What Happened To Arnold Rothstein? | Boardwalk Empire Explained

BECOME A MEMBER: / @cineranter
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/user?u=8580945
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: / cineranter
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM: / cineranter1
FOLLOW ME ON TIKTOK: / cineranter
HBO’s Boardwalk Empire is a period gangster drama following fictional Atlantic City political giant Nucky Thompson, played by Steve Buscemi. The show is set during the prohibition era of the 1920s and features many real life famous and infamous individuals associated with the era, such as Charlie Luciano, Al Capone, Johnny Torrio, J Edgar Hoover and Meyer Lansky. One such character is Arnold Rothstein, the American Jewish Racketeer and businessman, thought to be a kingpin of the Jewish mob and mentor to future crime bosses such as Luciano, Lansky and Frank Costello.
Arnold Rothstein is a main character in Boardwalk Empire, but he does not appear in season 5, being killed off-screen. Why was this? And how did Arnold Rothstein die?

[@CineRanter]

*The SHOCKING Reason Why Boardwalk Empire Killed Off Jimmy:* kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJfddqpqq9KGaKc

[@evantobias1023]

He caused too many issues in set so they had to get rid of him early

[@Dman3827]

@@evantobias1023 that's a bs lie and myth even Terrence Winter said wasn't true.

[@elizaanderson8909]

Stuhlbarg’s performance as Arnold Rothstein was outstanding. Loved every scene he appeared in. I was so disappointed he had an offscreen death. Michael Stuhlbarg is such a shockingly underrated actor!

[@brettbaratheon9776]

Like a creepy dentist standing in the corner…….with the ether

[@docvader82]

Right?! How does he have an offscreen death. He owned every scene he was in FFS.

[@mat7083]

At least he didn’t die over spilled milk

[@seansullivan9086]

I was so confused binging the show I thought I missed a scene.

[@Lylo-mj8ek]

Amen.

[@Jman417]

Broadwalk Empire got too expensive to film that is what I found out. Still I love it. Very underrated tv series. Rest in peace Michael K Williams aka Chalky White.

[@russsnyder2026]

Yeah, they had to choose Boardwalk or Game of Thrones. Still could have gave us the Rothstein scene

[@Jman417]

@@russsnyder2026 I agree. I was mad when they made the time jump.

[@holeefuk8505]

Same with Rome. ditched that for GoT

[@anthonyc1629]

Yeah I don't think HBO wanted to pump the money into production after Hurricane Sandy wrecked the northeast. They had to choose between BE and GOT and GOT was at its best around that time.

[@davemeads859]

It's was absolutely brilliant the costume and props costs must have been insane shame one of the best shows ever made

[@TheRobSaint]

The way Rothstein died in the show is very similar to how he died in real life. Even Charlie in his biography claimed nobody knew for certain. It's almost as if someone so big could be killed by someone of such unknown circumstance shows just how common we all are.

[@JonnySublime]

Especially if you owe money

[@sundaymorning4488]

Nelson was my favorite. The dude made me laugh so many times. Terrific acting, kudos to the actor that played Eddie, he was also great and funny.

[@WarTheory]

So sad to see him not in the last season… i’ve always lived by his one mantra if there’s no move to make don’t make a move

[@ronaldlymm7248]

I like it. Do you also watch a man do a trick swallowing a cue ball

[@WarTheory]

@@ronaldlymm7248 lol

[@getmeoutofsanfrancisco9917]

@@ronaldlymm7248 I once watched a woman shoot ping pong balls at spectators with her vag 10/10 would go again

[@TabortonMountain]

EXCELLENT !!! THANK YOU !!! DSC

[@InspiriumESOO]

Nice comment

[@ZChronicNebula]

Season 3 & 4 were my favorite seasons. It's almost like Jimmy's death elevated the show to the next level. Every episode had you on the edge of your seat. Not to say it didn't before, but the focus on the villains getting the upper hand on our main characters made some of the best seasons of all time. It's like when people say season 3 & 4 were the best of GoT, those were the prime seasons... same case for Boardwalk Empire.

