Another Toothpick (S03E05)
Airdate: March 25th 2001
Written by: Terence Winter
Directed by: Jack Bender
Running Time: 60 minutes
Another Toothpick, the fifth episode of The Sopranos' third season, might be regarded as one of the lesser entries in the series. This perception arises primarily from its lack of focus and coherence, leading some viewers to interpret it as mere "filler." The episode feels as though creator David Chase, faced with a creative block, resorted to throwing together various subplots in hopes that one would stick.
The episode opens with an awkward scene where Tony Soprano, under Dr. Melfi's suggestion, brings his wife Carmela to a therapy session. This attempt at introspection quickly spirals into chaos, with Carmela reacting with hostility. Their argument escalates dangerously during their drive home, resulting in a traffic violation that leads to an encounter with Officer Leon Whitmore, portrayed by Charles B. Dutton. The situation culminates in Tony receiving a speeding ticket, which he finds humiliating given his status and connections. In a move that highlights his sense of entitlement, Tony uses Assemblyman Zellman to arrange for Whitmore's demotion. However, when he learns that Whitmore has taken on a second job due to financial strain, Tony experiences a moment of remorse and contemplates helping him. Yet, Whitmore's unwavering attitude ultimately hardens Tony's stance against him.
Tony's relationship with Whitmore is further complicated by underlying themes of racism. Ironically, this very racism becomes a source of salvation for Tony when his daughter Meadow visits the Soprano home. Still reeling from her father's rejection of her African American boyfriend, she inadvertently disrupts an FBI wiretap operation by taking a lamp from the basement to her dorm.
Another significant storyline revolves around Adriana's decision to leave her job at Nuovo Vesuvio in anticipation of her marriage to Chris Moltisanti. Artie Bucco’s reaction to this news is particularly poignant; after consuming too much alcohol, he confesses to Tony that he has always harboured feelings for Adriana. This revelation catches Adriana off guard when she learns of Artie's affections. Meanwhile, Artie's marriage to Charmaine is on shaky ground as she threatens divorce amid disagreements over his potential business dealings with Tony.
The episode also deals with themes of mortality, particularly relevant for older mobsters like Uncle Junior. Early on, Junior attends the funeral of Carmela’s uncle Febby Viola, who succumbed to cancer—a disease that also afflicts Bobby Bacalieri Sr., father of Bobby Bacalieri, Junior’s trusted associate. The plot takes a darker turn when Salvatore "Mustang Sally" Intile (played by Brian Tarantina), low level street thug, misinterprets innocent conversation between his girlfriend and Bryan Spatafore (played by Vinnie Orofino), and brutally beats him. Since Bryan happens to be brother of made man Vito Spatafore (played by Joseph R. Ganascolli), Tony must retaliate. Despite being retired and visible trouble breathing, Bobby Sr. is tasked with carrying out this hit due to his ability to approach Mustang Sally as his godfather. Bobby Sr. completes his mission, but dies soon afterwards while losing control of his vehicle. Uncle Junior later gives both Tony and Bobby Bacalieri shocking news that he was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
Burt Young's performance as Bobby Sr. stands out as one of the episode's highlights. Known for portraying working-class tough guys, Young delivers a powerful portrayal of a man grappling with his mortality while still using his murderous skill and seeing the risky assassination as an opportunity to die in blaze of glory instead of succumbing to illness.
However, despite its strong performances, Another Toothpick suffers from uneven writing by Terence Winter, who would later gain acclaim for creating Boardwalk Empire. Many plotlines feel underdeveloped or serve merely as convenient setups for future episodes rather than being explored in depth within this narrative context. This results in an episode that occasionally resembles soap opera tropes rather than the high-quality drama typically associated with The Sopranos.
Another Toothpick offers moments of character development and thematic exploration—particularly concerning mortality and personal conflict—but it ultimately serves as a reminder that even within a critically acclaimed series like The Sopranos, some entries may struggle to maintain the intricate storytelling and character depth that define its legacy.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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