One of my favorite characters in the show played by a phenomenal Michael Shannon. His explosive anger and psychotic tirades are so insanely captivating. Van Alden was the definition of “fuck around and find out”, and most people did the former and certainly got the latter. He’s probably the only character to scare the SHIT out of Al Capone by overpowering and nearly strangling him
@@northpaul3276 office supplies, cleaning supplies and machinery to the Military. All branches but mostly to the Army, Navy and Coast Guard. I was doing that for a little over ten years.
After Richard Harrow Van Alden is my favorite. He’s interesting to me because he’s a bad person that tries hard to be a good person, be it through religion, the law, caring for his family, hardwork, etc. he tries very hard to be a good person/husband/father and due to his natural temper, his harsh upbringing and the type of people he was surrounded by he failed. He was brave, intelligent and capable as a criminal and cop, and he managed to be throughly entertaining.
Here is the kicker. He isn't a "bad" person he is a person. His talents and personality just made him more suspectable to the kind of evil that he fell into.
@@antimuppet I think the show made him like this. He became a sort of "thing", lacking any clear vision beyond the impossible. There are a couple of scenes that are similar to this
I like the religious angle, because within Shannon's own worldview, he basically deserves everything he gets . His faith was like a personal idolatry - he believed himself so holy he was no longer bound by the rules - he could even murder. Moreover, unlike Job, his faith is destroyed when his life becomes miserable as a consequence. There is no former principle he doesn't betray when necessary or expedient. He still keeps his sense of righteousness, but its all resentiment mixed with self-loathing. Great character.
On an ancient battlefield with a great axe this guy would have been a legendary berserker. Having to fit in as "civilized" was a mask he couldn't wear. Everyone takes his bumbling as incompetence when its him desperately trying not to freak the hell out on them. Epic acting.
Those iron salesman’s picking on him and beating him up but as soon as he has enough the boss tells him to “be reasonable” while he allowed the others to do whatever they wanted.
I remember watching the baptism scene and not believing what I was seeing. The Van Alden character is one of the most conflicted, diabolical ever created. Unforgettable.
Honestly, Michael Shannon would be awesome in that role since he has the physicality for it as well as the ability to convey emotions, especially rage, with his performances.
11:08 how the fuck did he not expect to get hurt talking all that obnoxious shit? Like, did he really, at the end, think it was ok to bring a mans WIFE into his bullshit!?!?
Poor Sebso. I would have accepted the Maytag Repairman into my heart at that point, just to get outta that water. 😮 He knew Van Alden was crazy by that point 😰
I still think that this character's ending wasn't quite the ending Scorsese wanted, but since the show had to end before Scorsese's desired time, he found himself in the position of having to choose a forced ending for each character. I still believe to this day that Nelson Van Alden would have had a more important ending to the true story that Scorsese had in mind, if he had been able to close the show in his own way.
How many times did he have a gun stuck in his face the whole series?! My lord ....only seen clips here on YT but it seems like a LOT. 😂 Truly superb actor though, the way he handles it every time. Chilling.
Now him being a psychopath makes perfect sense. And i hate him now because he was one of the pigs that propagated prohibition. But dammit if his character isn't played by a damn good actor.
These highlights do not paint him as a demon. These highlights show his progression from a man who has a firm belief in his religion and in the law, to a man who runs from his past and then a man who works for those whom he once hated, until he is finally at the end, when he makes one last stand.
"You paint him" my guy, he literally posted clips of the man in order. That's like watching a video of a man murdering someone, and saying it paints him as a demon because it shows him murdering someone.
