The Sopranos (TV Series) Second Opinion (2001) User Reviews

Pulp.

[Cullen-03182 · 8/10 · 29 August 2022]

There are two main second opinions in this particular episode: Carmela with Dr Melfi on her relationship with Tony and Junior with Dr Kennedy on his cancer diagnosis. The theme of opinions also plays out throughout the episode. For example, Tony paying $50,000 donation to Meadow's college, which he was only originally willing to pay $5,000. Also, Christopher gets annoyed when Paulie oversteps boundaries.

The pass few episodes, which IMO are 10/10 worthy, contain graphic and controversial scenes, which shows so much more of what the gangster world is like, including themes of capitalism and pride. That's why this episode does not hold up as well. Albeit, EVERY episode of The Sopranos is far superior than 95% of the shows airing today.

The issues with Carmela and Tony's relationship are symbolic in this episode. It is somewhat resolved when she finds it hard to accept she is an accomplice to his crimes, and wouldn't want to give up the life she has built in a divorce.

'I like d'one that says, "some pulp".' Classic line.

Shrink this

[ctomvelu-1 · 8/10 · 25 August 2008]

Carmela sees Dr. Melfi alone, and Melfi then sends Carmela to a shrink who unhesitatingly advises Carmela to leave Tony. Carmela tells this shrink that her priest has advised her to try to work things out with Tony. The shrink again tells her to leave Tony. Paulie turns up the heat on Chris and shows up at his home in the middle of the night, looking for loot. Pussy's widow complains to Carmela about her money problems, which sets Tnny off. Junior is not doing so well, which alarms Tony no end. Amazing how loyal Tony remains to a guy who has tried to have him killed. The scenes between these two sly actors are worth the price of admission alone. But watch Carmela as she has to face her greatest fear. She settles matters the way she always does, but I will not reveal this here. Edie Falco only gets better with each episode of this show. And keep any eye on Tony Sirico as he reads Chris the riot act while they sit in Paulie's car. Sirico can go from funny to scary in the blink of an eye.

The bee was my favorite character in the show wish they did more with him

[Neptune165 · 7/10 · 11 July 2022]

"Hey Furio.....did the bee even really exist?" So glad Furio was able to get the bee off his hat before it stung him. The ending reminds me of the dinner they had after they were separated, where Tony offered the 600k Carmela asked for her spec house under the condition he moves back in, man that ain't no dinner, that's a sit down! But goes to show how pragmatic, and yet, how toxic their marriage was. That scene on the golf course is my most favorite of the entire series. That scene on the golf course is my most favourite of the entire series. I always loved the scene where we see Furio driving tony in the golf cart before they get to Kennedy lol idk what it is about that scene, but it just makes me fkn laugh out loud every time 😂 they just like look so serious, yet childish and silly like they're joking around, but not... Idk... Also I never thought about Angie B. Purposely trying to get Carm's attention... But yeah, I can see it now; when she turns and looks at Carm. It even looks like she was trying to do a cough cough look over here! Cough cough type thing lol I'm a handful of episodes ahead of this one, but maybe I'll lamb chop it for a while and backtrack. Also, Tony didn't bash out the windows on Angie's cadi out of anger; she had a bee on her windows.

Dr. Krakower

[MaxBorg89 · 10/10 · 27 April 2008]

When this episode originally aired, in April 2001, the end credits listed celebrated director Mike Nichols (The Graduate) as one of the guest stars. In reality, Nichols had to back out due to prior commitments, and his role was taken by Sully Boyar, whose previous credits included an appearance on The Rockford Files, also written by David Chase. Boyar passed away two weeks before Second Opinion was broadcast for the first time - a shame, given his character could have been a compelling recurring presence.

The character in question is Dr. Krakower, a psychiatrist who provides Carmela Soprano with the titular opinion after she has tried a session alone with Dr. Melfi. Upon hearing what Carm's husband does for a living, Krakower immediately suggests she leave Tony forever, instilling the first of many fundamental doubts in her head. Remaining in the family trouble area, Junior undergoes surgery to get rid of his cancer and has a bizarre experience, while Christopher is jokingly accused of wearing a wire and subsequently bullied by Paulie at all hours.

For once, Tony is not the central issue of the show, meaning the authors can work more on Carmela and give a new angle from which to look at the show: until now, she's been nothing but a loyal gangster wife, albeit with the occasional kids-related outbursts of rage; starting now, she gains more ambiguous personality traits, enhancing the narrative's poignancy. But is this a one-woman show? Not at all, in fact the exploration of Chrissy and Paulie's rivalry is a great exercise in perverse humor, most notably when the older captain humiliates his employee in the middle of the night (to reveal more would be disrespectful).

