46 Long (S1E2)
Airdate: January 17th 1999
Written by: David Chase
Directed by: Dan Attias
Running Time: 50 minutes
First “regular” episode of The Sopranos is the only one that begins with cold open. Tony and his crew, while counting money, listen to television talk show in which former mobster turned federal witness comments on the sorry state of Mafia.
This semi-ironic cold open is followed the plot in which Tony has to deal with personal and professional issues. His major personal problem is mother Livia, who has, due to advanced age, apparently lost ability to take care of herself. After the series of incidents that include small fire, her Trinidadian caretaker quitting and elderly woman being run over, Livia very reluctantly agrees to go to retirement home. That leaves Tony with the feeling of guilt he must deal with, following the advice of Dr. Melfi.
In the meantime, Christopher and his meth-addicted associate Brendan Filone (played by Anthony DeSando in guest starring role) hijack a truck with DVD players. The truck is owned by company that pays protection to Uncle Junior, which creates an issue that is to be solved through sit-down chaired by acting Di Meo crime family boss Jackie Aprile Sr. (played by Michael Rispoli). Jackie, who has cancer and has to endure chemotherapy, rules that Tony must pay 15,000 US$ of restitution to Junior. Christopher and Brendan, however, are displeased for having to pay that money, so they, after they get high on cocaine, decide to hijack another truck, this one carrying expensive Italian suits. Christopher, however, in the last minute has a change of heart, but Brendan decides to do the job nevertheless, taking two inexperienced African American associates. They mess up leaving a driver accidentally killed, after which Tony is again forced to make restitution.
In the meantime, Anthony Junior’s science teacher had his car stolen, so Tony is asked by Carmela to help retrieve it. He sends Pussy Bonpesiero (played by Vincent Pastore) to find it. They discover two baristas who did it, but the car is chopped up for parts. Tony decides instead to bring new model with old license plates.
46 Long very confidently maintains the show’s formula based on socioeconomic commentary, violence and dark humour. Having the some of the scenes set in Bada Bing!, strip bar owned by Tony’s consigliere Silvio Dante (played by Steven Van Zandt), is good opportunity for some sexposition in form of topless dancers, and in one scene they provide humour by ending her dance in order to express concern for Tony’s mother. Steven Van Zandt also puts the series in the broader context of popular culture by having his character impersonate Al Pacino’s character of Michael Corleone in Godfather.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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