Tony tries to balance Junior against the other capos, while Carmela reasserts herself as the woman in Tony's life.
Plot
Junior Soprano wastes no time exercising his new authority as acting boss. He imposes a tax on Hesh Rabkin's Nevada operation and begins collecting tribute from earners who had previously been exempted by the old administration. Tony watches this with growing frustration, understanding that Junior's overreach is generating resentment Tony will eventually have to manage.
Livia has been feeding Junior information and positioning herself as his confidante. She has told him about Tony's therapy. Junior treats this as both a character weakness and a potential security exposure -- if Tony discusses family business in those sessions and the FBI gets access, the consequences could be severe. Junior is now viewing Tony through a different lens.
Carmela and Father Phil's friendship produces tension with Tony, who watches the relationship with suspicion he does not fully articulate. Charmaine Bucco, Artie's wife, carries a quiet contempt for Tony that she keeps just barely in check when they interact directly. In therapy, Melfi suggests that Tony's anxiety is connected to holding enormous power while remaining unable to control the things that actually matter to him.
Credits
Written by: Frank Renzulli
Directed by: Alan Taylor