Van Alden's character is amazingly written and I can't think of anyone who could play him besides Michael Shannon. He's such an odd character but one that comes off as still human in a really demented, vaguely psychopathic way. This scene sums him up as a character perfectly: he doesn't believe in anything anymore.
@@skipringelli2423 maybe being too human (minus the delusional parts) makes you seem "vaguely psychopathic" to people. I can see the most normal people you can imagine being terrified of seeing one of their own stripped down to sanity. I'm sure there's a fear or hatred there that most people don't even acknowledge. All their contentment could suddenly be gone forever if they faced a little too much reality instead of the little dance we all do.
I will watch anything with Shannon in it. Dude is simply one of the best around. He's menacing and legit would scare me if he was like this in real life and he's obviously not. I've seen him in interviews and one was What's in my Bag? It's where musicians and actors go record shopping at Amomeba records and he actually seems like a stoner / hippish type dude. His acting on Boardwalk was superb.
I know I'm in the minority on this one, but I'm not that big a fan of the introverted Harrow. I understand why people like him(badass, honorable, and loyal to his friends), but they never really gave us much on his character's history, even when he went home to his sister. I would've liked more backstory to him, especially his time during the war, like show us how he got his face injury in a flashback. We got plenty of history with the other characters, hell the final season was half a flashback, so why not him? Not to mention the way he died was pretty lackluster and this is coming from a guy who loved how Omar died in The Wire.
@@MaxxCoyote yeah, they didnt make him very likeable on the show either, however real Deanie was very popular with his crew and all Northsiders. Even to the extent that war continued years after he was dead. Capone after Torio advice tried to smooth things over for business sake, but O'Bannions crew wouldnt back off, so st. Valentines day had to happen.
@mr. Wldasoldmysoul4pussyasateen He must have known. The conversation starts and Van Alden assumes O'Bannion is referencing that, because he starts off by saying, "I was coming to work when I was approached by three men...", and O'Bannion cuts him off immediately because he already knows the story. I assume they just hadn't bothered or weren't able to move the bodies yet.
O'Banion (Arron Shiver) does a great, subtle job of trying to maintain that bravado while realizing he might have just stepped into some deeper sh*t than he realized. Great acting and writing all around. ❤
Both actors are brilliant in this scene; the shift in tone when Van Alden leans in and becomes the aggressor and O'Banion backs up and drops his gun is absolutely brillian. Plus Michael Shannon's delivery of the line, "I used to believe in god; now I don't believe in anything at all..." is one of the most sinisterly chilling bits of dialogue every set to video.
".........I used to believe in god, but now I don't believe in anything at all" Awesome line. So glad they gave it to Nelson because the delivery was perfect in this scene.
He does end up becoming Christian again by the final season since he makes his son say his prayers every night and even launches into a religious tirade when he was about to strangle the life out of Al Capone. God I loved this series (and I just visited AC last weekend)
Those are not the words you want to hear when you're threatening a man with death. Best case scenario, it means your threat didn't work. Worst case scenario, it means he intends on doing something very bad to you.
Also to add, in this scene, O'Banion is clearly spooked by Van Alden's revelations. Van Alden is not the push-over O'Banion thought he was. Though he didn't have much time to ponder that...
Sunburn2007 Van Alden isn't a jeckyll and Hyde, He doesn't have a dual persona, What you've seen is a transformation of who he is at his core. He is a different man now.
Billy Crystals i agree, van alden he is one way by himself, motherfucker slaps himself with chords because he sins in his mind, acts proper in public, and plays apossum. thats why capones brother was sweating his nuts in the show. "hey you still got that piece, ok hang on to it." lol love this show no homo
@@ThatDamnAndersonMan Are you d u m b? He IS a Jekyll and Hyde. The dude shows it throughout the series and it’s even confirmed. No he isn’t a different man, he’s a duel sided personality
I didn't think he was unlikable, I think he was chewing up the scenery as a hard-ass lawman until he realized just how much corruption there was in prohibition.
Gootothesecond Sorry, this is late, I just think he played in the wrong franchise. D.C, is very heavy in to symbolism and allegory, and this generation doesn't really catch it. They like claws and shiny iron suits. With no real back story.
Adrian Brent I've always been more of a Marvel man but the Cinematic Universe wears thing with me though I did like Days of Future Past despite how much it didn't make sense how they fought the future Sentinels. The Paramount group annoys me because they all come across as douchebags.
I always wondered what it would be like if the villains where actually able to survive a season and grow as characters, and thanks to this show. now i know.
***** Yes the same can be said about Nucky and it should be. I assume they're not going to end Nucky's tale in the way Enoch Johnson's ends. Which is why they changed the names of both characters. As for the other historical figures - while they take some actions that have no historical basis they are pretty much where they're supposed to be in the given time period. Nucky and Mickey are not.
Van Alden is more gangster than any of them lol..the more he talked to O'banion the taller he loomed over him! Scary dude! Two guys you don't mess with..Harrow and Van Alden.
@@Yanpac cool fanfiction, but completely untrue lol. The "partner" he kills is his LITERAL partner, Eric Sebso, a corrupt prohibition agent. Did you even watch this show lol? Btw, schizophrenia doesn't give you multiple personalities...
it would be better if he said 'his partner' believed in god, than the whole multiple personality disorder theory could be live. and to be fair; constructing an alter ego isn't as rare as MPD
Van Aldens metamorphosis is one of the most entertaining in TV history. A few more scenes in seasons 3-5 and he could have easily over-shadowed the whole show. Funny thing is that I hated the character when he was a closet masochistic, holy-rollin Fed. But that 2nd wife of his was my favorite character on the show besides Richard Harrow.
memeexclusive I would have loved to see the period of time between seasons 4 and 5, seeing Van Alden and Eli working together for Capone as the new boss in Chicago. Michael Shannon is perfect for dark comedy
Mostly because he was a broken man that almost managed to put himself back together. Also he killed a lot of people that the viewer was set up to want killed.
He was fuckin ferocious. Nelson Van Alden had more balls than most of the characters in Boardwalk Empire. Guy kills five fuckin people and he's like "Ooo politeness is it's own reward"
A breath of relief when banion goes out was so realistic. He showed his dark side to intimidate just to survive then the moment of relief.... Wow they've portrayed the situation perfectly
O'Banion realized that this guy isn't playing with a full deck and therefore doesn't scare. Like talking suddenly realizing you are talking to Charles Manson.
no one will see this probably but its really cool how the show paid attention to O'Banion having a slight difference in the length of his legs hence the limp as he walks away.
It's always refreshing when the guy with the gun is talked to like zero fucks given and the slow realization of the true nature unfolds. Man, that was pure and raw.
The one thing bullies like O'Banion, Capone and Luciano can't stand for is the truth!! Once you stand up and mirror to them who they really are (insecure characters) their insecurities come rushing out then they back off.
The main thing I love about Van Alden's character is how good he is under pressure. He's always so reserved, obsequious and complacent....Except for when it REALLY matters. Then his inner hulk, the inner BADASS alpha male comes out that he never really even realized was within him the whole time. Fascinating character.
When someone starts admitting their dark secrets to you that’s a good sign to piss off because that means they’re not worried about you telling anybody and that should worry you
I know this is a common refrain, especially among Boardwalk fans, but Michael Shannon is an amazing actor, and can bring color and nuance to roles others might've left more one-dimensional and obvious
I've always wondered what O'Banion would have done if he hadn't been whacked moments later... I get the vibe he would have kept Van Alden around for being honest (but you never know)
