Can't blame him...whatever liquor he stole was not retrievable as Waxy Gordon took it all....still..it was bad timing for Nucky to go after Roland Smith as people closest to him including Owen started questioning his decision making this season....
The kid thought he was playing Nucky, but it was Nucky who was playing the kid, he always planned on killing him as he stole and in the process showed why he is boss and not Owen, as Owen was taken in by Roland's bullcrap. Nucky is smart and ruthless with a good poker face and that's why he's boss.
Nucky Killed him in front of Owen to send him a message because earlier in the episode he felt like he was being disrespected and that Owen was calling the shots. Because Owen was handling the distribution and Nuck was off w Billy Kent
I think anyone who came up in lower middle class to poor environment, or anyone who's served in the military, has met kids just like Roland: wiry, energetic, not dumb but also not as smart as they think they are, and above all, very prone to lying and in one way or another always trying to hustle everyone around them. He's the type of kid that will bum a cigarette off you and later hit on your girlfriend. And when you go confront him about it he will just lie through his teeth.
I love how they built Roland up to be a new recurring character, used all the familiar tropes, then Nucky just blows his brains out. Ngl, probably for the best, Boardwalk Empire didn’t need a quirky kid sidekick.
@@b.s.a.suburbiaproductions840 your opinion is wrong, I have more knowledge than you , my brother went to college, and I'm top of my class in high school.
A line I was told years ago. “Don’t bullshit a bullshitter.” Raised by a bullshitter and bullshitted myself. You learn to pick up little hints like the not smoking, the overly friendly behavior, and the eagerness to swap sides. If they’re so eager to swap sides, why? If they lied to you about a little thing, why? If they have a sudden pledge to your team, why? It’s in the art and consistency of bullshitting. If there is no clear answer to any of the questions then you’re getting bullshit answers.
It’s where Roland gave away his age. Nucky might have been on the fence when he still believed him to be 15. But when he smoked, he revealed that he’s older, which gave Nucky the green light to light him up.
You can see Nucky’s thought process build to killing the kid in this scene. He was probably going to do it regardless but Roland proving he’s a liar and that he’s a terrible thief cemented that he was just a liability. Roland would steal again, get caught by the feds/rival mobs, or snitch. It was cold and heartless but Nucky didn’t seem to be one to recruiting thieves/risks. And he sent a message that he’s not to be fucked with to Mr. Sleater. Poor kid :( might’ve lived if he didn’t lie through his teeth for two damn seconds...
If only he stuck to the lie of being 16, but when he revealed he was actually older and a young adult there’s probably less sympathy for him. People are more likely to let a 16 kid get away with something like this then a 19 year old young guy, at least that was my observation 🤷🏾♂️.
@@daholyspirit2783 The smoking was the other thing. Nucky knew as soon as Roland took that cigarette out that he was going to kill him. Any time there were words coming out of Roland's mouth, he was lying and Nucky realized it right then. Roland was telling Nucky what he thought he wanted to hear, he might've been 19, but he also could've been 15 or 22 for all anyone knew. He could've possibly been an asset had he been a potential loyal dog, but you can't trust serial liars to be loyal.
I think Nucky knew from the second they caught Roland that they were gonna kill him. Look at 00:27 when Owen questions, “Well?” Basically asking “what are we gonna do with the kid?” Nucky gives Owen an incredulous look and begins to toy with Roland as a lesson to Owen: Don’t ever turn your back on me or this will happen to you. And it does…
we already know this about Nuck after killing Jimmy. he even sided with a guy who had previously robbed him. The show doesn't tell us anything new about Nucky here. Just gets a bit of shock points which at this point is overkill, and makes Nucky predictable boring, and you folks stop routing for him with two full seasons left There are reasons this show didn't fare well it's first time out...
The kid was smug, he got caught, was extremely cocky, and clearly didn't know how to set boundaries. That is like perfect checkoff list for a "loose end".
He never knew consequences. He wasn't old enough to have the wisdom and experience to know the full consequences of his actions. That doesn't excuse it though, because the threat he posed for being soo young and dumb could not be ignored. He may have been young, but age doesn't necessarily buy you a ticket out of trouble.
Steve Buscemi did such a good job in this series. His character was so calm and cool but he had an intensity burning underneath all that. He did a great job showing it through his eyes in his facial expression’s.
Nucky: 'How old are you really?' Rowland: '19. So legally I'm allowed to drive. Isn't that better?' Nucky (to himself): 19. So morally I have no problem shooting you in the head for ripping me off.
@@joetamburello4223 It was when he said "how else you supposed to get ahead" and pulled out a smoke. That same line is what Jimmy said to Nucky when Jimmy and Capone robbed Nucky's shipment in the first season. You see Nucky's eyes change as soon as he hears Roland say that line. He knows then that he cannot be trusted, the same way Jimmy could not be trusted.
@Boa-Noah i think owen didnt give a shit either way. it wasnt his call to make so he just went along with the kid as he didnt know for sure what the future held. the only thing that shook him at the end was the shot going off behind his head. he pointed the gun straight to rowland then up. its a good scene.
The One Thing in this video that was the final nail in the coffin for Roland... Was when he pulled out that cigarette. That was the Deal Breaker. It was Nucky's last straw, knowing that he was a liar, a cheat, and just a young upstart that would do whatever he could to get ahead in life including shooting him in the back.. So Nucky Shot First.
Well said. Sometimes its not the big things that make a stop dealing with you. Its little things like the lying and deceiving and i guess in that type of game you cant take any risk.
People are over-thinking this scene Roland was always going to die. It was a point Nucky wanted to drive home to Owen, that if you cross him there's no charming your way out of it. Jimmy gave Nucky the best advice anyone could give him when he told him you can't be half a gangster.
I started to roll my eyes during this scene because it seemed so predictable to have this rough around the edges but kind of lovable hoodlum join their gang and become a main cast member and then BAM, holy shit. Really did not see that coming and pretty much cemented Nucky as a cold bastard for the rest of the show for me.
I was actually hoping he’d kill the kid. First the asshole tried to steal from them, then they all are about to get caught and Roland is a smart ass about it. He then proceeds to lie and smirk all the time. He actually deserved to be killed off. Roland was a fucking idiot to believe he could be more cunning or outsmart Nucky.
By far my favourite scene in the show. So tense throughout and then the ending is completely shocking yet plausible for Nucky's character. Really shows him becoming this machiavellian monster.
