Episode 2 - 46 Long
So, then, can the Mafia help your kid out in school? It can when your son's teacher's car gets stolen, and you need to track it (or one that looks reasonably close to it) down and bring it back. Hey - it's for an A in science. Chris & his friend Brendan stole some merchandise from a fellow that paid protection to Uncle Junior, so of course the suits had to go back - most of them, at least. Of course Brendan decided to do an independent job of it, and screwed up - the driver of the truck got caught in some friendly fire. On the home front, Livia set her kitchen on fire, but not until she broke her friend's hip & her own wrist driving. And why won't this woman go into the nursing home? That's just what Tony keeps asking himself.

Episode 3 - Denial, Danger, Acceptance
Uncle Junior's miffed, because the guy that the goods got returned to thanked Tony, not Junior, for the return. People are hinting that if Tony doesn't do something about those two kids, that Junior should - and he's beginning to take that seriously. Of course, Tony has problems of his own. A close friend, Jackie Aprile, is in the hospital with cancer; Artie and Charmaine Bucco (Tony's friends, and owners of the restaurant) are undergoing an arson investigation, and Carmela is hosting a hospital benefit in the house. And, of course, he has problems with a Hasidic Jewish man who plans to give the guys 25% after a favor, but tries to renege afterwards. Tony's daughter, Meadow, and her friend Hunter ask Chris for some crank to study for the SATs, which he gives them to keep them from getting it off the street - just this one time. Junior has a discussion about Christopher & Brendan with Livia - Livia sticks up for Chris, but doesn't know Brendan... which is not good. Gives the phrase a blood bath a whole new meaning.

Episode 4 - Meadowlands
Uhoh... Tony's been dreaming - and it's not about the ducks. Seems he's been dreaming about Dr. Melfi in compromising positions. What's a guy to do? Have her followed, of course. The guy doing it didn't quite understand, so he beat the crap out of a guy that she was on a date with. Christopher, on the other hand, is confused about the beating he received. Was it because of the crank? He's not sure, but he's not thrilled when he finds his buddy in the tub. Tony found out about all of this, so he confronts Uncle Junior - who is not impressed. Later on, Tony & the rest of the capos decide that Tony should take over as boss, but let Junior think he's running things - he makes a nice old decoy for the FBI. Things aren't quite as well at home, though. Meadow told Anthony Jr. what his dad really does for a living, and Tony told Carmela that he wants to quit therapy. Fine - but if he does, she's out of there.

Episode 5 - College
Can't Tony go anywhere without business following? On a trip to Maine to browse for colleges with Meadow, he sees an acquaintance at a gas station, and all the bonding that he & his daughter have done, and the reconciling about the "business" goes out the window. This fellow was a rat who's now part of the Witness Protection Program. Seems he's a travel agent now - and on a one way trip courtesy of Tony & a well placed wire.  Meadow noticed the wire cuts on Tony's hands, so he had to cover for the first time. Back at home, Carmela was laid up with the flu, and sent Anthony Jr. to a friend's house to play video games. And lo, who cometh but Father Phil, the nice young priest who has a bit more than God on his mind. Nothing happens, since a) Carmela has the flu and b) she's too smart to do anything with a man of God. Bad thing happened - Dr. Melfi called, thereby finally revealing to Carmela that Tony's shrink was a woman... not a good thing. When Tony & Meadow get home, he finds out about Father Phil - but before he can get upset, Carmela lets him know that she knows about the fact that his shrink's a woman. The covering the second time really doesn't work.

Episode Six - Pax Soprana

Tony has bad luck. After Jackie died, Junior became boss of New Jersey - with newfound wealth. Of course, none of this trickled down. And, to top things off, Junior decided to tax someone who'd never been taxed before, Hesh - not good. So Tony went behind Junior's back and arranged a meeting between him, a New York capo, and Junior. Junior wanted to seem magnanimous, so he appeared to change his mind & cut a deal with Hesh. While all this was going on, Tony & Carmela "celebrated" their 18th wedding anniversary. Carmela cried more than smiled because of Dr. Melfi - she feels more threatened by her than by any of Tony's mistresses, and with possible good reasons. Buy hey - Junior's under control... and so's the Family - the FBI's watching.

Episode Seven - Down Neck

Like father, like son - Tony & Carmela get called to the principal's office after Anthony Jr. & a friend get drunk off some sacramental wine and come to class. Anthony Jr. might have ADD - which means special ed classes, something that Tony really doesn't want. Tony talks to Dr. Melfi about this in relation to his "wonderful" childhood. Dr. Melfi assures him that there's nothing to worry about - Anthony Jr. won't necessarily be like his dad. This does nothing to help Tony out at all. As punishment, the kid can't watch TV or play video games, and has to see his grandmother every day for three weeks at the nursing home. Anthony Jr. lets slide that he's seeing a psychiatrist. And so's Tony.

