D-Girl (The Sopranos)
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| "D-Girl (The Sopranos)" |
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"D-Girl" is the twentieth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and is the seventh of the show's second season. It was written by Todd A. Kessler, directed by Allen Coulter and originally aired on February 27, 2000.
Starring
- James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano
- Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi
- Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano
- Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti
- Dominic Chianese as Corrado Soprano, Jr.*
- Vincent Pastore as Pussy Bonpensiero
- Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante *
- Tony Sirico as Paulie Gualtieri *
- Robert Iler as Anthony Soprano, Jr.
- Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Meadow Soprano
- Drea de Matteo as Adriana La Cerva
- David Proval as Richie Aprile
- Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano
- and Nancy Marchand as Livia Soprano
* = credit only
Guest starring
Episode recap
A.J. damages Carmela's car while driving it without permission, leaving a few scratches and a broken side view mirror. As Carmela begins to drive out of the garage, the crudely repaired mirror falls off. Carmela and Tony then sit A.J. down and lecture him on how he could have killed the girls in the car. A.J. thinks that the scenario would be "interesting", since "death just shows the absolute absurdity of life". Appalled, Tony and Carmela ask where he developed such ideas. A.J. reveals that he has encountered the philosophy of Nietzsche, and even asks not to be confirmed because he says there is no God. Tony feels confused about A.J.'s sudden somber outlook and discusses it with Dr. Melfi. While Tony believes it is not normal to question faith, Melfi thinks that existentialist concerns are a natural phase of adolescence that was repressed by Tony's parents. Melfi then asks Tony how his disconnected relationship with Livia is taking a toll on the children, as how he has publicly insisted that his mother is effectively dead to him. Tony does not answer, but dejectedly admits that A.J.'s concerns could be legitimate.
Tony turns to Pussy for guidance on A.J., since Pussy is both A.J.'s godfather and confirmation sponsor. Pussy then takes A.J. and his own college-age son, Matt, to the batting cages, where the more educated Matt argues that philosophers such as Nietzsche or Sartre were often mentally disturbed or lacking integrity, and advises that he study earlier, theistic philosophic work (he quotes Kierkegaard).
When A.J. tells his grandmother how he got in trouble, Livia dismissively concurs that life is meaningless and lonely, telling her grandson that everyone is destined to die alone.
Christopher Moltisanti rediscovers his interest in the world of filmmaking. While having dinner with his cousin Greg, Greg's fiancée, Amy Safir (an associate of Jon Favreau), invites Christopher and Adriana to come on the set to see their new film being shot. Adriana tells Christopher that she believes in him, and has saved a copy of the script he had previously discarded. Christopher goes to the set alone and sits in on a film shoot starring Janeane Garofalo and Sandra Bernhard. When Janeane objects to the word "bitch" in the script, the director has difficulty finding a suitable substitute. Christopher suggests "pucchiacca" (Neapolitan slang for "cunt"), which is readily accepted by the impressed cast and crew.
The next day over lunch, Christopher discusses his screenplay with Jon and Amy, and relates a story about a mobster's violent encounter with a transsexual. Jon and Amy ask questions about the mob and appear impressed and respectful of Christopher. Later, Christopher and Amy have sex at a hotel room.
When having dinner with Carmela and Tony, Christopher pours his wine into his soup and storms out of a restaurant when Adriana and Carmela pressure him about marriage. An upset Adriana says she supported Christopher on his screenplay, unknowingly revealing to Tony that Christopher is not giving his full attention to crime family matters. Christopher then visits Amy at her hotel, stating that he was "in the neighborhood", and they enjoy another night of sex.
It does not dawn upon Amy until the next morning that she has cheated on her fiancé and she and Christopher should end their relationship. Christopher is soon distracted by Favreau's screenplay in Amy's room. While reading the draft, Christopher learns that Jon has used the story Christopher had told him in confidence. Irate, Christopher searches for Favreau, but finds that he has already returned to California. When Christopher approaches Amy, she adopts a strictly businesslike attitude, saying that Hollywood has lost interest in mob films. Furious, Christopher denounces her as a "fucking d-girl", causing an offended Amy to proclaim that she is a vice president, and Christopher is "a fucking asshole", before storming off.
