Meadowlands (The Sopranos episode)

Infobox Television episode | Title = Meadowlands
Series = The Sopranos
Season = 1
Episode = 4
Guests= "see below"
Airdate = January 31, 1999
Production = 104
Writer = Jason Cahill
Director = John Patterson
Episode list = Episode chronology


Prev = Denial, Anger, Acceptance
Next = College"Meadowlands" is the fourth episode of the HBO original series "The Sopranos". It was written by Jason Cahill, directed by John Patterson and originally aired on January 31, 1999.

Guest Starring

* John Heard as Detective Vin Makazian
* Jerry Adler as Hesh Rabkin
* Michael Rispoli as Jackie Aprile, Sr.
* Mark Blum as Randall Curtin

Also Guest Starring

* Anthony DeSando as Brendan Filone
* Sharon Angela as Rosalie Aprile
* Joseph Badalucco, Jr. as Jimmy Altieri
* Tony Darrow as Larry Boy Barese
* Michelle de Cesare as Hunter Scangarelo
* Oksana Lada as Irina Peltsin
* George Loros as Ray Curto
* Drea de Matteo as Adriana La Cerva
* Al Sapienza as Mikey Palmice

Episode recap

Tony Soprano suffers increasing paranoia over his secret psychiatric sessions, especially after a near-encounter with Silvio Dante, who was visiting the dental office just opposite Dr. Melfi's suite. However, Tony is in no hurry to abandon therapy: he has also been developing feelings for the doctor, even to the point of having a detective in his employ, Vin Makazian, secretly follow and photograph her. Unfortunately, Makazian assumes Melfi is a mistress of Tony's, and oversteps the mark; when he sees Melfi with a date, he pulls the pair over on a false accusation of crossing the double yellow line, and after the date admits to having wine with dinner, proceeds to conduct a field sobriety test and then brutally beat the helpless man and take him into custody, stating to a confused Melfi, "You got prime rib at home, and you're going out for hamburger?" Tony's dangerous feelings even lead him to consider quitting therapy, but Carmela insists he continue, although she is still under the impression that Tony's psychiatrist is male. In fact, Carmela goes so far as to warn Tony that without continued therapy, their marriage will be at serious risk.

A.J. is left confused when a physically bigger classmate, Jeremy Piocosta, backs down from a fight with him. With some guidance from Meadow, A.J. comes to realize that Jeremy was intimidated by the reputation of his father. Tony had coincidentally met Jeremy's father the day before at a plant nursery as Tony was seeking pesticide for his garden corn. Tony's friendliness confused Jeremy's father, and probably provoked Jeremy to quit the fight. A.J. then learns from Meadow about what exactly his father does for a living.

Christopher, meanwhile, is running scared after his mock execution, which has left him in a neck brace, and is even more unnerved when he and Adriana discover Brendan Filone lying dead in his bathtub, shot through the eye. Convinced that Tony is exacting vengeance on him for giving drugs to Meadow, his fears are only allayed when he questions her and discovers that she has not revealed the transaction. However, finding that Junior is responsible, and has also assumed collection of protection money owed to Tony's crew, he is keen for vengeance. Upon bringing news of Brendan's demise, Christopher also implies that he will take out Mikey Palmice. Tony does not allow Chris to go forward with his plans because Mikey is a made man. Instead, Tony takes a ride to the luncheonette, beats Mikey and proceeds to staple his suit with a staple gun. He then confronts Junior about his extreme actions against Brendan and Chris.

Although Tony chastises his uncle, the prospect of war with Junior also looms large for him, especially after the abrupt death of his friend and acting DiMeo Family boss, Jackie Aprile, Sr., creates uncertainty over who will be his successor. Although Tony has the backing of the other capos and is irate over the unauthorized and extreme punishments meted out to Christopher, he seeks a diplomatic resolution with his uncle. After some unwitting inspiration from Dr. Melfi about giving the elderly the "illusion of control," Tony concedes leadership of the family to Junior, with several advantages: he can avoid a war and obtain income-earning properties and contracts as payment from Junior in exchange for his recommendation. Content with his decision, Tony opts to remain in therapy.

First appearances

The episode marks the first appearances of:
*Vin Makazian: A corrupt detective in the Essex County police force whom Tony employs.
*Larry Boy Barese, Jimmy Altieri, Ray Curto: Capos in the DiMeo/Soprano crime family.

Deceased

*Jackie Aprile, Sr: succumbed to stomach cancer

Title reference

* The Meadowlands is a region of New Jersey reputed for being a dumping ground for New York and New Jersey's Mafia murder victims (and is one of Jimmy Hoffa's supposed resting places). Yo-Yo Mendez remarks to Christopher in this episode that he was rumored to have been taken there for execution.

Awards

Jason Cahill won a Writers Guild of America award for his work on this episode.

References to other media

* Big Pussy refers to Brendan Filone's execution style slaying as a "Moe Greene special," a reference to Moe Greene, a character in "The Godfather" who was also murdered with a bullet through the eye.
* Christopher quotes Al Pacino's lines from the finale to the 1983 gangster film "Scarface".

Music

* The song played over the end credits is "Look on Down From the Bridge" by Mazzy Star.