[@Chadhogan111]

Season 3 struggled after Jimmy's death. Probably the worst

[@williamblackfyre4866]

I gotta disagree, after Jimmy was gone, I didn't really have anyone to sympathize with. Harrow was a good character but he didn't get near enough screen time or affect the plot directly. I guess I was rooting for Van Alden later in the series, but without Jimmy the show was missing something.

[@MySweetShadow138]

Season 2 was the best.

[@nonstopmaximum2141]

Season 4 and 5 were the worst.

[@TheAy17]

@@nonstopmaximum2141 Yeah ? I personally really enjoyed the 4. I kind of agree for season 5, especially the ending. Why would he look to avenge his mima after the education he received by Harrow and Julia .. That's a mystery for me !

[@anthonyc1629]

Season 5 was slow and rushed at the same time with the pacing of Nucky's flashbacks but the creation of the commission was good. And it was fitting that Tommy was the one to kill Nucky.

[@nikdrown]

Yeah and season 4 was a snooze. I did like the flashbacks though. Especially who played them. Really good representations and lookalikes. Show just wasn’t the same after Jimmy. I like S3 but could have been better with Jimmy going a little more

[@ZChronicNebula]

@@nikdrown s4 was not a snooze. The doctor was a great villain.

[@Jamesphilipjfry]

@@ZChronicNebulayou think ? He struck me as fairly predictable and one dimensional

[@mattl8774]

​@@Jamesphilipjfryagreed

[@traviskeck3138]

Definitely felt cheated out of not getting more of the great performance that Michael Stuhlbarg was giving.

[@wolfy9549]

It’s such a shame the show had to end the way it did, imagine another awesome show like The Sopranos was cut short what a damn tragedy

[@juancardoza6918]

100% agree, I loved this show and finding out that AR was killed off screen was a major disappointment. Season 5 in general just wasn't good

[@jimmyknight1609]

Arnold Rothstein was killed in real life in 1928. That's the reason he was killed off.

[@eagleman1542]

@@jimmyknight1609 Good point, they didn't have a choice in that case.

[@jimmyknight1609]

@@eagleman1542 Thank you buddy! I just enjoy studying Mafia history, it's very fascinating, especially the early years, and New York in particular.

[@eagleman1542]

@@jimmyknight1609 Check out some of the Chicago/Vegas/L.A. stuff from the early to mid 1900s especially, Jimmy.

[@jimmyknight1609]

Ahhh yes indeed, the mustache Pete eras a good one ! Thank you for the great suggestion my friend!

[@YouAreDistracted]

Should have at least opened the first episode of season five with a quick visual recap of the last 10 yrs events. I was so confused about Rothstien that I had to come to YT to find out if I had somehow missed an episode

[@andreedwards5170]

I am truly a historian of the period of "Boardwalk Empire" and i'ts characters and like many disappointed by some of the omissions of some of said characters and events, the future of "Arnold Rothstien" among others. However hats off to the writers and producers of the show. It will truly be missed by this fan!

[@TraphouseBoominOU]

Almost every show HBO makes I enjoyed. I know you usually do crime/drama shows but as a vet that was in OIF I would love to one day see you breakdown “Generation Kill” it is one of my favorite HBO series. Love the channel.

[@justinkroboth360]

I agree with you - it was a show that felt as though it built to... nothing. I enjoyed it for what it was, but it didn't hit that Deadwood/Rome/Sopranos/Wire tier for me. I was sad about Darmody's exit from the series (though I think his ending was handled well), but the way they handled Rothstein's exit was far, far worse. I feel as though they didn't quite know how to wrap everything up, given the cancellation. HBO did that to Deadwood and Rome, as well - at least Sopranos and The Wire (at least I believe The Wire was under no such cancellation threat) got to tie things up the way they wanted.

[@JoJoJoker]

This comment makes me want to check out Rome.

