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  • Film & TV Moderators: ghostfreak

Television Boardwalk Empire

In Defense of Margaret Schroeder

by B.P. Baseball


I came up with this idea in the shower, so I'm not quite sure that it will float.

I would like to start by saying that I would take Margaret Schroeder over Skyler White on any airwave, at any hour. I forget who said it in the Breaking Bad thread, but they were quite to the point with the statement that Vince Gilligan must have some serious issues with the women in his life. Every female character on that show is vapid and one-dimensional. His attempt at adding character depth to Marie by making her a kleptomaniac was ham fisted, pointless and absurd so much that it has become a continuous source of mockery for fans of the show.

That is that, however, and Boardwalk Empire is what is what, so here is what. Margaret Schroeder-Thompson is the female protagonist of a television show that is set during a highly patriarchal era of modern America. If I remember correctly, it took about half of Season One just for women to gain the right to vote. It is difficult to write strong female characters into a society that revolves almost entirely around the male dominated arenas of commerce, politics and gangsters.

To use Saudi Arabia as an example, it does not behoove a people to completely marginalize half of the human population as an afterthought. With that in mind, I think that the show's creators have done a fantastic job of usurping those circumstances. Gillian Darmody, Billie Kent and Angela were all fantastic characters with divergent and unique storylines and personalities. Unfortunately for the creators, two thirds of those characters are dead.

This brings us to the point of this long winded ordeal, Margaret Schroeder. Margaret started out the series as a representative of what you might call, the impoverished intellectual. She was clever and intelligent while at the same time entirely constrained by her situation of poverty and an inescapable abusive relationship. She was made interesting through the device that economic status does not correlate with your mental or social prowess. She could read Henry James novels in a hospital ward, and banter down a United States Senator, all while living under the unbearable weight of circumstance.

The first season basically followed this storyline as she moved her way up the socioeconomic world of Atlantic City, primarily through her unique relationship with Nucky Thompson. She was shrewd and morally ambiguous. She would just the same steal an emerald negligee as she would find genuine moral grief in the situation that she found herself becoming increasingly entangled.

It was this moral grief that, for the most part, defined her in the second season and basically ruined her character for most people. Her ascent to the role of pious queen made her little more than another entertainment cliche. The virtuous female figure that stands alongside while the Boys Club plays with the fun stuff is about as stereotypical as Morgan Freeman's voice consoling a conflicted white man through the main story that people actual are paying to care about.

Now understand, as I said before, this was a significantly patriarchal world, and the role for a female character inside of it is limited to the point of impotence. Where the writers of the show misstepped was by giving her far too much screen time with far too little substance. As a result, Margaret would spend the majority of Season Two as a contrived and patronizing beacon of morality. It was annoying on several levels and yet it was still used persistently. This persistence to annoy the audience without any effort to the contrary would be the breaking point for many people when considering the likability of her role within the show.

So that brings us finally to Season Three, where the bitterness that had developed during the second season was left to stick around, even though several issues had been resolved. I thought that her character was used poignantly to show the issues facing women within American society of the 1920s. From healthcare and abortion to relentless misogyny on all accords, she was utilized effectively to show the world of womanhood during a period of time that represented a significant turning point for these issues, while never allowing itself as a society to acknowledge them openly as even existing.

That finally is why I spent time to write in defense of Margaret Schroeder. Her character may have been misused at times and overdone in others, but generally speaking she has been a solid voice to illustrate the feminine demographic with a degree of normalcy that is consistently difficult to pull off in the presence of a phenomenal cast of vibrant and storied personalities and characters.

I personally think that her role in the series has significantly greater potential now that she has been dethroned and must once again rely entirely on her wits to face her situation. I am interested to see where they take her character into Season Four.
 
^Everything you say about Margaret can also be used to defend the character of Peggy Olson on Mad Men, except Peggy is a character that doesn't need defending because few viewers will accuse her of being boring.

I also think it needs to be stated that Kate Middleton seems to be very limited as an actress. She's seemingly lost all the appeal she had as Diane in Trainspotting or even as the trailer park wife in No Country for Old Men (the only other place I've seen her).

Maybe it's the fault of the writers and directors. They've turned her into a marm.
 
^
I haven't seen Mad Men yet, so I can't really say anything about it. Although I do know the basic premise and I could definitely see that being the case. And yeah, I think it I have to again point the blame at having her character turned into the stereotype of virtuous womanhood. The further that she strays from that, the better for everyone.

Also, I totally forgot she played Carla Jean in No Country for Old Men. She definitely has range, I hope that it can finally be utilized.
 
Peggy Olson's interesting and likable. I think we all know a character doesn't have to be likable in order for people to enjoy them. It certainly doesn't hurt, though.
Margaret Thompson is neither interesting nor likable. I don't know that Kate Middleton does have much range. Beyond the ability to do a trailer trash accent as well as her native accent. IOW's, I don't feel like she showed much, in regards to acting chops, in No Country For Old Men.
I really like Gretchen Mol's character. Her sliminess is thoroughly enjoyable. I feel like, because she's cool, she's gonna follow the show's tradition of the compelling female characters getting killed off. And, then we'll be left with Nucky's "foil." Margaret Thompson. Repeat "Thee Chilldrun" 5 times and tell me how you feel. :!.
BP'sB- With all that said, I really enjoyed your defense of her. You also never responded to my points regarding the season finale. Just sayin'.
 
