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Sentimental Education (The Sopranos episode)
Encyclopedia
"Sentimental Education" is the fifty-eighth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos
and the sixth of the show's fifth season. It was written by Matthew Weiner
, directed by Peter Bogdanovich
and originally aired on April 12, 2004.
finds it increasingly difficult to take care of A.J.
, he sends him back to Carmela
, who lets it be known that she expects a lot from A.J. now that he will be moving back in. In order to make sure her son's priorities are in the right place, she has a visit with Robert Wegler, his guidance counselor. However, their discussion quickly turns from A.J. to having dinner together. The following evening, they dine at a fine Italian restaurant and afterwards passionately kiss in his car. Carmela then begins to have guilt when she tells Father Phil Intintola about her lust for Mr. Wegler over a meal. Father Phil advises her not to act on her feelings, since in the eyes of the Church, she is still considered to be married to Tony. Carmela sleeps with Wegler nonetheless, and spends the night at his house. She later confesses this to Father Phil, but still continues the liaison. After their next date, Carmela ends up back at Wegler's house again, but expresses concern about A.J. and says that she can't sleep with Wegler because she is too worried about him. She leaves abruptly, leaving Wegler frustrated. The next day Wegler pressures one of A.J.'s teachers to raise his grade for a poorly written essay. When Carmela next sees Wegler, she is very forward and they have sex again. Afterwards, Carmela talks about A.J. again. Wegler comes to the conclusion that Carmela is just using him to get A.J. better grades, and tells her that he wants to end the relationship. Carmela is extremely hurt by this, and after an argument, threatens Wegler that he should "watch his step" as she storms out.
Tony Blundetto
is still trying to adjust to life as a civilian but is becoming quite impatient with his employer, Kim, who is strict and demanding. With the help of Gwen, a girlfriend he met via the Internet while in prison, Tony B. passes his state massage board exam and is hopeful to open his own massage facility. When Kim hears about Tony B.'s plans for the future, he wants to help him, since he has an empty storefront in West Caldwell. When Tony B. then comes across $12,000 in the street, everything appears to be going his way. He manages to start fixing the storefront up, but then goes on a self-destructive
tear, staying out nights and blowing much of the remainder of the money on gambling and expensive clothes. After fighting on the phone with Gwen, he takes his anger and frustration out in a beating he gives Kim, ostensibly because he has been doing all of the work. Tony B. then meets his cousin, Tony Soprano, at Vesuvio for a meal. After hinting that he has screwed up, Tony B. asks if he still needs someone to cover the airbag scheme.
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
and the sixth of the show's fifth season. It was written by Matthew Weiner
Matthew Weiner
Matthew Weiner is an American writer, director and producer of television drama. He is the creator, executive producer, head writer, and show runner of the AMC television series Mad Men. He is also noted for his work on the HBO series The Sopranos, on which he served as a writer and producer...
, directed by Peter Bogdanovich
Peter Bogdanovich
Peter Bogdanovich is an American film historian, director, writer, actor, producer, and critic. He was part of the wave of "New Hollywood" directors, which included William Friedkin, Brian De Palma, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Michael Cimino, and Francis Ford Coppola...
and originally aired on April 12, 2004.
Guest starring roles
- Tom AldredgeTom AldredgeThomas Ernest "Tom" Aldredge was an American television, film and stage actor.-Life and career:Aldredge was born in Dayton, Ohio, the son of Lucienne Juliet and W. J. Aldredge, a colonel in the United States Army Air Corps...
as Hugh De Angelis - Sharon AngelaSharon AngelaSharon Angela is an American film, television actress, screenwriter and director. Angela is probably most well known for her portrayal of Rosalie Aprile on the HBO series, The Sopranos....
as Rosalie Aprile - Alison Bartlett as Gwen MacIntyre
- Robert FunaroRobert FunaroRobert Funaro is an American film and television actor. Funaro is best known for the role of Eugene Pontecorvo in the Emmy Award-winning television series The Sopranos...
