Belle Femme

Lore & Background

In this episode, a recuperating Eli identifies the D'Alessio brothers as the ones who shot him. Margaret meets Nan Britton, who explains her relationship with Senator Harding and the need for secrecy. Margaret later negotiates with Nucky on behalf of Madame Jeunet, securing a free dress. Nucky meets with Jimmy, who insists on secrecy and asks Nucky to bring Richard from Chicago. Nucky shows Jimmy mugshots of the D'Alessio brothers, implying he wants them dead. In New York, Rothstein plots to take over Atlantic City's criminal underworld and agrees to work with the D'Alessios if they carry out a hit on Nucky, making them sign life insurance policies with himself as beneficiary. Angela drinks with Robert and Mary Dittrich; Robert tries to initiate a threesome, but they leave when Jimmy arrives.

Reader's Guide

"Belle Femme" is a pivotal episode in Boardwalk Empire's first season, deepening the power struggle between Nucky Thompson and the D'Alessio brothers, while introducing the machinations of Arnold Rothstein to take over Atlantic City. The episode also develops Jimmy Darmody's character, showing his return and his tense relationship with Angela. The introduction of Edward L. Bader sets up future political shifts. The episode received a score of 9 from IGN, calling it "Outstanding," and a B+ from The A.V. Club. It slipped to a 1.2 adults 18–49 rating with 2.984 million viewers.

Did You Know?

• The episode was written by staff writer Steve Kornacki and directed by Brad Anderson.
• First appearances include Lucien D'Alessio, Sixtus D'Alessio, and Edward L. Bader.
• The episode features the first meeting between Margaret and Nan Britton, who explains her relationship with Senator Harding.
• Rothstein has the D'Alessios sign life insurance policies with himself as beneficiary as a hedge on the hit on Nucky.

Weaving a Web of Interlocking Storylines

Belle Femme stands as the ninth installment of Boardwalk Empire's inaugural season, premiering on HBO on November 14, 2010. Crafted by staff writer Steve Kornacki and helmed by director Brad Anderson, the episode functions as a dense, multi-threaded narrative that simultaneously advances nearly every major storyline in the series. A recovering Eli identifies the D'Alessio brothers as responsible for the casino robbery, while Margaret navigates a delicate negotiation with Madame Jeunet over protection money. In New York, Arnold Rothstein plots a takeover of Atlantic City's criminal infrastructure, leveraging the city's ports for smuggling routes along the Eastern seaboard. Meanwhile, Van Alden scrambles to arrest Jimmy for the woods shootings, and Nucky orchestrates political maneuvering with Mayor Bacharach and businessman Edward L. Bader. The episode culminates in a violent ambush on Nucky and Margaret as they walk home, leaving a bystander shot and Margaret's dress drenched in blood. Each thread interlocks with the others, creating a tapestry of ambition, betrayal, and consequence that defines the series' storytelling.

Machiavellian Power Plays and Indirect Violence

The episode is a masterclass in how power operates through suggestion rather than direct command. Nucky sits across from Jimmy and simply presents mugshots of the D'Alessio brothers, implying they should be killed without ever issuing an explicit order. Jimmy finds this almost amusing, noting that Nucky behaves as though he genuinely believes he isn't a gangster. In New York, Rothstein demonstrates a colder calculus: he agrees to work with the D'Alessios on a hit against Nucky, but hedges his risk by having them unknowingly sign life insurance policies naming himself as beneficiary. Margaret, too, employs subtlety when dealing with Jeunet. Her first attempt to reduce protection money backfires, angering Nucky. She pivots, framing the issue as concern over Jeunet's departure making her look bad for him, then collects a complimentary fine dress as a favor. Even the political maneuvering with Bader is transactional—Nucky offers lucrative construction contracts in exchange for Bader running against Bacharach's opponent. Every interaction is a negotiation, a calculation, a quiet threat dressed in civility.

Critical Acclaim and Audience Response

Upon its broadcast, Belle Femme drew strong critical praise that contrasted with modest viewership numbers. IGN awarded the episode a score of nine out of ten, labeling it Outstanding. The reviewer expressed genuine excitement, remarking that they had never discussed a television series around a watercooler before, but were confident this episode would generate that kind of conversation. They urged anyone not watching to consider themselves missing out on some great conversation. The A.V. Club, meanwhile, gave the episode a B+, acknowledging its strengths while suggesting it fell slightly short of perfection. In terms of audience, the episode recorded a 1.2 rating among adults aged 18 to 49 and drew a total viewership of 2.984 million. These figures represented a slight decline from earlier in the season, yet the critical reception underscored that the episode resonated deeply with those who engaged with it. The combination of Rothstein's insurance scheme, the violent ambush, and the political scheming gave critics a rich tapestry to dissect, cementing Belle Femme as a standout entry in the series' first season.

Expanding the Atlantic City Underworld

Belle Femme serves as a pivotal introduction episode for several characters who would shape the series' ongoing narrative. Lucien D'Alessio makes his first appearance as the younger brother of Ignacious, Leo, and Matteo, and the older brother of Pius and Sixtus. He is identified as a member of the D'Alessio criminal operation and an acquaintance of Arnold Rothstein, Lucky Luciano, and Mickey Doyle. His brother Sixtus D'Alessio also debuts, positioned as the youngest of the four named brothers and Pius's older sibling, sharing the same criminal affiliations and connections. Additionally, the episode introduces Edward L. Bader, an Atlantic City businessman who becomes a political pawn in Nucky's machinations and later ascends to the mayoralty. Bader is also established as an associate of Nucky Thompson. These introductions expand the show's criminal and political landscape, connecting the D'Alessio family to the broader New York underworld through Rothstein and Luciano, while Bader's arrival signals Nucky's long-term strategy of installing controllable figures in positions of civic authority.