Robert (X-FILES) Patrick plays a friend of Tony's who gets into debt at a poker game run by Richie Aprile, and then tries to get the money he owes Richie by playing in an executive poker game Tony has taken over from Junior. He ends up far deeper in the hole to Tony, and Tony and Richie have a set-to over who's gong to get their money first. Junior tells Tony about a mentally challenged uncle Tony never knew. Tony gets Meadow riled up. So what else is new? Patrick is great as the feverish, cowardly gambler, but Steven Van Zandt steals the show as Silvio, who cannot stand interruptions while he is playing poker. When he gets interrupted once too often, watch out. His mouth proves as deadly as his gun. Chris has a funny bit as he purchases refreshments for the game. A strange episode, set mostly in a cramped motel room, but then many SOPRANOS episodes are strange. And it is a mark of the continuing excellence of this show.
Review of The Happy Wanderer
