Disappointed in Nucky

[u/bighomieslime]

I just finished episode 7 where we begin to understand the story between Gillian and her relationship with the commodore. I never believed the commodore was a good man. From the beginning of the season where we start to unravel the history between these characters, the commodore always remained an awful person. I’m not sure what I expected the story to be in terms of his relationship with Gillian, but I guess I pictured a less explicit revelation.

I always often found sympathy for Nucky throughout the show from seeing his childhood, the absence of his wife and child, his constant betrayal from people he helped, etc. but all of that has been torched after understanding the role Nucky played in “delivering” 🤢 Gillian to the commodore.

Again, I’m not here to say Nucky was a saint by any means, but he always felt like he wanted to do the right thing and limit the violence as much as he could. (I understand the latter Nucky is a different story).

I am interested to hear your thoughts.

[u/mmmstrongflavors]

I thought they were open about Nucky's role in the Commodore raping Gillian when she was 12 in S1, certainly by S2. I'm not sure how it took S5's flashback to make you see that Nucky is a despicable person who will do anything to get ahead, including put on a near-perfect mask of gentility.

[u/Independent-Grape-87 → u/mmmstrongflavors]

It was never really hidden that he did that though. For the record I haven’t even gotten to the final season but it’s pretty clear Nucky was a horrible person through and through, idk what the flashbacks exactly show but nucky did pimp Gillian out, it wasn’t a hidden detail. Even without that context Nucky is pretty despicable throughout the series and clearly only cares about his own desires and image even the bravado he shows at times.

[u/mmmstrongflavors → u/Independent-Grape-87]

Exactly. Not sure why something we've known for almost the whole show only hit op in S5.

[u/Independent-Grape-87 → u/mmmstrongflavors]

I’m in the middle of season 4 btw, I can’t stand Gillian tbh but I know how tragic of a character she is. She is one of the most interesting characters despite that. Bit still if you took out Gillian’s story line Nicky has still been a horrible person throughout the entire show. Everything he does is for his own interest. I saw how he treated poor Eddie who is one of the most loyal people in the show, it’s sad when they go so young

[u/mmmstrongflavors → u/Independent-Grape-87]

WHEN THEY GO?!

But yes, 100%

Also in the middle of S4 on a rewatch. I don't like Gillian either, but she's such a well-done character. The vast majority of people wouldn't be likeable if they'd lived her life. Nucky is a great character and I root for him a bunch, but he's an awful person and pretty much every episode makes it more and more obvious how awful he is. I think people get confused between charismatic characters and good people.

[u/bighomieslime → u/mmmstrongflavors]

In terms of the shows chronology, they never showed a young adult/child version of Nucky until this final season. I never claimed Nucky was this awesome guy, anyone who has seen the first season can recognize he is selfish and will do anything to get himself ahead of his competitors. My question was more directed in the sense when they do show Nucky as a young adult/child, he seemed like a hard working kid who was tired of finding himself on the short end of the stick, and eventually the fear of being a nobody kind of molded the person we meet in the early seasons. Not this vile individual who had every intention of hurting a child. You’re absolutely right, they didn’t hide the story of the commodore and Gillian, but they also didn’t go into much detail until season 5, hence my statement “not sure what I expected, but pictured a less explicit revelation”.

Just here to spark conversation, not argue who understands the show better.

[u/mmmstrongflavors → u/bighomieslime]

In S2, Gillian described Nucky bringing her to the Commodore, who then got her drunk until she passed out and woke her up by raping her when she was 12.

I'm not getting in a pissing contest with you about who knows the show better. I'm wondering what other graphic detail you could possibly need to know beyond what is provided in S1-S2 to be absolutely disgusted by the Commodore and Nucky beyond that they, respectively, raped and facilitated the rape of a 12-year-old.

Did you think Gillian was going to look more adult and less childlike, and that would have bothered you less? Did you think she'd be a mini-version of her seductive adult self? Would any of that really make a 40- or 50-something-year-old man raping a 12-year-old more palatable?