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Last night's episode of "Boardwalk Empire," -- "Home" -- explored the notion of personal demons both inward and outward -- especially Nucky Thompson's (Steve Buscemi). Seems as though he may have some daddy issues especially after his father Ethan Thompson is injured in a fall. Nucky uses the opportunity to refurbish his childhood home and finds out how he really feels about the place he grew up.
Also:
• Chalky White (Michael Kenneth Williams) may or may not consider a liquor proposition from a mysterious stranger.
• Creepy prohibition Agent Nelson Van Alden (Michael Shannon) gets a valuable lead on the woods massacre. Uh-oh ... jimmy better watch out.
• Lucky Luciano (Vincent Piazza) and a "new friend" cut a deal with the bumbling D'Alessio brothers from Philly.
• Courtesy of a hot tip from Al Capone (Stephen Graham), Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt) eyes payback against one of Sheridan's thugs for the slashing his ex-girlfriend's face.
Jimmy also makes a new acquaintance at a Veteran's Hospital in the form of a disfigured man named Richard Harrow. The two are there for a psychological evaluation and become buddies.
Harrow asks if Jimmy is there for the test.
"The nutcase test? Yeah..." Jimmy answers
"And then they'll tell us if we're normal or not," Harrow says. "They're interested in what's in our heads so next time, we'll fight better."
Harrow turns to his leather duffel and pulls out a German sniper mask. He tells Jimmy that if he doesn't have it on him at all times, he becomes anxious.
A marksman in the war, Harrow says that he watched the same German soldier for three days straight and when he lifted the mask to scratch his nose he put "a bullet one inch below his eye."
The more he talks with the disfigured vet, he realizes that Harrow's sharp eye just may prove invaluable.
Find out how in my full recap HERE chock full of historical footnotes, episode videos, tunes from the era and other thoughts.
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My new favorite character... you don't want someone two-faced to get your back, but you sure could use someone with half a face at yours.
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ReplyDeleteFabulous new character...I hope we'll be seeing a lot more of Richard Harrow.
ReplyDeleteSee my theory is that Harrow IS the german sniper.
ReplyDeleteHe injury points toward the exact wound he describes.
If you were safe the whole time you had a snipers mask on and then got shot the one time yo didn't have it, then you would be anxious too if you left it behind.
There is just a lot of weirdness in his diction and speech that might be a hidden accent.
Either way.. great character. I hope he goes with Jimmy back to NJ.
Tarl:
ReplyDeleteThat is a stupendous assumption...
Just watched this episode, fantastic character as you say.
ReplyDeleteTarl I love your hypothesis. I don't agree with it, but I love it.
That guy is awesome. He looks like a bad ass sheldon with a gun obsession instead of science.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say that Harrow is the German sniper. I'm not trying to be contrary for the sake of being contrary, but he probably wouldn't have been registered in a veteran's hospital in the U.S. for testing that he was reluctant to undergo if he were.
ReplyDeleteThe explanation for his choice to shot could be that he simply has a killer's signature, and that this signature would have been reinforced by his injury. Most likely, he keeps this mask with him because it is--in his mind--a concrete symbol of a time in which he considered himself "useful". Stateside, he is disfigured and marginalized, but in war he was a hero.
From the writer's standpoint, it's all beautiful symbolism: Jimmy reading The Tin Soldier, Harrow having a cosmetic tin prosthetic face, him carrying about a metal sniper mask. All references to cold, lifeless materials for someone who only understands his own self-worth (at this point) as being a slayer of men.
Jimmy is important to him now. He's provided him a means of obtaining sex, power, money and respect--things he would have otherwise probably not had access to.
The peculiar inflection is probably due to the injuries to his mouth and perhaps throat.
He is a great character, and I wouldn't be surprised if later, he encounters someone who is responsible for his injury, and this person may be a member of the main cast (in true HBO series fashion)
I'd like to see a lot more of him, too.
Anybody know how the make up was done for this character?
ReplyDeletehttp://vimeo.com/18275127
ReplyDelete^^^^^ that's a link to a video for a load of how they did stuff for the series. Part way through there's a bit on Harrow's make-up (digital work)
Jack Huston = YUM! I was bound to love Harrow!!!!
As a war vet myself I really identify with Jimmy and Mr.Harrow. The almost poetic duality of both mens personalities is something most combat vets have. I can't wait to see season two and more of Mr.Harrow. Jimmy, Harrow, Capone, and of course Nucky are my favorite characters. Van Alden needs to be on the receiving end of one of Harrow's lead post cards. lol
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