Episode Eight - Legend of Tennessee Moltisante

Hmmm... FBI's after the guys in New York. What's a New Jersey mob to do? Housecleaning, just in case some of the Feds come a-knockin'. Later, a TV show named all the members of the family as possible suspects of a grand jury investigation, all except Christopher, who gets really, really depressed over this. Right before he cracks, a newspaper names him as a reputed gangster - woo! He's got a new lease on life. Meanwhile, Livia spreads the joy of Tony's problems to Junior. Rumors spread faster than wildfire around this family, don't they?

Episode 9 - Boca

To get away from it all, Junior & his lover of 16 years, Roberta, go to Boca - and as Miles Lane puts it, gets it on. Junior is sensitive about his "practice," so he says that if Roberta ever tells anyone about this, the two of them are through. Meanwhile, Meadow's soccer coach slept with one of her friends. She tells her parents that she wants him sent away, which Tony takes as an invitation for a hit. Before he could do anything, the cops arrest the coach, which leaves Tony relieved that he didn't have to hurt anyone. Over a golf course, Tony let slip that he knows Junior's secret - making Junior so mad that he considers having Tony clipped. Instead, he has Roberta creamed - with a pie.

Episode 10 - A Hit is a Hit

Carmela & Dr. Melfi both agree (though they never met - odd.) that Tony should meet new people. So, they socialize with the neighbors - who just milk Tony for mob stories. Big help there. Meanwhile, Chris and his girlfriend Adrianna hook up with rapper Massive Genius and try to produce a friend's band - who are awful. Chris was smart enough to realize that the only reason that Massive G was working with them was because he wanted in Adrianna's pants. She thought otherwise - and walked out. And, Massive G tried to get back some money he claimed Hesh stole from African American artists in the 50's. Instead of a fight - a lawsuit breaks out.

Episode 11 - Nobody Knows Anything

Uhoh... do we smell a rat? Is it Pussy? (forget how that sounds) Could be, according to Tony's informant. But, the guy get's busted at a bordello & plunges off a bridge. Tony's gotta figure this out for himself. Or not - Jimmy Alteri showed up babbling on about stuff - very obviously. So, he's the rat, not Pussy. But where's Pussy gone? And - to make things worse - Junior has a contract out on Tony.

Episode 12 - Isabella

Tony's depressed - Prozac & lithium don't cut it any more. He couldn't get out of bed - until he saw Isabella, who was staying next door with the Cusamano's, through a window. He got talking to her about the old country (she's a dentistry exchange student), but he still feels in a funk. What can bring him out of it? Orange juice? Kinda... while getting some at a newsstand, two of Junior's young thugs went after Tony. Of course, one wound up dead, and the other got tossed from the Suburban. While Tony was in the hospital, the FBI tried to convince him that the Witness Protection Program was the way to go. Tony, of course, disagreed - he did feel wonderful to be alive, though - and to have his life back. But since this hit didn't succeed, seems like Junior won't have much of a life to get back. And neither will Isabella - she was a side effect of the lithium. What a drug, huh?

Episode 13 - I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano

Seems like Jimmy the Rat got stuffed with a rat... and a few bullets. But once one problem gets fixed, another arises. The FBI brings tony in to listen to a tape - of his mother & Junior planning a hit on him. And now Tony realizes that the FBI, his mother, and Tony know about Dr. Melfi, which is a very dangerous situation for her. Tony "tells" her (after a bit of a shouting match) to get out of town... then tells the guys that he's seeing a shrink. Shockingly enough, no one really cares. Before Tony can discuss his problems with Junior, the FBI arrest him - and offer him immunity if he testifies that he wasn't the boss, Tony was. And, to top everything off, Livia's had a stroke. But she still manages to leer at Tony under her oxygen mask. Tony gets some well needed oxygen at Artie's new restaurant with his family. Outside a storm is raging - it blows out the lights on the restaurant - and on season one.

