Grid Effect

Is the Sopranos turning into The Wire, where every episode delivers the goods? Don’t get me wrong, I think David Chase’s work at its peak outweighs that of David Simon’s, but nobody touches The Wire in terms of consistent artistry. Something to ponder while reading. Onto the recap (much later than expected, my apologies)…

Tony wakes up and has a “I wonder what ther fuck can go wrong today” face. He waddles over to the mirror and has one of those poignant moments when he clearly wonders just what the hell he’s doing/done with his life. We see Paulie downstairs and Carmela offering him some coffee, he cordially declines as only Paulie can, turns out he is dropping by unannounced. Carm leaves to meet a new realtor about her spec house shortly after Tony enters.

Tony goes to look at some tomatoes he’s growing and Paulie says the feds are doing some digging over by Branford Ave…Tony ponders, then Paulie clues him in, “Willie Overalls, the bookie, 1982″. Based on Tony’s vivid memory of the details of the incident, I’m surprised he needed Paulie’s assistance. Most likely he’s spent the last twenty-five years of his life trying to block the memory. Thanks, Paulie! Always the bearer of good news.

While monitoring the feds at said Branford avenue, which is either a sign of indifference or laziness, we come to find out that Willie was Tony’s first kill. Now in his overly paranoid days, Tony decrees that him and Paulie (he was overseeing the a young Tony at the time) are going to lamb it. Finally, one of those road trips they always contemplated yet never had to follow through on.

Back where he’s packing, Carm is distressed and Tony says its strictly for a gambling charge She asks, “At this age, this is still how we live?” I think the better question is at that age are the wives still this naive? Your husbands a brutal murderous thug, Carm; and it isn’t a justifiable practice to buy you quality materials. Come to terms with it, you’ll feel much better. Tony laments his blossoming tomato garden.

Junior sits in a mental facility for the criminally insane with Pat (the guy who owned the peach farm where Chris and Tony Blundetto retrieved some corpses) and some old mafioso, the conversation`is barely coherent because Junior slips in and out of dementia spells. First Junior suggests that they have to bust him out, then a minute or two later when they hatch a plan for him, he responds, “Enchiladas tonight”.

In the dining hall, Junior asks some unknown Asian kid to watch his dinner while he handles a not so subtle exchange with one of the orderlies.

Said orderly, whom we come to find is named Jamil, is overcharging him to sneak in candy and sodas. Junior announces the game is five card stud, and looses his train of thought while explaining the items for sale. Asian kid helps him. Some guy buys sprees for five buttons.

Paulie and Tony head down south and discuss the killing of Willie Overall, which happened right before meadow was born. They went to Lugers, the same place where Tony and Pussy went after killing Matthew Bevalaukwa (I clearly spelled this incorrectly). Tony inquires about the Johnny Sack joke from season four that nearly started a war, Paulie is defiant yet transparent.

Back at the card game, some guy storms out of the room muttering something about being cooperative over and over. Some guy claims to have a flush, Asian kid points out he doesn’t, he is clearly getting frustrated from all the stoppage in play (I can relate), and it becomes evident when he starts berating some poor guy with alzheimers. A random patient off in the corner begins crying over a joke Junior makes about a vase and spreading legs. “The Professor” shows up and Junior is instantly repelled, he tells him to fuck off, in so many words. When he refuses to budge, Junior calls him the pride of Rutgers and points out that he slit his wrists right after killing the dean. Junior forces him out.

Some of Junior’s choice lines that he has been telling for the past fifty years:

-What does the blind man say when he passes the fish market?…good morning ladies.

-A real orderly walks in and dismantles the game and when Junior opines, the guy insists it’s too stressful for the patients an points out the crying kid in the corner, to which Junior responds, “He’s not even playing”.

-I saw you’re girlfriend today at pet therapy, how does she keep her coat so shiny?

Asian kid, whom we learn is named Carter, goes to meet up with Junior and he give him his taste in buttons, which the kid reluctantly accepts, realizing Junior is senile. Junior regals a tale of his childhood about fixing some womans garden and turning down a quarter she offered, as a result, his father smacked him around. He means for it to be a valuable life lesson that the kid is supposed to take into consideration for his basic interaction with people. Carter interprets it as him complaining about his father (which goes to emphasize the generational gap that Junior, Tony and the entire mob is unfamiliar with. In short, this institution is outdated). Some guy from the card game comes to retrieve his buttons, Junior tells him if the warden has a problem with him keeping them, than the warden can come see him. The guys asks for a Kit Kat and Jun is incredulous, Carter is impressed and may have found a role-model inside the mental facility, probably not a positive one, at least in terms of harnessing that obvious pent up rage this kid is suppressing.

