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Early Access: The Sopranos 3x4 - Group Reaction+Uncut (Patreon)

Published:
2025-11-17 15:41:00
Edited:
2025-11-17 15:42:24
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Content

Enjoy The Sopranos 3x4 group reaction and uncut!!

Uncut: https://thenormies.com/the-sopranos-ea/

Edited reaction is in the thumbnail above!!

Files

The Sopranos - 3x4 Employee of the Month - Group Reaction

Suraj, Navi, Pat and Chris of The Normies present their review and reaction for The Sopranos Season 3 Episode 4 Employee of The Month written by Robin Green and Mtchell Burgess and Directed by John Patterson. In this episode Dr. Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) is the victim of random violence and debates whether she should ask Tony (James Gandolfini) for help. Tony is also dealing with Ralphie (Joe Pantoliano), including Jackie Jr. (Jason Cerbone) in mob activities despite the wishes of his deceased father. #sopranos #thesopranos #tonysoprano #hbo #jamesgandolfini BECOME A Normies Premium or No Fomo MEMBER: Get 6 WEEKS AHEAD on most shows (excluding premier shows), exclusive movies and vote on what we watch: https://www.thenormies.com/ SEND US LETTERS/GIFTS: PO Box 785 Fishers, IN 46038 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: linktr.ee/the_normies

Comments

Dante Sparda

Lorraine Bracco has spoken openly about how hard it was for her to accept the rape storyline in this episode. When she first read the script, she only made it half way through, she was devastated and angry, David Chase urged her to finish reading the script before reacting. Over time, Bracco came to see the episode as a “fork in the road of morality for Dr. Melfi,” realizing it was a turning point that revealed her character’s strength and integrity. In HBO’s Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos, she even admitted to yelling at Chase before understanding how the scene deepened Melfi’s story. The episode became one of The Sopranos’ most shocking and talked-about moments. Writers Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess later revealed that many people canceled their subscription to HBO after seeing it showing how strongly viewers reacted. The story follows Melfi’s brutal assault and the justice system’s failure to punish her attacker, who’s released after a legal error. When she later sees him smiling under a plaque reading “Employee of the Month,” it becomes a cruel image of how arbitrary justice can be. This moment captures the show’s larger message about moral decay and powerlessness—how the world often rewards the undeserving and fails those who do the right thing. At its core, “Employee of the Month” is about Melfi’s choice between vengeance and restraint. She could tell Tony and let him take revenge, but instead she stays silent, choosing integrity over violence. Her dream of a dog attacking her assaulter reveals her hidden desire for justice, yet her silence in therapy is a quiet act of courage. By refusing to involve Tony, she reclaims her power and separates herself from the corruption around her. The episode contrasts her restraint with the impulsive behavior of Janice, who was also assaulted in the episode, showing how rare self-control is in The Sopranos. The title drips with irony—Melfi’s attacker is rewarded while she bears her trauma. Yet in her silence, she finds strength, proving that, as Ralph says, “What we do in life, Echoes in eternity,” making her decision one of the show’s most powerful moments.

Jose Torres

One of the hardest to watch but emotionally amazing episodes in this series

MPH

It means the cops broke the rules with gathering evidence, and there is a break in the chain of custody. That essentially means there is a point in time where some kind of critical evidence was handled improperly or was unaccounted for, so it is not admissible. Without that evidence, the state cannot prove its case. Sometimes the bill of rights means guilty people go free.

phunkrsd

Oh, wow. I can imagine that particular scene being very triggering. Sorry to see it stirring very distinct emotions for Navi. Hope she's doing well. This show, much in the tradition of HBO, was very good at pushing the boundaries in terms of storytelling. While very explicit, to me it felt real and dark. I also very much liked the way the show ultimately gave dr. Melfi her 'power' back by letting her have the agency in basically deciding over the fate of that disgusting piece of sh*t by sicking Tony on him. Her deciding to not pull that trigger is also a clear line in the sand for her as a character: while she is very much fascinated by Tony, she will not cross that line (morality wise) even at her at her most vulnerable point.

JG

For some much-needed context regarding Ralph and his motives, he’s a longtime soldier who has spent years in Miami running the family’s real estate rackets and earning for Jackie Sr./Tony off-screen. He comes back to Jersey when the Aprile crew needs a new captain after Richie’s death, and immediately pushes for the spot, convinced he has the seniority, respect, and status. The problem is that Ralph’s ego and behavior are toxic even by mob standards. Despite being a stronger earner than Gigi, Tony still passes him over and makes Gigi captain instead. Proving that in this life, being profitable isn’t enough if you’re impossible to control. Tony also doesn’t fully trust Ralph because of his close ties to Johnny Sack, and worries that if Ralph were given full control of the Aprile crew, who are considered the "big-money" crew due to their involvement in construction rackets and strong partnership with New York, that he’d betray him the moment it suited him.

NICK Luna

One of the saddest eps of tv i have seen. It shows that Dr. Melfi, even though she's surrounded with all types of pieces of crap, has a good heart and soul and is too good to be with these people. Im glad she didn't say anything to Tony but i was hoping, praying that she would. Melfi's story hits hard and its an episode, i think no one can forget.

GoldArthur

I think the whole point of the storyline with her partner being so defensive about the Italian thing is a subtle call out of men that watch it and feel defensive or want to avert from having to face it. Similar to how you guys were wanting to look away and not have to witness the scene, and I'm not shaming you because I'm the same way. I have hard time watching the scene, because it's hard not to watch it and not to feel guilt by association. That said, I think the whole point of including his obsession with the Italian thing was to say that you shouldn't be so caught up in your own identity that you lose sight of treating people like individuals. It's just as ridiculous to say that criminal represents all Italians as it is to say he represents all men. You can comfortably watch the scene and acknowledge how horrible it is without feeling guilty or defensive. If someone tries to fault you for someone else's crimes, THEY are in the wrong.

Jon Dub

I think Suraj hit the nail on the head when he said the reason the entire "act" is shown is because they want us to be angry at Jesus Rossi and call for his head, much like everyone else who has ever watched this episode. To think that guy will be free, likely to subject another woman to an attack like that at some point, is what leaves us feeling disgusted and angry at the police for their mistake and why we are all rooting for Melfi to tell Tony. Richard also played that horribly when he said to Melfi "How many times have I told you to call security for an escort when you work late?" because, as you quite rightly said, it makes it sound like he is putting blame on her for the incident. I am sure thats not what he intended, but what he should have done, and what would have been a much nicer way of putting it, would have been to say "From NOW ON, when you work late, you call security and get an escort". Also, bless Navi for getting upset, I could see she was trying to hold in tears for much of the episode. Hope she is okay x

A L

Yeah, I mentioned last week how triggering this week's episode might be, so hopefully somebody could give a warning, but it sounds like that didn't happen.

Kwame James

Small correction gigi is the guy that killed the twin that's always with Tony and Silvio and Chris and Paulie he isn't currently a captain/Capo Tony was making him the captain of the Aprile crew which is Richie old crew Ralphie was running thing after Richie "went into witness protection" but instead of making Ralphie captain of the crew he made gigi captain and Ralphie boss a normal family breakdown like this boss of the family currently is Tony and Junior underboss currently would be Silvio but he is also Consigliere 5 captain that only answer to the boss or underboss currently it's gigi, Paulie,Larry Barese but he is in jail so his cousin Albert ally boy Barese,Raymond Curto,and Silvio because the underboss has to be a captain and currently Junior crew doesn't have a captain because Tony killed all the members and the rest of the family is solider/made man/button man and the associates

Kwame James

Also just a heads up Tony is so mad about the guy with the big wife moving to New Jersey because his name is Johnny Sacks he is the underboss of one of the 5 families in New York which those 5 families have the most power in the mob and Tony don't want him sticking his nose in his business also if you remember at the end of season 2 Tony told Chris he was proposing him to get his button/being made that's because even though Tony is the boss of New Jersey family he can't make anyone he want a made man he has to propose it to New York and all 5 families have to agree I think other mob family's have to also or at the least not have a problem with you being made if someone has a problem depending on the reason you can be killed instead

PIG

Holy crap. We're already at this episode.