Episode 14 - Guy Walks Into A Psychiatrist's Office
Season Two has started with a bang (or 2) to the tune of Sinatra's "It Was A Very Good Year." Seems that not much has changed, other than Christopher's a stockbroker now, and Pussy's back from Puerto Rico. Does Tony trust him? Not a lick - he frisks him during a hug. But he's not all of Tony's problems - Ton's a street boss now, and he has to not only contend with all the hassels of his new-found position, he also has to heal with his sister coming into town. Janet ("Pavarti") wants to help take care of dear-old manipulative Livia, and Tony fears that all she wants is her money. Also, to top all this off, he's having panic attacks, and Dr. Melfi refuses to see him, on account that he basically forced her to have her patients meet her in a hotel room. She's free to go back to her offices because Tony had the one threat to her life, Junior's henchman Philly, capped, but she won't be going back anytime soon. The episode ends on a silent note, with Tony & Carm sharing the table, but no words. Is it an affectionate resignation, or just resignation to the truth on Carmela's part? Heaven only knows.

Episode 15 - Do Not Resuscitate
Oh, *why* won't Janice just let Tony alone about their mother? Because she's a scheming, manipulative bitch after her money. Well, like mother like daughter. Janice has been "bonding" with her Mom in the hospital in hopes that she'll let slip something about the inheritance that she has (or slip down some stairs, as the "poster" in the hospital showed). After Janice tells Livia that the owner of Green Grove has gone missing (AKA-dead) and Livia has a choking fit, a nurse tells Janice that her mother doesn't have a DNR. Janice & Tony fight over it in earshot of AJ, who asks his grandma what it is. He thinks it has to do with DNA, but she knows better. Livia calls Carmela and lets slide that Janice is a "snake in the grass" - like Carm didn't know that already. She hangs up on the old biddy. Meanwhile, on the "family" front, Uncle Junior's out of the joint on account of his bad heart. He won't stop pestering Tony about Livia either - he wants him to make piece with his mother. Like that'll happen anytime soon. Tony does make a minor concession to Junior - he can keep 5% and his title of boss, mostly to divert attention from Tony. Tony's doing a bit of business with his uncle's unions, too. He's breaking up protests of black workers that have been created by their Reverend leader himself. Tony & Rev. James split the kickback from it - seems that the good Reverend's a crook as well. Finally, Tony has an unknown problem to deal with - Pussy's flipped. Or has he? Of is he just playing both sides against the middle for the best deal possible? Things like that can get a guy killed.

Episode 16 - Toodle-Fucking-Oo
Tony's got problems. Again. Big shock there, right? Meadow got caught by Tony trashing Livia's house at a party. This sends Tony & Carmela's parenting skills into a tizzy - they have no control over their daughter. What is her punishment? No credit card for 3 weeks, and 10 dollars a week for gas money. Janice tries to tell Carmela how to punish Meadow because it would be in her best interest to do so - the more that house gets trashed, the less money she can get out of it, right? She comes *this* close to Carm throwing her out of the Soprano home, though. On the work front, Jackie Aprile's brother, Richie, is out of the slammer after 10 years. In between kissing up to Livia, Junior, and even Janice (?), Richie's been busy disrespecting Tony, even running over one of his associates, Beansie. Twice. After hitting him in the head with a coffee pot & chair. Perhaps he's angry with not being able to directly discuss business with Tony, or with waiting for the return of what once was his. Tony sure could use someone to talk to. Dr. Melfi? Well, not really. She was a bit tipsy when she ran into him, and he gave her the cold shoulder. She went to her own private shrink, to vent her confusion. Speaking of confusion, what was Meadow doing scrubbing the floor of Livia's house at the end of the ep? Did Carm finally enact some punishment? Was Meadow actually feeling guilty? Or does Janice have a hand in it?

Episode 17 - Commendatori
Tony and the Crew go back to the motherland to take care of some car-dealing business. Of course, Tony's other family aren't invited, much to their (mostly Carmela's) dismay. While over there, Christopher remains stoned out of his mind, and Paulie makes a fool out of himself wondering around the city randomly talking to people (and trying to talk to a prostitute who can't speak English - classic scene). Tony's cousin's basically a woman boss in all but name. Her ailing father's immobilized by his old age, so she does all the dealing for the family - something that Tony can't really get used to. Meanwhile, back home, Pussy's wife is considering a divorce. She had a possible brain tumor, and he didn't care a lick. Of course, when you get spotted with the Feds by an Elvis impersonator, what're gonna do? He whacked him (literally) and brought home flowers, with which his wife whacked him across the face. Carm comes over to try to talk her out of it, possibly because she sees her and Tony in the same situtation. Tony comes home from Italy with arms full of bags, but when he shouts "I'm home," Carmela gets a sinking feeling - is there any hope left for their relationship?

