The Sopranos 3.08

He Is Risen

Ralph Cifaretto is still angry at Tony for hitting him after he killed one of the dancers in 3.06 (University). Tony asks Ralph to have a drink with him but Ralph refuses. Ralph thinks Tony owes him an apology. Ralph and Rosalie Aprile are supposed to come over for dinner on Thanksgiving. Tony doesn't want him there. He tells Carmella to uninvite them. Carmella doesn't like it but she does it. She makes up a story about having to cancel Thanksgiving because her father is sick. Word gets back to Ralph about it. 

Meadow and Jackie Jr. get a little closer. They run into one another at a party at Columbia. He gets her some Extacy. He hopes that she will sleep with him but she isn't ready for that. She is still hurting from her breakup with Noah in 3.06 (University). He tries to be patient with her. She gets tired of him trying to call all the shots. She takes his car and tries taking off without him and almost gets into an accident. The incident seems to pull them closer together.

Ralph goes to see Johnny Sack. He is still pissed at Tony. He wants what he feels he has earned. Johnny Sack tries talking sense to him but Ralph isn't listening. Johnny Sack goes to Tony and has a chat with him about Ralph. Tony doesn't want to hear it. Johnny Sack suggests that Tony could make it up to Ralph by making him a captain. Tony isn't about to do that.

Tony meets a woman at Dr. Melfi's office, Gloria Trillo. She a car salesperson at a Mercedes Benz dealership. She is there for an appointment with Dr. Melfi but she's there at the wrong time. Tony lets her take his hour and comes back later. He tells Dr. Melfi that he's been reading The Art of War by Sun Tzu, which she recommended to him. He is very impressed by it especially considering that it was written 2,500 years ago. Tony tries asking Dr. Melfi about Gloria Trillo but she won't tell him anything.

Ralph finally comes to see Tony. He apologizes to Tony but doesn't get anything in return. Ralph is livid. He goes back to Johnny Sack and tells him about it but Johnny does not intercede on his behalf this time around. Tony talks to Uncle Junior about Ralph. Junior suggests that there is no right answer to every situation. 

Gigi Cestone dies of heart failure. Tony promotes Ralph to captain in Gigi's place. Ralph is happy at first but then he wants to know that he got it because he deserved it and not just because Gigi died. Tony walks off without answering his question.

Tony goes to the Mercedes dealership where Gloria works. He gets her to let him test drive one of the latest models. They wind up at his boat, where they have sex. She calls Dr. Melfi afterward to cancel her appointment for the following week.

Thoughts

The episode title has multiple meanings. It could refer to Tony. It could also refer to Ralph. It is also a line spoken by Janice's guest at Thankgiving dinner.

I remember Gloria Trillo, who is played by Annabella Sciorra. I didn't recall exactly where she entered the picture but I remember her character. I think she will be gone by the end of the season. My recollection is that it doesn't end well between her and Tony.

Ralph can't be satisfied. He always wants more. 

I don't recall exactly what happens between Meadow and Jackie Aprile Jr. I've got a feeling that he's going to get bumped off, one way or another.

Meadow and Tony have a moment just before everyone sits down for Thanksgiving dinner. He tries to tell her that he loves her and would hate to see anything bad happen to her. It isn't exactly an apology for the way he treated Noah but it seems to get to her.

This is a good episode. There are a number of wheels in motion. Nothing really gets resolved here but there are some definite plot developments that up the ante.