411 Retro TV Review: The Sopranos – Episode 12
Posted by Mike Gorman on 12.04.2007
Well it hits the fan this week folks…finally! This just might be the best episode of the season and all it took was a little family on family violence. Will Tony’s depression leave him at rock bottom or is it time for a phoenix to rise from the ashes?
Cast:
James Gandolfini ... Tony Soprano
Lorraine Bracco ... Dr. Jennifer Melfi
Edie Falco ... Carmela Soprano
Michael Imperioli ... Christopher Moltisanti
Dominic Chianese ... Corrado 'Junior' Soprano
Vincent Pastore ... Salvatore 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero
Steve Van Zandt ... Silvio Dante
Tony Sirico ... Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri
Robert Iler ... Anthony 'A.J.' Soprano Jr.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler ... Meadow Soprano
Nancy Marchand ... Livia Soprano
Al Sapienza … Mikey Palmice
Paul Schulze … Father Phil Intintola
“A lot of top guys have dark moods. That Winston Churchill, drank a quart of brandy before breakfast. Napoleon, he was a moody f**k, too.” - Silvio
Ever have one of those weeks where you feel like so much is weighing on down on you that you contemplate not getting out of bed in the morning? Welcome to Tony Soprano’s status quo. His depression has a tight grip on him and all of Carmella’s prodding will not get him to budge. She’s clearly concerned as are Tony’s men. Most see it as a temporary set back and Christopher even develops his own plan for helping Tony.
One morning as he struggles to get himself up, Tony notices some movement in the Cusamano’s backyard. A gorgeous Italian exchange student is doing some laundry. She piques his interests and soon draws him out to the yard. His friends and family have no effect on him but the mystique of this woman does. His conversations with her seem to be like that last hand reaching out to pull him up from rock bottom whether either of them realizes it or not at the moment. He even dreams of her being back in an Italian village nursing a baby named Antonio but is not sure why. Carmella soon realizes that it is another woman who has gotten him up and about, not her. At the same time we see that Tony is the topic of discussion for some other folks too, namely Mikey and Junior. The plot to assassinate Tony has been set into action and it is only a matter of time before we get to see the hit. This convergence of Tony’s emotional and professional rock bottoms create a lot of tension throughout the episode. We know that something big is coming but when and where?
Reinvigorated on some levels by his time with Isabella, Tony continues to seek out the help of Dr, Melfi and her medical associates. He ventures out to get his prescriptions adjusted and is followed by Christopher, who wants to figure out exactly what is going on with Tony. This scene is quite funny because it features Tony doing his usual run around so that no one can follow him to the doctor’s office. To Christopher it appears that Tony entered a coffee shop, so his sits and waits in his car, blocking some traffic. Two men he is blocking get quite irate with him and words are had. The men leave and Christopher realizes that Tony is somewhere else. He attempts to find him and discovers the doctor’s office. Unbeknownst to him though he just thwarted the first attempt on Tony’s life. Those two men were the hit men!
The next big twist of the episode comes when Tony approaches Dr. Cusamano in his yard to inquire about where Isabella has gone. Dr. Cusamano tells Tony that he and his wife have been on a vacation and that there was no Isabella staying at their house. What? Tony asks Carmella if she ever saw Isabella and she says she did not. Tony rushes to Dr. Melfi’s office where he confronts the truth. Isabella was a figment of his imagination. Melfi also suggests that perhaps Tony created her as a fill in for his own mother, re: the dream, from whom he is very disconnected. This realization is almost like a sense of relief for Tony as he begins to climb his way out from the state he is. While it seems this could be a lengthy process, fate will intervene again soon to speed things along.
As he is getting into his SUV in front of the deli the next day, the two men who Christopher had blocked previous pull up and begin to shoot at Tony. The first shot misses and smashes Tony’s OJ bottle. This gives him the opening to get in the car and protect himself. The second shooter grazes him and makes contact as Tony drives away holding the shooter’s arm. Tony yelps with excitement as he increases his speed and drops the shooter. From all appearances Tony has had one of those classic life or death moments which jump starts his system. His wife and children are of course distraught but Tony is invigorated. Another side plot jumps in here as AJ attempts to use Tony’s shooting as an excuse for having to cancel his date for his first dance. He seems excited to be “off the hook” so to speak because his parents were supposed to drive him. This little issue is easily reconciled as Paulie and Silvio volunteer to chaperone. The look on the face of AJ’s date is priceless.
At the same time all of Tony’s family and crew gather at his house to show him their respect and also ponder how this could have happened. Junior and Livia are terrified now that their involvement will be discovered. Junior knows that as soon as Tony learns the truth that his own days are numbered. Still they do go to Tony’s house and join the others. Christopher, Silvio and Paulie already suspect Junior’s hand in the action. Will Tony believe this and what will he do? There is only one episode left so we know that the newly invigorated Tony is going to do something big.
As a viewer this episode was near perfect. The two sides of Tony’s world are forced into contact by his increasing depression. I nearly yelled myself when it was discovered that Isabella was a hallucination. I do suppose that if she was real she would have been a bit too much of a “dues ex machina” as our “play” enters the final act. Tony’s got the fire back behind his eyes and I cannot wait to see who he will burn. I know who I would like to see take the fall but I will reserve that tidbit for next week when we end the first season and I take a look at the season one DVD special features.
The 411: A perfect penultimnate episode for a season that has featured more highs than lows. All of the pieces are in place now for a fantastic finale as Tony is reborn following Junior and Livia's attempt on his life. This week's episode was the spot on appetizer for next week's final feast.