Episode 18 - Big Girls Don't Cry
Janice and Richie seem to have rekindled their "relationship" from high school ("blow jobs on Ma's couch"), much to Tony's chagrin. Espcialy because Richie advised Janice to take out a loan on Livia's house, thereby making money on something that's not hers, and causing Tony to rip the phone off the wall and throw it across the kitchen in front of Carmela and A.J. Tony's made to feel a little better by Furio's arrival from Italy. He gets him a job working in Artie's (!) kitchen, and he also gets him a job collecting whore house money from a tanning salon owner and his wife. Pussy's none too pleased, because no one'll talk about Furio in front of him - wonder why? On the civilian front, Dr. Melfi and her shrink are going at it (great exchange of words) because he's suggested that she has more than professional feelings for Tony. She admits that she has feelings for him as a person, but nothing more - of course, while Furio' doing his thing, she calls Tony and sets up an appointment with him. Glad to see those two back together. And, finally Adrianna signed Christopher up for an acting for writers class. Seems that Chris is a better actor than writer - he might seem to think so too. At the end of the episode, he throws out every one of his scripts.

Episode 19 - The Happy Wanderer
Tony's the boss, so he's finally got the chance to organize the Executive Game - a big deal poker game where the minimum bet's $5000 (or 5 boxes of ziti). When one of his high school buddies, Daey Scatino, comes buy, Tony tries to dissuade him from bidding, but he borrows the money and deals into the game. A while later, he winds up $40,000 into the hole. Richie comes by to check up on the game - and blows a fuse when he sees Davey. Seems Davey owes him $8000 for previous poker dues. Tony's very upset at Richie for crashing his game, and tells him that he won't get a dime till Davey pays him back. Davey's a bit slow, so Tony threatens... and Davey steals his son's SUV. Tony gives it to Meadow, who promptly recognizes it as her friend's and singing partner's, and who tries to force Tony to return it. He won't, and Eric Scatino blows a fuse right before their duet a the talent show, running off. But Meadow sticks up for her dad after all.

Episode 20 - D-Girl
Anthony Jr.'s beginning to discover philosophy (most specifically Nietzsche) and spouting "God is Dead" rhetoric around his family - on the eve of Confirmation. Dr. Melfi and Pussy both offer their take on his new attitude (either realizing responsibility or being broody), and the Feds offer their take on Pussy's reluctance to wear a wire to AJ's confirmation. All the while, Christopher is busy with the movies and with his cousin's fiancee - spilling mob dirt that eventually makes its way into a script. Tony finds out, and tells Chris, at AJ's confirmation party, that he has 10 minutes to decide - Hollywood or him. Chris makes the obvious choice, and stays. Pussy has a harder time of it - after talking to AJ about his dad, he breaks down sobbing in the bathroom - he just can't flip.

Episode 21 - Full Leather Jacket
Carmela's concerned that even with Meadow's great grades & test scores she won't get into a good school - most specifically Georgetown University. She asks Jean Cusamano's twin sister, who happens to be an alumna and a lawyer, to write a letter of recommendation. Only after visiting her & bringing her a pie does she even look at Meadow's record and consider writing that letter of recommendation. Meanwhile, Richie tries to buy his way out of making a wheelchair ramp for Beansie by giving Tony a leather jacket he took off of Rocco DiMeo - the toughest guy in Essex and Hudson counties. Tony's nonplussed (he gives it to the maid's husband, which Richie notices when he comes by the house). Also conserning Richie, Chip & Dale (AKA Matt & Sean) try to get in good with him - by attempting a hit on Christopher (who finally asked Adrianna to marry him). It isn't successful - Chris got a shot or two off, killing Sean - but Chris is put into intensive care, leaving Matt to tell a not-pleased Richie all about the botched "favor." Tony sits at Chris's bedside, wondering "How did this happen?" Just as Chris gets his life back on track, something like this happens.

Episode 22 - From Where to Eternity
Thankfully, Chris survived the attempt on his life, though he's less a spleen for it. And, to make things more interesting, he went into cardiac arrest and was clinically dead for a minute. During this time, Chris goes to Hell - where it's an Irish bar and every day's St. Patrick's day, and where his father gets whacked the same way he did during his life day in, day out. When he awakens, he calls Paulie and Tony to his bedside, and tells them that Mikey Palmice and Brendan Filone have a message for them - three o'clock. Paulie's unsettled - he sees a psychic and winds up convinced that the souls of the guys he's whacked are haunting him. Tony's got bigger problems. He's found out where Matt's hiding out. He and Pussy go down to the park and find him, offer him a Shasta, and then whack him in return for what he did to Christopher. On the non-mob front, Dr. Melfi's finding it increasingly hard to cope with Tony's profession, and Carmela's sick of Tony's girlfriends. She makes him promise not to see them anymore (after recanting her wanting him to get a vasectomy), and the episode ends with them making love, something unseen on the Sopranos until now.