He wasn't a monster for this he did what any ganster would do. The kid lies so much you can't believe anything he says he forgets what lie he told. He can't be trusted.
@@ThouArtOfWar0724Nucky lie, stole, killed for a living. He used his blood money to finance his lavish lifestyle. He is very much a monster. The kid was young and dumb, ambitious but 100% agree with your assessment of him.
Yea. There's this sense we get early on that Nucky deals with the gangsters to get rich but he's way more understanding and gentle by nature. Nope. By this point, Nucky is every bit a gangster. I also think he's aware of this perception of him, even among those in his inner circle. Have to change that.
I wonder if Nucky would've still shot him had Roland not lied to him about never smoking or his age. I guess Nucky might've been able to handle a thief in his midst if they're resourceful. A liar however, that's too big of a risk.
I actually think that's where it all changed. The conversation kinda of shifts from hearing him out to just waiting for him to be done with his bullshit so he could kill him.
lapugenero that's what sunk his ship. See he probably would have let him work but what happened is he noticed that the kid is a mirage , he lies to get ahead but there's something else there a disloyalty that will never go away.
I think Nucky would have shot Rowland (not Roland) no matter what because he stole from him. That's been a huge emotional trigger for Nucky since childhood and the baseball glove incident.
Do you recall why they're in that house together? Nucky was obsessed with finding out who stole from him. First he had Manny Horvitz interrogate and then kill Rowland's partner Nate. Then, after Horvitz is killed and 3 episodes later, Nucky gets on Owen's case for not following up on the investigation. In both cases, Nucky lulled Nate and Rowland into feeling they were safe and then they were dead.
I love how hauntingly similar to Jimmy he is at 2:05: the body language, the expression, and the subtle change in pitch. I'm almost certain this had to be intentional. I just kept waiting for him to call him "Nuck."
No Body Its the most humane death anyone can have. When he was killed it was the most painless way possible. The kid at that moment felt relieved and accepted instead of fearing and panicking.
Jimmy Peeps Think about it again, nucky could have just had him shot while making him scared and beg for his life like the thief’s partner, but nucky gives him a cigar, making him feel welcomed, and made sure the kill was instant and undetected so there was no fear or physical pain.
This opening scene really sets the new tone for Nucky and its great. Sure, it’s easy to dwell on Nucky shooting Roland, a kid (“you can’t be half a gangster” and not get your hands dirty), but really it’s a message to Owen to not lie or fuck him over. Just outstanding all around. I love this show lol
Him pulling that cigarette out to smoke sealed his fate. One lie after another while attempting to be recruited by a man who didn’t trust anyone…not even his brother.
You forgot to mention that he also wanted to reassert that HE was the boss to Owen, and that ultimately he is the one who calls the shots. "I misunderstood" "As long as you understand now" BOSS level REASSERTED!
I remember watching this episode and thinking "Oh I get it....so this kid is gonna join their team...Nucky will take this kid in because he reminds him of Jimmy" Then it gets to this scene and I'm thinking "aw man, called it....man..that's so corny, like come o-OH SHIT". Pretty cold especially because Owen was starting to like the kid. Gotta hand it to the writers, this was one of the most surprising moments on the show.
@TheRealist 811 nucky knew that Owen was fucking his wife in this scene? That's why he shot the kid to scare him? I thought nucky finds out after owen gets murdered?
I think sending the message to Owen that he is the boss is the strongest reason for this killing. Admittedly the kid had done plenty of things to warrant it from a criminal perspective.
Yeah. Nucky was suspicious that Owen was playing him, acting all cute with him while really fucking him, so he killed the cocky kid as a warning to Owen.
I thought the mood shifted when Smith admitted to lying about his age and smoking. If he hadn’t let on that he lied I think Nucky would have let him go.
Y'all do remember that nucky had this kid partner killed in the first episode of that season, and he acted all nice with that kid as well and also acted as if he was gonna let the kid go but had Manny kill him. I don't believe this had anything to do with owen, this kid was dead the moment his partner gave him up
Kid was too used to that smile getting him out of trouble. And he wasn't smart enough to see just how dangerous a situation he was in. He was probably thinking about how he would tell this story to friends over drinks when Nucky shot him.
I agree with much of what people have written about the motives behind the kill - it's nicely overdetermined - but in my mind the kid signed his death warrant when he revealed his age as that of a grown-up who needs to be held accountable for his actions. Should have stuck to the 16 fib.
@tom gianni No, German - where 'Erwachsener'/Grown-up is neutral (like adult) and does not have any connotations of childishness. Thanks for improving my command of English a little.
Wudnt have mattered one of the delesio Brothers wus that age and stole from nucky...and Jimmy asked ..even the kid? Young or not your in a grown man business and stealing from nucky needed 2 have lethal consequences
When he told him he was 19 and brought out the cigarettes Nucky realised he couldn't trust him. He trusted Jimmy and nearly ended up being killed by him so by shooting Roland he was saving himself from that future. You could never trust a guy like Roland, he'd say anything to save his skin and would double cross you in a flash. A bit like Mickey Doyle but without the comic relief.
I think Mickey was kept around because he wasn't bright or brave enough and lacked moxy to really do anything on his own. Mickey was just with whoever was muscling him at any given moment. Although he wasn't loyal, he wasn't going to stab you in the back nor is he going to lead any sort of mutiny. He lacked the courage, bravery, and smarts to do so. Mickey is however smart enough not to snitch on the cops, not that Mickey is deep enough into things to really know any grand plans or anything.
I didn't understand why he would kill this kid when this first came out. After a couple viewings I see that the kid was proving over and over he was a bad liar, and even worse he thought he was a good one. Those are the guys who get caught by the feds and rat.
To the casual watcher of Boardwalk Empire this death may have been surprising. But to those who carefully follow the plot this death was obvious. Nucky made it clear with Nate earlier in the series that anyone who steals from Mr Thompson will be killed with no exceptions. He never had any intention of letting Roland live right from the very beginning.
And to Nucky's reason, proving anything to Owen is an afterthought. This was a planned murder from the get go. Nucky just waited until he was safe and had his driver waiting outside.
