Such a powerful episode, David Chase really gives a masterclass in subverting expectations and showing how in real life things don't always resolve. "It won't be cinematic" This was an extremely impactful episode. Very raw and disturbing. However, not only did it allow me to feel significant empathy for Melfi (and everyone who has been raped) but it made me respect Melfi so much. A victim of rape would understandably feel powerless after suffering like that. But now, Melfi had the power to decide if that rapist lives or dies. She lost that power when the police realease the evidence, but she has it again. But she doesn't go in for revenge. She does, ultimately, the moral thing. Instead of continuing violence, she focuses on her own healing. It separates her so clearly from the mob member she is trying to treat with therapy. This is one of the best episodes in the series. Everyone who watched wanted Melfi to sick Tony on this guy and have him tortured/killed. It was better for the story that she didn't, but I always wonder what her arc would've looked like if she had.
14 Reviews
I so badly wanted Melfi to tell Tony what actually happened to her
Neptune16510 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Is there something you want to say?
snoozejonc19 June 2022
This is a powerful and memorable episode.
The plot mostly follows Dr Melfi through a horrific experience and portrays her suffering and dealing with it in a fairly subtle way. Whilst doing so it cleverly contrasts her underlying feelings towards her husband and Tony.
The subplot involving Janice fits in well with the main narrative. Tony being reluctantly dragged into her problems is ironic when we know how much he would passionately wade into the other situation.
Everything builds towards a brilliant final scene and few seconds in Melfi's office, which is the moral crux of the story and arguably the most impactful finish to a Sopranos episode. There is one plot development regarding the police that feels a little bit contrived to fit what the writers need to happen, but it is a fairly minor issue.
Visually it is very effective. The shock scene is incredibly difficult to watch, and so it should be considering what is being depicted. There is a later scene where a character returns to the same location and it is quite haunting. The associated dream sequence is very well done.
Lorraine Bracco delivers a harrowing performance and James Gandolfini is great as always.
It's a 9.5/10 for me but I round upwards.
The plot mostly follows Dr Melfi through a horrific experience and portrays her suffering and dealing with it in a fairly subtle way. Whilst doing so it cleverly contrasts her underlying feelings towards her husband and Tony.
The subplot involving Janice fits in well with the main narrative. Tony being reluctantly dragged into her problems is ironic when we know how much he would passionately wade into the other situation.
Everything builds towards a brilliant final scene and few seconds in Melfi's office, which is the moral crux of the story and arguably the most impactful finish to a Sopranos episode. There is one plot development regarding the police that feels a little bit contrived to fit what the writers need to happen, but it is a fairly minor issue.
Visually it is very effective. The shock scene is incredibly difficult to watch, and so it should be considering what is being depicted. There is a later scene where a character returns to the same location and it is quite haunting. The associated dream sequence is very well done.
Lorraine Bracco delivers a harrowing performance and James Gandolfini is great as always.
It's a 9.5/10 for me but I round upwards.
Jennifer's Choice
heckles8 September 2009
Warning: Spoilers
10+! (Spoilers ahoy).
I watched this show last night, and I can't get it out of my head. It's one of the major reasons I say some of the feature shows on HBO are not only better than most movies in the cinema, but FAR better. Jennifer Melfi's refusal to seek Tony's assistance made me forgive her all her questionable calls, such as continuing to see a rage-prone client sexually attracted to her just because she's intrigued by the lion-and-tamer interplay between them. In just about any movie you'd pay $10 for, Jennifer would have sobbed out the story of the rape to Tony, and of course he'd more than happy to take a grisly and extended revenge on the scumbag. We'd all cheer, go home, and forget the movie once we finished our post-cinema hamburgers. Instead we see what we rarely see in movies: a person making a correct moral choice when she has every reason in the world to get it wrong. And the correct personal choice too: we know, if Jennifer does not, that Tony's 'favors' always come at an extravagant price.
The seriousness of the episode counterpointed well with the preceding one involving Livia's death and funeral, which had almost rolling on the floor with laughter. Not that this show was all morality, either. Absent justice served on the rapist, I was grimly pleased to see Janice, Tony's New-Age-phony sister with more than a little of their mother in her, get roughed up for stealing Sventlana's artificial leg. We all know someone like Janice.
