Second Opinion
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- For the video game see Trauma Center: Second Opinion
| “Second Opinion” | |
|---|---|
| The Sopranos episode | |
 |
|
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 33 |
| Guest stars | see below |
| Written by | Lawrence Konner |
| Directed by | Tim Van Patten |
| Production no. | 307 |
| Original airdate | April 8, 2001 (HBO) |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "University" | "He Is Risen" |
| Episode chronology | |
"Second Opinion" is the 33rd episode of the HBO original series, The Sopranos. It was the 7th episode for the show's third season. The episode was written by Lawrence Konner and was directed by Tim Van Patten. It originally aired on Sunday April 8, 2001.
Contents |
[edit] Guest Starring roles
- Sam McMurray as Dr. John Kennedy
- Sully Boyar as Dr. Krakower
- Dan Grimaldi as Patsy Parisi
- Toni Kalem as Angie Bonpensiero
- Suzanne Shepherd as Mary De Angelis
- Tom Aldredge as Hugh De Angelis
[edit] Episode recap
Uncle Junior is put under anesthesia for his surgery to remove the cancerous tumors in his stomach. As he is given the annesthestic he begins to hallucinate as he envisions an FBI detective offering him a cure to cancer if he cooperates with them. A newspaper then appears on screen featuring the following headline: SOPRANO WINS FREEDOM, INDICTS NEPHEW- STAR WITNESS WEDS Angie Dickinson. In reality, Dr. Kennedy delivers news to Tony and the other mob associates that Uncle Junior will be fine and that they have removed all of the tumor that they could find. On a visit to the doctor's office, Dr. Kennedy informs Junior and Bobby Bacala that they have found more malignant cells and would once again like to perform surgery. Uncle Junior agrees since he puts his full confidence in Dr. Kennedy. Tony disagrees since Uncle Junior is more fascinated that his doctor's name is John Kennedy. Tony and Uncle Junior then visit another doctor in New York City who recommends that Uncle Junior receive chemotherapy treatments. Junior does so but still awaits hearing from Dr. Kennedy who is not returning any of his calls. To appease his uncle, Tony visits Kennedy on the golf course and suggests he start taking Junior's calls. At the hospital during Junior's chemo treatment, Kennedy gives him all of his contact information in order to find him.
Carmela attends a therapy session alone without Tony. Carmela begins to break down as she realizes she really knows nothing about Tony's job and that she is become very depressed. Melfi recommends that she see a colleague in Livingston, Dr. Krakower if she would like to see a therapist on a regular basis. Carmela reluctantly calls Dr. Krakower and agrees to see him for one appointment. As she describes her situation to Krakower, she discusses her husband's profession and her marital woes. The doctor recommends that she leave the marriage since Tony's job is indeed a dangerous one and that his income is derived from blood money. He refuses to accept any money for the session but advises her to leave while she still can.
Christopher is angered when Paulie asks him if he is wearing a wire. Christopher quickly denies the accusation but when Paulie asks him to disrobe in order to prove it, he becomes very offensive. Christopher is forced to take his clothes off but is soon humiliated when he has to completely disrobe including his undergarments. Then at 2 am in the morning, Paulie and Patsy arrive at his apartment unexpected and begin to check the apartment for anything suspicious. Christopher becomes extremely angered when Paulie takes all of Adriana's new shoes for his goomara and sniffs Adriana's panties. Christopher tells Tony this the following day but is soon reprimanded by Paulie who tells him to never go to the boss again about an argument involving himself. They agree to settle the argument after Christopher leaves a motel room with another woman.
Meanwhile Carmela spots Angie Bonpensiero in Pathmark and decides to invite her to dinner. Angie politely rejects the offer saying that her dog is very sick and that she cannot leave her alone. Also Angie cannot afford veterinarian bills and needs some extra money now that Pussy has disappeared. Carmela tells Tony about their encounter which leads to a visit to the Bonpensiero residence by Tony. Tony spots Angie's new Cadillac in the driveway and breaks the window to beep the horn. When she comes out, he notices the dog is in good health and that Angie has been lying. Tony then tells her that if she needs money to not ask Carmela but to come directly to him. Still angered by Pussy's betrayal, he takes it out on Angie's car by damaging the back headlights.
[edit] Title reference
- Uncle Junior seeks out a "second opinion" from another doctor for his cancer treatment.
[edit] Trivia
- Mike Nichols was originally cast to play the role of Dr. Krakower however the role eventually went to Sully Boyar. During the episode's original broadcast, Nichols was credited instead of Boyar. However during re-airings and on the DVD, Boyar is correctly credited.
- The episode features the toy Big Mouth Billy Bass, a popular singing animatronic fish from the late 1990's
- The scene where Carmela waits in Dr. Melfi's waiting room and gazes at the green statue, is almost identical to the opening scene in the first episode of season 1, with Tony in the waiting room, where a similar shot of him gazing at the green statue occurs.