Basically, what happened is Nucky shows to Owen The main mafia rule - "You cant steal, lie/cheat and not be thankful for an offered cigarette at the same time "
If they kid was as smart as he thought he was, he would have stfu and kept acting like he was a young punk that didn't know what he'd gotten himself into. Even so, as soon as Nucky offered him the cigarette I knew the kid was toast. What an incredible show, and man, the sheer menace emanating from SB's eyes; he was death itself in this scene. I also really loved the subtly in Charlie Cox's expression afterward; an amazing mixture of surprise, fear and doing everything he could to keep composed enough to keep on living.
I remember first watching this scene on TV and, when they brought up him lying about smoking I knew he was definitely dead. How are you to be trusted in the mob when you lie about something as innocuous as smoking?
Gyp was a cartoon character compared to the other antagonists they had. There is no way a man that unpredictable and crazy would have lasted as long as he did.
It had nothing to do with Jimmy or "can I kill again?" The reason Nucky did it personally is because he was making a point to Owen. In the episode, Nucky notices that Owen is crossing the line. Nucky's people are looking to Owen for decisions. Even questioning Nucky. Here, Owen actually thought Nucky was going to have mercy on this kid, but he puts a bullet in his head. Nucky made it clear to Owen that he's calling the shots and it puts Owen back in his place.
I laughed at the fact that he actually thought he was getting out of there alive. He was so sure of himself that he thought he could talk his way out of there. 😂
The question is....if James Galdolfini was still alive today and not died relatively young, which part would he have played in Boardwalk Empire and how many more Emmy, Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe Awards would he have won? Shame we'll never know. He would've truly smashed it!
He definitely was killing two birds with one stone. Not only did he get a rid of a potential backstabber, he let Owen know in not so many words that he was fully aware of what was going on with him and Margaret. Nucky is one of the smartest characters in the show.
He knew Owen was up to something but didn't know it was with Margaret. Nucky is honestly astonished and realizes the relationship when he sees Margaret's reaction to Owen's dead body.
@@marudoethiopia Yeah, I mean, consider how Owen reacted when Nucky asked him about the bathroom assassination in season 2. He briefly thought he'd been found out about his affair with Margaret because of the pointed way Nucky asked him if the "friend" he was visiting was from Ireland.
@@marudoethiopia It's been years since I've seen this, but I thought I remembered Owen wanting to leave the life and asking Nucky, and Nucky was basically giving him his answer right here
His death was such a shocker.. thought the boy thief had charmed nucky successfully.. 😳 both Charlie Cox and this young kid emote so well with their eyes.. Superb
I think this whole scene had a lot to do with Jimmy making him feel weak. The kid is yet another young man who disobeys him and thinks he can get away it. A younger Nucky would have let him get away with it. Not the Nucky that has had to kill someone he thought of as a son.
Nucky over the season. Season 1 Nucky: and politician pretending to be a gangster Seaon 2 Nucky: a gangster Pretending to be a politician Season 3 Nucky: All out Gangster. Season 4 Nucky: A Humble Gangster. Season 5 Nucky: A washed up gangster That evey season of Nucky in a Nutshell...
I like the subtle lesson he's teaching Owen as well. Owen thinks Nucky is someone who has power but is afraid to get his hands dirty and kinda let's him know he's not easy to get one over on.
Plus the kid was a smart ass and thought being bold was going to enthuse Nucky. Had a smirk on his face, acted cocky, disrespected, lied and basically made assumptions that nucky would even consider hiring him. After getting caught stealing. The best he could have done was plead for his life and offer to do anything to save his own ass. Instead he only tempted nucky to kill him by being a dumbass.
@@henrry889 well yeah I knew he wasn't making it out of that house Alice. Nucky let him get comfortable and let his guard down and let him think Hey kid you got spunk I'm gonna take you under my wing and then bammmmm
I think the showrunners wanted us to think he was replacing Jimmy, finding a new ward to take under his wing. They wanted us to think he was becoming a better man. But really, Nucky was actually becoming worse and worse as the show went on. More and more a proper gangster who would kill you for crossing him. He killed Jimmy, someone that was every bit a son to him. Nuck has no good side, just the painted front he shows the public.
Nucky realized if the kid couldn’t be honest about something as simple as being a smoker, he could never be trusted in his organization. Lighting that cig sealed his fate.
After watching this scene again I feel like Nucky made the decision to kill the kid after he realized he was a pathological liar hence he can't be trusted if he will lie about something so trivial as if he smoked then you can't trust anything coming out of his mouth
This was a great episode. This season was really underrated looking back on it. Apart from the Margaret stuff, there wasn't really anything wrong with it, and the Gyp storyline was probably the best of the three.
Yeah Margaret made the show unbearable at times. I'm dealing with feminism and pregnancy knowledge for poor mothers......... In a show about the Mafia. The way She always tried to act so self-righteous even though she knew where nucky got his money and still decided to marry him. That's I would always is with these wives and his crime shows. They act like they hate their criminal husbands but are always first in line when the check is cashed
@@murrethmedia She is a perfect example. If anything she's the standard. I think the only one of these wives that has an excuse that I can think of is Skylar White because she signed up for a rich successful scientist and got a high school chemistry teacher who turned into a literal meth kingpin. Now there are things that she did that makes her highly unlikable. But at least you can understand why she hated the fact that Walt is a criminal because he wasn't a criminal when they started their relationship. But Of course her whole ted saga ruined her for me. And the fact that she didn't just turn Walt into the DEA the second she realized what he was. That's what ide do if I suddenly found out my spouse is Cartel associated
Nucky Thompson: 🗣 How old are you... Really? Roland Smith: 🗣 19.... So legally I'm allowed to drive. (Nucky Thompson's Conscience): 🗣19 Huh?.... In my book you're legally allowed to die too.
Such a clever shot, you never think about where the blood actually goes or how much there is until you see it water falling in between the floor and below ceiling.
He was never going to let the kid live. He knows all too well about the carelessness of young men with ambition. The kid might have been able to help Nucky in the short term, but not enough to be worth the risk of him playing both sides and screwing Nucky over further. He knew who Nucky was when he was stealing from him...but he was soo cocky he did it anyways. The kid is no different than a grown henchman. The only difference is ability and he uses his age to get away with stuff, by the good graces of people who give second chances to the young. The kid would have never learned his lesson, because he always had people giving him breaks because he was young. If that kid thought he could gain enough trust to get in a position to shoot Nucky in the back at some point for a reward, he would have. This is cemented further by the fact that Nucky was ultimately killed by a kid around the same age. If they can hold a gun and they're in the game, they're a threat. The kid knew nothing of allegiance. That's why he was dead from the start. He turned on his people soo easily to Nucky, and Nucky knew he could turn on him just as easily too.