I watched this show last night, and I can't get it out of my head. It's one of the major reasons I say some of the feature shows on HBO are not only better than most movies in the cinema, but FAR better. Jennifer Melfi's refusal to seek Tony's assistance made me forgive her all her questionable calls, such as continuing to see a rage-prone client sexually attracted to her just because she's intrigued by the lion-and-tamer interplay between them. In just about any movie you'd pay $10 for, Jennifer would have sobbed out the story of the rape to Tony, and of course he'd more than happy to take a grisly and extended revenge on the scumbag. We'd all cheer, go home, and forget the movie once we finished our post-cinema hamburgers. Instead we see what we rarely see in movies: a person making a correct moral choice when she has every reason in the world to get it wrong. And the correct personal choice too: we know, if Jennifer does not, that Tony's 'favors' always come at an extravagant price.
The seriousness of the episode counterpointed well with the preceding one involving Livia's death and funeral, which had almost rolling on the floor with laughter. Not that this show was all morality, either. Absent justice served on the rapist, I was grimly pleased to see Janice, Tony's New-Age-phony sister with more than a little of their mother in her, get roughed up for stealing Sventlana's artificial leg. We all know someone like Janice.
"She's so fat..."
MaxBorg8923 April 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Employee of the Month is one of those wonderful Sopranos episodes: so rich of events, character and a truly dark streak. Most movies would have trouble jamming all this stuff into a two-hour running time; this series manages to beautifully in 50 minutes.
Firstly, the show deals with the two new characters introduced in previous episodes: Ralph Cifaretto and Jackie Aprile Jr. (Jason Cerbone), son of the deceased boss from Season One and nephew of the crazy Richie Aprile who rampaged in Series 2. Whereas Tony insists the kid should lead a normal life, Ralphie, who's currently sleeping with Rosalie Aprile, tries to become Jackie's new best friend by letting him participate in a gloriously violent business settlement.
More importantly, though, this chapter belongs to Lorraine Bracco, who goes where no actress has ever gone before with her role: after being brutally raped, Dr. Melfi is confident justice will triumph. When that isn't the case (the creep is released thanks to a lot of bureaucratic crap), she seriously considers asking Tony for help.
Were this a mainstream drama show, that kind of idea wouldn't have made it past the synopsis stage. But this is HBO, and so such a decision represents a triumph of narrative boldness, not to mention actorial: Bracco approaches Emmy-baiting territory with her doubtful, effortlessly gripping performance and receives superb backing from Peter Bogdanovich (always reliable as Elliot Kupferberg) and James Gandolfini, who responds to the ambiguity with more ambiguity.
As for the program's trademark "comic relief" it comes in the form of the news that New York boss Johnny Sack (Vincent Curatola) is buying a house in Jersey, prompting gags about his wife's weight. Pick of the bunch? Silvio's "She's so fat her blood type is ragu" and Paulie's gleeful "She's so fat, she goes campin', the bears have to hide their food". Hilarious.
Firstly, the show deals with the two new characters introduced in previous episodes: Ralph Cifaretto and Jackie Aprile Jr. (Jason Cerbone), son of the deceased boss from Season One and nephew of the crazy Richie Aprile who rampaged in Series 2. Whereas Tony insists the kid should lead a normal life, Ralphie, who's currently sleeping with Rosalie Aprile, tries to become Jackie's new best friend by letting him participate in a gloriously violent business settlement.
More importantly, though, this chapter belongs to Lorraine Bracco, who goes where no actress has ever gone before with her role: after being brutally raped, Dr. Melfi is confident justice will triumph. When that isn't the case (the creep is released thanks to a lot of bureaucratic crap), she seriously considers asking Tony for help.
Were this a mainstream drama show, that kind of idea wouldn't have made it past the synopsis stage. But this is HBO, and so such a decision represents a triumph of narrative boldness, not to mention actorial: Bracco approaches Emmy-baiting territory with her doubtful, effortlessly gripping performance and receives superb backing from Peter Bogdanovich (always reliable as Elliot Kupferberg) and James Gandolfini, who responds to the ambiguity with more ambiguity.
As for the program's trademark "comic relief" it comes in the form of the news that New York boss Johnny Sack (Vincent Curatola) is buying a house in Jersey, prompting gags about his wife's weight. Pick of the bunch? Silvio's "She's so fat her blood type is ragu" and Paulie's gleeful "She's so fat, she goes campin', the bears have to hide their food". Hilarious.
A defining moment for Lorraine Brocco's character
gia_smith23 August 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I won't repeat the details of the program as they are already explained here. I just wanted to add that I wonder how many viewers were silently (or not) yelling at the TV screen for Dr. Melfi to tell Tony what happened to her.
That's the brilliance of the writers and actors of The Sopranos. We WANTED Tony to commit murder and it wouldn't have seemed wrong if he had.