It's a cult like scientology and heavens gate, they're all the same with their brainwashing literature that is designed to instill fear into people so they believe you have the answers, they take take and take money from the poor and give none of it away, the oldest scam in the book
It's ok, relax. You can believe aardvarks created the universe or absolutely nothing or anything else you like. This is a fictional TV show. The people that wrote the script had them they say thoes things. This didn't really happen. As for me, I prefer to look for actual proof and evidence for what I believe. Just remember, someone pointing at something and telling you what they think about it is only proof they are pointing at something and telling you what they think about it. With all due respect. Something deeper than you not liking that scene compelled you to all caps that. Maybe really ask yourself why you were offended to the point you all capped in a comment section over something so small in a fictional show. In the real world, water can't wash away thoughts and deeds. Also, pretending whatever someone thinks is right is right simply because they think it... is wrong because if two ppl think two different things? We'll, they don't think the same therefore one of them, if not both are incorrect in their thinking. And if God Himself isn't currently making anyone choose anything, then why should anyone else try to force others to believe a thing? I'm with you on that. Think what you choose, just maybe have a good reason. (((The Gospel (Good News) 1st Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV faith fully on that is humanity's only hope)))
Wait so if the guy who killed van Alden was an undercover agent, shouldn’t he have either assisted Nelson at this point or stop it? I thought undercover can’t commit murder
Assist and do what, exactly? Arrest him and walk him out of a building that’s entirely occupied by Capone’s men? Two men against an entire company? I don’t think you realize just how slim their chances were. No they cannot commit murder, but at that point, he’s trying to save his own life. Not to mention the fact that Van Alden was a fugitive from the law at that point, you may have forgotten that he was about to be arrested for the murder of his partner when he shot another agent in the leg and fled the building. From that point on he was living under different aliases, taking on different jobs eventually working underAl Capone.
Nelson was the real villain in this series; he represented another corrupt syndicate that infringed the rights of others with a grossly unfair law, and it was not as if he had no other choice but to enforce it…he actually believed he was a good guy enforcing this wicked law, due to his religious fanaticism. His hypocrisy (which reflected the hypocrisy of his employer) was what finally cemented his villainy, proving that his employer was no different than the one they were trying to put behind bars.
Capone was a hothead who acted on impulse, whilst Nelson had to be provoked but still knew when to stop. Capone’s temper made him media fodder, I don’t think Nelson would’ve been as big; he was calculated.
yeah, its suddenly everywhere. I mean, I'm not complaining, I LOVED this series! I just wish they wouldn't have cut it short. God how I'd love another season set between season 4 and 5!
damn I've never seen this show but I can get the idea they kill off really likable characters. They make you really like them and then they die. I guess that's what makes a good show if you don't see it coming.
Say what you want about Nelson. But he went out punching Al Capone in the face
@@boberyan2 never said a negative thing about the character.
He went out attempting to strangle Capone’s character, actually. Watch his hands.
Didnt phase Capone he died from a stroke in jail
Yea without help old al was about to be beat to death
😂😂😂😂
The iceman
One of my favorite characters in the show played by a phenomenal Michael Shannon. His explosive anger and psychotic tirades are so insanely captivating. Van Alden was the definition of “fuck around and find out”, and most people did the former and certainly got the latter. He’s probably the only character to scare the SHIT out of Al Capone by overpowering and nearly strangling him
Shannon rocks every role I’ve ever seen him take. He’s like a tightly wound spring, yet in interviews he’s soft-spoken and gentle.
@@ThePursuitofHappiness1988 he did a great performance as George Jones too
@@ThePursuitofHappiness1988 Agreed bro
He was a terrible salesman in fairness.
Men like him rarely succeed in sales.
😂😂😂
I disagree. I have a personality similar to Van Alden and I excelled at sales. My customers loved me
@@danielsalinas6683 what did you sell?
@@northpaul3276 office supplies, cleaning supplies and machinery to the Military. All branches but mostly to the Army, Navy and Coast Guard. I was doing that for a little over ten years.
After Richard Harrow Van Alden is my favorite. He’s interesting to me because he’s a bad person that tries hard to be a good person, be it through religion, the law, caring for his family, hardwork, etc.
he tries very hard to be a good person/husband/father and due to his natural temper, his harsh upbringing and the type of people he was surrounded by he failed.
