money at the hands of one Charles Ponzi…and if the name sounds familiar, yes, he is the one who gave name to the so-called Ponzi Scheme, which most recently came to prominence via Bernie Madoff. So much for the relationship between Harry and Annabelle, eh?

Rothstein gets word from Chicago that things ain’t looking good for him with the whole Black Sox situation. His attorney suggests that he heads to Chi-Town, but to make sure he knows someone in the city who’s willing to do him a favor. Will it be Capone or Torrio?

No, The Commodore’s not dead yet, but you can’t blame his maid for fearing the worst. I mean, the guy’s already sick, and then his dog dies…? Talk about the kind of thing to send a guy into a tailspin. But, wait, who’s the Commodore’s guest? Jimmy?!? Wait a minute: Jimmy’s the Commodore’s son? Did we already know this? I’m pretty sure we didn’t. (Given the predilection of the majority of this blog’s few readers to only comment when they have a chance to criticize or complain, I can only presume someone will quickly confirm if I’m wrong.) Boy, Jimmy’s really pissed off that he’s had to make this visit, and it’s clear that he won’t miss his father when he’s gone. How else to explain the fact that, when the Commodore says he’s dying, Jimmy’s only response is to say, “Well, then, I will call you a priest.” Still, when the Commodore adds that the wrong person is running Atlantic City, it causes such mixed feelings in Jimmy that he promptly pukes. Still, I guess it would be a little confusing to realize that a man you’ve loathed for decades could well be the one who holds the key to the future you’ve been seeking.

I admit it: I’m surprised that Angela is so seriously considering Mary’s suggestion that they run off together. Watching the way Mary kisses her husband, however, I’m wondering if maybe Angela’s going to make a break for it, only to find that Mary’s the one who’s gotten cold feet.

Sepso’s scared shitless about Van Alden’s refusal to back down on his accusations that he killed Billy without having had the provocation he’s claiming, so much so that he’s calling Nucky for advice. To help him out of a tough spot, Nucky offers up the location of an illegal distillery, so that Sepso can bust it, thereby ostensibly redeeming himself in Van Alden’s eyes. I can’t imagine it’s going to go down smoothly, though. That’d just be way too easy.

After hanging up with Sepso, Nucky finds Annabelle rushing into his office, complaining that Harry has swiped the money that she’d hidden in the floorboards. Of course, it was money she’d stolen from Harry, but even so, Nucky’s a soft touch…and, it seems, Annabelle’s even softer. When he tells her to “skip to the part where you say you’ll do anything for me,” she tells him to “draw the curtains and I’ll do it right now.” In a moment of brilliantly bad timing, however, he tells her that he’ll keep that offer in his back pocket just as Margaret is standing in the doorway. Nucky looks momentarily horrified, but he recovers well. She’s understandably still pissed, however, revealing that she’s accomplished her mission with the League of Women Voters by saying, “I’m glad to have been of use to you.” Two strong wills, to be sure. I don’t know if they’ll last the season as a couple or join forces and become the power couple of the 1920s, but I can’t wait to find out.

Gillian quizzes Jimmy on the state of The Commodore, but he’s just as curious about the relationship his mother maintains with his father, clearly bothered by the fact that the man took advantage of a teenage girl and got her pregnant. He also seems a little uncertain as to why Nucky would’ve stepped in to help her care for her child. Jimmy views Nucky as a pimp, but I’d guess that, at least to a certain extent, Nucky feels guilty that he’s the one who brought Gillian to The Commodore in the first place.

Sepso takes Van Alden to the woods in an attempt to curry favor by busting up a distillery, but what they find instead is a Negro church preparing to perform a baptism. I was surprised to see Van Alden grow so belligerent, but he changes his tune at the minister’s unbridled belief in his faith. A tense moment follows with Van Alden dismissing the Jewish faith with a withering comment, then dismissing Sepso himself just as easily.

Jimmy finds himself quickly swayed into favoring The Commodore after he hears the old man say, “You’re a good son,” offering to stay by his sickbed, and his expression shows that he’s beginning to dread the thought of losing a father that he’s never known or even tried to know. And speaking of beds, Nucky’s perched on Margaret’s as she prepares for their evening outing, but their conversation quickly devolves into sniping back and forth, with Margaret growing further upset about the fact that she’s expected to do anything and everything Nucky asks of her, even though he’s unwilling to entrust her with any information about his goings-on. He throws a small fit over the fact that she cleanses herself after their “close encounters,” and she counters by saying that she doesn’t want to have another baby, let alone his heir. He says he thought she wanted saving. She accuses him of killing her husband. A slap. A throwing of a bottle against the wall. Yeah, remember when I wondered a few paragraphs ago if they’d become the power couple of the 1920s…? Probably not happening.