The way that they depicted Roland's death was well done. I knew the character was dead from the moment he walked into the house and yet the gunshot still made me jump. It’s a shame because I think Nick Robinson was one of the more effective actors on the show.
I understand Nucky. Young and bold, the kid is an opportunist. If he stole once, he'll steal again. That and he was a huge liar. Hiring him will just put your guard down and he'll get closer to you and your product. In these kinds of business, it's only trying to avoid trouble.
![Roddy Ricch - Survivors Remorse [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/J5IeFzr2GgE/mqdefault.jpg)
Not condoning what he did, but Nucky shot him without him even being aware. Just lights out. About as compassionate as a gangster can be.
Pretty much. Still horrible, but yeah.
Gyp Rosetti would have been much harsher.
@@jakecorenthose2901 any other gangster on the show would’ve been way harsher tbh!
@@user-th6rh8zp3t he could be impetuous like that
Killed him softly
@@TheValhalla1989 good movie
- Thought you were letting him go...
- Why would you think that"
Nucky is cold as ice.
the kid was a liar also it was a message to owen not to lie to him as well
Can't blame him...whatever liquor he stole was not retrievable as Waxy Gordon took it all....still..it was bad timing for Nucky to go after Roland Smith as people closest to him including Owen started questioning his decision making this season....
Nah the line, “As long as you understand now” was cold
The kid thought he was playing Nucky, but it was Nucky who was playing the kid, he always planned on killing him as he stole and in the process showed why he is boss and not Owen, as Owen was taken in by Roland's bullcrap. Nucky is smart and ruthless with a good poker face and that's why he's boss.
Nucky Killed him in front of Owen to send him a message because earlier in the episode he felt like he was being disrespected and that Owen was calling the shots. Because Owen was handling the distribution and Nuck was off w Billy Kent
"ohh I get it this kid will be the new Jimmy Darmody. Nucky's new prodigy. He will teach him about the life aaaand never mind"
You misunderstood.
@@theguybehindyou4762lol
I think Benny became the jimmy of the show
I think anyone who came up in lower middle class to poor environment, or anyone who's served in the military, has met kids just like Roland: wiry, energetic, not dumb but also not as smart as they think they are, and above all, very prone to lying and in one way or another always trying to hustle everyone around them. He's the type of kid that will bum a cigarette off you and later hit on your girlfriend. And when you go confront him about it he will just lie through his teeth.
andrew T Just..........wow.
Wow
You shouldn't even be able to purchase a gun if that's how fucked in the head you are.
Andrew isn't your regular edgelord- he's a bladebaron.
andrew T you need to get laid or seek therapy.
+Andrew T. The key word here being " a kid" He was 19 years old.
I love how they built Roland up to be a new recurring character, used all the familiar tropes, then Nucky just blows his brains out. Ngl, probably for the best, Boardwalk Empire didn’t need a quirky kid sidekick.
I actually know more about film than you
@@TheCBDemon Excuse moi?
@@b.s.a.suburbiaproductions840 your opinion is wrong, I have more knowledge than you , my brother went to college, and I'm top of my class in high school.
@@b.s.a.suburbiaproductions840 and it's not like a close thing either, I have vastly more information about anything that has to do with film/tv
@@TheCBDemon ...What the hell are you on about kiddo? How tf does your bro going to college make my opinion wrong?
"thought you didn't smoke"
I think this is where he decided to kill him for trying to manipulate him
i agree, like kid has potential but literally nothing he said so far could be trusted
A line I was told years ago. “Don’t bullshit a bullshitter.” Raised by a bullshitter and bullshitted myself. You learn to pick up little hints like the not smoking, the overly friendly behavior, and the eagerness to swap sides.
If they’re so eager to swap sides, why? If they lied to you about a little thing, why? If they have a sudden pledge to your team, why? It’s in the art and consistency of bullshitting. If there is no clear answer to any of the questions then you’re getting bullshit answers.
@@Backyardmech1 well said. Little lies and little changes, will eventually lead to bigger lies and bigger changes.
I think that was the straw really. Nucky seems to have a moment of clarity when he pauses.
It’s where Roland gave away his age. Nucky might have been on the fence when he still believed him to be 15. But when he smoked, he revealed that he’s older, which gave Nucky the green light to light him up.
You can see Nucky’s thought process build to killing the kid in this scene. He was probably going to do it regardless but Roland proving he’s a liar and that he’s a terrible thief cemented that he was just a liability. Roland would steal again, get caught by the feds/rival mobs, or snitch.
It was cold and heartless but Nucky didn’t seem to be one to recruiting thieves/risks. And he sent a message that he’s not to be fucked with to Mr. Sleater.
Poor kid :(
might’ve lived if he didn’t lie through his teeth for two damn seconds...
If only he stuck to the lie of being 16, but when he revealed he was actually older and a young adult there’s probably less sympathy for him. People are more likely to let a 16 kid get away with something like this then a 19 year old young guy, at least that was my observation 🤷🏾♂️.
At least he got to enjoy a good cigarette for a second before he died
@@daholyspirit2783 The smoking was the other thing. Nucky knew as soon as Roland took that cigarette out that he was going to kill him. Any time there were words coming out of Roland's mouth, he was lying and Nucky realized it right then. Roland was telling Nucky what he thought he wanted to hear, he might've been 19, but he also could've been 15 or 22 for all anyone knew. He could've possibly been an asset had he been a potential loyal dog, but you can't trust serial liars to be loyal.
I think Nucky knew from the second they caught Roland that they were gonna kill him. Look at 00:27 when Owen questions, “Well?” Basically asking “what are we gonna do with the kid?” Nucky gives Owen an incredulous look and begins to toy with Roland as a lesson to Owen: Don’t ever turn your back on me or this will happen to you. And it does…
we already know this about Nuck after killing Jimmy. he even sided with a guy who had previously robbed him.
The show doesn't tell us anything new about Nucky here. Just gets a bit of shock points which at this point is overkill, and makes Nucky predictable boring, and you folks stop routing for him with two full seasons left
There are reasons this show didn't fare well it's first time out...