[@samhly2]

Facts dude. Deadwood is the best show I’ve ever seen and sopranos and wire are my 2 other favorites… I think this guy knows what he’s talking about

[@amberlynn5816]

I came here after rewatching the end of S5 episode 1, and the beginning of #2 sooo confused bc yeah Nucky just nonchalantly throws it out there that he got killed. Im like how did i miss this???? Hes one of my favorite characters but im happy to hear it wasnt a bitter situation and the guy who plays him (love him as an actor) took it in stride. He did such a phenomenal job playing Rosthein. ❤

[@RR-lv3tp]

Boardwalk Empire is up there, with The Sopranos and Breaking Bad as one of the greatest shows of all time... From what I heard, the budget is what rushed the show past, key events, that took place in that era. Including the Rothstein death. Everyone knows his gambling came back to bite him. It would have been nice, to see that actually happen though

[@RR-lv3tp]

@Banned4life88 I couldn't agree more, believe me lol 💯

[@noahmcgee2247]

Breaking bad and this aren't even remotely in the dame field as sopranos, and i genuinely don't think anything will come close the the realism we felt from that show

[@mattl8774]

​@@noahmcgee2247sopranos is always #1 for me. My number 2 is a bit different as I think better call saul was a better show than breaking bad.

[@intelligencelimited2708]

For me, the show should have climaxed with the big reveal that Nucky procured Gillian for The Commodore, the original sin that sets in chain all that follows, including Nucky's death. It's the key to it all. Yet the information is spaffed out carelessly somewhere in season two (I think). The amount of weight given to Jimmy's character (much more than Nucky) suggests a different ending was originally conceived, and had to be ditched when Michael Pitt became an ocean going asshole and had to be sacked. I presume the ending would have been Jimmy eclipsing Nucky, or turning into him, like Michael Corleone slowly becoming Vito minus the gentility, humanity and humour.

[@BuddhaFang]

I’m confused. The show did end with Nicky “procuring” Gillian for the Commodore, didn’t it? Like, that one thing he did a long time ago is what led to his death.

[@intelligencelimited2708]

​@@BuddhaFang Howdy-you indeed see the episode fleshed out in Season 5, but you are already given the information about Nucky's involvement much earlier in Season 2 in 'A Dangerous Maid' and, passingly, elsewhere in the same season.

[@phil7121]

I thought TELLING what nucky did mid series and not making it a mystery and then SHOWING it as a flashback at the end was very effective storytelling... For me, it successfully did what the sopranos tried to but didn't which was remind us that the main character did horrific unforgivable things to attain their success and isn't someone to root for... We knew what nucky did, but at the end we still wanted to see him "win"... but instead the audience finally is forced to face what he did to an innocent girl

[@intelligencelimited2708]

Those are really good points...I think you may be right..if it works for you, who am I to argue? I suppose also by the final season the average uncommitted viewer may have forgotten the plot exposition in Season Two... But still, I think the construction of the show is a botch. Nucky's death seems throwaway, just tacked on to round things up, when it should feel monumental. you never ever truly lose sight of the fact that Tony is a monster, but Nucky is more evolved, has genuine good in him, and is capable of self reflection and remorse. he could have redeemed his original sin of farming out Gillian, given time.

[@robertdemon3550]

The guy who played him done a fabulous job.

[@senateb]

Unpopular opinion, but I thought the way they handled his death was really well done. An overall theme of season 5 was legacy and the the contemplation of whether one's life was misspent. As powerful and cunning as Rothstein was, after he died, he just vanished, leaving nothing but a money grubbing wife. His lack of posthumous impact on the story was reflective of Nucky's tragedy: that behind the bravado and fancy suits, he left nothing behind but damaged lives. The show could have chosen to give him a flashy dramatic shootout to give the fans satisfaction, but they went the other way to emphasize the themes they wanted to leave behind.

[@knowsmebyname]

Excellent point. Thanks for sharing. Great post

[@neiljohnson5351]

Interesting take, never looked at it like that...

[@mithvibes4727]

i also thought it was interesting how his whole character is about how he's a gambler and very about chance (especially when he loses 500 grand in poker) his death just coming out of nowhere almost like a bad stroke of luck fits his character so well . he hit bad luck and suffered his fate and life went on

[@speedking7224]

Maybe they just ran out of money from what I've heard.

