Television Review: The Telltale Moozadell (The Sopranos, S3X09, 2001)

The Telltale Moozadell (S03E09)**

Airdate: April 22nd 2001

Written by: Michael Imperioli
Directed by: Dan Attias

Running Time: 55 minutes

Michael Imperioli, in his second writing credit for The Sopranos, once again demonstrates his exceptional talent for crafting nuanced, character-driven narratives. While The Telltale Moozadell may lack the high-stakes drama or pivotal plot developments that define some of the series’ more explosive episodes, its quieter, more introspective tone allows for rich character exploration. The episode weaves together seemingly disparate storylines into a cohesive whole, united by an overarching theme of deception and hypocrisy. These themes permeate not only the criminal underworld of the Sopranos but also their familial and professional circles, revealing the moral rot that extends far beyond the mob.

The episode’s title, The Telltale Moozadell, is both unusual and thematically resonant. It cleverly references Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart, a short story explicitly mentioned in the episode, which explores guilt, paranoia, and the inevitability of exposure. The title also plays on the slang term “moozadell,” a colloquialism for mozzarella cheese, which becomes a crucial clue in the police investigation of a vandalism incident involving A.J. Soprano. This dual reference underscores the episode’s preoccupation with hidden truths and the consequences of deception.

The episode opens with Carmela Soprano celebrating her birthday, showered with gifts from family and friends. Among these is an extravagant sapphire ring from Tony, a gesture that immediately raises Carmela’s suspicions. Having been through this cycle before, she correctly interprets the gift as a sign of Tony’s renewed infidelity. Tony, meanwhile, is thoroughly enjoying his affair with Gloria Trillo, a successful businesswoman whom he views as a significant upgrade from his previous mistress, Irina. Gloria, for her part, is equally enamoured, particularly with Tony’s mobster persona, which she finds thrilling. Their mutual infatuation does not go unnoticed by their shared therapist, Dr. Melfi, who quickly deduces their affair. Dr. Melfi’s disgust is palpable when Gloria denies the relationship, a lie that underscores the episode’s theme of deception. This moment also highlights Dr. Melfi’s growing disillusionment with her patients, a sentiment she later vents to her son. However, her moral high ground is compromised when she hesitates to refuse Tony’s generous monetary gift, especially after hearing her son complain about the cost of college textbooks.

A.J. Soprano’s storyline provides a darkly comic exploration of privilege and entitlement. After attending a party at the Verbum Dei school swimming pool, A.J. becomes involved in a destructive rampage that culminates in significant property damage. The police, thanks to a custom-made pizza ordered by the Sopranos, easily trace the vandalism back to A.J. When Tony and Carmela are summoned to the principal’s office, they are stunned to find that the school authorities, despite their humiliation, choose not to punish A.J. This decision is partly out of deference to Tony’s influence and partly because they want A.J. to play on the school’s football team. The principal advises Tony and Carmela to discipline their son themselves, which they do by grounding him and assigning him household chores. However, A.J.’s cluelessness about basic tasks, such as identifying rain gutters, reveals just how sheltered and disconnected from reality he is.

Jackie Jr.’s storyline further develops the theme of deception, as he struggles with being both Meadow’s boyfriend and the son of a deceased mobster. While he maintains the façade of a pre-med student at Rutgers, fulfilling his late father’s wishes to leave the mob life behind, Jackie Jr. is increasingly drawn to the allure of organised crime. His boredom with college life and his desire to emulate his father lead him to adopt the mannerisms of a mob boss and present himself as such to friends and acquaintances. However, his attempts to project power and authority come across as theatrical and unconvincing, highlighting his naivety and lack of genuine understanding of the mafia world. This deception proves costly for his friend Matush (played by Nick Tarabay), a small-time ecstasy dealer who takes Jackie Jr.’s posturing at face value. When Matush attempts to expand his drug operations into the Lollipop Club, a business recently acquired by Christopher and managed by Adriana, he is brutally beaten on Christopher’s orders. Jackie Jr.’s failure to protect his friend marks a turning point in his character arc, as he begins to align himself with anti-Tony sentiments, even going so far as to take a gun from Ralphie.

The episode also features a brief but notable appearance by Stefani Germanotta, now known as the global pop star Lady Gaga, as one of A.J.’s schoolmates at the pool party. While this cameo is a fun piece of trivia for modern audiences, it also, in retrospect, reflects The Sopranos’ practice of incorporating pop culture references in a way that feels organic to the story. Jackie Jr.’s imitation of Marlon Brando’s gestures in The Godfather is a prime example of this, as his attempts to mimic Brando and De Niro’s portrayal of powerful mob boss Don Vito Corleone appear to be overly theatrical and reveal his superficial understanding of power and authority.

The Telltale Moozadell is a masterfully crafted episode that uses its seemingly low-stakes plot to explore complex themes of deception, hypocrisy, and moral compromise. Michael Imperioli’s script shines in its ability to weave together disparate storylines into a cohesive narrative, enriched by sharp dialogue, dark humour, and incisive social commentary. By eschewing overt drama in favour of psychological depth and thematic resonance, The Telltale Moozadell exemplifies the series’ ability to find profound meaning in the mundane.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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