Television Review: Bust Out (The Sopranos, S2X10, 2000)

Bust Out (S02E10)

Airdate: March 19th 2000

Written by: Frank Renzulli, Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess
Directed by: Tim Van Patten

Running Time: 60 minutes

The episode Bust Out, the tenth in the second season of The Sopranos, follows the somewhat extraordinary From Where to Eternity, which dealt with themes of religion and flirted with supernatural elements. In contrast, Bust Out feels rather conventional, resembling more of a "filler" episode than a significant chapter in the overarching narrative of The Sopranos.

The primary plot of "Bust Out" addresses the consequences of the previous episode's dramatic events, particularly the assassination of Matt Bevilaqua. This killing was intended to resolve the troubling situation surrounding Christopher Moltisanti's shooting. The episode opens in a police station where Larry Arthur, portrayed by Chuck Montgomery, steps forward as a witness. His description of the culprits could easily implicate Tony Soprano and Pussy Bonpensiero. As details of the investigation leak to Tony, he becomes increasingly anxious about facing a lengthy prison sentence. Meanwhile, Paulie must persuade Skip Lipari, his FBI handler, of his innocence while simultaneously plotting to ensnare Tony in another scheme. The tension ends when Larry, upon the killing involved high-ranking Mafia figures instead of low-level drug dealers, recants his testimony, thereby dismantling the case against Tony. This turn of events fills Tony with euphoria, prompting him to generously gift $50,000 to Beansie, a crippled associate, and spend quality time with his son A.J. on their boat.

The title Bust Out refers to a secondary plot involving Davey Scatino's desperate attempts to repay his gambling debts to Tony and Richie Aprile through the asset stripping of his sporting goods store. This process inevitably leads Davey towards bankruptcy. His character is depicted as a complete wreck, contemplating suicide due to his dire circumstances. However, Tony reminds him that he alone is responsible for his predicament.

Simultaneously, Carmela Soprano finds herself drawn to Tony Musto (played by Joe Penny), a handsome widowed handyman introduced by Davey's wife—who is also Musto's sister. After indulging in romantic fantasies inspired by her reading of Memoirs of a Geisha, Carmela shares a passionate kiss with Musto. However, their potential relationship is abruptly halted when Davey confesses his financial struggles to Musto and reveals Tony's involvement in them. Despite being aware of his brother-in-law's gambling issues and having attempted to assist him in overcoming them, Musto is repulsed by Carmela’s connection to Tony and decides against pursuing any romantic involvement.

Another subplot highlights Richie's simmering resentment towards Tony and Janice's manipulative encouragement for him to act against his brother. This tension culminates in one of the series' more unconventional sex scenes where Richie holds a gun to Janice's head during their intimate encounter.

Ultimately, Bust Out resolves its main plot points within its runtime and adheres more closely to conventional storytelling than many other episodes in The Sopranos. Although it includes intriguing elements—such as Larry Arthur reading Robert Nozick's Anarchy, State, and Utopia—and features commendable performances from actors like Robert Patrick, it fails to leave a lasting impression on viewers. The episode feels like a bridge between more substantial stories rather than a standalone piece worthy of remembrance.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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