The Wisdom of the Sopranos Part 49 (Season 4, Episode 12 Calling All Cars)

 

Calling all cars, according to the Urban Dictionary means:

 

One of the oldest orders given from a policeman to summon all available units to investigate a crime or situation, particularly police cars. 

 

The reoccurring theme of this episode is going around people to get what you want.  There are several examples of this. Tony is locked in negotiations with the NY family.  The NY family attacks Tony's appraiser to get to him and Tony attacks the appraiser back so he can start working for him again. Instead of a direct confrontation find another more indirect way.  Later Tony goes to the head of the NY family's son who lives in Miami to ask for his help. Janice wants a relationship with Bobby who is still mourning for his deceased wife.  Janice creates a crisis with Bobby's children to provide an opportunity for her to get closer to Bobby.

 

Tony & Silvio started talking about Carmine's son who lives in Miami they later both noticed they clammed up a bit when talking around Paulie.  They are starting to not trust him.  It was a subconscious reaction. Sometimes you need to listen to your gut.

 

Tony has had vivid dreams especially when going through a difficult time.  This is especially true now.  Dreams can almost feel real.  Who hasn't had a disturbing dream that you spend most of your day wondering what it means.  Are dreams windows into your soul or your subconscious? Dr. Melfi told Tony that Freud said that dreams are wishes.  The direct interpretation is, in my opinion, incorrect.  My assessment of dreams are a combination of those things and your experiences.  It's all jumbled up when you sleep.  I believe you can pull out meaning when remembering your dreams.

 

Dr. Melfi points out to Tony that therapy still is important.  Once you have taken control of your basic needs, such as not having panic attacks anymore, you can begin truly working on yourself.  It's true that until the fires are put out you can't really take time to examine yourself, your life.

 

Svetlana, the nurse to Tony's mother who he had a brief one-time fling once told him that nowhere else (but in the U.S.) do people expect to be happy and when they aren't the go to therapy.  Since Svetlana comes back into Tony's life indirectly, he is reminded of what she said.  Between the dreams and her statement about happiness Tony decides to end therapy.  To him it's not working. At the end of this episode while Tony is still in Miami, he wakes from one of his maddening dreams and has a panic attack.  He's close to passing out.

 

 

The Wisdom of the Sopranos Part 47 (Season 4, Episode 9 Whoever Did This)

 There are two separate story lines in this episode.  

This episode starts with Uncle Jr.'s continuing trial.  It seems has found an out by faking dementia.  The only thing is, he's not really faking it.  It ends with the brightness of a new day after Tony finally takes care of Ralph.

Uncle Jr. falls down the stairs at the courthouse and is taken to the hospital.  Tony decides to exploit this and claim Uncle Jr. has dementia.  If true it would cause a mistrial or would lead to a dismissal of the case.  However, although it's not evident to Tony and Uncle Jr.'s associates his mental state is diminished.  When they started coaching Uncle Jr. on how to answer questions at one point, they asked him what his name was.  The look on his face was one of complete confusion and a realization that he did not know how to answer.  Sometimes dementia happens so slowly that others fail to notice until too late.  It is like that with a lot of things that happen slowly.

Ralph's son (who I must say was never mentioned before and is added to create a convenient storyline) was hurt playing with a friend with arrows.  Rosalie comes to the hospital and Ralph apologies to her for not understanding what she was going through when Jackie Jr. was killed.  This is a true and wise statement.  No one knows what it is like when you lose someone.  Even if they say they understand, they don't.  How can they?  You can demonstrate sympathy but it's really not a good idea to tell someone you understand what they are going through.  You do not.  We are all too complex with different experiences that it is impossible to understand. 

Ralph goes to the priest.  He tells Ralph that God is merciful and there is a purpose to all things.  The priest talks about the suffering of Jesus on the cross.  The priest knows that Ralph is a mobster.  Another "devil" and he quotes from the song sympathy for the devil, "And I was 'round when Jesus Christ had his moment of doubt and pain".

Tony is forced comfort Ralph even though he really shouldn't have to. It’s not a role Tony is good at.  He lacks empathy.  Which is what makes him a good sociopath.  Except when it comes to animals.  Tony's favorite horse, Pie-O-My has to be put down after a terrible barn fire.  Tony goes to Ralph to tell him and it is apparent that Ralph arranged for the accident.  When Tony asks Ralph right out if he did Ralph wouldn’t look into Tony’s eyes.  Tony figures Ralph was involved, and Tony goes into a rage and a fight ensues with Tony eventually killing Ralph.  

Ralph’s death was a long time coming.  Tony has intolerance for harming animals.  Perhaps they remind him of his children and their innocence.  Maybe they give him the love he feels he is missing from his children.  Tony tried to connect with Anthony Jr. but he ignores his father.  It was an extremely uncomfortable scene.  At the end of this episode Tony is at the Bada-Bing after a night of cleaning up after disposing of Ralph.  Before he walks out, he sees a picture of the young woman that Ralph killed because she was pregnant with his child.  Another lost, innocent victim.  

Tony walks out to a new day…