as Eugene Pontecorvo - Joseph R. GannascoliJoseph R. GannascoliJoseph R. Gannascoli is an Italian-American actor and celebrity spokesman most notable for his portrayal of Vito Spatafore on the HBO series, The Sopranos.-Early life:Joseph R. Gannascoli was born and raised in Brooklyn....
as Vito SpataforeVito SpataforeVito Spatafore, Sr., played by Joseph R. Gannascoli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was a member of the DiMeo Crime Family and a subordinate of Tony Soprano. He was married to Marie Spatafore with two children, Francesca and Vito, Jr., and was a closeted homosexual... - Dan GrimaldiDan GrimaldiDaniel "Dan" Grimaldi is an American actor who is known for his roles as twins Philly and Patsy Parisi on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Career:...
as Patsy Parisi - Henry Yuk as Sungyon Kim
- Liza LapiraLiza LapiraLiza Lapira is an American actress best known for playing Kianna in the 2008 film 21 and Special Agent Michelle Lee in NCIS. She is also known for her role as Maggie Del Rosario on Huff.-Life and career:...
as Amanda Kim - Arthur Nascarella as Carlo Gervasi
- Paul SchulzePaul SchulzePaul Schulze is an American actor best known for portraying Ryan Chappelle on the FOX series 24 from 2001 to 2004 and Father Phil Intintola on HBO The Sopranos from 1999 to 2006....
as Father Phil Intintola - David StrathairnDavid StrathairnDavid Russell Strathairn is an American actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award for portraying journalist Edward R. Murrow in Good Night, and Good Luck...
as Robert Wegler - Ed Vassallo as Tom Giglione
- Danielle Di Vecchio as Barbara Soprano Giglione
Episode recap
When TonyTony Soprano
Anthony John "Tony" Soprano, Sr. is an Italian-American fictional character and the protagonist on the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, on which he is portrayed by James Gandolfini. The character was conceived by The Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, who was also largely...
finds it increasingly difficult to take care of A.J.
Anthony Soprano, Jr.
Anthony John "A.J." Soprano, Jr. , played by Robert Iler, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Usually just called "A.J.", he is the son of Carmela and Tony Soprano. He is a prototypical underachiever and is a constant source of stress and anxiety for his parents...
, he sends him back to Carmela
Carmela Soprano
Carmela Soprano née DeAngelis, played by Edie Falco, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the wife of Mafia boss Tony Soprano and the program's most prominent female character.-Character biography:...
, who lets it be known that she expects a lot from A.J. now that he will be moving back in. In order to make sure her son's priorities are in the right place, she has a visit with Robert Wegler, his guidance counselor. However, their discussion quickly turns from A.J. to having dinner together. The following evening, they dine at a fine Italian restaurant and afterwards passionately kiss in his car. Carmela then begins to have guilt when she tells Father Phil Intintola about her lust for Mr. Wegler over a meal. Father Phil advises her not to act on her feelings, since in the eyes of the Church, she is still considered to be married to Tony. Carmela sleeps with Wegler nonetheless, and spends the night at his house. She later confesses this to Father Phil, but still continues the liaison. After their next date, Carmela ends up back at Wegler's house again, but expresses concern about A.J. and says that she can't sleep with Wegler because she is too worried about him. She leaves abruptly, leaving Wegler frustrated. The next day Wegler pressures one of A.J.'s teachers to raise his grade for a poorly written essay. When Carmela next sees Wegler, she is very forward and they have sex again. Afterwards, Carmela talks about A.J. again. Wegler comes to the conclusion that Carmela is just using him to get A.J. better grades, and tells her that he wants to end the relationship. Carmela is extremely hurt by this, and after an argument, threatens Wegler that he should "watch his step" as she storms out.
