Jackie Jr hides out in the housing projects whilst Tony and Carmela clash over AJ.
This is a powerful and reflective episode with some exceptionally good performances.
It cleverly focuses on the situation involving Jackie and how it impacts Tony's attitude towards his own son. The varying outlooks on how AJ should be brought up are contrasted and portrayed in a number of emotive clashes involving Tony, Carmela, and AJ. These are intelligently written and wonderfully performed.
There is plenty of dark humour and irony. The scenes at Hudson, particularly those with Tobin Bell, are superb. Little touches such as when he talks about discipline, substance abuse and simultaneously lights up a cigarette are excellent.
Another well presented theme is the duality and hypocrisy of people who present a loving, communal face within society but in reality are cold and self serving. This is evident in one great scene involving Meadow that is incredibly well made and superbly acted by Jamie-Lynn Sigler.
Some of the issues are laid on quite thick, but it doesn't take you out of the narrative.
Season 3 is a bleak and compelling experience to put it mildly. We have seen a brutal rape, cold blooded murders, continual lies, parents pushing their children away, scenes of great ambiguity and bland "regularness". In the midst of it have been little rays of hope from characters who see the world for what it is make sound observations and strong ethical decisions. This episode just caps off a fairly cynical take on life by the writers.
For me it's a 9.5/10 but I round upwards.