The climactic ends of two unadvisable relationships have grim consequences in this gripping episode of the hit cable crime series. A heated argument with his mentally unhinged, illicit lover Gloria Trillo (
Annabella Sciorra) leads to a near-homicide for New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano (
James Gandolfini). Although he nearly chokes the woman upon realizing that she's a carbon copy of his other, Tony backs off and sends his enforcer Patsy Parisi (
Dan Grimaldi) to deliver a message to Gloria: the romance is over, and so is her life if she reveals their secret affair. Meanwhile, Tony's wife Carmela (
Edie Falco) makes her first tentative moves toward independence, taking off the jewelry her husband bought her with ill-gotten gains and studying for a real estate license exam. Also, the budding romance between Tony's daughter Meadow (
Jamie-Lynn Sigler) and wiseguy wannabe Jackie April Jr. (
Jason Cerbone) has ended, leading Jackie to pull a dangerous stunt: the rip-off of a high-stakes Mafia card game. Gunfire is exchanged and although Jackie barely escapes with his life, his future is in serious doubt when Tony hands over final authority in the matter to his bloodthirsty captain, Ralph Cifaretto (
Joe Pantoliano), who's unlikely to be influenced by his relationship with Jackie's mother. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide