This was probably one of the more sedate episodes of the season so far, with nothing much of any consequence happening. I was mildly disappointed by it, and the fact that the episode lasted exactly an hour and not 10-15 minutes longer, like most HBO shows do, was a bad sign I guess.
Money, money, money In 'Chasing it' Tony gets into serious debt over his insatiable gambling habit (the episode title referring to 'chasing the vig' a gambling term for trying to make up gambling losses by continuing to bet even bigger amounts). His timing couldn't have been worse.
Maria Spatafore, Vito's widow, comes to Tony for a favour. She needs $100 000 to relocate to Maine, a place where no-one knows who they are or who/what Vito was. Her son Vito Jr has turned to the Gothic subculture, defacing gravestones and misbehaving at school as a way to act out against the loss of his father and teasing at school.
Tony doesn't like the idea of forking out all that money, and feels its not really his responsibility to take care of the Spatafores since it was Phil Leotardo who wanted Vito dead and the family name cleared. And he's still angry over the fact that Phil took it upon himself to get rid of one of Tony's biggest earners.
At a party to possibly celebrate Phil's ascension to head of the Lupertazzi family (with THE Nancy Sinatra as entertainment) Tony discusses the Vito Jr problem with Phil, who also shirks financial responsibility and promises to talk some sense into the boy. You just don't get good life insurance in the mob, I guess.
But even after both men have a heart-to-heart with Vito Jr over his miscreant behaviour, he defecates in the school showers after incessant taunting by classmates and he is expelled - putting more pressure on Tony to come up with the $100 000 for Maria and her kids.
Tony screws up a kid's life
During a trip to the casino, Tony feels lucky after winning $18 500 at cards and places up to $25 000 on a horse called Meadow Gold, thinking the name would bring him some luck. He loses and becomes frustrated. It was kinda funny seeing Chris chug on a bottle of water throughout the drunken casino scenes. Oh well, its good to see him keep up with his recovery at least.
After withdrawing the $100k for Maria from one of his "offshore" accounts, Tony gets the idea to put the full amount on a football game - and loses again. He then reverts to Plan B, and tells Maria that he will pay $18 000 for Vito Jr to be taken to a bootcamp for delinquent kids. Maria is unsure if this will be helpful as these camps are notorious for using corporal punishment to discipline and modify the kids' behaviour. Its like Kamp Staaldraad - but worse.
But Maria really doesn't have a choice in the matter and one night Vito Jr is literally bundled out of his bed by a bunch of guys and taken away like a criminal with his distraught mother and sister watching.
Hesh loses out Tony's money problems also cause a rift between himself and Hesh Rabkin, who reminds Tony that he owes him $200 000. Tony grudgingly gives him $3 000 and agrees to make weekly payments. Each payment however is torture for Hesh, who has to listen to Tony's anti-Semetic remarks and constant goading over the fact that Hesh wants his money back. The situation becomes so problematic for Hesh that he tells his son-in-law that it would be easier for Tony to get rid of him, than honour his debt.
However, Hesh's girlfriend Renata later dies of natural causes (possibly a heart attack or stroke) and Tony pays back the balance of his loan out of guilt as Hesh quietly mourns Renata's passing.
Carm's gain is Tony's biggest headache
Carmela's financial situation on the other hand is doing well after the spec house she built with her cousin and her father is sold - and she clears $600 000 from the sale. But she worries that the below-grade building material her father used will come back to bite her, especially during a rainstorm when the guilt and worry keeps her awake.
The news of the sale profits delights Tony who immediately suggests they bet "his half" of the money on a football game that will "make them golden" as he has inside info on the game.
Carmela refuses and says the money is hers - but this results in a massive blow out after the tip Tony receives comes good and he attacks her for letting him miss out on the opportunity to make an easy million.
Tony reminds her that he paid for all the building costs and leaned on the inspector to have the building plans greenlit, so therefore she should be grateful to him, and pay him. He also makes her feel guilty for using substandard building material and says the house will collapse and kill its inhabitants.
After they make up, like they do, Carmela voices her gnawing concern that she will be left destitute (like Ginny Sacrimoni) should the FBI or worse, get hold of Tony - and her business is her way of securing her financial future. Its the type of thing Tony doesn't even want to hear about, so he vents his issues during a session with Dr Melfi.
The end of Tony and Dr Melfi? As he sits there twiddling his thumbs and skirting around the issues like he usually does, I wondered, why does he still bother coming to see her? What's the point? And in the very next moment, she asks him the same thing and he boasts that he hasn't had a panic attack since he was shot. Melfi tells him to think about whether he wants to continue his counselling, since she doesn't think its going anywhere.
Broken hearts and promisesThings are looking very rosy for AJ after he proposes to Blanca, and she initially accepts, but later breaks up with him during the Puerto Rico Day Parade in New York, saying she doesn't think she loves him.
Its evident that she had other ideas about AJ and his wealth, that the big house and famed name would set her and her son for life. But its clear AJ's parents expect him to work for a living - the complete opposite of what she expected.
So, over the last few episodes, both Soprano kids have had engagements broken off. It appears if you want any happiness in this life, its gotta be in a seriously dysfunctional one, like Tony and Carmela have been demonstrating over the years.
While this episode had its moments, particularly the jaw-dropping performances by James Gandolfini and Edie Falco during their huge argument over money, it lacked any real excitement. But I'm ok with that. I think The Sopranos has a higher "intrigue" quotient over any other show anyways!