I remember when I saw The Sopranos for the first time: I was struck by its brilliance, just as I was amazed by the likes of Six Feet Under, Deadwood or, to stray from HBO territory, Desperate Housewives and Lost. But David Chase's mob show always had something more than all the other great programs American TV has spawned. Even the 80th episode of the series, Remember When, is much better than the title would suggest (the first time I heard it, I assumed it was a clip show, like the 100th episode of Seinfeld).
The title is actually very ironic, the center of the story being Uncle Junior, whose ability to remember is seriously compromised by Alzheimer's. Stuck in a psychiatric hospital ever since he shot Tony at the beginning of the season, he lets life pass by without complaining. That is, until he meets a young, angry Asian man (Ken Leung), who strives to bring his worse side back.
In the episode's other storyline, "remember when" is frequently said by Paulie, who is on vacation with Tony to avoid a possible indictment. As they run into old friends and see things that remind them of past actions, he tries to engage in a memory-themed discussion with Tony, only to be told by the latter that "remember when" is the lowest form of conversation.
That may be true, but Remember When is also one of the most affecting episodes of the series: Dominic Chianese, whose presence is quite limited in the final season (four shows in Part One, two in Part Two), does a job that can't be described as anything less than astonishing, with terrific support from Leung, while the other half of the plot adds real tension to the so far unbreakable bond between Tony and Paulie. How it pays off, I won't reveal, but I can say with absolute certainty it is one of the most chilling moments in the show's history. An applause-worthy effort.
Remember when...?