This is where we find out how nuts this kid is, he tells a story about his father berating him about a 96 on a spelling test, he snaps and we are led to believe he murdered his father. “FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU!” Stutters and Jun looks damn frightened.

As there driving, Paulie and Tony discuss some place called the Haven Inn, well, “we met those 16 year-old hillbilly-whores at the taxi stand”, is how Paulie recalls it. This is Ton’s one attempt at reminiscing the old days. They end up checking in under Mr. Spears at a hotel that has seemingly taken the place of the one they were so looking forward to. They ask the attendant at the hotel about room service for steak and potatoes, he offers them salads and wraps, or nachos in a bar.

In said bar, Paulie tells a story about the first time him and Johnny Boy (Tony’s dad) took the trip down south. Apparently they were told over which worried Paulie at the time being in the south and Italian (one would think just being pulled over by the cops and a murderer would cause anxiousness, no such case here). Paulie, being in shotgun, was instructed by Johnny as how to handle the situation, Johnny instructs him to tell the cop that he has a friend on the force named Barney fife. The cop slugs him, Johnny boy is “pissing himself” and they end up paying the cop off with a c-note. Paulie says the only time he saw Johnny cry was when Tony was born. Tony says he thought his dad never believed in him. Paulie reassures him that he entrusted him enough to give Tony the Willie Overall thing, and he means for this to refute Tony’s suggestion, but it is actually counterproductive. If you recall how devastated Chris was in the third season when Tony more or less told him that the mob lifestyle was sufficient for Chris but not Jackie Jr., and how adamant Tony is to keep AJ out of it, Tony does not see his fathers insistence that he join La Cosa Nostra as a positive.

Morning, Tony chastises Paulie for being so friendly with some guy at the breakfast. Paulie looks hurt and grabs like two dozen donuts for the road.

Back at hospital, Carter’s mother is visiting. She looks disgusted when he introduces her to Junior, he slowly picks up on it and dismisses himself. But not before repeating, “I have this new medication they put me on, makes me salivate”. The two of them sit down to talk, his mom is concerned about his aggressiveness, “First off, that is total fucking bullshit”. Kid laments his experience at MIT, and “all the shit they wrote about Daddy”, whom his mom informs us was in the wall street journal. Carter claims he cannot win with her and storms off. And I am about 95% sure this kid murdered his own father.

They are checking in down in Miami. Silvio calls with bad news about the body the feds dug up and Tony bitches about Paulie’s incessant yammering. He gets off the phone and sees Paulie yucking it up with some bellhops. The theme of the episode, at least on the surface any subtext, seems to be Paulie’s endless chatter with everyone he comes into contact with.

Jun is having Carter write a letter. And since it’s too funny to attempt too explain, I’ll just quote it: “Dear Vice President Cheney, as a powerful man who’s all too familiar with accidental gun play, I am hoping you can intervene in my case, like yourself I was involved in an unfortunate incident when a gun I was handling misfired”. Before Carter can finish reading the letter, Jamil busts in and tells Junior that the professor snitched him out and asks Jun to sign a picture of himself being arrested for Jamil to sell on Ebay as the man who capped Tony Soprano. Does that really have any market value?

Back in Miami, Tony and Paulie are sitting down with Beansie (the guy whom Richie Aprile viciously ran over in his car for who remembers what reason) Tony gives him a Cleaver hat. They cheers, and Beansie hooks him up with a Cuban guy who knocks over trucks (just like the old days!). Beansie then shows them a picture of Paulie with an Elvis cut, flexing his bicep. Tony says all his friends wanted to emulate Paulie. There’s another one of Jun and his father in front of Satriale’s. Beansie gets a call and says he’s going to take it because he has to empty his bag, Paulie looks disgusted, “Kill me now” is his agoraphobic response. Tony looks annoyed that Paulie is disgusted. Careful what you wish for there, sideburns.

