“Pax Soprana” opens up with a scene that I believe is some foreshadowing by the writers. Please keep in mind as you read this blog, that I’m not writing it from the perspective of seeing the show for the first time, but I’m looking at the series as a whole, to notice things I might’ve never noticed before and to tie together different episodes, seasons & storylines. With that in mind, if you haven’t watched The Sopranos before, beware of plenty of spoilers on this blog for season one and all six seasons.

Vin's Bridge

The foreshadowing I’m referring to is the bridge in the background as Tony Soprano & Vin Makazian first meet to discuss the status of Vin’s spying on Dr. Jennifer Melfi. If I remember correctly, Vin will take a plunge off of the Route 1 bridge to end his life. My brother in law confirmed that the bridge in the background is not the same bridge.

Dr. Melfi Is Starting To Drive Tony Crazy, In A Good Way

In a psychiatric session, Tony reveals to Dr. Melfi that Carmela didn’t know that Dr. Melfi was a “girl” and that Carmela is jealous of her. This ties into several Tony Soprano dream sequences throughout the episode where Tony is having sexual fantasies about Dr. Melfi. Tony will reveal the dreams to Melfi, later in the episode.

Tony & Dr. Melfi come to some interesting conclusions in their sessions this episode. Tony reveals that he picked Jennifer Melfi as his psychiatrist because she had an Italian last name. Dr. Melfi equates this to Tony trying to dialogue to Meadow, Carmela & Livia Soprano through their sessions. Tony asks Dr. Melfi why she accepted him as a patient and he also points out that she didn’t flinch at the notion of having Tony Soprano as a patient, whereas most people would’ve ran in the opposite direction.

Disposing Of Rusty Irish

Junior Soprano is enjoying his new reign as the boss. He manages to have his henchmen bust up one of Jimmy Altieri’s card games, tax Hesh, piss off all four of his captains & get revenge on a drug dealer for “causing” the suicide of a friend’s grandson in a single episode. Speaking of said drug dealer, Junior has a great line when asking for his name, “What’s this motherless fuck’s name?” Eventually Mikey Palmice and one of his goons would end up throwing the drug dealer, Rusty Irish, off of a bridge above the Great Falls of the Passaic. Rusty Irish also happened to be one of Capo Larry Boy Barese’s top earners.

Irina & Tony Duke It Out

In this episode and the last (“College”), we’re starting to see what kind of loose cannon Tony’s goomar Irina can be. Seems now that every time Tony sees or calls her, they are getting into a fight. She ends up throwing a candle at Tony and burning his arm. Tony later blames Carmela for burning his arm in a session with Dr. Melfi.

The Puppet Master

Livia Soprano continues to pull Junior’s strings and she’s the one who gives him the idea to tax Hesh. This leads to Hesh complaining to Tony and thus Tony has to think up a way to help out his old pal.

The First Appearance Of Johnny Sack, Along With His One Downfall: A Cigarette

The storyline with Hesh leads up to the introduction of one of the made men from New York, aka John “Johnny Sack” Sacramoni. Tony make’s it look like Hesh went to Johnny Sack to complain about the tax, in an effort to talk down Junior’s demand. Obviously, Tony Soprano is still running things.

Reminds Me Of A Similar Shot Of Tony From Season Six, Part 2

Jumping off topic of this episode really quick, the scene picture above reminds me of one of the scenes of Tony exiting Satriale’s amidst the final episodes of the series and he throw’s away a sandwich. Look familiar to anyone else?

A Doctor's Face With A Goomar's Voice

Tony’s first dream sequence in this episode borderlines on creepy as we see Tony Soprano receiving oral sex from a woman under the sheets while Tony lip-sync’s to The Jive Five’s song “What Time Is It?”. Shortly after completing the act, a woman reveals herself from under the covers – it’s Dr. Melfi & she speak’s with Irina’s voice, “Tony I love your cannoli!” Tony freaks out and wakes up. Maybe there’s more to Carmela’s jealousy than we thought?

