Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Jazz Inmate (R) on August 25, 2014 at 10:52:54

I thought season 4 was the strongest season so far. The character development was a bit more "honest" in the way it felt and the way sub-plots were resolved. There were no really annoying characters left, in the way I was annoyed by Jimmy (underacted without skill) and to some extent Gyp (slightly overacted but very skillfully) who was a huge part of season 3. The Richard character's arc came full circle in a way I thought was really well done. Great writing, acting, direction and sets as always.

One of the greatest ways season 4 was set apart was in Chalky's proprietership of the Onyx theater on the boardwalk. Obviously this was unprecedented for the time to have a prominent club owned by a black man, but as some blacks attained a certain amount of power and wealth there were more dynamics underway in society and it was shown to great effect in season 4. Anyway, the effect on the entire show of the black performers who were booked at the Onyx was awesome.

The showtunes and standards of New York-influenced music that were previously built into the soundtrack of the show gave way in season 4 to a more southern blues and jazz vibe with homage paid to many of the musicians coming out of New Orleans. The arc of the singer played by Margot Bingham paid homage to many of the great blues and jazz divas. Several of the tunes Louis Armstrong recorded with Velma Middleton were used, and occasionally fit in so strongly with the plot and with blacks achieving more freedom that Bingham's rendition of the Jordan River spiritual had a super-strong effect. I could feel the music through all of me, into my fingertips. It added much to the season and I hope the musical direction continues in Season 5.

Spoiler alert: the only thing I didn't find well-written about that season is Jilian Darmody's character being set up by the investigators to get a confession about the way Jimmy's death was staged by murder. I understand a lot of money was at stake with the Commodore's mansion being up for sale, but for an investigator to go to the lengths of helping rid Jilian of her heroin habit and sitting with her while she detoxed and puked into a bucket for days on end, I just didn't buy it. I thought the sub-plot would have a somewhat different outcome -- I could see that Jilian would be cheated out of her claim to the mansion but it was a bit of a letdown to find out what it was all about.

The arc of Nucky's brother and nephew I found to be more palatable, as well as the way Mueller finally embraced his inner murderous impulses as a gangster. In all, it set up season 5 very strongly. I think that will be the final season.