[@fathergabrielstokes4706]

Great point

[@theunknowns44]

I think since mystery surrounded the circumstances of his death - what he actually was doing, why he was shot, who did the shooting, why in the stomach where he could get into a cab and go to a hospital - it made sense to have him mysteriously disappear in the show as well. Planned hits are head and heart shots, assuring the victim won't be going into any cabs or hospitals, so it certainly was weird; maybe some spur of the moment act performed by a regular Joe (or Jane) in the heat of a humiliating moment; maybe even with Rothstein's own gun.

[@johnreape2833]

Rothstein was shot under the poker table. It was probably a 22, that was hidden. The speculation was it was either over a disputed debt, or a poker player that thought he was being cheated by A. R.

[@theunknowns44]

@@johnreape2833 Very interesting; could well be what happened.

[@johnreape4353]

@@theunknowns44 I read that in a book on A R 's life that was written in the 1960's. They were playing poker in a hotel room in NYC, and the "unidentified" player, shot Rothstein under the table, in the abdomen. That much is a fact. Why he shot A. R. , is the mystery.

[@theunknowns44]

@@johnreape4353 Ah, okay, now I got it.

[@docvader82]

No Rothstein in season 5 was a bummer. What a great actor and presence.

[@mlt3820]

"...with the Either" when Cannaval starts in on Stuhlberg's Rothstein. Like a Dentist with the either. It got cut quickly because as you can plainly see, Stuhlberg cracks up! Great line.

[@travismiles5885]

I had a hard time coming back to this show after they killed Jimmy off. As a veteran myself I identified with him. Richard Harrow filled that slot and was a great character. I kept coming back because I love the time period and mob history.

[@jt808ful]

The guy himself was out of the show so I can understand them killing jimmy off considering what they built up between him and nucky and how far things got.

[@kayleestephens6774]

Harrow was my fave character

[@MRK1sauce]

Harrow was cool as hell

[@i2ottenBannana]

@Chrisphillipchanladyburnellseason 3 was the best season of the show, you missed out

[@byronmartin1840]

I'm not buying that they didn't have time to show AR's death. Half the season was dedicated to a younger Nucky with everything we already knew about him. We knew he was the sheriff, what happened to his child and how he came about meeting Jillian. What they did with CW was poor. The way it ended was a tragedy.

[@darkchocolate1083]

I agree. They should’ve just had the last seasons be in the late 20s instead of having the time skip. Not only would we have seen AR deaths, but also peak Al Capone with the Valentine’s Day massacre. A lot of missed opportunity. Also, the whole plot with Tommy Darmody was really dumb imo.

[@KS-PNW]

They already had written the young Nucky scenes, originally there were going to be spread out over a few seasons. In the crunch to get season 5 made (which almost didn't happen) they had to work with what they had.

[@NotstarvinMarvin]

I skip the young nucky scenes, they are appalling.

[@calvinsparrow9829]

What annoyed me the most was the disappearance of Paz Dela Vega's show character

[@jdgustofwinddance.7748]

She was gorgeous, too.

[@JasonBunnell]

Interesting perspective. As I watched this I found myself thinking... why did this show miss? It never felt like a great show to me although the subject material so interesting. The real life characters so interesting. I always felt the show put forth Nucky as the protagonist and I can't help but think that was its failing. Consider The Wire. I would argue there is no protagonist or antagonist. The show tries to take a neutral view (as you would expect a journalist to do) and subjectively portray things as they are without judgement. Not to say characters do not have opinions or pass judgement, but the story itself does not put forth a protagonist. I can't help but think in a way that is the failing of Boardwalk Empire. It passes judgement in a way. It plays favorites. It elevates Nucky as a hero of sorts. But then condemns others. Arnold Rothstein would be a great example of condemnation. Not in that we are told he is a bad person, but his story is dismissed where Nucky's is not. The Wire shows several groups (police, dealers, journalists, politicians) and their struggles with each other, but there is never the elevation of one over the other. But Boardwalk Empire does not hold this same neutrality for what is mostly a historical story and I think this is why it never seems to resonate.

[@lowandodor1150]

Nucky as a hero? Did we watch the same show?

[@jackbedient]

The Wire is the cream of the crop. You might be onto something…

[@JasonBunnell]

@@lowandodor1150 No. I agree. He is clearly not a hero. But he is clearly a lead. And, to a degree, the protagonist. And people tend to root for and think of the lead/protagonist as the hero. And he's not. I am saying I think that is why it just doesn't seem to work. And why the audience feels so let down when Jimmy is killed off. They want him as the protagonist, not Nucky. Was just thinking The Wire stayed more neutral to protagonist/antagonist or lead and Boardwalk seemed to favor one person and that made it work less effectively as a story.

[@tedwojtasik8781]

I thought the show had no protagonist, was more like Breaking Bad 20's style with Jimmy being a much harder version of Jesse. So yes, Jimmy would be a somewhat protagonist as he had the most fleshed out backstory which allowed the viewer to sympathize with Jimmy due to his F-ed up early life. Man, when Nuck is about to bust a cap in Jimmy and he says, "Nuck, go ahead, I'm already dead. I never left the trenches." Now that was soul crushing because you understood. This dude had an F'ed up mom who, um shagged him which resulted in the ultimate downward spiral. I also somewhat sympathized with Chalky and the character...brilliant.

[@forcemajeur.5138]

@@tedwojtasik8781 Nucky was basically an anti-hero. Same as Tony Soprano, except by the time BE aired, that had been repeatedly played out, whereas when the Sopranos came out, it wasn't such a mainstream trope. I think a spin-off of the Commission creation going forward (and with less fiction) would be awesome but probably super expensive to make.

[@dfailsthemost]

Looking back on this show, I realize now how expensive it must have been to make.

[@BubblegumCrash332]

He creeps around like a dentist with the Ether

[@patrickwalsh279]

According to Damon Runyon, Rothstein played in a regular poker game with a bunch of close associates (all gangsters, mind you) in which, when he won, he'd take the pot but when he lost he'd write IOUs to the other players. All the regulars knew that A.R.'s IOUs were good because he would bet the poker winnings on fixed sporting events (usually boxing matches) and then pay his debts. But one night there was an out-of-towner, a gangster from Chicago, who didn't know of this arrangement. Since he'd been drinking as they played cards, he grew especially mistrustful of Rothstein even though the other players assured him that A.R. would pay him back. So he waited outside the hotel for Rothstein and gave him a bellyful of lead and that was the end of Arnold Rothstein.

[@darryljorden9177]

Probably a White Sox fan.

[@davidemelia6296]

AR didn't even get shot on the day of that poker game. Runyon's account is extremely inaccurate.

[@davidsincere6037]

I was extremely disappointed that this season was cut short! Not to mention the 10 year jump up is jump up in the store line.

[@darkchocolate1083]

I agree. The time skip was the shows biggest mistake imo. Not only did it skip over AR’s death, but also the Valentines Day massacre. Huge missed opportunity.

[@XtotheK]

One of the major things that gets overlooked in the reasons behind the truncated final season is that it was done because (in part at least) the suits at HBO wanted to push ahead with Vinyl, which Martin Scorsese was also attached to creatively and they thought would it would be a bigger hit that Boardwalk Empire. Of course, Vinyl only lasted a season before being cancelled, also in part to costing to much to make, just like Boardwalk Empire...

[@chipsthedog1]

What a show though, I knew nothing about it and was bowled over by just how good it was

[@peezyorpj]

Everybody forgets about Frankie Yale…his demise was skipped as well.

[@haroldbrooks4235]

Thanks for sharing this. I thought I had missed it. Wondered why I couldn't find his death scene on KZbin

[@eaglewinnings8003]

Thank you for this you’re the GOAT man

[@OBGynKenobi]

One of the best television series of ALL TIME!

[@Brooklynquietmoney]

Ehhhh no it was good but missed so many historical moments that they missed great show top 10 yes but 1 hell no

[@OBGynKenobi]

@@Brooklynquietmoney i wasn't watching for history, I watching a good tv show. Richard Harrow is probably the best dramatic arc in tv history.

[@RM618h]

It needed two more seasons

[@rfcfanj7911]

All 4 season

[@bella3775]

It’s been alleged that his last words were “it’s all my mother’s fault” (he said it in Yiddish). When I read this, I couldn’t help but think of Soprano.

