Carmine's passing opens new wounds, while cousin Tony wants to put his past behind him. Tony Soprano, meanwhile, discovers a traitor.
Plot
Tony and his crew gather at a club for dinner and the conversation turns to which of them might be a government informant. The FBI has been visible and the crew's paranoia about their own loyalty is a permanent condition that sharpens in moments like this. Tony's dream sequences in this episode revisit Big Pussy, who appears as a constant reminder of the cost of misplaced trust.
Tony Blundetto is making good on his intention to go straight. He is attending massage school and completing certification hours. His cousin Tony watches with a mixture of hope and doubt. The two men share a history that predates the mob years and have a genuine affection that is different from Tony's relationships with his actual crew. But Blundetto's presence is already creating complications with New York, where he was involved in a job that went wrong before his prison term.
Carmela is navigating the separation with a combination of relief and anxiety. The freedom from Tony's constant presence is real but so is the financial dependency. Tony is paying for everything and Carmela knows this arrangement gives him leverage. Their lawyers have begun preliminary divorce discussions. Meadow comes home from Columbia for a visit and finds the household in a strange liminal state.
Credits
Written by: Matthew Weiner
Directed by: Alan Taylor