Richard stops by to check in on Jimmy, giving him the update on the D’Alessio brothers and basically offering to kill anybody necessary if it’ll help the situation. Before anything can be decided, however, The Commodore’s doctor returns and reveals that someone’s been trying to murder him via arsenic poisoning. Clearly, we know Jimmy’s innocent, so there are really only three other possible suspects: the maid, Jimmy’s mom, and Nucky. Cue the dramatic music…

Angela’s all packed and ready to roll, despite Tommy’s uncertainty about the situation, leaving a note for Jimmy and preparing to sail off to Europe and, she hopes, to a better future than the one which waits for her in Atlantic City. It’s like I said earlier, though: I just don’t see this happening. This means one of two things is going to happen: Angela will return home and find that Jimmy has already read the note she left for him, or she and Tommy make it back before Jimmy but, because of Tommy’s previously established tendency to mouth off, he blabs to his father about where they had been going. Basically, this is going to be a lose-lose situation when all’s said and done.

The brothers Thompson, together again! We haven’t seen much of Eli since his shooting, let alone their father, but we get a brief glimpse of the latter wasting away on Eli’s porch before Eli and Nucky sit down for tea and conversation. If there was any question about which of the brothers is the classiest, I think we get a definitive answer when Nucky says that he didn’t deny his involvement in Margaret’s husband’s death because he wanted to hurt her and Eli responds by holding up his fists and asking, “What do you think these are for?” Nice. Eli’s pissed off about the current political situation and views Margaret as a liability, mouthing off to Nucky in a big way. In return, Nucky offers up one of the great comebacks of the season by making a comparison to Eli and Hardeen: if it wasn’t for his brother, nobody would give a fuck about him. Eli is left speechless…and rightfully so.

Jimmy visits Gillian and bumbles around with his suspicions about whether she might be the one slipping him the arsenic. Suddenly, however, we see his earlier vomiting in a different light: it wasn’t mixed feelings that caused the puking but, rather, poison cookies. Gillian doesn’t exactly look like a model of innocence at this news.

Nucky’s mood is less than giddy when he meets with Edward Bader and the rest of his boys, instigating a change in the way they’ll be approaching the future. Exit Eli, enter Halloran. Good thing he found his balls a couple of episodes ago, eh?

Meanwhile, back on the boardwalk, my theory was proven correct, but, unfortunately, that means that Angela’s worst fears were realized: Mr. and Mrs. Dietrich have vanished without a trace, leaving an empty store and a single photograph, one which Tommy presents to his mother with the words, “Look, Mommy, ghosts!” It’s a little too on-the-nose, that line, but it doesn’t change the overwhelming feeling of sadness you get when you see Angela’s face, the poor woman.

Sepso’s decided to bail out of his assignment and head elsewhere, having grown weary of being constantly badgered by Van Alden, but even as he announces his departure, Van Alden is still making him feel as guilty as possible and refusing to change his tune. So what does Sepso have to do to get Van Alden to trust him? Why, get baptized, of course. It looks at first as if it’s going to be too much for Sepso to handle, but, no, he decides to step into the waters and accept Van Alden’s challenge. As soon as I realized that Van Alden was going to do it, however, I knew what was going to happen…or, at least, I thought I did. I absolutely did not think that Van Alden was going to hold Sepso down until he had drowned. Wow. A “holy shit” moment…and a literal one, given the situation. Misguided faith is a dangerous, dangerous thing.

Nucky learns from Richard that Margaret and her children have departed, offering no idea as to where they’ve gone. Angela, meanwhile, returns home to find that, as I predicted, Jimmy’s already read the note that she’d left for him. Angela’s guilt is palpable, as well it should be. Cut back to Nucky, who visits the palm reader on the boardwalk to see what the future holds for him…and I guess we’ll all learn the answer at the same time, since, as I won’t be able to see next week’s season finale in advance, we’ll all be watching it together.

See you then!