Tony goes home and returns to business, perhaps with a new frame of mind. Paulie receives a shock about his mother.
Plot
The season opens with heavy fog rolling over the Jersey Shore, signaling a shift in tone from the explosive finale of the previous season to something more introspective and psychological. Tony Soprano is recovering from the death of his friend Jackie Aprile Jr., which occurred at the end of the last episode. The atmosphere is somber as the show transitions back into the weekly rhythm of therapy sessions, but the stakes feel different now that the immediate crisis has passed.
The first major scene takes place in Dr. Melfi's office. Tony arrives looking disheveled and clearly struggling with his grief. He admits to being unable to sleep and describes a vivid dream where he is trapped in a dark room with a figure that resembles Jackie, but the face is obscured. The dream turns violent, and Tony wakes up sweating, feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt and confusion. Melfi probes into these feelings, pushing Tony to confront whether he is projecting his grief onto innocent people or if his own actions are the source of his torment. This session highlights the central theme of the show: the inability of Tony to separate his professional life as a mobster from his personal emotional life.
The narrative then shifts to the aftermath of Jackie's funeral. The Soprano family gathers at the home, where the tension is palpable. Carmela struggles with the idea of her husband seeing his father-in-law, Silvio Dante, in this new context, while Tony tries to maintain a facade of normalcy. The episode delves into the complexities of loyalty and loss within the family unit, showing how grief affects each member differently.
A significant subplot involves Christopher Moltisanti, who is still reeling from his own struggles with identity and violence. In this episode, Christopher has a disturbing encounter that reveals his inner demons. He visits a psychic medium, a character who claims to communicate with the dead. This scene serves as a dark mirror to Tony's therapy sessions; where Tony tries to understand himself through logic and psychology, Christopher seeks answers in supernatural nonsense, revealing his deep-seated fear of abandonment and his desire for validation.
The dynamic between Tony and his son Anthony Jr. (AJ) is also under scrutiny. AJ is dealing with his own issues at the high school, specifically involving a teacher named Mr. Coughlin. Tony attempts to intervene, but the situation escalates quickly, leading to a confrontation that underscores the generational divide between father and son. The episode explores the question of how much control a parent can exert over their child's life and the limits of that influence.
As the episode progresses, the fog continues to linger as a visual metaphor for Tony's mental state. The final scenes bring a sense of closure to the immediate aftermath of Jackie's death, but also set the stage for future conflicts. The characters are left in a liminal space, neither fully recovered nor ready to move on completely, reflecting the cyclical nature of their lives.
The episode concludes with a quiet moment that emphasizes the theme of mortality. Tony reflects on the fragility of life and the inevitability of loss, a sentiment that resonates throughout the series. The fog eventually lifts, but the emotional weight remains, setting up the next chapter in the Soprano saga.
Credits
Written by: Terence Winter
Directed by: Allen Coulter
Starring: James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Lorraine Bracco, Dominic Chianese.
Guest Stars: Robert Iler, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Danza, Steven Van Zandt.
Music
"Look On Down From The Bridge" by Mazzy Star
Analysis
The title "The Fleshy Part of the Thigh" is a direct reference to the biblical story of David and Goliath, where David strikes down the giant with a stone in the fleshy part of his thigh. In the context of this episode, the title takes on a dual meaning that fits perfectly with the show's exploration of violence and vulnerability. On one level, it refers to the physical act of violence inherent in the mob lifestyle, which is always lurking beneath the surface. On another level, it speaks to the emotional vulnerability of the characters, particularly Tony, who is forced to confront his own fragility in the face of grief.
What makes this episode stand out is its focus on the aftermath of trauma rather than the trauma itself. After the shock of Jackie's death, the show slows down and allows the characters to process their emotions in more nuanced ways. Tony's dream sequence with Melfi is particularly powerful because it strips away his usual defenses. He admits to feeling guilty about not being able to save Jackie, a sentiment that he rarely articulates openly. This honesty marks a turning point in his relationship with therapy, showing that he is beginning to accept the limitations of his own power.
Christopher's arc in this episode is equally compelling. His visit to the psychic medium is a desperate attempt to find meaning in a meaningless life. The fact that he believes in ghosts and spirits while simultaneously engaging in criminal activities highlights the cognitive dissonance that defines much of his character. He wants to be good, but he doesn't know how to be good without the context of violence. This internal conflict drives many of his decisions throughout the series.
The episode also explores the theme of fatherhood and its impact on the next generation. AJ's troubles at school serve as a microcosm for the larger issues facing the Soprano family. Tony's struggle to connect with AJ is a recurring motif, and this episode provides a glimpse into why that connection is so difficult to establish. The generational gap between them is not just about age; it's about fundamentally different worldviews and value systems.
From a thematic perspective, the fog that permeates the episode is more than just atmospheric effect. It represents the uncertainty and confusion that Tony and his family are experiencing. Just as it is difficult to see through a thick fog, it is difficult for these characters to see clearly when they are dealing with grief and loss. The lifting of the fog at the end of the episode suggests a glimmer of hope, but it is a fragile one. It reminds us that healing is not linear and that setbacks are inevitable.
The music in this episode plays a crucial role in setting the tone. The use of "Look On Down From The Bridge