Another Toothpick

Episode aired Mar 25, 2001
TV-MA
1h

IMDb RATING

8.6/10

8.3K

YOUR RATING

James Gandolfini and Burt Young in The Sopranos (1999)

Crime Drama

Tony and Carmela try a therapy session together and ends it angrily. Artie, meanwhile, tries to move in on Adriana. Bobby 'Bacala' Sr. comes out of retirement for one last job much to his so... Read allTony and Carmela try a therapy session together and ends it angrily. Artie, meanwhile, tries to move in on Adriana. Bobby 'Bacala' Sr. comes out of retirement for one last job much to his son's objection after it ends tragically.Tony and Carmela try a therapy session together and ends it angrily. Artie, meanwhile, tries to move in on Adriana. Bobby 'Bacala' Sr. comes out of retirement for one last job much to his son's objection after it ends tragically.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.6/10

8.3K

YOUR RATING

7User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Although the show's creator David Chase had a rule about no camera-movement in the therapy scenes with Dr. Melfi, at the start of this episode the camera slowly moves to the right revealing Carmela sitting next to Tony for their first joint therapy session.

Goofs
The bloodstain on the sidewalk is two different shapes depending on the camera shot.

Quotes
Carmela Soprano: [Participating in Tony's therapy session for the first time] how are you feeling, from your accident?
Dr. Jennifer Melfi: Fine, thank you
Carmela Soprano: Honestly, if you told me five years ago I'd be sitting here today
Dr. Jennifer Melfi: Anthony's attacks, how do they make you feel?
Carmela Soprano: Concerned of course, helpless, a little frustrated
Dr. Jennifer Melfi: Maybe with your inability to help him?
Carmela Soprano: To tell you the truth I was referring to your inability to help him
Tony Soprano: She has helped me, what're you talking about?
Carmela Soprano: You've been coming here for three years Tony and you still pass out on a regular basis
Dr. Jennifer Melfi: [to Carmela] I understand your frustration. Did Anthony share with you any insights about his last panic attack?
Tony Soprano: I told you remember? The gabagool and my mother when I was a little kid
Carmela Soprano: Right, yes
Dr. Jennifer Melfi: Do you think that there's anything in the present family "dynamic" that could serve as a trigger? Something in your dialog perhaps?
Carmela Soprano: Excuse me?
Dr. Jennifer Melfi: I don't really know you that well, we're trying to get to root causes
Tony Soprano: Like maybe you do things that may have some affect on me?
Carmela Soprano: Oh, really?
Tony Soprano: What? People affect each other in life
Carmela Soprano: [to Dr. Melfi] oh I get it, is this how it works? You can't get any answers so you start looking for someone else to point the finger at?
Tony Soprano: She's not saying anything, why are you getting so defensive?
Carmela Soprano: You know what Tony? Maybe you should "explore" your own behavior, maybe you pass out because you're guilty over something. Maybe because of the fact that you stick your dick into anything with a pulse, you ever "explore" that as a root cause?
Tony Soprano: [Sarcastically] very nice, that's very nice
Carmela Soprano: Uh-huh
Tony Soprano: [to Carmela] I told you months ago I broke it off with that Russian person
Tony Soprano: [to Dr. Melfi] right?
Dr. Jennifer Melfi: [Remains silent]
Carmela Soprano: It's incredible, it's like people who smoke their entire lives then they sue the cigarette companies when they get cancer
Tony Soprano: [Faces away from her] you know, you agreed to come here, oh forget it, this is fuckin ridiculous
Carmela Soprano: Right, just sit there, silence, anger, then you pass out and then you blame the rest of the world
Tony Soprano: [Sarcastically] yeah I love you too
Dr. Jennifer Melfi: You're both very angry.

Connections
Featured in The 53rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2001)

Soundtracks
Sister Golden Hair
(uncredited)
Written by Gerry Beckley
Performed by America

User reviews7

Featured review

10/10

I'm dead anyway

This is an excellent character focussed episode with multiple great performances.

Another Toothpick has a lot going on and it's remarkable how engrossed it keeps you considering everything that happens.

As ever Tony faces issues from the business and at home and these drive the main plots brilliantly. It starts with a wonderfully awkward opening sequence that prompts Tony's anger, which carries over to the next scene and starts an arc for a guest character.

The previous episode finished with Dr Melfi making a difficult ethical decision, but in this one we see a few characters having their integrity showcased.

Recurring characters like Artie and Charmaine have some great moments. Artie is especially cringeworthy in several scenes that are written and performed perfectly, whilst Charmaine is portrayed once again as a voice of reason in a corrupt world.

There is quite a subtle and repetitive theme in all the above scenes showing the impact of third-parties on the relationships of various established couples.

Another strong arc comes out of Tony's business association with a second memorable guest character. These scenes are compelling but contain quite brutal depictions of violence and illness, that are not pleasant viewing.

Uncle Junior has some strong scenes that take the character in a new direction and contain familiar Soprano themes about belief systems.

In addition the writers cleverly start to lay the foundations for future conflict with several other recurring characters who start to antagonise Tony to varying degrees.

All actors do impressive work in this episode with Charles S. Dutton, Burt Young, John Ventimigilia, Dominic Chianese and Stephen Schirippa standing out for me. James Gandolfini leads it perfectly as always.