Do you think Bianca left AJ due to family pressures? It was ironic that she broke up with him at the Pueto Rican pride parade. Maybe her family does not want her marrying outside her race. What do you think?

For the fifth time, Tony did NOT kill Hesh's girlfriend. First of all it says so on the episode synopsis that she died of a stroke, and it wouldnt make sense. Tony doesnt take revenge on innocent bystanders, he would kill hesh before he killed her.

Tony was grinding his teeth and all but spitting lava over his debt to Hesh, and then that discussion in the car about offing Hesh to erase the debt? Tony's only response to it was it would make him look bad if the "boss couldn't pay his debts." Then, Tony gets into a rant with Melfi over Jews trying to steal money, even though Tony knew that he legitimately owed Hesh the debt. He was offended that Hesh wouldn't forgive the debt, out of honor to Tony's status--particularly at a time when Tony's ego is bruised all to hell. He wanted respect shown to him, and what does he get (in his own mind)? Being nickled and dimed to death by a loan shark, like he's trash. Hesh sensed it, knowing that Tony was capable of anything. He tells his son that he senses Tony will kill him. When Tony shows up later, he tells the girlfriend, "Go upstairs and lock the door." So, it seemed to me that Tony took his rage out on Hesh by finding a way to kill the girlfriend, to teach Hesh the ultimate lesson. Then, to drive home the point, Tony appears immediately after the death to give Hesh the remainder of the money, as if to say, "Was it worth it, Hesh? Was your girlfriend's life worth this paper bag of dough?" And Tony's comments felt edgy and insincere, full of layered meaning, not honest condolences for the death of a loved one of a friend. He was teaching Hess a lesson of what happens when you screw with the boss's ego.
Abbey

To comments #19 and 22, check out the comment I put it in at #18. Not to play webmaster, you should read the posts before putting up comments so you're actually engaged.

Anyways, I noted that the HBO sites Sopranos recap for this episode specifically states that Hesh's girl Renata died of a stroke. #22, you may want to update your blog.

great insight into the episode. i've been doing one a week myself at http://steelcityslant.blogspot.com

i'd love it if some came over to read my 4 capsules and leave opinions. i originally didnt think tony had hesh's girl killed, but now i'm not so sure after reading all the comments.

In my opinion, if David Chase ends the show with Tony being killed or arrested, it will come with many surprises or ironies. For example, I do not see the show ending with Tony being killed by Phil: Too predictible. There was a scene a few episodes ago that perhaps may reveal a possible ironic ending. The scene started when Geraldo Rivera had some experts discussing who will take over New York. At first , you do not see whose TV we are seeing. Then, surprisingly, it is revealed that it is Elliot's television. Even more surprisingly, he makes a comment that shows he is well versed in the mafia pecking order. Why does he know this? We know he is Melfi's therapist. Is Tony's final downfall brought on by Melfi intentionally or unintentionally giving to much info to Elliot, who then reveals info to Feds. Will it be ironic that Tony's demise will be brought on by the therapy that keeps him going? Just a thought. I have other "darkhorse" theories but this is one that I feel may have some merit. Thoughts?

I'm in a minority here. I thought it was the best episode this season because 'things' finally happened. From Tony's gambling to his fall-out with Hesh and seeing that Muslim drug dealer a lot of balls were put in play. I also understood that Tony had Hesh's girl killed. I figured that's what he told his capos outside the pork store.

Like most commenters, I found this episode a little dry (I hate admitting that), but I'm sure that was intentional.

The kid in the shower... wow... and how funny was it when Vito, Jr. and Phil were sitting outside and Vito had all the make-up on and was eating a huge sundae. Phil needs to step up and realize that he caused this situation, and he needs to make it right, but I'm sure this story line is over now.

I was happy that Hesh was in this episode. I always had a soft spot for Hesh, it seems that he is one of the most respected characters. Even for gangsters $200K is a lot of money, it never would have been a big deal if Tony wasn't on such a losing streak. It was kind of sweet how Hesh realized that something was wrong with Tony and could see all his debt when no one else could (or would address it).

#17, do you think Tony actually killed Hesh's lady friend, or do you mean symbolocily killed her? I'm guessing on the later.

Tony and the boys would be booking the bets, not giving the action to others. Also, no way would someone bet thousands on a harness race at Batavia Downs. Very small upstae NY track. A bet like that would turn a 2-1 shot into a 1-9 shot. Even a crazy man would not bet like that.

Agree with most that last night's was not the most scintillating writing. My thought is that David Chase used this episode as an expository interlude to set up the groundwork for interesting tensions and explosions to come in the final showdown.

Tony is doubting himself in major ways now, increasingly troubled, and he is consistent in expressing that the cash-flow crunch tied is to Vito's absence. Vito may have been gay, but he heaved in those bales, and Tony's economic comfort zone seems to have shrunk since Vito got it in the motel room.

Melfi and Tony had earlier discussion about Vito being gay, and Tony seemed to acknowledge that Vito may be gay, but he was also a good man. He saw that Vito did his job, was absolutely loyal, and Tony trusted him. Not the case with those hovering about Tony now, so it's as if he made a leap in understanding that Vito's gayness wasn't all that defined him--much to the discomfort of the rest of the gang. Tony has made no bones about the fact that he's furious that Phil made the decision to whack Vito without consulting Tony. He just didn't believe that Vito deserved to die for being gay.

Look at the whole picture with Tony: you've got Tony getting shot by Uncle Junior, the slow recovery from the surgery, lots of backstabbing, his top earner Vito dead for a specious reason, a shrinking economic picture, his growing distrust of Christopher, this sense of disrespect toward him everywhere he loo9ks, and the feeling that he's being edged out, even by his own men, so Tony's not in a trusting mood these days. He sees betrayal everywhere he looks.

With such a contracted sense of self, Tony's temper and patience seem strained to the limit. He flares at Carm, and Chase gives us a subtle look at how thin-skinned Tony is, especially in the instance of his debt to Hesh.

Here Tony owes Hesh $200K, but chooses to "forget" it, and he'd like the debt erased as a gesture of his high status. When you're the boss, you don't want to feel you're under someone else's thumb, but Hesh unfortunately reminds Tony of the debt during this bad patch.

Hesh's instinct that this could bode very, very ill turns out to be right on the money. Tony is fuming that he has to cough up $3000 bucks a week toward the debt. His humiliation gets the better of him at the card table when he snidely offers Hesh nickles and quarters off the table. Hesh feels the rage pouring out of Tony. The discussion Tony has later in the car turns to offing Hesh altogether as a way to discharge the debt. Hesh's antennae pick up what a menace Tony has become under the burden of this debt and how much Tony despises him for it.

My take is that Hesh's instincts about Tony couldn't have been more accurate: suddenly Hesh's lady turns up dead as a doornail. Immediately following, Tony brings the remainder of the debt to Hesh's door with fake regrets . . . as if to say, "Humiliate me, schmuck, and pay the price." Here Hesh had thought all along that Tony would kill HIM, but Tony extracted much more for the embarrassment he felt from his debt to Hesh: he took his lover from him to let him feel the sting of his foolishness in not overlooking the debt to the "boss."

It was nice to see Tony and Carm in each other's faces, and she was awesome, the way she stood him down. AJ seems lost, and we don't know what ragged piece of earth Chase is going to have him land on. Vito Jr. is in some deep shit, and his forced removal to boot camp in Idaho seems like the mafia Discovery Zone version of "junior whacking," when needs to be whacked but is too young to take out.