Gimcrack & Bunkum

Nucky makes a speech for a Memorial Day observance. He surprises Jimmy by inviting him to speak on stage, apparently to embarrass him, but Jimmy does an acceptable job.

Nucky courts the assistance of U.S. Attorney General Harry Daugherty in his election fraud case. He meets Thorogood, the DA for his case. Thorogood, Daugherty and Smith outline a scheme in which the case against Nucky will be dropped. Nucky wants a guarantee, but is not given one.

Richard Harrow flicks through his scrapbook before taking a trip into the woods. He prepares to commit suicide, but is interrupted by a stray dog. After meeting and talking with two hunters, Richard returns to Atlantic City.

Insulted by Parkhurst, one of his wealthy backers, Jimmy is advised by Gillian to make an example of him. Jimmy and Richard scalp Parkhurst.

With cold feet after the Commodore's stroke, Eli attempts to rejoin Nucky by informing him of the Commodore's situation. Nucky calls Eli a backstabber and refuses the apology. O'Neill confronts Eli with the rumour of the stroke. Eli tries ineffectually to lie, and ends up killing a flustered O'Neill who says he wants out of the deal. Eli digs a hole and dumps O'Neill's body into it.

Gimcrack is defined as "something showy but worthless". Bunkum is defined as "speechmaking designed for show or public applause."

== First appearances ==

• Brian Thompson: One of Eli and June's younger sons and William's younger brother.
• Charles Kenneth Thorogood: A Deputy US Attorney with family connections to Harry Daugherty who is assigned to Nucky's case alongside Solomon.

== Deaths ==

• George O'Neill: A former alderman for Nucky who is now working with the Commodore to bring him down and is beaten to death with a hammer by Eli in a heated moment.
• Jackson Parkhurst: A war profiteer and veteran of the Wagon Box Fight in Red Cloud's War who is also a financial backer for the Commodore and a member of his yacht club. He is at odds with Jimmy due to his clumsy leadership and is scalped to death by him and Richard Harrow for humiliating the former in a meeting.

IGN gave the episode a score of 9 out of 10, saying that "Boardwalk's best when it balances its jolts of violence with contemplative moments for its very complicated characters. "Gimcrack & Bunkum" is Boardwalk at its best."{{Cite web|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/121/1210599p1.html|title=Boardwalk Empire: "Gimcrack and Bunkum" Review|date=25 October 2011|last=Pirrello|first=Phil|work=IGN|accessdate=22 July 2012}}

The episode was watched by 2.691 million viewers, and rose one tenth to a 1.1 adults 18-49 rating.{{Cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/10/25/sunday-cable-ratings-the-walking-dead-slips-still-tops-nj-housewives-boardwalk-empire-homeland-dexter-much-more/108350/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027091036/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/10/25/sunday-cable-ratings-the-walking-dead-slips-still-tops-nj-housewives-boardwalk-empire-homeland-dexter-much-more/108350/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 27, 2011|title=Sunday Cable Ratings: 'The Walking Dead' Slips, Still Tops; + NJ Housewives, 'Boardwalk Empire,' 'Homeland,' 'Dexter' & Much More|work=TV by the Numbers|last=Gorman|first=Bill|date=October 25, 2011|accessdate=22 July 2012}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb episode|1919431}}
• [http://www.hbo.com/boardwalk-empire/episodes/02/17-gimcrack-and-bunkum/index.html "Gimcrack & Bunkum"] at HBO.com
• [https://www.avclub.com/boardwalk-empire-gimcrack-bunkum-1798170145 "Gimcrack & Bunkum" review] by Noel Murray (23 October 2011) for The A.V. Club
• [http://www.tvfanatic.com/2011/10/boardwalk-empire-review-gimcrack-and-bunkum/ "Gimcrack & Bunkum" review] by Teresa Lopez (24 October 2011) for TV Fanatic
• [http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/boardwalk-empire-gimcrack-bunkum-a-walk-in-the-woods Review: Boardwalk Empire—"Gimcrack & Bunkum": A walk in the woods] by Alan Sepinwall (23 October 2011) for HitFix
• [http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/10/boardwalk-empire-review-gimcrack-bunkum-25.html "Gimcrack & Bunkum" review] by Sean Gandert (24 October 2011) for Paste
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120516225449/http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/boardwalk-empire/gimcrack-bunkum-1.php "Gimcrack & Bunkum" review] by Joe R for Television Without Pity

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Category:2011 American television episodes

Category:Boardwalk Empire episodes

Category:Television episodes directed by Tim Van Patten

Category:Television episodes written by Howard Korder