^
After writing that I went back and watched 'No Country' and I'm now sort of convinced that Kelly Macdonald only has a single acting expression of squinted concern.

"What'a you been doin' Llewelyn?"

"*every statement of moral concern she ever made in every scene of Boardwalk Empire*"


I even thought about writing a companion piece titled, My Own Argument Against My Own Argument in Defense of Margaret Schroeder, but I haven't gotten around to it. Plus, I think of it more as a defense of the role that she plays within the world that she plays it. She gets a terrible amount of criticism, and I thought that I would try and level some arguments in her favor.

As to your points before, I just went back and read them. I think I didn't respond because they seem solid to me.

And another point of my own about female characters might be that we see Gillian Darmody rise to a more prominent role as Nucky's foil in Atlantic City. I wouldn't exactly bet the family cow on this, but it would definitely be interesting.


(oh and you referred to Kelly Macdonald as Kate Middleton, the English Princess. A unique slip, har har.)
 
I think you're right about her single acting expression... unfortunately. Her delivery is usually pretty fantastic though. Some of us just don't have expressive faces (?). I'm the opposite. Everybody knows every thought in my mind because I can't help making faces.
 
Some of us just don't have expressive faces

joan_rivers_frozen_face-400x323.png
 
^
After writing that I went back and watched 'No Country' and I'm now sort of convinced that Kelly Macdonald only has a single acting expression of squinted concern.

"What'a you been doin' Llewelyn?"

"*every statement of moral concern she ever made in every scene of Boardwalk Empire*"


I even thought about writing a companion piece titled, My Own Argument Against My Own Argument in Defense of Margaret Schroeder, but I haven't gotten around to it. Plus, I think of it more as a defense of the role that she plays within the world that she plays it. She gets a terrible amount of criticism, and I thought that I would try and level some arguments in her favor.

As to your points before, I just went back and read them. I think I didn't respond because they seem solid to me.

And another point of my own about female characters might be that we see Gillian Darmody rise to a more prominent role as Nucky's foil in Atlantic City. I wouldn't exactly bet the family cow on this, but it would definitely be interesting.


(oh and you referred to Kelly Macdonald as Kate Middleton, the English Princess. A unique slip, har har.)

Regarding the Kate Middleton as Kelly McDonald mix up- I wish I could take credit. I copied and pasted the name from a previous posters comment. I wish it were original material.
Regarding the points from my old post- Thanks.
I would love to see even more of Gillian Darmody. She's seemed to need a male to pull the strings of. I'd hate to see that behavior pattern repeated with this seasons version of Jimmy, The Commodore, Gyp.... Hopefully she'll become even more unhinged and carry her own water regarding any revenge and/or murder scenario's. She's certainly capable. This past seasons "Jimmy" as example.
 
I read a quote from Terence Winter saying that he wasn't going to turn the show into a 'villain of the year' type deal, after the death of Gyp Rosetti. I genuinely applaud that they would ditch a successful formula and completely start from scratch, which is exactly what they did after the death of Jimmy. I wonder this could mean for the upcoming season, but I have to imagine it's going to involve Capone in a major way.
 
^ Yeah it definitely will
They teased us with all those little Chicago scenes and Van Alden didn't even get any closure this season so I'm sure he'll have a lot more screen time I bet

I also think we'll see a lot more of the NY crew, Lucky, Meyer, and hopefully Benny (Bugsy) with his hilarious out of place manic laughter and what not
 
I also think we'll see a lot more of the NY crew, Lucky, Meyer, and hopefully Benny (Bugsy) with his hilarious out of place manic laughter and what not

Probably a lot of New York, because Arnold Rothstein is murdered in 1928. AR has been a stabilizing presence so far, so his absence is sure to bring a little chaos.

Also in 1928, Johnny Torrio returns from Italy and organizes The Wu-Tang Clan.
 
I read a quote from Terence Winter saying that he wasn't going to turn the show into a 'villain of the year' type deal, after the death of Gyp Rosetti. I genuinely applaud that they would ditch a successful formula and completely start from scratch, which is exactly what they did after the death of Jimmy. I wonder this could mean for the upcoming season, but I have to imagine it's going to involve Capone in a major way.

That's good to hear. As great as this past season was, Gyp's character, his intro/rise/fall, reminded me of a typical Soprano's season.
In other words, seemed like The Soprano's eventually fell into a repeated habit of introducing a "villain of the year" and he would follow a similar path as the character before him until his ultimate demise. Ralph Cifaretto, Tony Blundetto, Richie Aprile.....
It became very predictable. It also made it feel like the main characters were "safe."
He obviously broke away from the latter mold in Boardwalk Empire with his offing of Jimmy. Glad he's gonna follow suit with the VofTY line as well.
 
I wonder if they are going to skip ahead even more on the timeline. There is a lot of gangsterism to cover, especially if they want to get to Nucky's eventual downfall. That or they might start taking some significant creative license as to the history of events. My absolute personal preference would be at least twenty more dedicated seasons, but I'm fine with any of the above options.
 
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