"Friendless Child" is the seventh episode of the fifth season of the American period crime drama television series Boardwalk Empire.
The series follows Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, a political figure who rises to prominence and interacts with mobsters, politicians, government agents, and the common folk who look up to him.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.95 million household viewers and gained a 0.8 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
In Chicago, D'Angelo and his partner, Frank Wilson, convince a judge in granting them an arrest warrant for Capone, as they have enough evidence to convict him for tax evasion.
Nucky wants to make a bigger push, but Maranzano wants to take a more cautious approach, believing patience will earn them victory in the long run.
The site's consensus states: "It still leaves a lot of loose ends to tie up, but 'Friendless Child' offers plenty of surprises as it sets the stage for Boardwalk Empire's conclusion.
"[4] Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode an "amazing" 9.2 out of 10 and wrote in his verdict, "'Friendless Child' finally reached, flashback-wise, the critical moment we've been waiting for.
"[5] Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "'Friendless Child' arguably had too much plot to deal with and as a result wasn't as satisfying as last week's farewell to Van Alden and Chalky.
Club gave the episode a "B+" grade and wrote, "Boardwalk Empire is no stranger to a slow start followed by a sudden burst of plot at the end of the season.
It's no surprise, then, that the modern scenes in 'Friendless Child' are frenetically paced, racing us toward the finish line with an even higher quota of bloodshed than normal.
And despite providing something of a through-line for doomed-to-be-miserable Nucky, the rush of the immediate only highlights the dreamlike tableaux of the flashbacks, leading to an episode that feels both overfull and fitful.
"[8] Craig D. Lindsey of Vulture gave the episode a 3 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "The story of Nucky Thompson and all the gangsters he came in contact with is nearly coming to a close.
"[10] Chris O'Hara of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4.5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "If Nucky comes to her rescue, I wonder if she might play a part in taking down Luciano.