Full Metal Jacket (S02E08)
Airdate: March 5th 2000
Written by: Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess
Directed by: Allen Coulter
Running Time: 43 minutes
Full Metal Jacket is a notable episode in the second season of The Sopranos, representing one of the more conventional entries in the series. With a runtime of only 43 minutes, it is the shortest episode to date, which contributes to its resemblance to typical 1990s broadcast television narratives. The episode's conclusion, featuring a cliffhanger, further aligns it with the episodic structure commonly found in that era, where unresolved tensions often entice viewers to return for subsequent installments.
Despite its conventional traits, Full Metal Jacket maintains The Sopranos' hallmark of intertwining multiple storylines. Until the climactic cliffhanger at the end, the episode unfolds in a manner that may seem uneventful, at times resembling a "filler" episode that bridges more compelling narratives.
One of the primary storylines revolves around Meadow Soprano and her college aspirations. Meadow dreams of attending UC Berkeley in California; however, her father Tony expresses discomfort with her proximity to "gay" San Francisco, while her mother Carmela prefers that she remain on the East Coast. Carmela's determination to influence Meadow's decision leads her to take drastic measures: she conceals Meadow's acceptance letter from Berkeley and enlists Joan Cusamano O’Connell (played by Saundra Santiago), an influential lawyer and sister of their neighbour Jeannie Cusamano, to write a recommendation for Georgetown University. This manipulation ultimately sways Meadow away from her desired path.
Richie Aprile's storyline also highlights themes of loyalty and resentment within the mob hierarchy. Although he outwardly professes loyalty to Tony, Richie harbours deep-seated resentment towards him. When Tony instructs Richie to build a wheelchair ramp for Beansie, who was left crippled after an earlier incident, Richie approaches the task with reluctance. His attempt to win Tony's favour by gifting him a valuable jacket backfires when Tony gives it away to his maid's husband. This act intensifies Richie's feelings of bitterness and inadequacy, illustrating how personal grievances can fester beneath a façade of camaraderie.
Meanwhile, Christopher Moltisanti seeks to mend his relationship with Adriana by proposing marriage. Despite disapproval of her mother Liz (played by Patty McCormick), Adriana accepts Chris's proposal. However, this moment of potential happiness is soon ended due to Matt Bevilaqua and Sean Gismonte, young and ambitious members of Chris’ crew. After being humiliated by Furio, they mistakenly believe that committing an act of violence against Chris will earn them respect within the organisation. Their plan culminates in a botched drive-by shooting that leaves Chris gravely injured while Sean is killed in the exchange. Matt runs to Richie in a futile attempt to seek protection from Tony’s inevitable retribution, while Richie, despite his dislike for Chris, would have none of it. The episode concludes with Chris in a coma, surrounded by Tony and other members of the DiMeo family holding vigil at his hospital bed.
Full Metal Jacket is both well-written and expertly directed, showcasing The Sopranos' ability to balance character-driven storytelling with broader thematic concerns. The semi-ironic ending—where Chris lies gravely wounded after seemingly securing a happy future with Adriana—may evoke familiar tropes within television drama; yet it remains effective within the context of the series’ high standards.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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