Episode 23 - Bust-Out
Tony's got problems - someone saw him & Pussy after they whacked Matt. But, before he has to go on the lam, the witness realizes who Tony is and recants his statement. Before he recants, though, Tony accelerates the bust-out of Davey Scatino's sporting goods store - Tony needs money for his family in case he has to leave. Another problem that Tony has? The usual - Richie. He's complaining to Junior about Tony - he doesn't feel that he's getting his fair share of the business. And, Pussy's being pressed by Lipari for info on the hit. All the while, Carm's falling for Scatino's widowered brother-in-law, and Tony's trying to spend time with AJ so he doesn't turn out "like Christopher."

Episode 24 - House Arrest
Tony's in the clear with the feds for now, but his lawyer advises him to act more civilian to get them further off his back. What does Tony do? He goes down to Barone Brothers Sanitation, where he's had an empty office for 8 years. Just when he thinks this could be more relaxing than his usual work, it turns out that Ritchie's been doing sanitation too, and selling coke through it for Uncle Junior. After an argument with Ritchie at a sanitation golf tourney Tony passes out, and the stress begins. He gets a nasty rash on his forearm, and can't handle it - he goes to see Dr. Melfi, who's beginning not to be able to handle him - she takes a shot of vodka before his appointment. She's worried that she might be developing a drinking problem, and so's her shrink. Tony's much more worried about Uncle Junior. Uncle Junior's much more worried about finding someone to keep him company. He finds someone in his old friend Catherine Romano, who actually seems to really be concerned with him... and she seems to be the only one.

Episode 25 - Knight in White Satin Armor
Tony's still having problems with Richie - he's still selling coke for Uncle Junior along his garbage routes. Richie's upset that he's not getting the respect he "deserves." Tony's response to this? "Those who want respect give respect." - something that Richie certainly needs to work on. Richie's not all that Tony has to worry about - his goomah, Irina, tried to kill herself when Tony broke up with her. He does really care about her, so he tries to help her the best he can - he asks Dr. Melfi to recommend a shrink for her. But shrink in her country means gulag - and she wants no part of it. The next best thing? Silvio with $75,000 in an envelope and words of wisdom to get the job done. One problem down, one to go. Richie tells Junior that he's fed up with Tony and something needs to be done, but Junior disagrees and tells Tony of Richie's plan. Tony tells Silvio to "get it done," to which Silvio agrees. But, it turns out that he didn't have to tell Silvio that at all... Janice takes care of the problem for him. After a fight (which Richie ended by punching Janice in the mouth), Janice finds his gun and caps him twice. She calls on Tony, who brings Christopher and Furio over to dispose of Richie (two words: meat grinder). The next morning, Tony comes over to pick up Janice and take her to the bus station. He tells her that "all in all...I'd say it was a good visit." There is still one unseen problem for Tony, though: Pussy. He's getting increasingly upset with Tony and closer to telling the Feds all about him.

Episode 26 - Funhouse
Things are looking up for Tony - he has a new phone card scam, the Webistics thing went well, and Richie and Janice are gone with Livia soon to depart as well. But, in spite of things being on the up and up, Tony has doubts about Pussy. After eating at an Indian restaurant, Tony gets food poisoning that leads to fever-induced dreams. Of all Tony's bizarre dreams, one is very direct. Pussy is a fish on ice (literally) who tells Tony that he's working undercover and that Tony knew the entire time. Tony decides to learn the truth, so he and Silvio go to his house to pick him up to "look at a fishing boat." While in Pussy's room, he finds a wire in a secret panel in his cigar box. He and Silvio take Pussy to meet up with Paulie. Pussy explains everything, and with much regret the guys shoot Pussy and throw him to the ocean floor. Tony returns home to find that the tickets he gave Livia were found out - the FBI's at his door with a warrant. Tony makes bail in time to make it to Meadow's graduation and after-party, where Tony basks in the glow of everything good. Everyone enjoys themselves except Pussy's wife Angie, who's mad that he didn't show.