The kid was smug, he got caught, was extremely cocky, and clearly didn't know how to set boundaries. That is like perfect checkoff list for a "loose end".
He never knew consequences. He wasn't old enough to have the wisdom and experience to know the full consequences of his actions. That doesn't excuse it though, because the threat he posed for being soo young and dumb could not be ignored. He may have been young, but age doesn't necessarily buy you a ticket out of trouble.
Well said I’m from the streets met a few of that type graveyard is full of them
What exactly you mean by "set boundaries"?
@@GORILLA_PIMP establish trust and camaraderie instead of smug deceit.
He was a liar. That sealed his fate.
I love that the entire first episode of this season is clearly Nucky listening to Jimmy’s last words. “You can’t be half a gangster Nuck.”
Except when you run out of booze and run out of company.
And when Roland said "how else you're supposed to get ahead" reminded Nucky of Jimmy.
Still pissed jimmy just went and killed himself like that 🙄
That wasn't his last words, but he did tell him that earlier.
@@blitzy3244 ah true. He told him that in the first episode I think.
The kid who plays Roland Smith... pretty good performance. Tough to get roles in serious drama's like these when you look so young.
Yawg moth damn your profile pic made me think that was my hair, tried to blow it off the screen lol
i think being attractive is the key here.
Dramas
Yawg moth Benny sigel
It’s nick robinson he play in the movie Love, Simon
Steve Buscemi did such a good job in this series. His character was so calm and cool but he had an intensity burning underneath all that. He did a great job showing it through his eyes in his facial expression’s.
this scene is analogous to when Tony Soprano beat up his own bodyguard while his other Capos were in the room to watch
Also analogous to when Owen beat Margaret's a$$.
The look Nucky gives Owen until Owen realises the message being sent is for him, is chilling. Maybe the only time Steve B. looks actually scary!
Gaddamit, he is scary in Monsters Inc
Watch as a serial Killer him playing dolls with a little girl in Con Air, that was pretty frightening
He used the kid as an example to spook Owen not to portray him.
@@whitneywilliams317 cuz Owen didn’t do anything when the IRA busted a cap in John Mcgarrigle?
@@whitneywilliams317"DONT EVER PLAY ME IN A MOVIE!"
the kid was just trying to outwit and outsmart nucky and owen.and nucky saw right through the bullshit.
...yeah, but Slater is genuinely FREAKED OUT about Nucky's ruthlesness - Nucky's making a point!...
Nucky: 'How old are you really?'
Rowland: '19. So legally I'm allowed to drive. Isn't that better?'
Nucky (to himself): 19. So morally I have no problem shooting you in the head for ripping me off.
Precisely lol. You can see it in his face hahaha
That would have been a good comment..... 4 years ago!
@@dlxmarks he could of said 15 more believable the way he looks
Nucky liked him and was going to hire him until he realized the kid lied so much. Cya kid.
Not true. he never intended on letting live
@@joetamburello4223 It was when he said "how else you supposed to get ahead" and pulled out a smoke. That same line is what Jimmy said to Nucky when Jimmy and Capone robbed Nucky's shipment in the first season. You see Nucky's eyes change as soon as he hears Roland say that line. He knows then that he cannot be trusted, the same way Jimmy could not be trusted.
@Boa-Noah i think owen didnt give a shit either way. it wasnt his call to make so he just went along with the kid as he didnt know for sure what the future held. the only thing that shook him at the end was the shot going off behind his head. he pointed the gun straight to rowland then up. its a good scene.
Dr Giggles No. Haven’t you noticed that Thompson is always kind to people he is about to kill or have killed?
No everything was just tickety-boo until he asked who Mr Kessler was. HOW DARE HE ASK WHO MR KESSLER IS!
The One Thing in this video that was the final nail in the coffin for Roland... Was when he pulled out that cigarette. That was the Deal Breaker. It was Nucky's last straw, knowing that he was a liar, a cheat, and just a young upstart that would do whatever he could to get ahead in life including shooting him in the back..
So Nucky Shot First.
If Nucky was actually this smart. He should have just killed Meyer Lansky when he had captured him the 2nd time.
Well said. Sometimes its not the big things that make a stop dealing with you. Its little things like the lying and deceiving and i guess in that type of game you cant take any risk.
a coffin nail being the nail in the coffin huh
So in other words just like Jimmy?
@@vernonjenkins8 yep, Nucky NEVER lies or deceives. So it makes sense that he'd detest it in others.
People are over-thinking this scene Roland was always going to die. It was a point Nucky wanted to drive home to Owen, that if you cross him there's no charming your way out of it. Jimmy gave Nucky the best advice anyone could give him when he told him you can't be half a gangster.
The head tilt when Nucky realized he pointed the gun up at him 1st! Absolutely brilliant
Well that is where the gunshot came from so it was only natural.
I started to roll my eyes during this scene because it seemed so predictable to have this rough around the edges but kind of lovable hoodlum join their gang and become a main cast member and then BAM, holy shit. Really did not see that coming and pretty much cemented Nucky as a cold bastard for the rest of the show for me.
I was actually hoping he’d kill the kid. First the asshole tried to steal from them, then they all are about to get caught and Roland is a smart ass about it. He then proceeds to lie and smirk all the time. He actually deserved to be killed off. Roland was a fucking idiot to believe he could be more cunning or outsmart Nucky.
Nah, I knew you don't steal from a crew and just walk away alive.
By far my favourite scene in the show. So tense throughout and then the ending is completely shocking yet plausible for Nucky's character. Really shows him becoming this machiavellian monster.
He wasn't a monster for this he did what any ganster would do. The kid lies so much you can't believe anything he says he forgets what lie he told. He can't be trusted.
@@ThouArtOfWar0724Nucky lie, stole, killed for a living. He used his blood money to finance his lavish lifestyle. He is very much a monster. The kid was young and dumb, ambitious but 100% agree with your assessment of him.
3:19 Owen is shocked into an English accent 😂
Matt Fabi *irish
@@muhammaddzackyfarhan9513 English. Chris Cox is from London. You can hear it as well in the "You'll do" line.
Lololll
@@muhammaddzackyfarhan9513 no he's saying he spoke with an English accent when he's supposed to be Irish. I.q level
..
I thought i was the only one who noticed
This scene was a reminder that Nucky while calm on the surface was not to be screwed with
@David Smith lol you clearly dont know what a psychopath is. honestly you probably think its a pokemon move
Plus I always felt this scene showed us that Nucky is aware of Owens affair with Margaret. He’s showing his ruthlessness
Nucky had to kill the thief because he cannot turn to the law legally for help.
