In Camelot

This episode is more known for the abysmal "Happy Birthday, Mister PresidDAAAAANNNNNNNNNNT" scene, but when you boil it all down, Tim Daly's character, the smarmy TV writing malcontent, is the true star.

Watching Tim's character plummet due to his gambling and having be Christopher's sponsor for drugs while Chris sponsors him for gambling is almost comical and produces extreme anxiety all the while.

The overall episode is considered a throwaway and many purists of the series despises it, but to me, it is a case study of the pitfalls of addiction. I am thankful I was able to avoid the paths good ol' TV writin' Tim ended up meandering down to his ultimate demise. Props to Christopher for being such a warm and caring sponsor that we could all benefit from.

First time in 5 seasons where I felt like I was watching a filler episode that had absolutely no relevance to the overall plot nor did it tell us anything more about our characters that we didn't already know.

They recycled a few side plots with different skins. We already knew Tony's dad was scummy and that they often let friends into their poker games and have no problem with them racking up a debt.

I'll remember this episode as the episode I'll skip if I ever rewatch the show.

She mistress was really gorgeous though. You could tell she was quite the dame back in the day and had some serious gams.

I find this episode to be remarkably compelling and thought-provoking, with a depth that may be easily overlooked. The central storyline revolves around Tony's profound realization that his father possesses flaws and imperfections. This revelation challenges Tony's long-held perception of his father, forcing him to confront the possibility that his own actions may have contributed to his mother's coldheartedness-a realization he finds difficult to accept. As Tony grapples with these truths, he begins to draw parallels between his own life and the patterns he recognizes. He becomes acutely aware that he may have replicated the same harmful behaviors in his relationship with Carmela, ultimately exerting a similar negative influence on AJ. This introspection reveals Tony's struggle with selfishness, dishonesty, and manipulation-a poignant exploration of the complexities of personal growth and the consequences of our actions.

Peruse the internet, this episode is considered one of worst by hardcore fans...fran felstein is beyond irritating..they really needed her to sing HAPPY BDAY, MR. PRESIDENT ? Tony looks like he wants to smack her around a couple times, and he should have...the flashbacks of tony's dad. he's a lying slimeball pos.

Tony meets his father's gooma, whilst Christopher's relationship with a friend from rehab is complicated by a debt.

This is a very good episode with strong underlying themes.

A big part of the Sopranos has always been the existential crisis of certain characters. In this story we see a lot of reflection on the past by Tony and guest character Fran that involves a lot of rose tinted memories and suspiciously romanticised stories about people. Certain characters develop certain beliefs in life that seem at odds with reality.

One scene involving JFK's hat brilliantly shows reality fully dawning on Tony and it is very effectively made. Credit to the actress Polly Bergen (of James R Webb's 1962 original 'Cape Fear'), who has the job of embodying this in the episode's most notorious moment. I always found it interesting in a show that depicts subjects like murder, rape, infanticide, matricide, cancer, dementia, casual violence and infidelity, that many viewers struggle so much with this scene. Bergen is excellent throughout the episode.

Other characters such as Junior and J. T. have scenes where they start out in a seemingly positive place, but reality comes crashing down on them. These sub-plots have darkly funny moments, but ultimately they feel quite tragic.

Generally, I find the episode to be downbeat with very little hope or positivity in anything. Friendships and family loyalty seem fake and uncertain in the world of The Sopranos. The final sequence showing Tony looking at life through a haze of lies is quite powerful.

It is another well made episode, with great cinematography and editing. Some of the scene transitions are so simple and subtle.