To be brief, as mesmerizing as ever. Too bad Boyar's role turned out to be a one-time event, though.

Therapists

[tobiasberakvam · 10/10 · 4 May 2022]

Carmela sees a therapist for the first time and he ends up telling her to leave Tony, a very powerful ending with barely any words, one of the greatest episodes in the show.

I know too much about extortion

[snoozejonc · 10/10 · 24 June 2022]

Carmela reflects upon her relationship with Tony and seeks help.

This is a great episode with incredibly good character focus.

The story takes a fairly in depth look at the character Carmela, the life she leads, the suffering involved in being married to Tony and how she justifies it to herself.

Some of the early scenes with her parents and also Dr Melfi lay the foundations superbly well.

In the great first season episode 'College' we saw her have a similar meltdown and seek the council of Father Phil in a memorable scene. Here she gets a second opinion from Dr Krakower in what is arguably an even more memorable scene. Sully Boyer is great has a memorable cameo.

In the multiple scenes involving Tony we see the complexities of his character and how he functions in a largely corrupt and immoral world. It brilliantly paints a picture of a serially unfaithful husband, who is capable of heinous acts of violence. Yet, in certain situations, such as when dealing with an extorting college dean, a manipulative widow or an uncaring cancer surgeon, you would want Tony to be the one looking out for you and your family.

The final scene is fantastic. Her exchange with Tony is very subtle and sensitively written and performed by both Edie Falco and James Gandolfini. What are the writers implying behind her behaviour in this scene? I'm not 100% sure, but I suspect it's a test of his commitment to the family. If he is committed enough to do what she asks, then she is ultimately committed to him.

There is plenty of dark humour in the episode, particularly in the scenes involving Chris, Adriana, Paulie, Angie, Uncle Junior, Bobby and Dr Kennedy.

Falco is there star of this one, closely followed by Gandolfini, who is immense as always. Dominic Chianese has a great episode, as does Tony Serico and Michael Imperioli.

It's a 9.5/10 for me, but I round upwards.

Second Opinion (#3.7)

[ComedyFan2010 · 8/10 · 11 March 2014]

Carmela continues going with Tony to sessions and also goes by herself. She ends up getting a recommendation for another therapy where the doctor tells her to leave Tony. Paulie and Chris are having trouble and Paulie even comes to his place in the middle of the night. Junior is getting his cancer treatment.

A pretty quiet episode. We learn more about Carmela and see her wanting to leave Tony.

Junior is as very often my favorite in the episode. He is great at the end when he talks with the doctor.

And Paulie should let go of Chris. Don't get why it even started.

I love it, but I got some questions...

[brooksrodrigue · 10/10 · 17 January 2023]

So this is like my third or fourth rewatch I really love the show every couple years I rewatch it but now I guess I'm in my 30s I'm re-watching it. There are some things I felt. They did always struggle with again love the show so don't tear me apart sometimes where they dealt with some of the female characters I felt they could've gone deeper and sometimes the way they dealt with the race I had some real questions about. I know we're supposed to like the psychiatrist who speaks to Carmela but when he says 'you know people wanna blame their parents look at what psychiatry has become just look at any ethnic pride parade or the mall' what is this guy talking about? Is it racist? There is always some weird question of race on this show . It was like the episode with the black cop who in my opinion really was not that bad and his whole career and everything got messed up because of Tony but I felt like it was framed like he was the bad guy because he questioned what happened to him and I was like what side are we supposed to be on on this? As much as I love the show there are moments I have felt that when it came to race, particularly and so again I wonder what the heck is that therapist going on about?

I won't take blood money

[burntorange · 9/10 · 17 February 2024]

Am watching series for the first with my husband and loving it. The conversation Carm has with the psychiatrist is gut-wrenching ..he reads her so quickly and gives her a huge reality check. I think Carmela is stuck in the grief cycle. First denial through the early years of their marriage, then anger largely because of Tony's philandering and constant lying, but she also doesn't want to know the whole truth about Tony's work. More denial.

She is stuck in the bargaining stage; the parties with the other mob families, the concern for her children and of course her faith all make it ok for her to stay. She is no different than any other abused wife who stays "because of the kids". The 50k donation to Columbia is her trade off for being Tony's accomplice. Bargaining. I thought I was going to puke when she said she wanted another baby. More bargaining. Next stage is sadness which I don't see Carm in. If she moved into the sadness stage she would take her kids and run without any blood money. Just like the Dr. Advised.