Yea. There's this sense we get early on that Nucky deals with the gangsters to get rich but he's way more understanding and gentle by nature. Nope. By this point, Nucky is every bit a gangster. I also think he's aware of this perception of him, even among those in his inner circle. Have to change that.
I wonder if Nucky would've still shot him had Roland not lied to him about never smoking or his age. I guess Nucky might've been able to handle a thief in his midst if they're resourceful. A liar however, that's too big of a risk.
The lying part is definitely a risk because it means his loyalty could be questioned.
I actually think that's where it all changed. The conversation kinda of shifts from hearing him out to just waiting for him to be done with his bullshit so he could kill him.
lapugenero that's what sunk his ship. See he probably would have let him work but what happened is he noticed that the kid is a mirage , he lies to get ahead but there's something else there a disloyalty that will never go away.
I think Nucky would have shot Rowland (not Roland) no matter what because he stole from him. That's been a huge emotional trigger for Nucky since childhood and the baseball glove incident.
Do you recall why they're in that house together? Nucky was obsessed with finding out who stole from him. First he had Manny Horvitz interrogate and then kill Rowland's partner Nate. Then, after Horvitz is killed and 3 episodes later, Nucky gets on Owen's case for not following up on the investigation. In both cases, Nucky lulled Nate and Rowland into feeling they were safe and then they were dead.
3:01. Damn, Owen drew that gun VERY quickly. Credit to him.
Almost as quickly as he blew his load into margaret ?
@@TH-du8nc fuck 😂😂😂
Daredevil reflexes
I love how hauntingly similar to Jimmy he is at 2:05: the body language, the expression, and the subtle change in pitch. I'm almost certain this had to be intentional. I just kept waiting for him to call him "Nuck."
No fear, no suffering. A pretty humane sendoff tbh.
Agreed
A lot better then making him beg for his life when you already decided
Scott at the point he killed him it’s not humane lol
No Body Its the most humane death anyone can have. When he was killed it was the most painless way possible. The kid at that moment felt relieved and accepted instead of fearing and panicking.
Jimmy Peeps Think about it again, nucky could have just had him shot while making him scared and beg for his life like the thief’s partner, but nucky gives him a cigar, making him feel welcomed, and made sure the kill was instant and undetected so there was no fear or physical pain.
This opening scene really sets the new tone for Nucky and its great. Sure, it’s easy to dwell on Nucky shooting Roland, a kid (“you can’t be half a gangster” and not get your hands dirty), but really it’s a message to Owen to not lie or fuck him over. Just outstanding all around. I love this show lol
Kid really thought the "cool corner punk" act was gonna impress an old school gangster, as if they were chilling in some schoolyard.
I think Roland reminded Owen of himself when he was young. He realizes when he dies that that could have been him I think.
He realises that's what will happen to him if and when Nucky finds out he's banging his wife.
Assuming I've got the chronology right.
2:10 I love how that line comes back and is so important in the 5th season
Him pulling that cigarette out to smoke sealed his fate. One lie after another while attempting to be recruited by a man who didn’t trust anyone…not even his brother.
Killed for two reasons: asks too much and lies all the time.
I thought it was because the kid reminded him of jimmy
Third reason, as a pawn to show Owen that he is always watching and doesn't forgive transgression
You forgot to mention that he also wanted to reassert that HE was the boss to Owen, and that ultimately he is the one who calls the shots.
"I misunderstood"
"As long as you understand now"
BOSS level REASSERTED!
Charlie cox’s reaction at the 3 minute mark has always made this scene hit harder.
I remember watching this episode and thinking "Oh I get it....so this kid is gonna join their team...Nucky will take this kid in because he reminds him of Jimmy" Then it gets to this scene and I'm thinking "aw man, called it....man..that's so corny, like come o-OH SHIT".
Pretty cold especially because Owen was starting to like the kid. Gotta hand it to the writers, this was one of the most surprising moments on the show.
So you just commented what we watched. Right
@@eightysbaby8798 no he commented his reaction you dumbass. re read it
fernando tovar Eighty’s never had the makings of a varsity athlete.
@TheRealist 811 nucky knew that Owen was fucking his wife in this scene? That's why he shot the kid to scare him? I thought nucky finds out after owen gets murdered?
i knew when he offered the smoke it was over for him...
I think sending the message to Owen that he is the boss is the strongest reason for this killing. Admittedly the kid had done plenty of things to warrant it from a criminal perspective.
Yes this was during the whole Owen Margaret phase wasn't it perhaps Nucky resented him to a degree
Yeah. Nucky was suspicious that Owen was playing him, acting all cute with him while really fucking him, so he killed the cocky kid as a warning to Owen.
I thought the mood shifted when Smith admitted to lying about his age and smoking. If he hadn’t let on that he lied I think Nucky would have let him go.
Y'all do remember that nucky had this kid partner killed in the first episode of that season, and he acted all nice with that kid as well and also acted as if he was gonna let the kid go but had Manny kill him. I don't believe this had anything to do with owen, this kid was dead the moment his partner gave him up
Kid was too used to that smile getting him out of trouble. And he wasn't smart enough to see just how dangerous a situation he was in. He was probably thinking about how he would tell this story to friends over drinks when Nucky shot him.
I've finally gotten around to watching this, I'm so mad I waited so long! Phenomenal series! Definitely one to watch over and over.
I agree with much of what people have written about the motives behind the kill - it's nicely overdetermined - but in my mind the kid signed his death warrant when he revealed his age as that of a grown-up who needs to be held accountable for his actions. Should have stuck to the 16 fib.
It's because he lied about everything. How can you trust him if he's gonna lie about everything.
^ exactly
@tom gianni No, German - where 'Erwachsener'/Grown-up is neutral (like adult) and does not have any connotations of childishness. Thanks for improving my command of English a little.
Wudnt have mattered one of the delesio Brothers wus that age and stole from nucky...and Jimmy asked ..even the kid? Young or not your in a grown man business and stealing from nucky needed 2 have lethal consequences
"As long as you understand now". Boss
Dont worry Owen. Your great grandson will become a superhero so I'm sure karmatically it evens out
+Jakira Kumahata who's hi great grandson?
