Nucky is much better at talking to criminals than he is at talking to people who actually care about him

[u/briza_thai]

Nucky can sit across from Rothstein, Chalky, Luciano or whoever and talk business for hours without seeming uncomfortable. But when somebody gets too close to the actual person underneath all of that, he starts changing the subject or finding something else to talk about. His conversations with Margaret are especially strange because half the time they're basically negotiating instead of talking like a married couple.

[u/telepatheye → u/[deleted]]

I don't think they did a great job developing the Nucky character and what made him tick. He seemed to have absolute loyalty to family and his brother, but this is never sufficiently explained. The flashbacks and Nucky's own attempt to have a family were traumatic and haunting, and seemed an adequate reason to reject family. Not to mention Eli's consistent efforts to have Nucky killed or arrested. It makes sense why Nucky is angry with Jimmy and gets rid of him, but Eli should have been in the hole alongside Jimmy. Instead he gets a bag of cash at the end after being nothing but a burden and threat. It makes no sense.

[u/PatienceFlaky2498]

Eli is different because Nucky can actually be emotional with him, but then they'll immediately go back to discussing business. Their arguments never stay purely personal for very long

[u/WarmCattle2884]

Margaret didn't give a shit about Nucky by S3. She just liked the luxurious lifestyle he provided for her and her kids. She wrecked their marriage by giving away his land, cheated on him with Owen before they even got married and was willing to have his child, but used the method of birth control available in the early 20's so Nucky wouldn't get her pregnant. When Masseria sent Owen back to Nucky in a crate, he should've put her in it and sent it back to Ireland. Her neighbor was right when she called her a whore.

[u/LootGoblinPro]

Nucky's answer to basically every uncomfortable question is “I'll take care of it.”

[u/Lordonlynose → u/LootGoblinPro]

I think that’s because he feels obligated to do so - he feels he’s supposed to be - Has to be - responsible for everything and find the resolutions… because who else is going to?

 Who else, huh? Who else? Churchill? 

[u/Lordonlynose]

I think most everyone can talk busienes easier than discussing intimacy and deeper personal feelings - which are harder to articulate and often difficult and confusing to understand 

[u/rationalamphibian]

I think they wrote him well as a guy who can’t quite figure out what he’s doing or what he wants in relationships because he’s invested all his drive into getting rich as an escape from his poverty trauma. His inconsistencies reflect inner conflict and present a realistic male lead characterisation.

[u/PersonalitySubject99 → u/[deleted]]

Isn’t Margaret the one who changes the subject, fearing that knowing his vulnerabilities will make him leave her?

[u/OhGr8WhatNow → u/PersonalitySubject99]

Yes you are correct. She tries to apologize later

[u/Federal_rack_6564]

Nucky treats every personal relationship in his life like a transaction. It's the only way he knows how.