Tony & Carmela's 18 Year Anniversary Cel,ebration

This episode feature’s Tony & Carmela Soprano’s 18 year anniversary for those of you counting. Note the “1″ on Tony’s cake and the “8″ on Carmela’s slice. A few waiters come over to sing happy anniversary to Tony & Carm. As they finish singing, one of the waiters announces “compliment’s of Johnny Sack” – I guess that’s the writer’s way of letting us know the name of the new character Tony was conversing with at the restaurant bar. Carmela is a bit pissed that Johnny Sack was at the restaurant conversing with Tony while she was trying to enjoy their anniversary dinner. Carmela is still quite bitter about the fact that Tony didn’t tell her about his psychiatrist’s gender.

Dr. Melfi Will Pass On Tony's Pass

After another dream about his psychiatrist, Tony decides to make a move on Dr. Jennifer Melfi. She abruptly ends the session and obviously wants nothing to do, physically, with her patient. In fact she looks like she’s about to laugh hysterically when Tony tries to kiss her.

Complaints About Boss Junior

Back at Satriale’s, the three other DiMeo Family captains come to Tony to complain about Junior. Tony decides to talk to his mother, Livia, about it. Tony knows that Livia has “Junior’s ear” and that if she talks to him, Junior will listen. Livia denies that Junior listens to her and states that she doesn’t want to get involved in that world (the mafia).

Carmela Find's Comfort In Her Priest

In another awkward Carmela / Father Phil scene, this time in a church, Carmela admit’s that she views Tony’s goomars as a form of masturbation for Tony. She also admits that she feels that Tony is truly cheating on her with Jennifer Melfi. Carmela mentions divorce and get’s shooshed by the priest. He reaffirms to Carmela that marriage is important and that she shouldn’t even consider getting divorced. He even recommends that Tony get more involved at the church (ha!).

Tony Announces His Love For His Doctor

Meanwhile back in therapy, Tony admits that he’s in love with Dr. Melfi, after she finds out that he stole her car and had it fixed. Dr. Melfi tells Tony, “You’ve made me all of the things that you’ve been missing in your wife, and in your mother.”

Tony & Junior In The Stands

Tony confronts Junior in an amusing scene between the two, to tell Junior that he needs to stop “eating alone”. Tony asks Junior to be a fair leader. Junior gets Tony’s point and things between the two seem to be back to normal.

Tony's First Interest In Horses?

At Hesh’s place, Tony tells Hesh that he clearly doesn’t want to be boss. “I don’t want the job, let Junior die from the stress. It’s what gave Jackie the cancer, god rest his soul.” Tony let’s Hesh know that Junior has taken the tax from Hesh and divied it up to his top five earners. It’s interesting to note that Tony give’s Hesh back his cut of the money. For Tony to give the money back to Hesh, he must clearly value his friendship. Other than Artie Bucco, it doesn’t seem like Tony has too many real friends around that he would do that for.

Cause Making Up Is Hard To Do

Carmela admits to Tony that she was jealous of Dr. Melfi because of her ability to help Tony. Carmela wants to be that woman in Tony’s life.

There's A New Don In Town

The final scene of this episode provides a terrific reveal for Tony & Junior’s true enemy, the Feds. At a ceremony to welcome Junior in as the new boss, Tony, and their entire crew, are having their photos snapped by FBI agents who are all dressed as waiters.

Just One Of The Capos

Eventually we are taken into the FBI headquarters, where it’s revealed that the FBI see’s Corrado “Junior” Soprano as the new boss, whereas, in the FBI’s eyes, Tony Soprano is still just one of the capos.

Here is the final scene from Pax Soprana, which also feature’s a great track by Xzibit, entitled “Paparazzi”:

So as this installment wraps up, it seems that Tony Soprano has managed to cool down both Uncle Joon & Carmela in one fell swoop. However we all know that in Sopranoland, things can’t stay normal for too long.

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