Armani 🐢

#SundayRundown Not a question/comment about the show but just curious after Suraj's comment about "no one sleeping here." Do y'all record in a studio? Have you ever done a tour of it if so. Or maybe I just interpreted that wrong? TLDR: Someone's house or a studio & have you done a tour? New subscriber/patreon member lol

alex

I’m a public defender AKA a criminal defense attorney for those who can’t afford one. When Melfi’s husband says they misplaced the rape kit, that is breaking the chain of custody of evidence. Even if it’s recovered, because there’s been a period of time where the evidence was not accounted for, there theoretically could have been opportunity for items to be tampered with, removed from evidence, mixed up with evidence from another case, etc. Any competent defense attorney would make a big deal about this at trial. And unfortunately things like this do happen in our legal system — I see cases fall apart due to police incompetence or just outright corruption all the time. While I do like that this episode exemplifies the reality that oftentimes it’s the police and prosecutors’ incompetence that leads to perpetrators getting away, I hate that it perpetuates the idea that this kind of completely random, extremely violent sexual assault between strangers is common. The vast majority of SA happens among people who know each other. I’ve been doing this job for five years and have represented people accused of SA, and I am struggling to think of even one case in which my client was a total stranger to the victim. What makes SA so prevalent yet so hidden in our society is the fact that people who know their victims use their existing relationship as leverage to keep them silent. This is especially true for child SA. Perpetrators abuse positions of trust and authority to manipulate victims into thinking if they report then their life and the lives of people they love will be ruined. I understand the point of the episode and the moral dilemma it presents, but I can’t shake the feeling that this did real damage to people’s perception of how SA happens in real life, and generally how crime happens in real life. Our prisons aren’t overrun with people like Melfi’s attacker — they are filled with people like the majority of my clients. Poor, drug addicted, and mentally ill people who were never given a chance in life to improve their circumstances, and whose slave labor once incarcerated is used to profit the rich and powerful.

Prodigal Sun

This episode was traumatizing for me at the time.

Veya

It feels unfair to attribute damaged perception of the more common nature of SA to this show, when being weary of strangers and secluded places in general is a very intuitive idea (both ideas are grilled into the minds of kids from a young age) and it's frankly plenty common in older crime shows as it is. I don't think portraying that SA attacks are common in secluded areas by strangers negates that it can happen with people you know (and you're definitely right about the statistic on how SA happens), given that either way, you SHOULD be cautious in situations that Melfi found herself in regardless (and not saying she could have done anything here). There's a lot of mugging in parking lots of certain places near where I grew up that are basically the same setting and we were told to be careful of those areas in general (deaths were rare but it's traumatic all the same) and I'm guessing they're conflating that with SA or maybe for story purposes, chose to portray it that way. And the final message of the episode is such a crucial one that goes beyond a standard of the mill moral message. It's one the show has espoused from very early on. Melfi is the sole character to have made the right choice over the easy one (and the only time it happened previously was Tony sparing the SA coach from season 1). Doing the easy thing over the right thing is such a prevalent trait in modern society when it comes to impulse behavior and consumer habits and there's a strong reason it ends the episode. And to your final point about which types of people end up committing crimes and end up in prison, I don't know how far they are into the season since they watch these episodes in batches but mild spoiler: the very next episode espouses the exact idea that people who end up committing crimes are the types of people that are in poor circumstances.