He was brave, intelligent and capable as a criminal and cop, and he managed to be throughly entertaining.
Well-said!
Here is the kicker. He isn't a "bad" person he is a person. His talents and personality just made him more suspectable to the kind of evil that he fell into.
@@matthewsheppard7050 agreed on all points
I think he was a sociopath. He knew something was wrong with him and he tried really hard for it not to be
4:13 They came for a baptism. They got an Enhanced Interrogation culminating in a murder.
The "iron sale" scene is extremely therapeutic.
@@jacktorrance2633 indeed
really? i just found it extremely socially uncomfortable and cringy, its hard to watch.
That's because you wish you could do the same thing but you ain't got the balls right handle that@@handlmycck
@@handlmycck Now come on be reasonable
@handlmycck it's not hard to watch, trust me there's A LOT worse out there
Nelson obviously went down a dark path. But he died screaming justice to be done to evil.
Well said.
He died doing what he loveddd
“Isn’t he Jewish”
Great line
It's battle between us and the devil.
the sacred and the propane
@@jono1 very observant!
@@rustyshack2349 how do i know you are not the devil?
@rustyshack2349 weird Because there's no evidence christianity was ever moral, and they certainly were in pro-life. It's a real history book.
-"George be resonable!"
Well that didn't worked 1st time.
That iron scene is incredible…the way he lumbers around throwing shit and that grin at the end..he’s amazing.
Meanwhile old guy is crying like Peter Griffin
😂😂😂
Nelson "OG Crash Out" Van Alden
Definition of a crash out, him and Eli, in their own ways
During the iron rampage, Michael Shannon looks so much like Frankenstein, I wish he'd play the monster in a new Universal monster movie.
Did you see him in Bullet Train?
“STOP CALLING ME BRO!!!”
@@antimuppet I think the show made him like this. He became a sort of "thing", lacking any clear vision beyond the impossible. There are a couple of scenes that are similar to this
11:13.... this is what i felt like doing when my boss told me there would be mandatory overtime on saturday when i had already planned to fish all day
😂
11:54 all I heard was a seal crying for his mommy :3
Thank you so much for posting all the highlights of my fav character in boardwalk empire 🙏 perfection! 👌🔥👌🔥
No problem 😊
Could you post the full video? This is the half-Nelson.
Hahahahahaha dude top comment bro!
@@TheDodgerDog Thanks man!
😂😂😂😂😂
@@TheDodgerDogYou're blowing bubbles on it bro , relax but yeah it's funny
@@RageQuitProskang dog
I like the religious angle, because within Shannon's own worldview, he basically deserves everything he gets .
His faith was like a personal idolatry - he believed himself so holy he was no longer bound by the rules - he could even murder. Moreover, unlike Job, his faith is destroyed when his life becomes miserable as a consequence. There is no former principle he doesn't betray when necessary or expedient.
He still keeps his sense of righteousness, but its all resentiment mixed with self-loathing. Great character.
That’s the greatest synopsis of his character I’ve seen yet!
1:08 - Didn't catch it the first time I watched it, but Carl Switzer was name of the actor who played "Alfalfa" in the Little Rascals.
You’re right! Thanks for pointing that out!
The song playing was as was a few others in the show little rascals. I called “Whistling” music.
I remember he got arrested for cutting down trees, but never this.
1:26 General Zod forms an alliance with Heinrich Himmler
On an ancient battlefield with a great axe this guy would have been a legendary berserker. Having to fit in as "civilized" was a mask he couldn't wear. Everyone takes his bumbling as incompetence when its him desperately trying not to freak the hell out on them. Epic acting.
Well-spoken.
How he waits for the train to pass through before he executes those guys is crazy
Those iron salesman’s picking on him and beating him up but as soon as he has enough the boss tells him to “be reasonable” while he allowed the others to do whatever they wanted.