Episode 27 - Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood
The third season opens up in much the same way as the second did: with Tony walking down his driveway for the newspaper.  But instead of catching up on the Family, we're catching up on the Feds.  The FBI, after the death of Pussy, are still trying to build a case against Tony.  While AJ goes to school and is a general delinquent, Meadow starts off her first semester at Colombia, and Carm takes tennis lessons with Adrianna, the FBI obtain a special warrant to bug the Sopranos' house.  They slip the bug into a lamp that the FBI had specially made for the Sopranos, but not before several mix-ups: Carm came home from practice early at the call of the housemaid because the hot water heater burst, and AJ never wants to stay in class.  The whole time this is happening, Tony has problems that he *knows* about.  Patsy Parisi, the twin brother of Philly Parisi may be catching on to who killed his brother.  He's been drinking, and doubting Tony... and Tony's been doubting him.  He shows up in Tony's backyard unbeknownst to Tony and aims a gun at him - but breaks down sobbing and urinates in the pool instead.

Episode 28 - Proshai, Livushka
After months of everything being ok in terms of Tony's panic attacks, something goes horribly wrong?  What could provoke such an attack?  Uncle Ben.  Or, rather, Noah Tannenbaum, a friend of Meadow's.  It seems that this young man wants to date her, and Tony doesn't like it.  Why?  He's African American and Jewish.  After a messy altercation, Tony goes into the kitchen, opens a cabinet, and the smiling face of Uncle Ben knocks him out.  Carm tells him to let her deal with this, or else he will drive Meadow "right into his arms."  To take his mind off of this, Tony goes to bring his mother a couple books on tape.  While he's there, Tony attempts to persuade his mother not to testify against him... but the conversation ends with a slammed door and much Kleenex.  Later that night, he gets word from Livia's caretaker, Svetlana, that she had a massive stroke in her sleep.  Tony's headaches with his mother are over, but his headaches with both his families are just starting.  Janice comes into town and persuades Tony and Barbara to have a funeral for their mother.  She also has a nice bit of "California bullshit" at the wake, forcing everyone into a room to remember the matriarch - but people start saying what they really thought of her.  Tony goes to Dr. Melfi to tell her of the good news, and how he's relieved, but he's got more to worry about: Raymond Curto is wearing a wire.

Episode 29 - Fortuate Son
Christopher finally gets what he's always wanted - he's a made man. Of course, it does not come problem-free. Christopher mismanages betting on football, and winds up owing Paulie about $2000. To make up for it, Christopher robs a JEwel benefit concert at Rutgers U., using Jackie Jr. as his driver. Tony is not happy, but as long as Chris's debts have been paid to Paulie, he's happy. Tony has bigger problems: meat. Dr. Melfi has come to the conclusion that Tony's association with meat and violence/his mother was brought about by watching Mr. Satriale get his finger cut off by his father, Johnny Boy, and by watching his parents show affection for one another while cutting beef. OF course, Meadow's relationship with Noah is not helping any either. Tony wants his daughter to "stick with her own kind," but she's not doing that. Also, Janice wants her mother's records back from Svletlana, so she retaliates by holding the housekeeper's false leg hostage.

Episode 30 - Employee of the Month
Dr. Melfi's suggestion to bring Carmela into Tony's therapy session is not welcomed by the patient, but Dr. Melfi needs it - she's debating on whether or not to cut her patient free. She knows she should, but an event happens that makes her realize what a form of comfort he is - she gets raped in the parking garage of her practice. The man gets off on a technicality, and she is extremely distraught and wants revenge, and though she knows that she can get it from Tony, she refuses to ask him. Tony has a different kind of revenge on his mind - the Russians have retaliated for Janice's stealing Svetlana's leg by beating her and leaving her in the hospital. Tony blames his sister, but he has to do what he has to do. Bigger problems loom, though, because New York boss Johnny Sacks has moved in, probably to be close to the 25 million dollars that's coming in to the waterfront renovation, and Ralphie continues to get Jackie Jr. involved with the Aprile crew's business. Tony responds by making GiGi captain, to which Richie is not happy.

Episode 31 - Another Toothpick
The therapy sessions begin, but no therapy comes out of it - Carmela is uptight towards Dr. Melfi, Tony is not happy with his wife, and Dr. Melfi makes no progress whatsoever. On the way home, Tony takes out his frustrations on the gas pedal, causing him to get pulled over - much to his chagrin, by an African-American cop. When Tony gets home, one phone call to Assemblyman Zellman takes care of the ticket - and unbeknownst to Tony - the cop. He loses his eligibility for overtime and winds up working in a land and garden store. Tony tries to pay him off, but it doesn't work - the police man and Tony's morals are as different as night and day. Meanwhile, a relative of the Aprile family, Brian Spatafore, is in a coma due to a gold club that was swung by a young punk named Mustang Sally. Gigi enlists the help of Bobby Baccala Sr. in whacking the kid, since the guy is Bobby's godson. Uncle Junior and Bobby Jr. are not happy with this turn of events, seeing as how the Senior Baccala has throat and lung cancer, and is not in good health. The hit goes down anyway, and Baccala dies on the way home when he passes out during a coughing fit and runs into a telephone pole. Around this time, Junior rinally tells Tony that he has what Baccala had - cancer, only his is of the stomach and the intestine. Tony is shocked and upset that his uncle is sick, but that's part of his problems: Artie is in love with Adrianna, and Meadow still insists on seeing Noah, though on her laundry trip she comes home and takes the bugged lamp with her.