Veya

Store clearly says Wrap Nation not Popeyes. The GoT SA can feel different because either, at times it's surrounded by weird context (the Jamie/Cersei one changed the context from the books which made it just seem out of place in the show) or it feels redundant (terrible characters that we already know are terrible, are committing it). It'll likely not linger as much due to the cutting, but also because there's surrounding writing elements that may distract from aspects of it. This one is just showing a random assault on a person and the episode continues to direct the aftereffects of it until it reaches the final line of the episode. It's one of the most important final scenes of an episode for the entire show.

alex

I totally agree with you! There’s so much out there that contributes to misconceptions about SA, it’s definitely not attributable to any one specific piece of media. I also wondered why they didn’t just make it a mugging since that is more common like you said, and the assault was just *so* graphic and hard to watch (I wonder if they’d make the same choice to show as much of it in today’s media/social climate). But I think your point about the message of the episode is why things get so dark, because it’s such an evil act and Melfi’s choice not to sic Tony on him is such a strong show of character and strength on her part. I totally agree that many people choose what’s easy over what’s right, and this episode forces us as viewers to confront that fact in society and within ourselves too. And yes I’m interested in their thoughts on the next ep! Here we want and expect Tony to be a kind of savior for Melfi, but the show quickly reminds us that her choice was the correct one, and that Tony is also guilty of manipulating the justice system to his advantage to get away with things that poor folks, mostly people of color, could never get away with.

Michael Colorado

I have seen worse episodes of a tv show weather it's JK Simmons in OZ tattooing someone's ass in prison with a nazi symbol or him getting shit on on face by the guy who he tattooed in another episode. This kind of story telling is common in HBO even Game Of Thrones or Westworld.

Veya

I think they made it sexual assault instead of simply a mugging because they wanted a distinct evil from the types of evil our core group of characters commit everyday. Robbing and mugging people is what Tony’s crew does regularly (and frankly at times, even played comedically). With SA, it’s just so significantly different. There’s no possible wiggle room for anything beyond horror. The visceral nature of it, yeah i agree in wondering if it gets made like that today (i doubt it), but the fact that it was so visceral ended up making it more potent. I mentioned it in another comment and they mentioned it in the discussion as well, it feels different from SA you see in like, GoT. They want us in Melfi’s headspace for everything that worked up to the final “no”. I don’t think most people felt that for the GoT characters even if they recognize the act is still horrible. And when I think of horrible assault in media, I do think of this one the same way I think of Saving Private Ryan opening sequence for war horrors. There is power and realism in showing something so vicerally.

Hank Scorpio

They would've recorded this week's ago. (Suraj mentioned this episode in a Sunday Rundown a few weeks back)

Hank Scorpio

Yeah HBO doesn't pull any punches when it comes to serious and graphic scenes. They really hit you with it.

GoldArthur

Actually, you guys made me realize something. Melfi would have been a hypocrite if she had Toni take care of it, because she is the one that convinced him to let the authorities handle that pdf coach.

Jason Mejia

After the melfi scene Navi looked pretty sad. Glad it changed after the Ginny jokes came in(Ragu🤌)great reactions great episode. Sending strength and love

Michael Colorado

Yea HBO is the best I really want to see Pat's and Suraj reaction to OZ

Killagoddess

This episode always makes me sad I never forget how melfi did what was right and not tell Tony ugh I love her

Prune Tracy

One of my favorite line deliveries in the entire show is Janice calling the Russian gangster callous and the response of "Fuck you, YOU are callous!" is so good, the look of utter disgust on his face. My head canon is that man has probably been called callous a thousand times by various victims of his criminal activities and it never would have phased him, because like, yeah that's how it be comrade. This time, it's like, EX-FUCKING-SCUSE me lady you stole an amputees prosthetic leg and held it to ransom and YOU are going to stand there and call ME callous?

A L

Suraj, you disappoint me. I was waiting for you to point out how that guy Ralphie and Jackie Jr beat up was in Lost.