+jonnyhatter35 An Irishman by the name of Matt Murdock
Ohh shit I didn't even notice he's DD!
@ben black yeah but we understood what it meant so... i guess it's a word now and stop being a smart ass
@@JustRideTheVibe karma chameleons they come and go
Ronald never had the makings of a Varsity athlete
Small hands.
Uncle jr is in this show. Took me awhile to notice him,they have him dressed so different.
Roland.
When he told him he was 19 and brought out the cigarettes Nucky realised he couldn't trust him. He trusted Jimmy and nearly ended up being killed by him so by shooting Roland he was saving himself from that future. You could never trust a guy like Roland, he'd say anything to save his skin and would double cross you in a flash. A bit like Mickey Doyle but without the comic relief.
I think Mickey was kept around because he wasn't bright or brave enough and lacked moxy to really do anything on his own. Mickey was just with whoever was muscling him at any given moment. Although he wasn't loyal, he wasn't going to stab you in the back nor is he going to lead any sort of mutiny. He lacked the courage, bravery, and smarts to do so. Mickey is however smart enough not to snitch on the cops, not that Mickey is deep enough into things to really know any grand plans or anything.
I didn't understand why he would kill this kid when this first came out. After a couple viewings I see that the kid was proving over and over he was a bad liar, and even worse he thought he was a good one. Those are the guys who get caught by the feds and rat.
To the casual watcher of Boardwalk Empire this death may have been surprising. But to those who carefully follow the plot this death was obvious. Nucky made it clear with Nate earlier in the series that anyone who steals from Mr Thompson will be killed with no exceptions. He never had any intention of letting Roland live right from the very beginning.
Kid couldnt be trusted or controlled, there was no real reason to let him live
Rule #1 Never boss the boss. The boss knows whats good for him and his team.
Not always. The boss of the luchesse family, Amuso, destroyed it. He and gaspipe casso were disasters to thr mob
And to Nucky's reason, proving anything to Owen is an afterthought. This was a planned murder from the get go. Nucky just waited until he was safe and had his driver waiting outside.
Basically, what happened is Nucky shows to Owen The main mafia rule - "You cant steal, lie/cheat and not be thankful for an offered cigarette at the same time "
If they kid was as smart as he thought he was, he would have stfu and kept acting like he was a young punk that didn't know what he'd gotten himself into. Even so, as soon as Nucky offered him the cigarette I knew the kid was toast. What an incredible show, and man, the sheer menace emanating from SB's eyes; he was death itself in this scene. I also really loved the subtly in Charlie Cox's expression afterward; an amazing mixture of surprise, fear and doing everything he could to keep composed enough to keep on living.
I remember first watching this scene on TV and, when they brought up him lying about smoking I knew he was definitely dead. How are you to be trusted in the mob when you lie about something as innocuous as smoking?
Gyp was a cartoon character compared to the other antagonists they had. There is no way a man that unpredictable and crazy would have lasted as long as he did.
On HBO it is a tradition that when someone gets offered a cigarette their time is up. See Lieutenant Spiers on Band of Brothers...
I heard that smoking kills but this is ridiculous!
Shawshank Redemption also
Elxaime Luca Brasi..
Count chocula says the guy with count chocula as a name... fail
herby Must be nice to be a smartass online, knowing you wouldn’t say stuff like that to people in real life
It had nothing to do with Jimmy or "can I kill again?" The reason Nucky did it personally is because he was making a point to Owen. In the episode, Nucky notices that Owen is crossing the line. Nucky's people are looking to Owen for decisions. Even questioning Nucky. Here, Owen actually thought Nucky was going to have mercy on this kid, but he puts a bullet in his head. Nucky made it clear to Owen that he's calling the shots and it puts Owen back in his place.
2:10 - the comment that sealed his fate. Same thing Dormody said when him and Capone tried to rob Nucky in the first season.
Man this will always be my favorite show
I laughed at the fact that he actually thought he was getting out of there alive. He was so sure of himself that he thought he could talk his way out of there. 😂
“As long as u understand now” 💪🏽
Steve Buscemi has to be one of the most underrated actors there is, IMO. I just love his acting, its brilliant.
Fair play to the other guy's reactions. He went straight from looking out the window to full-on life or death risk assessment without missing a beat.
The question is....if James Galdolfini was still alive today and not died relatively young, which part would he have played in Boardwalk Empire and how many more Emmy, Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe Awards would he have won? Shame we'll never know. He would've truly smashed it!
He definitely was killing two birds with one stone. Not only did he get a rid of a potential backstabber, he let Owen know in not so many words that he was fully aware of what was going on with him and Margaret. Nucky is one of the smartest characters in the show.
except he wasnt aware of Owen and Margaret...
He knew Owen was up to something but didn't know it was with Margaret. Nucky is honestly astonished and realizes the relationship when he sees Margaret's reaction to Owen's dead body.
@@marudoethiopia Yeah, I mean, consider how Owen reacted when Nucky asked him about the bathroom assassination in season 2. He briefly thought he'd been found out about his affair with Margaret because of the pointed way Nucky asked him if the "friend" he was visiting was from Ireland.
@@marudoethiopia It's been years since I've seen this, but I thought I remembered Owen wanting to leave the life and asking Nucky, and Nucky was basically giving him his answer right here
@@SynsityGW It's been a long time since I saw it as well. I don't remember Owen saying or implying something like that but he may have.
His death was such a shocker.. thought the boy thief had charmed nucky successfully.. 😳 both Charlie Cox and this young kid emote so well with their eyes.. Superb
I think this whole scene had a lot to do with Jimmy making him feel weak. The kid is yet another young man who disobeys him and thinks he can get away it. A younger Nucky would have let him get away with it. Not the Nucky that has had to kill someone he thought of as a son.
Nucky over the season.
Season 1 Nucky: and politician pretending to be a gangster
Seaon 2 Nucky: a gangster Pretending to be a politician
Season 3 Nucky: All out Gangster.
Season 4 Nucky: A Humble Gangster.
Season 5 Nucky: A washed up gangster
That evey season of Nucky in a Nutshell...
What's a politian?
+UMOGrunt they're a type of prostitute, usually working for a wide variety of pimps
YaBoyTheC.I.B furio?
@@jonnyhatter35 that was good
Nucky was a gangster before the start of season 1
And here we can see that Nucky forgiving his enemies is a practice which he does not often do throughout the show
forgive = a bullet to the head
You know nothing Jon Snow
"My first time, I puked...
