Sopranos Season Two, Episode 16 - "Toodle-Fucking-Oo"

Sopranos Season Two, Episode 16 - "Toodle-Fucking-Oo"

Richie Aprile is back in town.

Big brother of the late, great Jackie Aprile, Richie has just finished ten years in prison and is looking to pick up where he left off. He figures it should be pretty easy, too. After all, the jerky kid he used to look out for in the old neighborhood has grown up to be none other than the current Boss, Tony Soprano.

But things in Jersey have changed in ten years -- and Richie's finding he doesn't like it. For one thing, Tony won't discuss business directly with anyone; you have to talk to Silvio or Paulie. And if Tony will "dwane" to meet face to face it can't be at the Bada Bing or the Pork Store -- you have to go to the mall. But worst by far is having Tony constantly tell him to "be patient; what was yours will be yours again." But from where Richie sits, Tony just doesn't get it. In one of their meetings he tells the new Boss, "What's mine is not yours to give."

So a frustrated Richie decides to be proactive. He visits an old associate, pizza parlor proprietor Beansie Gaeta, and tells him he owes Richie weekly remuneration for past favors. Beansie responds by saying he won't be shaken down, telling Richie, "I'll step up if I have to." But Beansie will be lucky to step anywhere when Richie's through with him. Soon after their encounter Beansie is the victim of a hit-and-run-and-back-up-and-run-over-again "accident" in the alley behind his restaurant.

So what's Tony going to do about Itchie Richie? Whatever it is, he'd better do it quickly. Unbeknownst to him Richie has paid a visit to Junior in the sanctum sanctorum of his cardiologist's examination room. Tony can handle having Junior pissed off at him -- but if Richie throws in with his uncle, it could mean serious trouble.

And speaking of trouble, Meadow's been causing more than her share of agita lately. A party she hosted at Livia's house ended up trashing the place. AND she was drunk. Tony and Carmela don't know what to make of her. Tony warns they have to be careful how they discipline Meadow, saying, "Let's not overplay our hand -- if she figures out we're powerless, we're fucked." And of course, Parvati -- who's never raised a teenage daughter -- is the resident expert in parenting techniques.

Things would sure be a lot easier for Tony if he had Dr. Melfi to talk to.

Sopranos Season Two, Episode 15 - "Do Not Resuscitate"

Sopranos Season Two, Episode 15 - "Do Not Resuscitate"

PUSSY IS A RAT.

When Pussy goes to the doctor for steroid injections in his back, the person leafing through old magazines in the waiting room is FBI agent Skip Lipari. As they drive home afterwards it's revealed that Sal Bompensiero, AKA Big Pussy Bompensiero, made man and life-long friend of Tony Soprano, is facing a heroin possession charge and has become an informant for the Feds.

But for the moment at least, Tony is blissfully unaware of Pussy's conversion. Well, unaware maybe, but hardly blissful. After all, Junior is out of jail on a medical release pending trial -- and even though he's under house arrest, the disgruntled old capo is nursing a molto grande grudge against his nephew. If that weren't enough, Freddy Capuano, the Director of Green Grove, has been going around telling people that Tony likes "to fluff his mother's pillows." Although Tony doesn't know about Pussy, and Junior's not an immediate threat, this Capuano situation needs to be taken care of quickly. So Capuano's Cadillac and toupee are soon discovered by a State Trooper by the side of a New Jersey thoroughfare. But as for their owner . . . well, the camera cut away before the trooper opened the Cadillac's trunk.

At least Tony's business dealings are going according to plan. When black protesters picket Massarone Brothers Construction Tony accepts payment from Mr. Massarone to "fix" the problem. What Massarone doesn't know is that the whole thing is a setup and Tony is splitting the money with the protesters' leader.

And speaking of setups, Livia is convinced her two eldest offspring are planning to tuck her in for the big sleep. When Anthony, Jr. tells his grandmother he overheard Tony and Parvati discussing her DNR, to Livia it can mean only one thing. Her children would only be discussing a "Do Not Resuscitate" order if they're planning to get rid of her once and for all.

But back to Pussy and his new relationship with the Federal Government. When they're in the car Pussy lies to Skip, telling him that he hasn't been to see Tony since he got back to town. So, if Pussy is fibbing to the FBI, is it possible he's not a rat after all?RTon

Who would you whack?

Ok ... So just for fun ... let's say that you are Tony Soprano. Tony has a number of critical business decisions to make on a daily basis. One of the decisions that he has to make on an occasional basis is ... Who to whack (or have whacked).

If you were Tony for the day ... Who would you whack and why?

Let's keep it to characters on the show.