Jun sits in his room eating candy bars, gets a call from the guy who owned the farm (Pat) and asks about the plan, Jun doesn’;t remember, then forgets who he’s talking to, Junior says the time is not right and hangs up when the guy says he is heading back to Sarasota. All things considered, he has it decently.

In Miami, the three sit around with three (what I’m assuming are) call girls. Beansie and Paulie once again take a trip down memory lane. Paulie isn’t discrete enough for Tony’s liking when he tells some story about a kid who, “Mysteriously drowned”. Ton goes off to dance after saying, “Remember when is the lowest for of conversation”. Come on now Tony, it can be relevant and enjoyable, but needs to be regulated.

Phil has dinner with doc, kicks up some money and literally eats off Phils plate, he looks perturbed.

Jun and Carter play checkers. Professor comes up with a snide comment about them playing checkers instead of Chess, “You want a smack in the fucking mouth?”. Junior asks/threatens. The professor says he’s only tough when there’s an authority figure around so things don’t go to far, then tries to quote a play “Oh have th mighty have falle-’” and Junior beats the shit out of him. Aisan kid goes nuts with blood lust, Juniors slipper falls off as he is kicking him on the ground.

The “warden” interrogates Jamil and the woman working the activity room, she points out Jamil’s nice watch and asks if its vintage. He claims to have gotten it a flea market, she points out it must have been expensive. He plays the race card and they let him leave. Warden decides to change Juniors medication.

Tony talks top hesh about a bridge loan he’s going to need for getting killed in gambling. The same blond whore shows up and he absolutely suffocates her during coitus with his mammoth body. He comes rolls off and much to the fan boys’ delight, she is topless, giving this half of the season its first set of bare titties. Long overdue. She asks to smoke and he says “go for it” while pulling out a stogie. She asks about his friendship with “Peter”, which I guess is Beansie’s first name. And it gets somewhat probing, but asks nothing incriminating. Ton says at one point he wished Paulie was his father but he says Paulie used to work for his dad and the girl replies, “I know, he told me”. Tony looks aggravated.

Jun is passed out in a chair and claims he has no focus, Carter points out that they are trying to “Numb him out, because of what he did to the professor”.

Paulie and Tony are waiting for the Cubans when a car rolls up and five of them get out. Paulie flies out of the car and Tony tries to slow him down. They agree to ship products up to Jersey for a little trust (money), could be relevant in the future.

The orderlies come to give Junior his new meds that are “numbing him out”, Carter yells to cause both of caregivers to turn around, Jun pitches his meds and drinks the water, the orderlies are none the wiser.

Tony talks to beansie about Paulie, apparently Paulie and Beansie were talking on the phone once, Beansie passed out and came twenty minutes later to here he was still talking. It ends up Tony’s adulation of Paulie when he was younger was misguided. He claims he used to be Gary Cooper (and that he still has the balls of a twenty year-old), but Beansie uses the phone story as evidence to the contrary. Beansie points out that Paulie has no family, that’s why he’s so ecstatic when around the guys. Tony points out he has no legit income other than Barone which is in its last days and that between the inability to show legit money and his penchant for rambling, Tony is quick to mention he has never been put to the test by the feds. Beansie calls him a “stand up guy”. Tony suggests that maybe he is simply paranoid because he is waiting for the other shoe to drop. Tony brings up the painting that Paulie saved from being burnt, Beansie says, “You’re all he’s got, Ton, you, the guys, his image”. Tony says he loves Paulie. And honestly, if you’re in the mob and are worried about a guy like Paulie Walnuts flipping, it’s time to retire. That’s like dating a nun and worrying about he infidelity.

Tony goes back to his room and stares at the wall while drinking from the mini bar, when he gets a call from Silvio. Apparently Larry Barisi said Richie Aprile killed Willie Overalls, Ton replies, “You’ve got to worry about what’s next”. He stumbles out to his balcony to see Paulie cackling like an idiot to an episode of Three’s Company.

The next morning, they go to lie out on the beach, Tony suggests they go fishing for some Marlin to celebrate, Paulie looks terrified and reluctantly agrees.

Junior hangs out telling more ostentatious jokes to a bunch of the criminally sick. He gets up to urinate, when they plead for one more and he turns around and obliges, it has to do with two gay men having a kid being the only one not crying, he forgets the punchline and Carter finishes it for him, in the meantime, he pisses himself.