12:05 the deranged smile is amazing
I remember watching the baptism scene and not believing what I was seeing. The Van Alden character is one of the most conflicted, diabolical ever created. Unforgettable.
Prohibition showed the country how stupid are government can be
Still does
No. It shows how stupid fanatical people are, imposing their personal beliefs on an entire country
@@Varkhal218yep
you can’t even spell
@@mooncat7009 true but they make a good point, which is more important
Ive never heard of this show but i will be watching it now, thank you. I need some therapeutic retribution
Hope you enjoy it!
15:03 "I drowned him... with my bare hands!" Man the look on O'Banion's face was priceless
Scared the smirk right off of him.
I loved how he was pressing the steam button steadily as he grew angrier. Fantastic imagery.
I hadn’t noticed that before!
@@ThePursuitofHappiness1988 I didn't pick up on it until this video, and I've watched the series several times! 😂
Nelson saving Al Capone should give him a pass for life
Capone was too much of a hothead to be that gracious.
Agreed. Unfortunately that's not Capone
All the actors were at their best in this series.❤
11:22 This whole bit reminds me of Frankenstein's Monster.
Honestly, Michael Shannon would be awesome in that role since he has the physicality for it as well as the ability to convey emotions, especially rage, with his performances.
11:27 it sends me the way he throws his hands way up above his head to snatch the typewriter 😂
I never noticed how Nelson robbed the safe after the florrist boss was shot, that's savage, love me some Van Alden action.
He is not just a Florist Boss. That's Dion O'Banion, one of Chicago's alcohol bootleggers. His flower shop is just a front.
@@ShadowMoon878 Oh good point, I forgot that point.
Damn how was this posted 11 months ago but all the comments are from the last day or so
Something in the algorithm picked it up. I guess.
Yup. The all knowing, all powerful algorithm, has chosen the fate of this video
11:13 thank god, i thought he'd never shut up. He really had thwt coming 😂
24:35 “He was gonna kill me” -The guy who was going to kill him
11:08 how the fuck did he not expect to get hurt talking all that obnoxious shit? Like, did he really, at the end, think it was ok to bring a mans WIFE into his bullshit!?!?
Well, he’s a fictional character- he can’t think on his own. He’s a script.
Van Alden was my favorite character in Boardwalk Empire. Very complex.
Very true. He’s my favorite as well.
Poor Sebso. I would have accepted the Maytag Repairman into my heart at that point, just to get outta that water. 😮 He knew Van Alden was crazy by that point 😰
He should’ve known Van Alden was in left field but likely ignored it.
GOD I get pumped up by the iron scene. I want to do it so bad
This was a golden era. No video recorders
Yet we did get this on video lol.
When Van Alden enters a room everyone accepts Jesus as their lord and savior
And
One of the best characters in TV history.
Portrayed by one of the greatest.
@@ThePursuitofHappiness1988 without a doubt!
The “isn’t he Jewish” and sideways glance makes me laugh every time. Impeccable delivery lol
Mr Gulliver- George be reasonable!
Later
George- Mr Gulliver. Do something!
Right! Gulliver was a bully at heart.
man prestigious actor michael penis really nailed this role for real
Penis….?
Holy shit a cumtown reference, im gay
@@intangible_kant I'm only Chinese
I always wondered why they would do their practice sales pitches with a hot iron. 🤔
To demonstrate correctly.
One of the 5 greatest TV shows ever imo. My top 5
The way the guy Sobs like a baby always makes me ROFL😂😂😂
I still think that this character's ending wasn't quite the ending Scorsese wanted, but since the show had to end before Scorsese's desired time, he found himself in the position of having to choose a forced ending for each character. I still believe to this day that Nelson Van Alden would have had a more important ending to the true story that Scorsese had in mind, if he had been able to close the show in his own way.
You’re very right.
@ThePursuitofHappiness1988 thank's my friend
The scarface foreshadowing with the iron salesmen...
What's hilarious is that Jews actually believe in baptism they just don't believe in accepting Jesus.
