Down Neck

For the working-class neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey, see Ironbound.

"Down Neck"
The Sopranos episode
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 7
Directed by	Lorraine Senna Ferrara
Written by	Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess
Cinematography by	Alik Sakharov
Production code	107
Original air date	February 21, 1999
Guest stars
see below
Episode chronology
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Episode chronology

"Down Neck" is the seventh episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos. It was written by Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess, directed by Lorraine Senna Ferrara and originally aired on Sunday February 21, 1999. It is also the first episode not to feature a character dying.

Starring

• James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano
• Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi
• Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano
• Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti
• Dominic Chianese as Corrado Soprano, Jr.
• Vincent Pastore as Pussy Bonpensiero
• Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante
• Tony Sirico as Paulie Gualtieri *
• Robert Iler as Anthony Soprano, Jr.
• Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Meadow Soprano
• and Nancy Marchand as Livia Soprano

* = credit only

Guest Starring

• Joseph Siravo as Johnny Boy Soprano
• Laila Robbins as Young Livia Soprano
• Rocco Sisto as Young Junior Soprano
• David Beach as Dr. Peter Galani

Also Guest Starring

• Paul Albe as Contractor
• Shirl Bernheim as Pearl
• Madeline Blue as Janice
• Bobby Boriello as Young Tony
• Scott Owen Cumberbatch as Rideland Kid #2
• Anthony Fusco as Father Hagy
• Rob Grippa as Byron Barber
• Jason Hauser as Rideland Cop
• Michael B. Jordan as Rideland Kid
• Greg Perrelli as Jared
• Nick Raio as Wiseguy
• Steve Santosusso as Guy
• Tim Williams as Mr. Meskimmin

Episode recap

A.J. and his friends steal sacramental wine and turn up drunk and giggling at gym class. Tony and Carmela are called in to see the principal of A.J.'s school, Verbum Dei. The principal is accompanied by the school psychologist who tells them that A.J. may have ADHD (known at that time as ADD). The school is lenient in disciplining A.J. because of this, but are considering placing him in a special education class.

This incident prompts Tony to recall his own childhood when he first learned about his family's involvement in the Mafia. In therapy he discusses this with Dr. Melfi. Included in Tony's memory is the time his father wanted to move the family to Reno, Nevada, to manage a supper club for Rocco Altiore. Tony's mother refused and said she would rather suffocate the children than move. Tony, visiting his mother in the nursing home, asks her how Rocco is doing and she responds that Rocco is now a millionaire. Tony reminds her of the request to move and she denies that they were seriously considering moving or that she was involved in the decision to stay.

A.J. is punished by his parents and forbidden to watch TV, use the Internet or play Nintendo. He also has to visit his grandmother, Livia, at Green Grove. During one visit, A.J. discusses his encounter with a school therapist. When Livia reacts negatively, A.J. informs her that Tony is seeing a psychiatrist, something A.J. learned after eavesdropping on a conversation between his parents. Livia is furious. While Livia fumes, A.J. selects and eats a pear from a bowl of mixed fruit. Later, Livia is poised to pass on this information to Junior but Tony unknowingly walks in before she can say anything about it.

First appearances

• Johnny Boy Soprano: Tony's deceased father who appears in flashbacks to his childhood. He was the long-time capo of the Soprano/Gualtieri crew until his death in 1986.
• Janice Soprano: Tony's older sister who appears as a child in flashbacks. She will first appear as an adult in the episode "Guy Walks into a Psychiatrist's Office...".

Production

• Although the flashbacks are set in the 1960s, some modern day motor vehicles and people wearing modern clothing are visible in the background in some of the scenes.
• The Rideland scene was filmed on Sand Lane, at South Beach Amusement Park in Staten Island, New York.^{[citation needed]}

Title Reference

• "Down Neck" refers to the Ironbound section of Newark, New Jersey

Music

• The song played on the television during Tony's flashback to 1967 was a live performance of "(I've Been) Lonely Too Long" by The Rascals on The Ed Sullivan Show.
• The song played over the end credits is "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane. It is also played while Tony takes his Prozac and remembers his childhood.
• "Don't Bring Me Down", by The Animals, is also played during the flashback scenes.
• "Mystic Eyes" by Them.

See also

• Host desecration, with regard to A.J.'s theft and misuse of the sacramental wine

External references

• Janick. "The Pear in History, Literature, Popular Culture and Art."
• "The Killers in a Nutshell"

External links

• Down Neck at the Internet Movie Database