HOLLYWOOD—Tonight’s episode of “Boardwalk Empire” was titled “Belle Femme.” Again the ladies were front and center, but so were new characters and dangers for everyone in Atlantic City. Nucky was even in the firing line and a bullet just missed him, but that only infuriated the tyrannical politician, who is both devious and vicious. His revenge next week comes front and center.

As the night progressed, Nucky braced for war with a rival faction. This is also a battle that places and continues to place Margaret in the middle of the danger that envelopes Nucky’s empire. Her decision to remain involved with Nucky may have deadly consequences for the heroine next week. Just as she’s finally coming to many realizations about her husband’s murder, she is increasingly embroiled in Nucky’s devious and ambitious plans for the city and for her family.

Jimmy (Michael Pitt) stood by his alibi despite danger and further criminal investigations into his actions. Margaret also (Kelly MacDonald) helped out Madame Jeunet (Anna Katarina), which doesn’t seem to be a smart move on her part. Margaret truly is the soul of this show, and the actress is superb in the role. I admit that I was not sure she’d be anything but dowdy and boring after seeing her become her late husband’s punching bag on the first episode. However, writer Steve Kornacki did a great job at bringing the character out of her shell tonight and director Brad Anderson’s shootout sequence left me speechless and ready for next week’s episode.

The show is picking up steam, and if anyone was unsure that “Boardwalk Empire” would be a hit, after tonight’s episode “Belle Femme” they have no doubt of that conclusion.

The series was created by Terence Winter, who is also the show’s executive producer, along with Martin Scorsese, Tim Van Patten, Stephen Levinson and Mark Wahlberg; co-executive producers, Gene Kelly and Lawrence Konner; producers, Rudd Simmons and Rick Yorn; supervising producers, Howard Korder and Margaret Nagle.

The writing tonight moved very fast, which is sometimes not the case. This episode was the best so far in the first season, with the previews of next week causing me anxiety, because it is seven days away.

“Boardwalk Empire” airs Sunday night’s on HBO.

Photograph Courtesy: Abbot Genser/HBO