[@MiguelJimenez-uc3yz]

What annoyed ME was not getting to see the Chicago turf war between the Northsiders and the Southsiders. Between Capone and Bugs Moran. They even showed Bugs in one of the episodes of season 4 so they were clearly setting it up. But alas. We never got to see it. By the time season 5 starts Capone is already the big boss of Chicago

[@DummyYEEEAAHHHHH]

Michael Staulberg was excellent in this show.

[@dannyboyNS752]

The real life characters have such incredible stories. I don't know why Boardwalk went and fucked it up with their over the top embellishments and ludicrous story lines like Dormety and his mother, Gyp Rosetti, etc.

[@devanvieira9174]

Since Hbo has money now i wish they would revive this franchise as a spin-off mini series and show the events before season 5, but centered around Luciano & Meyer since in the end it was their victory and a lot of the real life stuff we wanted to see took place in Chicago & New York so u wouldn't even need the Atlantic City characters, besides a few Nucky appearances. If they wanted to stretch it they could make the latter seasons about the crime syndicate era. I love this series flaws and all but can't help but feel like my time and investment was robbed out of satisfaction

[@Thestarightfire]

In the beginning you said fictional character Nucky Thompson, he's non-fiction and based on the real Enuch Thompson in Atlantic city

[@dutchuncle2716]

The real one is called Johnson. The main character is very much a fictional character, there are some big differences between the two,

[@ntnrocket1]

Cops: "Arnold, tell us who shot you so we can get 'em for ya'." AR; "I'll tell you who shot me---Your mother." (actual conversation between Arnold Rothstein and NYC police after he was shot)

[@westerndoughty2315]

Tangent: His performance in the Coen Bros movie "A Serious Man" is incredible. He is such a great actor.

[@FilmDParrillo]

Hey always enjoy your vids, keep up the great work. Yeah boardwalk was great. It seemed with the hurricane damage to the incredible ac boardwalk set and departure of Terrence Winter the show was rushed to an end. And it shows tremendously. I still remember the Scorsese directed pilot that was like a movie in itself. The gyp scene where he insults everyone is one of the greatest scenes in the show. Rothstein was a interesting character, shame they didn't do more with him. That actor should have been in the Irishman.

[@ronrobertson59]

I've watched this series five time great show. It sure ended better than Game of Thrones did.

[@BS10258]

I always theorized that Nucky ordered the hit on Rothstein and that event led to Luciano and Lansky's desire to take Nucky out.

[@Maw0]

That might be how you wanna theorize it, but keep in mind that ain't what happened in real life.

[@JamesOliver-jw2mg]

I was equally frustrated in a major way about not being able to see and understand the circumstances surrounding the untimely demise of such a key player in the show. Great pity, indeed...

[@mrmac123]

Great video! Things that people want to ask but don't

[@Sedan57Chevy]

Everybody knows members only jacket guy shot Arnold Rothstein while he was eating some onion rings a poker game.

[@CRS099]

Lame

[@philleotardo1500]

WRONG. Try again. Members only jacket guy shot Arnold Rothstein while he was eating some onion rings at Holsteins with his family to Journey - Don’t stop believing.

[@philleotardo1500]

20 YEARS IN THE CAN, NOT A PEEP.

[@damienkramer]

Nothing quite says professionalism than an actor performing so much research that they understand the character better than the writers. And nothing says wisdom quite like the producers being smart enough to listen to the actors advice. Teamwork makes the dream work

[@BillBraskyy]

Ahhh yes yes, those were some tough Jews

[@richardharrow2513]

Boardwalk Empire is my favorite show of all time but Rothstein dying off screen is the only thing I won't defend. He was my favorite character...

[@TheValhalla1989]

The calmest most polite gangsters are the most dangerous. AR lost his temper rarely during the whole show.

[@joe18750]

It seems to me that such a big time, long time, and proven earner like Rothstein would of had street cred for the ability to pay back any debt. Even if he refused, the smart play would of been to have him earn the money and then rip him off or con him or grift him for dough he owed. That leads me to believe that the hit was more personnel, spontaneous and impetuous.