Episode 32 - University
One of the dancers at the Bing, Tracee, is thankful towards Tony for advice that he gave her about her son. What does she do? She bakes him a bunt cake. Already having enough problems at home with his daughter, Tony doesn't need to play dad to a stripper, which he explains to her. Of course, since Betty Crocker is playing homemaker to Ralphie, that's even less of a reason to hang on to Tony. On the home front, Meadow is still seeing Noah, meeting his father and escalating their relationship to new heights. Once those heights were reached, Noah dumped her for being too "negative," or for not being what his father wants. Tony doesn't know about this, thankfully, because he has an even bigger problem... one night after heavy coke, Ritchie bashes Tracee's head in outside of the Bing. Tony does what a made man should never do: he hits him.

Episode 33 - Second Opinion
Uncle Junior undergoes surgery for his cancer and apparently has it all removed - until it comes back. This prompts Tony to suggest that his uncle look for a second opinion, something that Junior would never do. But he looks for one anyway, and his good doctor, Dr. Kennedy, totally neglects Junior when he needs him, sending the old man into fits. Tony and Furio go out to the golf course to persuade the doctor into taking better care of his uncle - a persuasion that involves a lake and a golf cart. The doctor agrees. Meanwhile, Paulie is still all over Christopher for the rest of his very long probation period: not paying up at a pool game, making Chris strip to prove he's not wired, and coming by his apartment at 2 am for a shakedown. Aside from these problems, Tony has another one: Pussy's wife is trying to con Tony out of money, which he promptly ends by putting a baseball bat through her new Cadilac's window. And Tony has problems that he doesn't know about yet - Carmela saw Dr. Melfi, and she referred her to another doctor to work out her problems - and the other doctor suggests leaving Tony.

Episode 34 - He Is Risen
Upon arriving at Dr. M elfi's office, he finds that she's double booked him with another patient on accident. Tony gives up his slot to the Mercedes saleswoman, and begins an affair with her, under mellow complaint from Dr. Melfi, who knows that this woman's a basket case. Also, Ralphie feels that Tony owes him an apology for hitting him, while Tony feels that Ralphie owes him an apology for what he did to Tracee. Eventually a cold one comes out from Ralphie: "I disrespected the Bing." Ralphie's aoplogy is a good thing, because when GiGi dies, of natural causes, Ralphie is promoted to captain of the Aprile crew. On the home front, Meadow and Jackie Jr. are hooking up, and Jackie's slowly disrespecting Tony by dragging their daughter into things that she shouldn't do.

Episode 35 - The Telltale Moozadell
Meadow and Jackie are now openly dating, to the thrill of Rosalie and Tony, and to the reservations of Carmela, who's worried that she's coming home from college too much and that she's missing out on things. But Tony and Carm have bigger problems than this: AJ was caught vandalizing the school pool. Instead of expulsion, he's allowed to stay at school and play football, to the shock of his parents. Unbeknownst to Tony, Jackie's setting up his own operation - offering protection to a friend to sell Ecstasy in the parking lot of the Crazy Horse - a new club that Christopher gave Adrianna. Chris doesn't want the stuff anywhere near the club, and he tells Jackie so. Tony catches Jackie at the local casino, and tells the kid to "smarten up." It's fairly doubtful that he listened.

