The Sopranos 3.10

To Save Us All from Satan's Power

Christmas is coming. Pussy used to play Santa Claus at the party that they would throw for the neighborhood kids. They have to find someone else to play the part. Silvio and Paulie suggest that Tony should do it but he says no. Bobby winds up getting the job, against his will.

Tony has a few flashbacks to 1995. Jackie Aprile was still around, running the show. Pussy was already compromised but they didn't know, at the time. He was sent to Boca Raton to broker a meeting between Uncle Junior and Jackie. Tony realizes in retrospect that all Pussy's excuses at the time were cover ups for meetings he was probably having with FBI agents.

Tony spots Jackie Jr. in a bar getting a lap dance. He takes him into the men's room for a talk. He acts nice as they are walking there but once they are inside he starts slapping Jackie Jr. around. He finds a gun on him and takes it away. Jackie Jr. gives him a story about getting it from Ralph because someone broke into his car. Tony is beyond disappointed in Jackie Jr.

Bobby plays Santa at the holiday party. He's nervous about it. He winds up snapping at one of the kids who can't be more than seven years old. The kid curses at him. Paulie urges the kid to apologize to Santa, which he does.

Janice wrist is still hurting. Tony finds the Russian who beat up Janice, after she wouldn't return Svetlana's leg earlier this season, and with some help from Furio he returns the favor.

Tony goes to see Dr. Melfi a couple times. The first time he tries talking to her about the thoughts and dreams he's been having about Pussy. He can't go into details but in very vague terms he tells her that it has to do with a friend who betrayed him to the Feds. He wants to talk about Jackie Jr. during the second visit but she tries bringing up the betrayal he mentioned at their previous meeting. He gets upset and walks out.

The episode ends on Christmas morning. Jackie Jr. stops by to give Meadow his gift. Tony glowers at him but doesn't let on to Meadow, Carmella, or AJ how he feels about Jackie Jr. or why. Jackie Jr. gets a moment alone with Tony and tells him that he's flunked out of Rutgers but he is going to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology. He seems to be looking for some sort of reassurance from Tony but he doesn't get it.

Meadow gives Tony her gift to him after Jackie Jr. has left. It is a singing fish. Everyone else thinks it is hilarious but Tony can only pretend to appreciate the gift.

Thoughts

Gloria is not in this episode. Uncle Junior only shows up in flashbacks. Ralphie is not in this episode.

There are a number of flashbacks in this episode. It was pretty clear which moments were flashbacks and which ones were not. Tony had more hair and Paulie's hair was darker in the flashbacks.

Jackie Jr. keeps screwing it up. He just keeps making it worse every time he sees Tony. It is like he thinks he is smarter than Tony.

I like this episode but not as much as the previous one. This one feels like a stepping stone to something else or maybe it is just coloring in some background information. I like it but it isn't great.