Not All Jews
That’s interesting.
Yawn.
Is there a transition of how he lost his job?
@@bagalao77 when you murder your partner…. You generally run.
General Zod is settling in quite nicely with his new job on Earth 😄
I still dont know why he killed his partner
He was on the take
How many times did he have a gun stuck in his face the whole series?! My lord ....only seen clips here on YT but it seems like a LOT. 😂 Truly superb actor though, the way he handles it every time. Chilling.
lol right…
Damn that brown rust 😮
Brown rust?
@@ThePursuitofHappiness1988 Wheat field failure
17:20 @@ThePursuitofHappiness1988
That brown rust is pretty goddamned disrespectful
@@ThePursuitofHappiness1988 Wheatfield his farm
@10:07 so much restrained anger😂
One of the most complicated characters on the show. Total beast.
I would fast forward some of the scenes just to get to his part ❤️
FACT: Carl Switzer was the real name of the Little Rascals' character Alfalfa. 1:09. Must be an inside joke.
Shannon is the greatest. I saw him in Bug too. He deserves to be richer than the $8-million he is reported to have in the bank.
What an odd comment. Surprising but odd.
I wish they had him a video game character🌚
Now him being a psychopath makes perfect sense. And i hate him now because he was one of the pigs that propagated prohibition. But dammit if his character isn't played by a damn good actor.
Precisely.
You paint him like a total demon, who never sought retribution. You can learn alot about a man by his final act
These highlights do not paint him as a demon.
These highlights show his progression from a man who has a firm belief in his religion and in the law, to a man who runs from his past and then a man who works for those whom he once hated, until he is finally at the end, when he makes one last stand.
I watched him drown someone in the first 8 min of this video. I call him a demon
"You paint him" my guy, he literally posted clips of the man in order. That's like watching a video of a man murdering someone, and saying it paints him as a demon because it shows him murdering someone.
@@ThePursuitofHappiness1988 He was garbage.
@@jacktorrance2633 so was the character whose name you’ve adopted as your username, but anyway.
what show is this
Boardwalk Empire.
5:27 HOW IS HE BEING RUDE FOR STANDING BY HIS OWN CORE BELIEFS RELIGIOUS TOLLERANCE DOES NOT EXIST
It's a cult like scientology and heavens gate, they're all the same with their brainwashing literature that is designed to instill fear into people so they believe you have the answers, they take take and take money from the poor and give none of it away, the oldest scam in the book
It's ok, relax.
You can believe aardvarks created the universe or absolutely nothing or anything else you like.
This is a fictional TV show.
The people that wrote the script had them they say thoes things.
This didn't really happen.
As for me, I prefer to look for actual proof and evidence for what I believe.
Just remember, someone pointing at something and telling you what they think about it is only proof they are pointing at something and telling you what they think about it.
With all due respect.
Something deeper than you not liking that scene compelled you to all caps that.
Maybe really ask yourself why you were offended to the point you all capped in a comment section over something so small in a fictional show.
In the real world, water can't wash away thoughts and deeds.
Also, pretending whatever someone thinks is right is right simply because they think it... is wrong because if two ppl think two different things? We'll, they don't think the same therefore one of them, if not both are incorrect in their thinking.
And if God Himself isn't currently making anyone choose anything, then why should anyone else try to force others to believe a thing?
I'm with you on that.
Think what you choose, just maybe have a good reason.
(((The Gospel (Good News) 1st Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV faith fully on that is humanity's only hope)))
He got himself into some tough situations and gotten out of them. Great character
I thought he was the best, aside from Richard.
He really had some balls in the end
Eh… he knew he was a dead man so he went out swinging.
Best Sworn U.S. Treasury Agent EVER EXISTED 🙏
He gave him the Negan treatment...the STEAM TREATMENT 😂
whats the title?
Boardwalk Empire.
13:20 “I warned you to stop!” 👏 👏 👏 GANGSTA!!!
