Past Episodes
Season 1
Guy Walks Into a Psychiatrist's Office
I may make this point every episode, but I want to reiterate how much re-watching these episodes have helped me. As strange as it may sound, the first time I watched these episodes I didn't really understand what was going on. Whether that's a natural thing for a first-time viewer or if I am just paying really close attention on second viewing, I'm not sure. But the important part is that I understand what's going on now.
There are three main plots in this episode, one that explores the awful business dealings of the mafioso life, one that explores how to be a rat, and the other played mostly for comedic effect. A construction company owned by Junior is being protested by an all-black rally led by father and son reverends. The workers are obviously unhappy and seek a way to stop this so they go to Tony.
At the end of the episode it's revealed that Tony paid the son for his services. Now I'm not exactly sure if he's paying him to stop or if he's paying him for starting the rally and then stopping it. I don't know if Tony is this smart, but there's a chance he paid for the rally to happen at all so he could seize Junior's business dealings. It's either that or he's seized on the opportunity.
Usually, The Sopranos' attempts to portray African Americans is pretty bad especially in comparison to another HBO show The Wire. However, in this episode, it's not that bad with the experienced actors Bill Cobbs playing the father and Gregory Alan Williams playing the son. The protest scene itself I could give or take, but portraying individual characters are more important anyway and the scenes with Tony talking with the father and then the son are good.
Then, previously somewhat unknown, it's revealed that Big Pussy is actually talking with the feds. From last episode, it was clear that Tony was suspicious of Big Pussy despite his story checking out. Now, that suspicion is valid. In this episode, we meet Skip, the likable detective. We also find out why. For one, the feds caught him on something and he will get to stay out of prison in return. For two, he gets free rides and I think free care to repair his unfixable back. Also, there's a sense that he has a bit of a resentment towards Tony that makes him feel ok with betraying his friend, or at least makes it easier.
The second story takes the most time. (The Big Pussy part is a really minor part of the episode) A generous judge allows Junior to stay at home on house arrest because of a health condition that is clearly bullshit. Ironically, he soon actually develops a health condition that makes the ruling valid. (Karma?) But the judge is not generous enough to let him go home without an electronic monitoring device. And for the next five seasons, Dominic Chianese had a pretty easy job going back to the same location every single episode.
This part of the story is almost entirely played for laughs. Whether it's Attorney Melvoin's bullshitting, anything involving Bobby, or Junior's fall in the shower, I think each scene is meant to be funny (or pathetically funny). This marks the first appearance of Bobby Baccalieri, who is pretty much the nicest guy ever so Tony's vitriol towards him seems meaner than the first time. (For instance, when Bobby says he always liked Tony, I actually believe him because he doesn't seem to have an ounce of dislike in his body.) I also liked Bobby saying what he wanted to say when he gives Tony the money but after Tony had left.
Lastly, Janice attempts to connive her way towards having the house that Tony wants to sell. One problem: Janice is trying to play a game Livia practically invented. So she doesn't fall for her shit. She visits Livia the first time and realizes how bad she is. So the second time she comes prepared, playing a song that she knows she likes (with the help of Meadow) and trying to play the good daughter card. It works for a while (maybe) but then AJ does the one good thing he's ever done and tells Livia that Janice is planning to DNR her.
It's pretty funny when Janice suggest to Livia that she live in the old house with her. Then Livia does something I'm sure Janice doesn't expect and says she wants to live in Green Grove. (because clean towels everyday!) Then I'm sure Livia thought about the idea of living with Janice and ended up having a coughing fit for about a minute. I understand your pain Livia. On second viewing, Janice is a pretty awful person from the start, but she's at least a realistic portrait. She thinks she's above the Sopranos, but it's clear early on that she's about the same as the rest of them (except Tony's other sister who actually gets away from the mob life.)
This episode is written by three people, all of them with impressive resumes for this show. The team of Mitchell Burgess and Robin Green, who later co-created Blue Boods, have been nominated 4 times for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series and won two in that same category at the Emmy's. They were nominated every season except the last season, but they wrote only a single episode in that season. The other person, Frank Renzulli, has two nominations for Outstanding Writing (one he co-wrote with Chase, the other he wrote solo) which is impressive since he was only a member of The Sopranos writing team for two seasons. This episode doesn't quite live up to that resume as none of those nominations were due to this episode.
Behind the chair of this episode was Martin Bruestle. Interestingly enough, he was a producer for all six seasons of The Sopranos. This was the only episode he directed. I didn't notice anything particularly bad or good about this episode, but I guess he was satisfied with only directing one thing ever.
All in all, another solid episode of The Sopranos. It's nothing special, but business as usual for The Sopranos. And business as usual for The Sopranos is going to be the same grade every time.
Grade - A-
Surprise Guest Appearances
Gregory Alan Williams, most well-known for playing an assistant coach to Coach Boone (Denzel Washington) in Remember the Titans, plays a reverend protesting
Bill Cobbs plays his father - also a reverend. Cobbs is probably best known for playing an old security guard in Night at the Museum, but he's has 168 credits on IMDB.
Deaths
Reverend James Sr, played by Cobbs, dies after a nice and peaceful conversation with Tony, of old age.
Quotes
"My nephew's visiting his uncle..... who loves him." - Gandolfini's delivery on this line makes this funny
"To the victor belongs the spoils" - Bobby makes a strong impression in his first scene on The Sopranos
"Sounds like Nazi Germany to me" - Junior's attempt to not wear an ankle bracelet
"You got something to say, little girl who's about to get her license might want to use one of those cars in the driveway in the next 100 years?" - That would shut any teenager up, Tony
"You were on TV? Which show?" - Bobby really made a strong impression
"I mean get off my car before you flip it over you fat fuck" - Tony to Bobby
"Be careful with Janice. She's a real snake in the grass" - Livia with words of wisdom for Carmela
"Anthony, don't let me go to the grave with this guilt." - I'm not sure if this is Junior's pride not allowing himself to be carried or about Tony's (justifiable) abandonment of his mother
Playlist (First two are from this episode)
1. "Mother and Child Reunion" - Paul Simon
2. "Goodnight My Love" - Ella Fitzgerald
3. "Pretender" - Miike Snow
4. "Counting" - Autre Ne Veut
5. "School Days" - Ryan Lewis & Symmetry
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