Lorraine Brocco's portrayal of Dr Melfi was absolute perfection. We could see the struggle within her just by her eyes and facial expressions. Although she couldn't encourage his "lifestyle", she seemed to actually be tempted to ask Tony for justice. If she had, though, she knew she would be no better than him and Tony, who was a manipulator, would always have something to hold over her head.
That's the brilliance of the writers and actors of The Sopranos. We WANTED Tony to commit murder and it wouldn't have seemed wrong if he had.
Lorraine Brocco's portrayal of Dr Melfi was absolute perfection. We could see the struggle within her just by her eyes and facial expressions. Although she couldn't encourage his "lifestyle", she seemed to actually be tempted to ask Tony for justice. If she had, though, she knew she would be no better than him and Tony, who was a manipulator, would always have something to hold over her head.
The most shocking episode so far...
DiMeArellano15 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The rape scene is so disgusting, you fell the horrible act as the low scum it is.
This serious themes needs a direction this prodigious to be taken the way it should be taken, and this episode achieve it astronomically.
Im still shocked, i can feel my hands shaking and my theet crushing during the horrible act, and after that we have the amazing dream secuence, something this series is majestic about is always the dream secuences, and this is not the exception, all the metaphor we need is there, all the simbolism, and the realization of Melphy about what her dream was is the peak point of the episode.
I love the Sopranos.
PS: Sorry if my english is bad, im mexican but i need to wrote this.
This serious themes needs a direction this prodigious to be taken the way it should be taken, and this episode achieve it astronomically.
Im still shocked, i can feel my hands shaking and my theet crushing during the horrible act, and after that we have the amazing dream secuence, something this series is majestic about is always the dream secuences, and this is not the exception, all the metaphor we need is there, all the simbolism, and the realization of Melphy about what her dream was is the peak point of the episode.
I love the Sopranos.
PS: Sorry if my english is bad, im mexican but i need to wrote this.
An example of why the sopranos is such a great TV show **spoilers**
solve0041 June 2010
Warning: Spoilers
While this episode isn't the best or even one of the top 10 episodes that this show has to offer, it shows why the sopranos is highly revered for its quality. In this episode Dr. Melfi is raped and through a loophole, the rapist is released much to her and Richard's dismay. This causes her to consider gaining help from Tony to deliver justice, something the law wasn't able to accomplish. However, in the end, she chooses not to consult his help.
In my opinion this is what separates the Sopranos from mediocre and even good television. In Sons of Anarchy a similar situation arises (except with a child molester) and the Sons decide to deliver justice in gruesome fashion. Instead of having a brutal scene in which Tony does something similar to a rapist who arguably deserves such a fate, the show goes a different direction and Dr. Melfi chooses to take the high road instead. In my opinion this is a good example of why the Sopranos is a great show that doesn't resort to cliché endings and is one of few instances where an archaic forms of justice aren't implemented.
In my opinion this is what separates the Sopranos from mediocre and even good television. In Sons of Anarchy a similar situation arises (except with a child molester) and the Sons decide to deliver justice in gruesome fashion. Instead of having a brutal scene in which Tony does something similar to a rapist who arguably deserves such a fate, the show goes a different direction and Dr. Melfi chooses to take the high road instead. In my opinion this is a good example of why the Sopranos is a great show that doesn't resort to cliché endings and is one of few instances where an archaic forms of justice aren't implemented.
Excellent episode.
bigdlux1 May 2019
Plenty to take in
ctomvelu-125 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
While all sorts of odds and ends occur, such as Johnny Sack buying a home in Jersey, the focus is on Dr. Melfi, who is brutally attacked and raped in the stairwell of her office building. Her one consolation is that her attacker is quickly caught. But shortly after, she learns he is free on a technicality. Should she tell Tony about the attack? Her attacker works at the local fast food joint, and is even employee of the month. Bracco is magnificent in this episode, which is rightfully all hers. While the episode is harrowing and dark, there is room for a little humor, in the form of a series of Ginny Sack fat jokes as told in the back room by the boys. As one punch line is being dropped, Johnny Sack abruptly enters, and wonders who the boys are talking about. Priceless. She so fat, she live in two zip codes.
Employee of the Month (#3.4)
ComedyFan201011 March 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Dr. Melfi gets raped in the garage of her office and the man who did it is captured. But he has to be released due to some ridiculous office work mistake. She struggles through this episode with the thoughts about justice and whether she should ask Tony for help. And the Russians come to Janice to get the leg.