That he did, indeed.
lol the first scene during the raid. When the cops bust in every guy was downing their teacups full of liquor so they don’t get caught hahahahah
I never thought I'd find a fellow BJM fan here.
The raid on the restaurant only actually happened cause his steak and turtle soup was cold and he never got his glass of buttermilk
@@ralphintheshadowrealm7002 thanks!
@1:09 *"Carl Switzer" was the real name of Alfalfa*
11:25, "George, be reasonable!"
He's just standing there, then lurches to the type writer.
This scene was so satisfying.
Right!!
11:12 everyday every man in every office in his head
I forgot about his high strung agent days…
This show was like game of thrones with tons of cool characters, Nelson and Richard being my favorite.
Could u imagine a Nelson Van Aulden Gyp Rossetti buddy movie? Bat shit crazy and Bat shit crazier
It's alright dear 💨 👊
Van alden reminds me alot of edgar ross.
Good connection.
@ThePursuitofHappiness1988 and if you think about it when tommy kills nucky that's eerily similar to how jack killed edgar.
@@TyCatheyI hadn’t considered that!
Ben G was the best Al Capone portrayal.
This show needed 2 more seasons at least
He went bananas.
I am relaxed, love it.
I wish we'd have prohibition again.
Wait so if the guy who killed van Alden was an undercover agent, shouldn’t he have either assisted Nelson at this point or stop it? I thought undercover can’t commit murder
Assist and do what, exactly?
Arrest him and walk him out of a building that’s entirely occupied by Capone’s men? Two men against an entire company? I don’t think you realize just how slim their chances were. No they cannot commit murder, but at that point, he’s trying to save his own life. Not to mention the fact that Van Alden was a fugitive from the law at that point, you may have forgotten that he was about to be arrested for the murder of his partner when he shot another agent in the leg and fled the building. From that point on he was living under different aliases, taking on different jobs eventually working underAl Capone.
I always found Van Alden to be a very peculiar man.
Best series ever!!
Nelson was the real villain in this series; he represented another corrupt syndicate that infringed the rights of others with a grossly unfair law, and it was not as if he had no other choice but to enforce it…he actually believed he was a good guy enforcing this wicked law, due to his religious fanaticism. His hypocrisy (which reflected the hypocrisy of his employer) was what finally cemented his villainy, proving that his employer was no different than the one they were trying to put behind bars.
Great take!
This was the first thing women did once they had some power. Prohibition was very much a female movement
Felt bad for this dude. And I couldn’t stand anyone on this show besides Chalky. God is really cruel.
God isn’t cruel. The world is imperfect because of sin.
And besides- this is a fictional show.
What happened to the other guy?
Which one?
@@ThePursuitofHappiness1988 the other guy in the chair.
it petered out
@@prankmonkey650he died.
It died on the vein
Nelson was the best, he needs to bebin a movie about Mormons or a Battlestar Galactica remake.
"... GEORGE SMASH!!!"
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Man if he went from the start all gangster he would've been legendary than Al Capone
Capone was a hothead who acted on impulse, whilst Nelson had to be provoked but still knew when to stop. Capone’s temper made him media fodder, I don’t think Nelson would’ve been as big; he was calculated.
@@ThePursuitofHappiness1988 but still a rememberable G, despite all his errors
@@Elruso_marcitoyou were wrong though
The algo been pushing boardwalk too hard
yeah, its suddenly everywhere. I mean, I'm not complaining, I LOVED this series! I just wish they wouldn't have cut it short. God how I'd love another season set between season 4 and 5!
Oh nah that iron scene he let it be known YOU GOT THE RIGHT ONE TODAY 😂😂😂😂😂
Every time Nelson tried to do the right thing or his job he got fucked over so he did started playing the rigged game and just eh got fucked
damn I've never seen this show but I can get the idea they kill off really likable characters. They make you really like them and then they die. I guess that's what makes a good show if you don't see it coming.
Haha wow that translation was not what I expected her to say lol!