[@MahkyVmedia1]

Great show from start to finish.

[@JvjfjHghxc]

Dude was probably my favorite character on the show. Right up there with Harrow and Van alden

[@Enigma75614]

We were on the verge of greatness, we were this close.

[@rekonzuken1]

the writers of Boardwalk Empire deserve big respects unlike those from Witcher on netflux

[@JAV619]

My main beef with Boardwalk Empire, and it's hard having any with such a good show, is that they did not feature Frank Costello. They had Bugsy, but no Frank. Just doesn't make sense. And yes, of course, that they didn't show the Atlantic City conference where the American Mafia truly had their beginnings.

[@themightyatom1031]

And here's me thinking Mr Cine Ranter didn't do any vids on Boardwalk. And this was a question I wish you'd answer coincidentally, haha. Such an underrated series, and imho actually rivals Sopranos. Ok, 3rd edit. But you're soooo right in this vid, they cut it short and missed so much. And yes it did piss me off that they cut AR out so abruptly

[@Iexpedite1]

I've been binge-watching the show at night before bed. I was wondering if I had fallen asleep and missed it. I guess I didn't miss it at all.

[@0newingedangel399]

That dentists insult has my rolling for 5 minutes when i first heard it 🤣🤣🤣

[@bradleyroe7270]

I always felt that the way they portrayed Nucky was not as interesting as the real character. We see individuals get corrupted by their decision to live a life of crime and having that life consume them all the time in movies about criminals. The fact that the real Nucky, although corrupt, was able to keep a distance from that life and how he balanced the two makes for a more interesting story.

[@iiiiiieye]

Thank goodness i found this video...i thought i skipped an episode and couldn't find it.

[@mastod0n1]

The answer to why he got an offscreen death is entirely because the show got canceled and only had one season to wrap up all the story lines. It makes sense to jump forward to the lead up to the end of Prohibition, seeing as how Prohibition was so crucial to the plot. Season 4 takes place in 1924, Arnold Rothstein was killed in 1928, the Commission was formed in 1931, and Prohibition ended in 1933. Had HBO allowed them one more season I'm sure they would have addressed Rothstein's death more in depth.

[@Frank08046]

HBO has a problem ending series. Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, and The Wire all were rushed at the end.

[@TTJJCC]

Was it ever explained why Chalky White was in jail in the last season, and what happened to his family?

[@RM618h]

They didn't say why he was in jail but his family moved and changed their names

[@TTJJCC]

@@RM618h Didn't he break out of prison though?

[@lionsden4908]

It was weird, i never knew it flashed forward ten years

[@darkghoulrecords]

I wish they would do an in between season 4 and 5 show with same actors about all of this!

[@sethman75]

Glad it's not just me, i thought i had skipped an episode or two to find out how Rothstein died. Seems stupid such a major character just disappears without much of an explanation.

[@TwitchingBill]

Just finished this fantastic series for the third round and appreciated the 5th season more third time round

[@Lylo-mj8ek]

This actor blew me away! The Man is well versed in his craft.❤

[@cleonRIP]

I had genuinely worried I missed it!

[@MrArdytube]

I WISH that show could have gone on for several more seasons… But it was just business

[@Iconoplastt]

Towards the end I called it Bored-Walk Empire

[@cosmicskates7721]

lol

[@Bobbaloomis]

He got a mysterious off screen death in the show just like he did in real life. Fitting end for him

[@angelaelliott3430]

I had to go back and watch the last few episodes of season 4 because I thought I somehow missed the scene where Arnold was shot. I found nothing which is why I ended up here. Good to know I'm not losing my mind but mad that they left so much out prior to season 5. We fans deserve better.

[@tramlad2]

It was a great series, and the problem is trying to pad it out to cover all the actaul events, but it was rivetting stuff none the less, i bought the box set and still watch it, brilliantly acted, and some of the story line where so well written, it was a classic series for its time.

[@KentuckyWildcat666]

Rothsein’s death was unexpected in real life. I would imagine that’s why his exit from the show was unexpected not touched upon.