Episode 36 - To Save Us All From Satan's Power
Tony has been having flashbacks and remembrances of Big Pussy.  At the shore, he and Paulie remember him, with Paulie saying that "[he'd] kill him again if [he] had the chance."  Tony wants to know when Pussy flipped and why (turns out he did as far back as 1995 - Santa was wired).  And what's causing all of this?  Christmas is upon the Soprano family, and they need a new Santa for their annual party for underprivileged youth, since Pussy was theirs in years past.  Underprivileged youth aside, Tony needs to launder some money, so he takes it to Slava, who happens to tell Tony the name of the guy who beat Janice.  Tony and Furio take care of the Russian cab driver, beating him and pinning him under a sleigh in a department store window.  Janice sees this on TV, and it somehow brings her closer to God, and inspires her and her partner to delve further into the trenches of Christian Pop.   Tony has another problem to solve - that of Jackie Jr.  While he and Silvio are checking out a new strip club, Tony sees Jackie getting a lap dance, and escorts him to the restroom where he beats the crap out of him.  This beating inspires Jackie to give Meadow a Christmas present of an engraved necklace that says he will "always be true."  Tony knows that there's little chance in that, and with Meadow's present of a Big Mouth Billy Bass, Tony is reminded of another untrue friend: Pussy.

Episode 37 - Pine Barrens
Paulie has to watch his temper around other people - while picking up money that is owed to Silvio by Valery, a Russian friend of Slava's, Paulie beats the hell out of him, and apparently kills him, much to Christopher's shock.  They take what they think is the dead body to the woods, where they find out that he's still alive.  They force him to dig his own grave, but while digging, he hits Chris in the head with a shovel and runs.  The guys run after him, and Paulie shoots him in the head.  When they come up to where the body should be, he's not there - he's gone... and is he a modern day Rasputin?  Well, it seems that he is a former military commando, responsible for killing 20 Chechyans.  Paulie and Chris are in a bigger pickle than they ever imagined - they're in the woods with a commando... and they can't find their car.  They wander about until they find a deserted van, and call Tony to come and get them.  Problem being, Tony is with Gloria, who is upset about him being three hours late to dinner, and even more so that he has to leave.  On his way out, she smacks Tony on the back of his head with a London Broil.  Tony isn't the only Soprano with relationship problems - Meadow found out that Jackie's cheating on her with a two-bit Jersey whore.  This happened unbeknownst to Tony, who, with Bobby, found Paulie and Chris in the woods.  Tony explains to Paulie that Valery is now Paulie's problem.  Paulie's response?  "Fine."

Episode 38 - Amour Fou
Tony tries to explain his passion for Gloria to Dr. Melfi - that he can't stop thinking about her.  She says that he has "amour fou" or crazy love - all consuming.  And Gloria is about to become even more all consuming - in a worse way.  She drives Carm home from the dealership while the wagon is being worked on, and proceeds to call her back later.  Tony finds out, and tells Gloria he never wants to see her again, which causes her to have a nervous breakdown and threaten to call Carm - and he to almost strangle her to death after he realizes that she is acting exactly like his mother.  Later, he has Patsi take a car out for a test drive... and he tells Gloria to stay away from Tony at gunpoint - or the last thing she sees will be his face, not Tony's.  Carm is having problems too - she has a thyroid imbalance, and she has a moral imbalance as well.  She can't handle reaping the gifts of Tony's work any longer, and she goes to a priest.  He tells her to take what comes from the good and forgo the rest.  What does this mean?  Carm stops wearing her ring and so much jewelry, and is thinking about taking up real estate.  Jackie Junior is thinking about taking up a funeral plot.  He and his buddies decide to make a move on Gene Pontecorvo's card game. They kill the dealer and shoot Furio in the leg.  Chris takes care of his friend, and tells Tony that he's going to hit Jackie no matter what Tony says.  This leads to a "conversation" about respect, and Chris calls Tony a hypocrite for letting Jackie shoot a made man and get away with it.  Tony just lets Ralphie decide Jackie's fate, since Gene's part of his crew.  How much longer he lasts is all up to Ralphie.

Episode 39 - Army of One
More problems for Tony - AJ has been caught cheating on a geometry test, and has finally been expelled from school.  Tony wants to send im to military school, and Carm has reservations about turning her son into a "trained killer."  Tony just wants to keep his son away from what is happening to Jackie Jr. - or, rather, what happened to Jackie Jr., as the younger Aprile is found in the projects with a bullet in the back of his head.  At the funeral, Carm sees Jackie in his casket and reflects on the life he led - and agrees to try things Tony's way for her son.  Meadow, meanwhile, knows exactly what happened to Jackie, and calls her mother on her hypocrisy for thriving off the mafia life, though at the wake at the Aprile house, she gets upset at Jackie's sister for suggesting what happened to him in front of an "outsider," effectively and unknowingly enforcing the code of Omerta.  At the funeral, cops arrest Silvio and Chris for gambling (while Paulie and Uncle Junior actually run from the cops).  Though they're back for the wake, another person leaves - Meadow.  She's had a little too much to drink, and before zig zagging through traffic, tells her father basically that she's had enough of his lifestyle.