Dear Phil, Joel, and Peggy,

Last night's episode shed some light on our recurrent discussion regarding why Tony is in treatment and whether or not he is benefiting from it. The image of Tony on the windswept boardwalk begins the episode. He nostalgically recalls earlier times when he had no inkling that Big Pussy was wearing a wire for the FBI. When Paulie asks him what he's doing, he attempts to share a bit of his fond reminiscences, but Paulie has nothing but contempt for their old friend. Tony appears to have another panic attack when he looks at his Christmas list and then struggles in his session with Jennifer to deal with the conflict between his feelings of loss for Pussy, who so willingly played Santa, and his intense bitterness about Pussy's betrayal of him. Here again we see that Tony is not a psychopath but is a complex person who is capable of conflict-based suffering. Jennifer looks disgusted about his poor compliance with the medication she prescribed him, but she doesn't seem to notice that he goes further than he usually does by revealing that his lost friend worked for the feds. He seems to be trying to use the therapy in this episode. In the next session, though, he gets up and leaves when Jennifer comes on like gangbusters about what he said last time. The father/son theme is replayed here as well. Jackie Aprile also betrays him by not living up to his dad's (and Tony's) expectations of him, just as A.J. disappoints Tony by acting like a juvenile delinquent at school. And of course, Tony failed HIS father. There is a poignancy in this episode--each generation wants the succeeding generation to do as they say, not as they do, but it never quite works. The sons internalize what their fathers do and are compelled to repeat it.

Glen