[@9_debolati_318]

No there was a time skip. All deaths in this show are unexpected. MOST murders are unexpected

[@KentuckyWildcat666]

@@9_debolati_318 thanks captain obvious.

[@3335pooh]

quiz question: what's the meaning of the latin phrase that the dominic chianese character utters when eli gets elected in season 1?

[@Bighuss83]

I think they should've had a spin-off on lucky luciano and al capone like netflix did with narco's hbo drop the ball not doing that

[@fsttag1]

Seems the writers kinda gave up if they were unable to include these things. AR was one of the main characters so I highly doubt they let him die off screen on purpose. They could have taken 90 seconds and even shown how his family and friends were effected by his death, but of course, writers are only as good as their imagination and obviously, these guys didn’t have much.

[@thebettingpublicsportsshow]

Show was great. It just came to close on The Sopranos and The Wire. HBO can only do so many crime dramas in a time. It need about 3-5 years after The Wire

[@TheTurk56523]

It was competing with Breaking Bad at the same time slot.

[@mainstreamerchannel9919]

And Mad Men that airs around the same channel AMC. There's also Son's Of Anarchy on FX.

[@philip1123]

great video!! i agree rothsrain was one of the best characters on this show

[@labenbrittenum6934]

i came late to the B.E party and was disappointed how they jumped those 10 years but still the final few episodes are still some of the most haunting an classic TV ever aired

[@bignbald415]

Yeah, I was wondering what happened to Arnold. In the world of crime, it was an historic event.

[@mr.s.7081]

Not as much as it did annoy you, but I thought it was very strange that his demise was left out, that he'd suddenly been cut out from the show, and without any real explanation.

[@brianmccarthy5557]

The weird part is that A.R. was a good friend of Luciano in real life, and apparently of Johnny Torrio too. Why was there no known retaliation for his death? If the killer was some low ranking gangster then his death in retaliation should have happened. Was some aspect of the maneuvering that led to the Castellenarese War between Masseria and Marranzano involved?

[@aliwooz913]

You forgot he's a dentist with the ether 😂😂

[@ebeneezerscrooge2942]

Something about a dentist walking around with ether.

[@bops5555]

I totally agree. Rothstein was one of the most interesting characters in the show....and blowing off all the important historical things that happened in 1929 really took away from season 5....

[@cpt191021]

whyd they show this offscreen. Always wondered.

[@superpokebros7898]

In real life Arnold Rothstein was murdered over a million dollar gambling debt. This was hinted at with the final card game Nucky and Arnold played in which Arnold bets and loses 1million dollars to nucky. They were implying Nucky took him out at some point during the time jump.

[@ronaldlymm7248]

They wasn’t .

[@Maw0]

That's not who killed him in real life.

[@WarriorKingRules]

A.R. is my favorite character on the show---period. I love his intelligence and witty comments.

[@makati2442]

they should have made at least 5-6 episodes that took place during 1928-29 because of all of the things that could've been portrayed in the show like AR's death, st vals day massacre and the atlantic city conference like he said. waisted potentials on hbo's part.

[@shadowfilm7980]

I am about to see the last and final episode in season five. And I too was wondering “what happened to him?!” It was a sudden jolt. It did look like they might have run out of money and time to really explain it. That happens sometimes in TV. But in my opinion they could have just shot one scene to help explain. Make it a flashback scene while Nucky’s wife is talking about it. Or something. To just not leave the audience hanging like this after watching so many episodes of the show. I really liked this show though. Really good. Loved the look of it too. I might end up buying this entire series from ITunes. It also bothered me too when Jimmy died so early on. He was an interesting character. Couldn’t believe what his own mother did to him! Or allowed!

[@Fordguy02]

This show needed 3 more seasons

[@brandtrey1]

I think what disappointed me More about season 5 was that they barely showed Luciano's rise to ultimate power in New York. Going into the final season, the only 'historically' logical main story was how 'Lucky' became the definitive leader of a completely organized Cosa Nostra and formed the 5 family "Commission". Sadly , they went a different way. Still a great show, but each time I watch the series, I skip season 5. Once you know WHO killed Nucky Thompson, and obviously, why he did it.........there's really nothing else to gleam.