A doctor gives him three options, he can take his meds, transfer to another facility or wear adult diapers. We find that in the next scene, Jamil is fired and when Carter creates the same distraction yet he still takes the pills. Immediately after the orderlies walk out the door, Carter comes bursting in to ask about the plan they hatched, Carter and all his fatherly neglect issues points out that he could have gotten in trouble, “You don’t even care, do you?” He tries to change topics and recommends they get a card game going, Junior says, “They fired Hormel”, the kid then pleads that he should be sufficient. Jun complains of tiredness and the kid walks out, dejectedly.

Tony and Paulie approach the boat with distinctly contrasting attitudes. Tony tells some lame joke about Beansie that I do not quite understand. I assume it has to do with him being in a wheelchair. As they pull from the dock, Paulie has flashbacks to the Pussy whacking. Seems heavy handed. I picked up on Paulie’s trepidation just fine.

Jun walks into Carter’s room and offers him some CD’s. Namely, Hootie and The Blowfish. Jun compliments him on the letter he wrote, but now suggests they try to get Cheney’s attention at his outfit, Haliburton. Carter mutters something about his father and character, Jun calls him Anthony and compliments his spelling, then walks out.

On the boat, Paulie fixes Tony some rigatoni, which he seems to enjoy. Paulie complains about his stomach and Paulie contemplates grabbing the axe and killing him. He says, “I saw a whale, reminded me of Ginny Sack”, Paulie feigns laughter. The Tony, after a couple lame jokes, drops the bomb, “So it was you that told him, right?” Paulie deflects and changes the subject to Ralph’s sense of humor, “Her was a funny prick that Ralph, fucking Gladiator fixation, that time he hit Georgie in the head with that chain”, they talk about how John couldn’t take a joke, especially about Ginny because he sleep with other women.
Tony persists, “Come onnn, you told John about that joke, no?” Paulie, now looking agitated, turns around and says, “It wasn’t me, Ton.” Tony obliges, gets up and offers him a drink. He looks down at this unnecessarily large knife, contemplates, and contemplates, and contemplates, then throws Paulie a soda; and though Paulie complains it seems to alleviate the ocean full of tension.

Back at the hospital, the residents are singing “Old Country Road”, and Junior is willingly participating. Carter, feeling feisty, throws a couple paper balls, when Junior mimmicks to him to stop, the kid charges through the herds of senior citizens and beats the snot out of Junior much in the same fashion that Junior beat up the professor. Instead of losing his slipper this time, Jun loses his glasses.

Paulie walks into his house and hollers out, “What’s it take to get something to eat?”, hears a noise and immediately grabs a baseball bat. He turns the corner and sees Big Puss cooking, he asks him, “When my time comes, tell me, will I stand up?” Eerie.

Back at The Soprano household, Tony has received a $2,000 espresso machine. Carm asks what’s wrong with him and Tony gets defensive.

Doc Santoro comes walking out of a restaurant, instructs his driver who scampers off, then we see three men in jumpsuits point guns at him and fire away, we know its Phil because menacing little Butchie is one of the getaway drivers. We are shown Doc with a missing eye, Moe Green style (Godfather reference).

All the guys are hanging out at the bing watching the news, Silvio calls Phil the “main ginny”. The camera is a partial head shot of Tony and over his shoulder we see/hear Paulie rattling on and on about the “Feech LaMann days”. Some music kicks in and a crowd pans through several of the patients at Juniors facility until it lands on him in a wheelchair. They give us a head shot and he’s staring off into space with a distant look in his eye, stroking a cat. Hey hey, one more Godfather reference for good measure. You know, in case you forgot you were watching a mob show.

Like I said, Terrence Winter always delivers the goods. But a couple notes, I can’t help but mention the eerie coincidence between Carter being an integral part of this episode, six days after the Virginia Tech massacre. Considering “Remember When” had a “life is a tragedy wrapped in a comedy” tone to it, I couldn’t help but be distracted. And any humor involving Carter or the mental facility made me cringe upon first viewing. I am surprised neither HBO nor David Chase felt compelled to say anything publicly and express their sympathies.

Either way, this was a brilliant episode, between the humor, the tension, the drama, the character development, the subtext, every scene last Sunday was loaded with material. Also, I think Junior is done for this series, quite possibly Paulie as well. But he’s still immersed in the lifestyle so maybe we’ll see more of him in the weeks to come.

That’s it until Monday, enjoy the weekend.