Adriana learns that life is not like TV shows, while Tony discovers that a former girlfriend has moved on, along with Ralphie and others...
Plot
Tony and his crew are working a HUD housing fraud scheme involving low-income development contracts. The scam requires front companies that appear to qualify for minority small-business set-asides. Assemblyman Ronald Zellman and his associate Maurice Tiffen are involved as political cover. The money flows from government contracts through the front companies into Tony's pocket.
Tony discovers that Zellman is now dating Irina, his former Russian mistress. This enrages Tony beyond any rational proportion. Irina is not his girlfriend -- they broke up. But the sight of Zellman with Irina triggers something territorial and explosive in Tony. He goes to Zellman's house and beats him with a belt in front of Irina, which is a bizarre act of dominance that serves no business purpose whatsoever.
Carmela has been watching home improvement and decorating shows and has developed strong opinions about renovating the Soprano house. Tony finds this irritating but picks his battles. Meadow is at Columbia, doing well academically, but the family dynamics at home still pull at her in ways she cannot fully escape. Finn DeTrolio, who Meadow will eventually become serious with, moves into this season's orbit.
Credits
Written by: Nick Hornby, Robin Green, and Mitchell Burgess
Directed by: John Patterson