The Sopranos 3.06

University

The title of this episode reflects one of the two stories that dominate it. Caitlin, Meadow's roommate at Columbia, is depressed. She is from Iowa. She isn't used to life in New York. She was very perky and upbeat when she first arrived but no more. She intrudes on Meadow and Noah just as they are starting to make out. She's pulling out her hair. She is getting on Meadow's nerves.

The other story is set in the Bada Bing. Ralph is as usual out of control. He is goofing around in a very dangerous way with Georgie, one of the bouncers. Ralph quotes some lines from Gladiator, the Russell Crowe movie, but Georgie didn't see it so he doesn't know what Ralph is talking about. Ralph starts pushing Georgie around. Georgie doesn't fight back because Ralph is a made man. Ralph ends up injuring one of Georgie's eyes before someone finally get Ralph to knock it off.

Meadow and Noah have sex for the first time. It seems pretty clear that it is her first time. They seem to be growing closer but Caitlin interrupts them on more than one occasion. 

Tracy, one of the girls who works at the Bada Bing, tries striking up a conversation with Tony on more than one occasion. He isn't interested. She's been sleeping with Ralph. She reveals that she's pregnant with Ralph's kid. She tries asking Tony for advice. He doesn't want to deal with it and tries to avoid telling her what to do. He does suggest that it might be better to terminate the pregnancy.

Caitlin is desperate for help. She pesters Noah into letting her study in his room. She says she will be quiet but as revealed later by Noah she spends the time talking up a storm. Noah was trying to study. He got a C- on one of his assignments and blames Caitlin.

Caitlin seems to get better. She announces that she is going to see a psychiatrist who is also a friend of her parents. Noah takes Meadow to dinner with his father who is an entertainment lawyer. Meadow is impressed but things are starting to go downhill for them. Noah breaks up with Meadow.

Tracy gets angry at Ralph after he goes for three days without calling him. They get into an argument behind the Bada Bing. He insults her. She hits him, drawing blood. He beats her to death. Tony finds out minutes later and attacks Ralph. Ralph departs leaving the other to deal with Tracy's body.

Tony and Carmella have a session with Dr. Melfi. Tony is quiet. Dr. Melfi points that out. He tells them that he is sad because a 20-year-old guy, who works for his sanitation company, died recently, in a work related accident.

The episode ends in the Bada Bing. Three strippers are getting ready to take their turn on stage. They are talking about Tracy. They wonder what happened to her.

Thoughts

I remember parts of this episode that Tracy was in. I didn't recall that she was introduced and killed in the same episode. I did recall how she died. Joe Pantoliano talked about this episode when he was on WTF. It didn't last long but it did come up.

Tony feels bad about what happened to Tracy. He rebuffed her attempts to talk to him. He did nothing to help her. His feeling bad is a sign that he is human but it is not a sign that he is a good or decent person. He may not be as outwardly evil as Ralph but I think that is due in part to his position. 

There are several writers credited on this episode, five in all. I imagine that some of them just worked on one story and some on the other. The two stories mirror each other to some degree. There is a triangle in each story. Meadow, Noah, and Caitlin make up the triangle in the one story. Tony, Ralph, and Tracy make up the triangle in the other story. There is a person within each triangle who is in crisis.

I am not sure what to make of Caitlin's sudden recovery. It contrasts with Tracy's death but it happened so suddenly, although I guess to some degree Tracy's death was also pretty sudden. Caitlin appears in a two more episodes, both of which are also in Season 3.

If you are looking for a feel good episode then you shouldn't watch this show, let alone this episode. Nothing goes right. It seems to at first, at least for Meadow, but it doesn't end on a happy note for anyone, except possibly Caitlin.