Tony Blundetto
Tony Blundetto
Anthony "Tony" Blundetto, played by Steve Buscemi, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is Tony Soprano's cousin who is released from prison at the beginning of the show's fifth season. Tony Blundetto first appears as a calm, composed, and reformed criminal ready to pursue...
is still trying to adjust to life as a civilian but is becoming quite impatient with his employer, Kim, who is strict and demanding. With the help of Gwen, a girlfriend he met via the Internet while in prison, Tony B. passes his state massage board exam and is hopeful to open his own massage facility. When Kim hears about Tony B.'s plans for the future, he wants to help him, since he has an empty storefront in West Caldwell. When Tony B. then comes across $12,000 in the street, everything appears to be going his way. He manages to start fixing the storefront up, but then goes on a self-destructive
Self-destructive behaviour
In human context, self-destructive behaviour is a widely used phrase that conceptualises certain kinds of destructive acts as belonging to the self. It also has the property that it characterises certain kinds of self-inflicted acts as destructive...
tear, staying out nights and blowing much of the remainder of the money on gambling and expensive clothes. After fighting on the phone with Gwen, he takes his anger and frustration out in a beating he gives Kim, ostensibly because he has been doing all of the work. Tony B. then meets his cousin, Tony Soprano, at Vesuvio for a meal. After hinting that he has screwed up, Tony B. asks if he still needs someone to cover the airbag scheme.
Title reference
- Sentimental EducationSentimental EducationSentimental Education was Gustave Flaubert's last novel published during his lifetime, and is considered one of the most influential novels of the 19th century, being praised by contemporaries George Sand, Emile Zola, and Henry James.-Plot introduction:The novel describes the life of a young man ...
is a book written by Gustave FlaubertGustave FlaubertGustave Flaubert was a French writer who is counted among the greatest Western novelists. He is known especially for his first published novel, Madame Bovary , and for his scrupulous devotion to his art and style.-Early life and education:Flaubert was born on December 12, 1821, in Rouen,...
, who also wrote Madame BovaryMadame BovaryMadame Bovary is Gustave Flaubert's first published novel and is considered his masterpiece. The story focuses on a doctor's wife, Emma Bovary, who has adulterous affairs and lives beyond her means in order to escape the banalities and emptiness of provincial life...
, which Mr. Wegler recommends to Carmela. - It may also be a reference to Mr. Wegler, one of the key players in A.J.'s education and his romantic involvement with Carmela
- The title could also refer to the way the affair taught Carmela that her person will be judged by others because of her ex-husband's ways even in such intimate circumstances
Production
- The episode was directed by Peter BogdanovichPeter BogdanovichPeter Bogdanovich is an American film historian, director, writer, actor, producer, and critic. He was part of the wave of "New Hollywood" directors, which included William Friedkin, Brian De Palma, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Michael Cimino, and Francis Ford Coppola...
, who also has a recurring guest role as Dr. Elliot Kupferberg (Dr. Melfi's psychiatrist), although he does not appear in this episode.
Music
- The song played when Carmela is deciding what to wear before seeing Robert Wegler is "The Angels Listened In" by The CrestsThe CrestsThe Crests were a New York R&B doo-wop group of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Their most popular song was "16 Candles", which rose to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1959. It sold over one million copies, earning a gold disc. The interracial group had three black members , one Puerto...
. - The song played when Carmela is peeling the cucumber is "Over The Mountain" by Bobby VintonBobby VintonBobby Vinton is an American pop music singer of Polish origin. In pop music circles, he became known as "The Polish Prince".-Early life:...
. - The song played in PauliePaulie GualtieriPeter Paul "Paulie Walnuts" Gualtieri played by Tony Sirico, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is a caporegime and later underboss in the Soprano crime family.-Plot details:...
's Cadillac is "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss MeHold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" was released as single from Gloria Estefan's fourth solo-credited studio album Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me.-Formats and track listings:Europe CD Maxi Single ...
" by Mel CarterMel CarterMel Carter is an American singer and actor. He is best known for his 1965 million selling recording, "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me".-Biography:Carter recorded for Sam Cooke's SAR record label in the early 1960s...
. - The song played over the end credits is "The Blues is my Business" by Etta JamesEtta JamesEtta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
.