Second time, I didn't even think about it."
- J.D.
Another reason nucky killed Ronald was because he reminded him of Jimmy
Terance winter said this was a story line he had for the sopranos that he didn't use.
I like the subtle lesson he's teaching Owen as well. Owen thinks Nucky is someone who has power but is afraid to get his hands dirty and kinda let's him know he's not easy to get one over on.
Plus the kid was a smart ass and thought being bold was going to enthuse Nucky. Had a smirk on his face, acted cocky, disrespected, lied and basically made assumptions that nucky would even consider hiring him. After getting caught stealing. The best he could have done was plead for his life and offer to do anything to save his own ass. Instead he only tempted nucky to kill him by being a dumbass.
@@henrry889 well yeah I knew he wasn't making it out of that house Alice. Nucky let him get comfortable and let his guard down and let him think Hey kid you got spunk I'm gonna take you under my wing and then bammmmm
Matt murdock. Had to rewatch 3 times before I realized, he was great on this and in daredevil
Never saw it coming, about as good as it gets.
I think the showrunners wanted us to think he was replacing Jimmy, finding a new ward to take under his wing. They wanted us to think he was becoming a better man. But really, Nucky was actually becoming worse and worse as the show went on. More and more a proper gangster who would kill you for crossing him. He killed Jimmy, someone that was every bit a son to him. Nuck has no good side, just the painted front he shows the public.
"Who's Mr Kesler?" - too many questions smug know-it-all eager-to-sell-out Roland Smith.
Nucky realized if the kid couldn’t be honest about something as simple as being a smoker, he could never be trusted in his organization. Lighting that cig sealed his fate.
This scene is incredible--acting and dialog!
I gotta say, this is Steve's best role ever. Other than Mr Pink 😂
Nucky: "As Long As You Understand Now!" Love it!!!
After watching this scene again I feel like Nucky made the decision to kill the kid after he realized he was a pathological liar hence he can't be trusted if he will lie about something so trivial as if he smoked then you can't trust anything coming out of his mouth
Lied early on (before this clip) about smoking to appear more child-like. Roland got off light compared to his partner.
This was a great episode. This season was really underrated looking back on it. Apart from the Margaret stuff, there wasn't really anything wrong with it, and the Gyp storyline was probably the best of the three.
Yeah Margaret made the show unbearable at times. I'm dealing with feminism and pregnancy knowledge for poor mothers......... In a show about the Mafia. The way She always tried to act so self-righteous even though she knew where nucky got his money and still decided to marry him. That's I would always is with these wives and his crime shows. They act like they hate their criminal husbands but are always first in line when the check is cashed
@@notaseal7864 Like Carmella Soprano.
@@murrethmedia She is a perfect example. If anything she's the standard. I think the only one of these wives that has an excuse that I can think of is Skylar White because she signed up for a rich successful scientist and got a high school chemistry teacher who turned into a literal meth kingpin. Now there are things that she did that makes her highly unlikable. But at least you can understand why she hated the fact that Walt is a criminal because he wasn't a criminal when they started their relationship. But Of course her whole ted saga ruined her for me. And the fact that she didn't just turn Walt into the DEA the second she realized what he was. That's what ide do if I suddenly found out my spouse is Cartel associated
Glad I’m not the only one who dreaded the Peggy scenes.
@@murrethmedia Carmella did it well; her character arc is that shes a hypocrite
2:32 Nucky planned to kill him already, this was to get the kids guard down.
Nucky Thompson: 🗣 How old are you... Really?
Roland Smith: 🗣 19.... So legally I'm allowed to drive.
(Nucky Thompson's Conscience): 🗣19 Huh?.... In my book you're legally allowed to die too.
G M yeah that's how I felt big time
Alexander possibly true. But we’re all aware of Nucky T’s tactics. Makes you feel comfy and then BOOM!!! You’re sleeping next to Dillinger lol
3:02 that panic turn amuses me so much lol
At least kid got his answer before lights out
Such a clever shot, you never think about where the blood actually goes or how much there is until you see it water falling in between the floor and below ceiling.
I get the feeling that Nucky was testing the waters with this kid to see if he could trust him.
The kid failed.
He was never going to let the kid live. He knows all too well about the carelessness of young men with ambition. The kid might have been able to help Nucky in the short term, but not enough to be worth the risk of him playing both sides and screwing Nucky over further. He knew who Nucky was when he was stealing from him...but he was soo cocky he did it anyways. The kid is no different than a grown henchman. The only difference is ability and he uses his age to get away with stuff, by the good graces of people who give second chances to the young. The kid would have never learned his lesson, because he always had people giving him breaks because he was young. If that kid thought he could gain enough trust to get in a position to shoot Nucky in the back at some point for a reward, he would have. This is cemented further by the fact that Nucky was ultimately killed by a kid around the same age. If they can hold a gun and they're in the game, they're a threat. The kid knew nothing of allegiance. That's why he was dead from the start. He turned on his people soo easily to Nucky, and Nucky knew he could turn on him just as easily too.
Damn shame. I would’ve loved to see more of that character. The actor plays Roland very well too.
3:24 When you hit the screen to pause and it interprets that as "fullscreen"
“Can we take care of this right here...in Brainerd?”
“Sir, please step out of the vehicle.”
Couldn't wait for that kid to get it. I was afraid he would be a new cast member
Roland was an actor on my local cable channel's advertisements for their services. Bright house Networks in Florida. Kid's a good actor.
Such an amazing scene
The way that they depicted Roland's death was well done. I knew the character was dead from the moment he walked into the house and yet the gunshot still made me jump. It’s a shame because I think Nick Robinson was one of the more effective actors on the show.
Owens reaction to the gunshot gets me everytime
Young Roland never had the makings of a Varsity Athlete.
Great acting from the guy who plays Owen - when he said 'Thought you were letting him go,' at 03:20 ish.
"Youll do" Owen was actually trying to save the kids life and convience Nooky
2:18 Is what got him killed. He couldn't even maintain a simple lie like not smoking.
No more shines, Roland.
I understand Nucky. Young and bold, the kid is an opportunist. If he stole once, he'll steal again. That and he was a huge liar. Hiring him will just put your guard down and he'll get closer to you and your product. In these kinds of business, it's only trying to avoid trouble.