The Wisdom of the Sopranos Part 17 (Season 2 Episode 5 Big Girls Don't Cry)

It does seem funny to some that I am blogging about a show that hasn't been on the air for years.  But, to those who think I'm out of my mind think about this...

In the last week Chris Christie, Governor of New Jersey, is embroiled in a controversy that seems to come from the pages of my analysis of this very episode of the Sopranos.  Tony is trying to isolate himself to protect him from the FBI.  He has decided to change his mob family's leadership structure to insure he has trusted associates that he can instruct them on what he wants them to do without making it appear that these actions are coming from him.  This is not the first time Tony has attempted to isolate himself.  I'm not saying Chris Christie had his staff close down those lanes on the George Washington Bridge.  No one knows that at this point.  But, what I am saying that if he wanted to make the mayor of that town pay for not supporting him, but didn't want to be directly accountable that would be the way to accomplish this. (Very side note - a few years ago I recall reading an article about Chris Christie.  It might have been in the Atlantic Magazine.  There was a picture of him and his family sitting in their kitchen/dining area.  I remember giggling as I saw this picture because it looked like the same kitchen/dining area of the Tony Soprano home.)

Here are some other highlights of this episode:

If you owe someone money you need to think about how you spend money.  You don't want those who lend you money to think that you are not being careful with their money.  Especially if you are not paying them back. 

Respect was a re-occurring theme throughout this episode.  At one point Tony goes to visit his sister Janice at their mother's house when Richie Aprile opens the door.  He had on only boxer shorts and a wife beater.  Tony told him to put his pants on.  Richie didn't.  He completely ignored Tony's request.  This is a not a subtle hint that Richie doesn't respect Tony.  Not surprisingly they end up in a verbal fight.

Back at the restaurant Paulie and Pussy are eating.  Furio joins them.  The boss of New York, Johnny "Sack" (wonder what this nickname is all about?) enters the restaurant.  All but Pussy stands up to greet Johnny.  It's pretty obvious here that Pussy doesn't respect Johnny.  You can even further assume that he probably doesn't respect any of them. 

At one point Tony is shown observing others at a party in his home being held for the newly transplanted Furio.  I'm sure Tony is well aware that you can learn much by just watching how others interact with each other.

It's important to find someone you can fully trust to listen and help guide you through your issues.

Tony finds out in the episode that his dad actually suffered from panic attacks.  It's a simple wisdom that we tend to repeat the past. No matter how much you think you are different from your parents you still share some of the same issues.

One personal observation - when Tony is talking to Hesh (his and in the past his father's confidant) Tony is talking about his panic attacks and Hesh starts to drift into a completely different conversation.  They are both talking at the same time.  However, not talking about the same thing.  This happened again later in the episode.  I had to laugh as I have a similar situation with someone in my life.  (I can't say who but if you are reading this it's not you!)  It's difficult to sometimes have a conversation with this person.  It was interesting and I recognized the behavior. 

Christopher goes to an acting class for writers.  He takes on a role that becomes very emotional for him and he cries while on stage. (He is portraying James Dean's character in Rebel Without a Cause.  It was the pivotal scene at the end of the movie where he talks to his dad while clutching his dad's legs.)  The next time the guy that played his dad was on stage with Christopher to begin another acting lesson when Christopher punches him in the face.  Why does he do this?  Adriana seems to think that it brought up emotions stemming from the loss of his father when he was a baby.  I think it's more primal.  Christopher cried in front of all these people.  He needs to now show them he is a man.  But, it's more interesting with Adriana's theory.  But, I would take it a bit further.  It's not his actual dad he is punching out.  It's the man who is like a father to him - Tony Soprano.

Dr. Melfi is back in the picture.  She decided to take Tony back as a patient. There are two scenes in this episode of Dr. Melfi with her doctor. The first time he confronted her about her feelings for Tony Soprano. She ended up cursing and storming out of his office.  This is certainly just want Tony did to her in the past.  (History repeating itself anyone?)  The second time she is in his office she tells her doctor that seeing Tony was therapeutic.  The doctor of course told her it's not suppose to be therapeutic for you - it's suppose to be for the patient.  So, Dr. Melfi had some wine and called Tony for an appointment.  Their first appointment back was interesting.  He wanted to shock her by telling her about how he had Furio beat up some people not paying their loan to him.  Tony was in the car while this was going on when Dr. Melfi called him.  Dr. Melfi asked Tony how it made him feel.  He said he wanted to be in there - in the action - not in the car waiting.  She asked him if he would want to be the one giving the beating or receiving? 

The Wisdom of the Sopranos Part 16 (Season 2 Episode 4 Commendatori)

Before I begin it's been a while since I've added another analysis of The Sopranos I want to express sadness in James Gandolfini's untimely death is 2013.  There was something about the way his eyes expressed themselves in every episode of The Sopranos that brought life to the role of Tony Soprano.  The eyes expressed sadness, fear, regret, concern and love.  It's possible that the very emotions he brought to the role didn't line up with what we think of a sociopath.  It might have not been completely honest.  But, without that the show would have never been a success.  We all loved the character of Tony Soprano, warts and all.  That is because James Gandolfini brought a sense of perverted humanity to Tony Soprano.

Thank you James...

When I watched this episode again with an eye towards my goal of uncovering the wisdom of the Sopranos I thought this one where the gang visits Italy would be packed full of revelations.   But, I felt a little like Paulie looking for a connection to the land of his ancestors.  I felt there should be more.  I'm wondering could that have actually been the plan all along?  Noooo...It can't be.  But, then again the show is genius.

There was a lot going on in this episode.  Tony and his crew go to Italy to meet with an important connected man to discuss selling stolen vehicles.  However, he ends up having to deal with a woman who is now the boss.  It's difficult at first but Tony finally manages to accept dealing with a woman.  He was even able to draw a line between pleasure and business by refusing her advances.  Although I'm more than certain he would have liked to have had a romp with our lady boss he knew it was better to "not shit where he eats". 

Paulie is meanwhile trying to feel at home in Italy.  He is trying desperately to feel like he belongs.  He is almost giddy with excitement about being in Italy.  But, the natives aren't having any of it...they spurn him constantly.  It's not until he hires a prostitute who might be from where his family once lived that he feels some bond with Italy.  Paulie's experience reminds me of someone going on vacation to some supposed exciting locale only to find it really disappointing. 

Christopher was there.  But, his role was wasted being, well, wasted.

Meanwhile back a home in New Jersey Janice visits Carmella and begins to blast her for being with Tony when she is so smart.  Carmella turns it back on her because of her involvement with Richie.  Wisdom - It is said that you criticize in others the exact characteristics and/or actions of yourself.

Pussy is dealing with his deceptions.  As an F.B.I. informant he has become so self involved that he is not there for his wife when she needs him.  At one point his wife calls Carmella and tells her that back when Pussy reappeared after having been missing for quite a while a part of her wished he was dead.  When Tony walked back into the house and said he was home the look on Carmella's face seemed to say that a part of her too wishes Tony was dead.

Pussy, in an effort to prevent another associate from revealing that he was at a party store with an F.B.I. agent he ruthlessly killed him.  There was a cover story for the agent.  It's quite possible that no one would have caught on to Pussy.  But, he took extreme measures to be sure that it didn't get out.