"Commendatori" is the seventeenth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the fourth of the show's second season. It was written by David Chase and directed by Tim Van Patten, and originally aired on February 6, 2000.

"Commendatori"
The Sopranos episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 4
Directed byTim Van Patten
Written byDavid Chase
Cinematography byPhil Abraham
Production code204
Original air dateFebruary 6, 2000 (2000-02-06)
Running time52 minutes
Episode chronology
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"Toodle-Fucking-Oo"
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"Big Girls Don't Cry"
The Sopranos season 2
List of episodes

Starring

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* = credit only

Guest starring

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Synopsis

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Tony goes to Naples with Christopher and Paulie Gualtieri to negotiate the smuggling of stolen luxury cars to Italy with a local Camorra family distantly related to the Sopranos. Tony's contact there is Furio Giunta, a local mobster who speaks English. Tony learns that Don Vittorio, the boss of the Naples family, is senile; his son-in-law, Mauro Zucca, had been in charge but is now serving life in prison. It is hard for Tony to accept that Annalisa—Vittorio's daughter and Mauro's wife—is the de facto head of the family.

Tony negotiates with Annalisa, naming his price for the cars, asking that Furio be sent to work for him in the U.S. as a zip and that others be sent in the future as he requires. Annalisa scoffs at his proposition. Later, Annalisa comes on to Tony, but he tells her he wishes to keep their relationship professional. He then lowers his price for the cars in exchange for Furio and any subsequent men; she agrees. Meanwhile, Paulie tries to rediscover his roots only to uncover a distaste for Italy, while Christopher is high on heroin during most of the trip.

Carmela is resentful that Tony has not taken her to Italy. She has lunch with Rosalie Aprile and Angie Bonpensiero, where Angie shares how unhappy she is that Pussy has returned. Pussy is indifferent to his wife even though she is awaiting the result of a biopsy. Angie admits she has thoughts of suicide and that she intends to divorce him. Carmela later visits Angie and urges her not to break the sacrament of marriage.

While with his FBI handler, Agent Skip Lipari, Pussy runs into Jimmy Bones, a Soprano associate. He and Lipari concoct a cover story, but Pussy is afraid that Jimmy won't believe it. He goes to Jimmy's house and beats him to death with a ball-peen hammer. Pussy then goes home with a bouquet for Angie, but after a short pause she beats him with it.

Tony returns home. Carmela is upstairs, doing housework. He calls her. After a short pause, she goes to greet him.

First appearances

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Deceased

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Title reference

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The episode's title is a plural of the Italian language word commendatore, which is an official title in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (originally established by the royal House of Savoy). It is rarely used as a respectful greeting, with Tony and his crew being given this greeting in Italy by their hotel concierge, which Paulie hears and then tries to use throughout the episode.

Cultural references

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Connections to past episodes

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  • Junior meets with Tony at the doctor's office for an X-ray on his hip after slipping in the shower in "Do Not Resuscitate".

Production

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  • Series creator and head writer David Chase makes a cameo appearance in the episode as an Italian man, sitting at a cafe with other men. When Paulie says "commendatori" to the table, Chase glances at him indifferently and then turns away.
  • Vittorio Duse, who played Zi Vittorio, also played Don Tommasino in the 1990 film The Godfather Part III.

Music

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  • The song "Con te partirò" by Andrea Bocelli is played three times throughout the episode.
  • When Tony is driven to Annalisa Zucca's villa the Napolitano song "Core 'ngrato" is played (without the vocals).
  • Before the dinner in Italy, a portion of the arrangement of the song "Andalucia" by Pink Martini plays.
  • The song "Marco Polo" by Jovanotti is briefly played when Christopher is taking heroin for the first time.
  • The song "Certamente" by the Italian rock band Madreblu is played when Christopher is taking drugs the second time.
  • The song played over the end credits is "Piove" by Jovanotti.

Filming locations

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Listed in order of first appearance:[1]

References

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  1. ^ Ugoku. "The Sopranos location guide - Filming locations for". www.sopranos-locations.com. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
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