Denial, Anger, Acceptance


"Denial, Anger, Acceptance" is the third episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos. It was written by Mark Saraceni, directed by Nick Gomez and originally aired on January 24, 1999.

Starring

* = credit only

Guest starring

Synopsis

is the head of a Hasidic Jewish family. His daughter is seeking divorce from her husband Ariel, who claims that he has built up one of the family businesses, a motel, and will only consent to a divorce if he receives a 50% stake in it. Teittleman approaches Tony, who agrees to remove Ariel's claim in return for a 25% stake. Ariel turns out to be very tough, both emotionally and physically, and will not yield, however much he is beaten up by Silvio and Paulie. At a loss, they phone Tony, who consults Hesh, who obliquely suggests threatening him with castration; and Ariel yields. Teittleman then attempts to renegotiate the agreement; Tony shows him that he cannot.
Jackie Aprile, Sr. remains in the hospital. Tony takes him a dancer from the Bada Bing, posing as a nurse, for a "private party". But his condition deteriorates; his hair thins; he is trapped in his illness, unable to think of anything else.
Artie is still depressed by the loss of his restaurant; the insurance company continues to suspect arson. He and Charmaine cater a charity event at the Sopranos' home: when he complains again, Tony loses his temper; Artie throws some food at him; after a moment, Tony smiles and they have a boyish food fight. During the event, Carmela offends Charmaine by seeming to treat her like a servant. Afterwards, while they are clearing up, Charmaine reveals that, years ago, before Carmela and Tony were married, she slept with Tony; she doesn't know why she is telling her this.
Meadow and Hunter, exhausted from choir practice and studying for the SATs, decide they need speed and go to Christopher. Christopher initially refuses, fearing Tony's wrath if he finds out; his girlfriend Adriana convinces him to do it anyway, as the girls are likely to get adulterated and unsafe drugs from less trustworthy dealers. Christopher agrees to provide it, stressing Meadow must never speak of it. At the recital Meadow and Hunter, showing subtle signs of amphetamine use, sing their brief solos successfully.
Christopher and Brendan return the stolen truck, and Junior discusses what action to take with his crew member Mikey Palmice, and with Livia. Obliquely, she advises him to punish Christopher and to take drastic action against Brendan. Out alone one night, Chris is seized by Russian thugs who prepare to kill him. He thinks they have been sent by Tony because he sold the speed to Meadow. Terrified, he pleads for his life, but it is only a mock execution. Brendan is shot dead by Mikey; Junior glances at the body.

First appearances

In the hospital Jackie Aprile, Sr. likens Mikey Palmice to the Grim Reaper. In "From Where to Eternity" Christopher, believing he is in Hell, sees Mikey there. In the same episode, a psychic tells Paulie that Mikey is the leader of the dead souls following him.

Deceased

In a retrospective review, Emily VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club wrote that the " montage - intercut with Tony watching Meadow sing - is one of the first moments when The Sopranos takes music and rises above its prosaic, muddy universe to become something like sublime"; VanDerWerff commented that although the episode "is a 'Let's get the plot wheels turning!' kind of episode, and those sorts of episodes can be a little trying from time to time", there is nonetheless "lots of it that is just expertly executed". Alan Sepinwall praised Gandolfini's performance as well as the story involving Carmela and Charmaine, writing that the show "has a really great eye and ear for insults – particularly ones not necessarily intended as such".

Cultural references

In order of first appearance: