2x12 The Knight in White Satin Armor

One of the finest episodes of the show. So many great elements. Tony, for once, is trying to be a good guy: breaking up with his comare but looking after her, hoping she gets the help she needs, even when he's getting frustrated. Carmella is on the other side of it, envious of Janice and lamenting the life she's trapped in with a man who doesn't look at her the way Richie looks at Janice.

And Janice, who has transformed from the free spirit she blew into The Sopranos's world as into a woman who has adopted her mother's skill at manipulating the people in her life. The moment that she shoots Richie, a man who is otherwise fearless, he seems genuinely taken aback. A man like Richie seems to legitimately think he's bulletproof.

Junior sees that he isn't though, that for how much harder Richie is than Tony at time, Tony can command the respect that Richie never will. Tony's complexity, the thing that make him less than the gangsters of the last generation and their style, also make him a leader. Junior's would-be reconciliation with Tony isn't sweet exactly, but it's something.

And geeze, Tony's scene with his mother is amazing. The actress who plays Lyvia, and the writers who crafted her character have done masterful work in creating this monster who both is plausible as creating a man like Tony and who seems even worse than her pitbull of a son. Tony finally confronting his mother with her being able to respond, with all he says, is a powerful moment, and her quiet laughter when he trips and falls just says everything.

And last, but not least, Pussy's sad turn at thinking he can become a G-man leaves him like Carmella, grasping at something greater and lamenting the position he's stuck in. So much good work on all fronts.