Remember When (The Sopranos episode)

Infobox Television episode | Title = Remember When
Series = The Sopranos
Season = 6
Episode = 15
Guests= "see below"
Airdate = April 22, 2007 (HBO)
Production = 615
Writer = Terence Winter
Director = Phil Abraham
Episode list = Episode chronology


Episode list = List of "The Sopranos" episodes
Season list = Infobox The Sopranos season six
Prev = Stage 5
Next = Chasing It"Remember When" is the eightieth episode of the HBO television series "The Sopranos". It is the third episode of the second half of the show's sixth season, the fifteenth episode of the season overall. It was written by Terence Winter and was directed by Phil Abraham. It originally aired on April 22, 2007.

Episode recap

On a tip from the once again in custody capo Larry Boy Barese, the F.B.I. begins investigating an old murder that of bookie Willie Overall, which was Tony's first hit assisted by Paulie. The assigned hit was given to Tony by his father in order for Tony to "make his bones". After Paulie goes to Tony's house and informs him of the situation, he and Paulie pack up and head towards Miami to lay low until the heat blows over.

Back at the Wyckoff Center, Uncle Junior gets a visit from his former soldiers from his old crew Pat Blundetto and Beppy Scerbo. Junior begs for them to aide in his escape from the center. Pat suggests he make an appointment with an outside dentist, and then he and Beppy can sneak Junior off in their car. They give Junior their weekly kick-up and say goodbye in italian. At lunch, Junior informs one of the guards that he bribes for special treatment he wants to organize a poker game that night. That night Junior and fellow patient and friend Carter Chong organize a poker game amongst the other patients. Jamel, the orderly who aides Junior for money, charges Junior $60 for smuggling in soda and candy, which some of the patients aren't even allowed to have. Junior reluctantly pays, and Jamel says he'll steer people away from the door as they play their game. Junior is flying high telling off-colour jokes and bringing back old portions of his life with his poker game; however, the game is soon ended when another patient who is resentful towards Junior snitches them out to another orderly who is true to his job.

On the trip down to Miami, Tony grows weary of Paulie's mannerisms and tendency to sometimes carelessly blab with strangers. Suspecting his loyalty, Tony questions Paulie several times about the circumstance by which Johnny Sack became aware of Ralph Cifaretto's joke made at the expense of his wife, Ginny Sacrimoni. In fact, Paulie was responsible. At a time when tensions were running high between the DiMeo and Lupertazzi families, Paulie had disclosed it to Johnny Sack in an attempt to ingratiate himself. While visiting "Beansie" Gaeta, Tony expressed his concerns about Paulie; his loose tongue, his vulnerability to the Feds due to his lack of legitimate income, and even his mental competency. Beansie sticks up for Paulie, but Tony still wonders whether Paulie's ever been truly "put to the test". Willie Overall's murder is eventually blamed on the deceased Jackie Aprile, Sr., so Tony invites Paulie on a fishing trip to celebrate. Paulie has serious misgivings about going to sea with Tony, remembering how a boat trip was used to lure informant Big Pussy to his death, but sees no alternative. While on the boat, Tony half-heartedly considers whacking Paulie, but ultimately decides to spare his life. Later that night Paulie has a dream in which he goes to his kitchen and finds Pussy cooking over the stove. Paulie asks Pussy "When my time comes, tell me - will I stand up?" Paulie then wakes up. Out of apparent gratitude for Tony sparing him, Paulie sends Carmela a $2,000 espresso machine.

In the meantime, while Uncle Junior and Carter are playing a game of checkers, Professor Lynch, the patient who is resentful of Junior, walks up and begins to make comments that begin to anger Junior. Junior finally goes off and attacks the professor kneeing his groin and kicking him repeatedly while the professor lies yelling in pain on the floor. Carter further encourages the fight by yelling "Get 'em!"Junior is taken away by the orderlies. One day, after Junior urinates on himself, his doctor and the staff become aware that he isn't taking his medication as prescribed, which is medication meant to curtail his aggression and prevent incontinence. The psychiatric doctor in charge informs Soprano that he can either take his medications as ordered or be transferred to a less pleasant mental facility. Junior agrees to be docile and take his meds. The doctor also informs Soprano they have fired Jamel for aiding Junior in his activities that do not adhere to hospital rules and regulations. Since Junior has begun taking his medication, he has lost his feisty personality and kick, which highly disappoints Carter who looked up to Junior as a father figure---Carter's mental problems relate back to a poor relationship with his father as mentioned in an earlier scene. At the end of Junior's last visit with Carter, he refers to him as Anthony. Later that day during a music session, Carter throws a few pieces of paper at the woman playing the piano in hopes to get a laugh out of Junior. When Junior looks back at him and shakes his head in implication he isn't interested in misbehaving anymore, Carter becomes angry and attacks Junior. The episode ends with Junior sitting in his wheelchair in a comatose like state idly petting a siamese cat.

After leaving a massage parlor in New York, Faustino "Doc" Santoro and his bodyguard are shot and killed by multiple gunshots from hit men sent by Phil Leotardo. Faustino had sealed his fate in an earlier scene by insulting Phil by taking food off his plate during a sit down, even after Phil recognized Faustino as the boss of New York. With Faustino gone, Phil initially developed his spot as the boss of New York.

Guest starring

* Jerry Adler as Hesh Rabkin
* Frank Albanese as Pat Blundetto
* Greg Antonacci as Butch Deconcini
* Jen Araki as Anika
* Dan Conte as Faustino "Doc" Santoro
* Joseph Conti as "Doc" Santoro's bodyguard
* Stink Fisher as Warren
* Paul Herman as "Beansie" Gaeta
* Neshawn Kearse as Jameel
* Ken Leung as Carter Chong
* Charles Morgan as Prof. Brian Lynch
* Kevin Murphy as Ascot Man
* Vincent Pastore as Big Pussy Bonpensiero
* Joe Pucillo as Beppy Scerbo
* Herbert Rogers as Willie Overall
* Stephen Singer as Dr. Mandl
* Joseph Siravo as Johnny Boy Soprano (photo)
* Donna Smythe as Gia Gaeta
* Rocco Sisto as Young Junior Soprano (photo)
* Elizabeth Sung as Mrs. Chong

Deceased

* Faustino "Doc" Santoro—Killed by multiple gunshot wounds after leaving a massage parlor in New York.
* Bodyguard—Killed alongside "Doc" Santoro.
* Willie Overall—Tony's first murder (a flashback from 1982).

Title reference

* Tony angrily describes "Remember when..." reminiscing as the lowest form of conversation.
* This episode reminds the viewer of many past events that have occurred during the show's run; alongside the appearance of older characters, mention is made of deceased and otherwise departed characters including Big Pussy Bonpensiero, Ralph Cifaretto, Georgie, Karen Baccalieri and Feech La Manna.
* Junior Soprano and Carter Chong reminisce in the nursing home

Connections to prior episodes

* Tony repeatedly asks Paulie if he told Johnny Sack about the off colour joke that Ralph told about a mole on Ginny Sack's ass (as shown in No Show). Paulie repeatedly denies this (Paulie actually did tell Johnny Sack, as shown in the episode Christopher).

Music

* The instrumental piece played over the end credits is "Sing, Sing, Sing (with a swing)" by the Benny Goodman Orchestra.

* The song that Junior is singing with the other patients is "Take Me Home, Country Roads", a song made famous in 1971 by John Denver.

External links

* [http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/ HBO.com — "The Sopranos" official website]
*imdb title|0141842|The Sopranos
*imdb title|0979769|"Remember When"
* [http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/Shows/The-Sopranos?strSeason=all&strSortCoulmn=airdate_asc&ShowName=The+Sopranos&vgnextoid=4c88ef12f85b2110VgnVCM1000006dc1d240RCRD Television Without Pity — "The Sopranos" recaps]
* [http://www.the-sopranos.com/ "The Sopranos" — Family Values]