Pussy is forced by the FBI to wear a wire at A.J.'s confirmation ceremony and its afterparty at Tony's house. Hours before the ceremony, Pussy shaves his chest, as an impatient Angie asks if she can enter the bathroom. Pussy tries to stop her and, as she opens the door, she throws a mirror at him which leads Pussy to lunge at her furiously. As he is about to strike her, their son Matt storms in and breaks up the fight.
After the ceremony, A.J. is caught smoking marijuana with two teenagers in his garage, further dismaying his parents. A.J. then storms to his room, where Pussy tells him his father is a good man. An increasingly emotional Pussy tells A.J. the story of his deceased sister and how Tony always stayed with her in the hospital until her death. After Pussy hugs A.J., the FBI's reception of signals from his wire becomes troublesome.
At the confirmation party, Tony gives Christopher an ultimatum: Christopher must leave now to follow his calling or stay in Tony's house and life and seek no other distractions. Christopher thinks about this, sitting on the front steps of Tony's house, and re-enters the premises, indicating his pledge of loyalty to Tony and the mob family. A.J., along with his family and their priest, gather for a picture. When Tony asks where the godfather is, a distraught Pussy is revealed to be sobbing alone in the bathroom as the FBI agents listen in.[1][2]
Title reference
The episode's title is a shortened title for "development girl", used mostly in the film and television industry.
Cultural references
- The plot device involving Jon Favreau's interest in writing a screenplay for a mafia movie is echoed in his actual 2001 film Made, which focuses on the exploits of two would-be wiseguys assigned to a job in New York City. Three cast members of The Sopranos appearing in this episode (Vincent Pastore, Federico Castelluccio, and Drea de Matteo) also play supporting roles in Favreau's film.
- Christopher refers to the 1971 comedy The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight when Favreau talks about his passion to make and star in another film about "Crazy Joe Gallo."
- Amy reminds Christopher that Mickey Blue Eyes (which starred Vincent Pastore and five other Sopranos cast members) is an example of another mob movie that failed to live up to its advance billing.
- Adriana tells Amy and John that she enjoyed Favreau's 1996 film Swingers, with Vince Vaughn.
- When Carmela and Tony express concern about AJ's existentialist pronouncements, Meadow quotes Mme de Staël: "One must choose in life between boredom and suffering.”
- When Christopher relates the story of the transwoman whose lover threw acid in her face after becoming intimate and learning that she was actually transsexual, Amy recalls the 1992 film, The Crying Game.
- Amy relates Maslow's hierarchy of needs to Christopher before becoming intimate with him.
- When Amy tells Christopher they were wrong to have begun a relationship and Christopher responds that he really liked her, Amy observes that the mood has become rather "William Inge".
- The final scene between Christopher and "d-girl" Amy takes place in the offices of a real-life talent agent David DeCamillo, who happens to represent Janeane Garofalo, who plays herself in this episode. Coincidentally, in 1997, Garofalo appeared in a Law & Order episode also entitled "D-Girl."
Music
- The song played over the end credits is "Vedi, Maria", by Emma Shapplin.
- When Chris, John, and Amy sit down at the pizza shop, the song played is "Swingtown" by the Steve Miller Band which is then followed by "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac.
- Other music included in this episode "Tasty Pudding" by Chet Baker, "Shaolin Satellite" by Thievery Corporation, "Voulez-Vous?" by Arling & Cameron and "Caught My Mind" by Pushmonkey.
References
- ^ "HBO: The Sopranos: S 2 EP 20 D-Girl: Synopsis". HBO. Retrieved 2014-03-03.
- ^ O'Connor, Mimi (2007-10-30). "The Sopranos: Episode Guide". In Martin, Brett (ed.). The Sopranos: The Complete Book. New York: Time. p. 225. ISBN 978-1-933821-18-4.