The episode is magnificent. The struggle of Dr. Melfi between getting her revenge through Tony and doing what is right was some fine acting. And I love how it ended. She went the right way even though most of our society love to act like an angry mob whenever something they don't like happens.
Also great to see the Russians. It was actually pretty funny the way they talked to Janice. Now Tony will have to deal with them even though we can't argue that stealing somebody's artificial leg is much worse than coming to get it back.(Again the problems connected to self justice?)
The episode is magnificent. The struggle of Dr. Melfi between getting her revenge through Tony and doing what is right was some fine acting. And I love how it ended. She went the right way even though most of our society love to act like an angry mob whenever something they don't like happens.
Also great to see the Russians. It was actually pretty funny the way they talked to Janice. Now Tony will have to deal with them even though we can't argue that stealing somebody's artificial leg is much worse than coming to get it back.(Again the problems connected to self justice?)
Will Dr. Melfi do it?
Faristuta23 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Two Italians, who seem at complete odds of each other, meet again but in different circumstances. Dr. Melfi is the law-abiding doctor and Toni Soprano runs his business and doesn't trust the law or court system. When Dr. Melfi is raped and gets emotionally and physically bruised, she gets betrayed by the system she had trusted and her rapist is set free.
And right there, in front of her, is the solution. Her patient can become her saviour. How far can she go in trusting the system when the system isn't just towards her? Is doing "the right thing" always the right thing to do? This is a powerful episode
A defining episode.
killa_man2329 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
First and foremost, I'd like to point out that I might indicate certain scenes with detail - so spoilers are eminent.
As I mentioned, this is a defining episode because it changed the flow of the subsequent episodes and latter series. 'Eployee of the Month' involves Jennifer Melfi being brutally raped on her way to the parking lot. The accused was apprehended then later released because of some files mix-up. This then opted Jennifer Melfi to contemplate telling Tony what happened. If that were to happen, the series would be in a different route right now and the relationship between Tony and Melfi would be completely different. This was one of the easy to follow plots. Although it seemed like a sub-plot to enhance viewer's impression of what Melfi does in her time away from the office, it linked to the main character and became more significant that the other plots.
There's also really good sub-plots like the Janice/Svetlana war (really funny), Jonnhy Sack's moving to New Jersey - some great jokes are made on his wife - and more exuberant polishing on the Ralph Cifaretto character.
All in all, this is the second best episode in Season 3 - the first being 'Pine Barrens'. 8/10.
As I mentioned, this is a defining episode because it changed the flow of the subsequent episodes and latter series. 'Eployee of the Month' involves Jennifer Melfi being brutally raped on her way to the parking lot. The accused was apprehended then later released because of some files mix-up. This then opted Jennifer Melfi to contemplate telling Tony what happened. If that were to happen, the series would be in a different route right now and the relationship between Tony and Melfi would be completely different. This was one of the easy to follow plots. Although it seemed like a sub-plot to enhance viewer's impression of what Melfi does in her time away from the office, it linked to the main character and became more significant that the other plots.
There's also really good sub-plots like the Janice/Svetlana war (really funny), Jonnhy Sack's moving to New Jersey - some great jokes are made on his wife - and more exuberant polishing on the Ralph Cifaretto character.
All in all, this is the second best episode in Season 3 - the first being 'Pine Barrens'. 8/10.
The most disturbing episode of The Sopranos
TheBigMoose23 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The rape of Dr. Melfi is one of the most gut-wrenching and graphic on-screen rapes I have ever seen. Talk about the last person who deserves any malicious acts to come their way. The dream sequence with the rottweiler meant to symbolize Tony was a fantastic visual representing her thought process and her handling of the trauma.
A part of me wishes she sent Tony after her rapist, and we could watch him rip the employee of the month limb from limb - this would've further demonstrated Tony's soft spot for innocent creatures (babies, animals, etc.). Melfi is a victim of a horrific act of violence, but still chose the high road, which sums up the largest fundamental divide between Melfi and her patient. We all saw what Tony did to Coco in the penultimate episode of the series when he made an inappropriate comment to Meadow Soprano. Heavy stuff.
A part of me wishes she sent Tony after her rapist, and we could watch him rip the employee of the month limb from limb - this would've further demonstrated Tony's soft spot for innocent creatures (babies, animals, etc.). Melfi is a victim of a horrific act of violence, but still chose the high road, which sums up the largest fundamental divide between Melfi and her patient. We all saw what Tony did to Coco in the penultimate episode of the series when he made an inappropriate comment to Meadow Soprano. Heavy stuff.
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