History Recap / TheSopranosS5E11TheTestDream

* MaleGaze: Tony S really soaks in the sight of a [[TheOldestProfession prostitute's]] butt and visible panties when she's bending over to get a drink.

* StalkerWithACrush: Tony S almost got it on with Charmaine in ages past. And he takes to occasionally [[HarassingPhoneCall calling her from numbers other than his own (e.g. a hotel phone) but without speaking to her.]] He doesn't go through with actually speaking to her because he's well aware that Charmine [[SubvertedTrope wants nothing to do]] [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys with guys like Tony S]]. Tony S [[CallBack briefly seeing]] [[Recap/TheSopranosS5E1TwoTonys Dr. Melfi]] in the hotel lobby punctuates that Tony S has exhibited similar behavior towards both women.

* {{Retirony}}: Sort of. Angelo wanted to live a quiet retired life after leaving prison. But he got drawn back into the game by the likes of Rusty Millio, Little Carmine, and Tony S on account of the SuccessionCrisis overtaking the New York family. And his part in Joey Peep's death leads to his own death [[{{Revenge}} in retaliation]]. Phil to Angelo: "You couldn't [[PrecisionFStrike fuckin']] retire!?"
** It is also perhaps a RiddleForTheAges whether [[BlatantLies Tony S]] mentioning Angelo as the originator of the [[WeCanRuleTogether power-sharing plan]] was a contributing factor to making Johnny Sack and his allies suspicious of Angelo, or whether Angelo's part in Joey Peep's death was enough by itself.

* PlotArmor: Admit it, there wouldn't nearly be as much [[RuleOfDrama drama]] for the rest of the series if CreatorFrank/Vincent wasn't there to play Phil as the BigBad, instead of getting gunned down by Tony B when he had Phil in his sights.

* PlotArmor: Admit it, there wouldn't nearly be as much [[RuleOfDrama drama]] for the rest of the series if Frank Vincent wasn't there to play Phil as the BigBad, instead of getting gunned down by Tony B when he had Phil in his sights.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: How Finn's parents speak about him in one of Tony S' AnxietyDreams could amount to an almost perfectly abridged version of Carmela and Tony S' issues with A.J.

* DoWrongRight: PlayedWith but also averted. Chris starts off by telling Tony S that Tony B killed Billy Leotardo. Tony asks if Chris meant Phil, hoping for a correction. But Chris insists that it was Billy, while Phil only got "winged". The fact that Tony asked for Phil as a correction, and the [[OhCrap look on his face]] when Chris maintains that only Billy died and Phil survived, says it all. If Tony B really had to go on his RoaringRampageOfRevenge, then Tony S truly would have preferred that it be Phil, first and foremost, to die. Phil surviving (as the powerful {{Dragon}} of the New York family) means that he will now [[TheDeterminator move heaven and hell itself]] to get {{Revenge}} for Billy, who in the grand scheme of things had been a low-ranking thug. But the [[AvertedTrope trope itself is averted]] in that Tony S never has the opportunity to contact Tony B before he goes through with things.

* CreatorCameo: The voice on the other end of the phone in the dream sequence is that of David Chase.

* DoWrongRight: PlayedWith but also averted. Chris starts off by telling Tony S that Tony B killed Billy Leotardo. Tony asks if Chris meant Phil, hoping for a correction. But Chris insists that it was Billy, while Phil only got "winged". The fact that Tony asked for Phil as a correction, and the [[OhCrap look on his face]] when Chris maintains that only Billy died and Phil survived, says it all. If Tony B really had to go on his RoaringRampageOfRevenge, then Tony S truly wishes that it be Phil first and foremost who should have died. Phil surviving as the powerful {{Dragon}} of the New York family means that he will now [[TheDeterminator move heaven and hell itself]] to get {{Revenge}} for Billy, who in the grand scheme of things had been a low-ranking thug. But the [[AvertedTrope trope itself is averted]] in that Tony S never has the opportunity to contact Tony B before he goes through with things.

** When Tony is having sex with Charmaine, she mentions it being better than the sex they had in high school. In "[[Recap/TheSopranosS1E3DenialAngerAcceptance Denial, Anger, Acceptance]]", Charmaine reveals to Carmela that she had sex with Tony.
** When Tony wakes up in bed next to Carmine and the phone rings, Carmine says to Tony, "answer the fucking thing," which is what Carmine said to Johnny Sack in "[[Recap/TheSopranosS3E3FortunateSon Fortunate Son]]" when Johnny's cell phone was ringing.
** The dream-sequence conversation between Tony and Gloria Trillo referred to events that were revealed in earlier episodes: Tony once hit and choked Gloria, Gloria died without having had children, and Tony's mother once threatened to poke out her son's eye with a fork.

* CelebrityParadox: The song that Angelo is listening to on his car radio before he is murdered is "Peanuts" by Music/FrankieValliAndTheFourSeasons. Frankie Valli's character Rusty Millio is the one that got Angelo involved in the feud with Johnny Sack that led him to be killed.

** The next dream. He's in the back seat of the car, with Johnny Boy driving the front seat. The other seats are occupied at different points in the dream by different characters that Tony feels [[GuiltComplex guilt]] over, such as Ralph, Big Pussy, Artie, and Mikey Palmice.

** Tony S has a dream whereby the [[TheOldestProfession prostitute's]] voice in the bed next to him gives way to seeing [[Squick Carmine Lupertazzi Sr.]] in the bed next to him. The dream plays out like an AfterlifeAntechamber where [[TheDon Carmine Sr.]] reveals that an afterlife [[LonelyAtTheTop without his beloved wife]] and cut off from [[{{God}} "the man upstairs"]] is [[MundaneAfterlife enough to amount to Hell]] without the need for fire and brimstone and the like. He then answers a phone at Carmine Sr.'s urging. A voice on the other end of the line tells Tony that somebody must be killed, [[FinishHim "Our friend. He's gotta go."]]

** Tony S has a dream whereby the [[TheOldestProfession prostitute's]] voice in the bed next to him gives way to seeing [[TheDon Carmine Sr.]] in the bed next to him. The dream plays out like an AfterlifeAntechamber where [[TheDon Carmine Sr.]] reveals that an afterlife [[LonelyAtTheTop without his beloved wife]] and cut off from [[{{God}} "the man upstairs"]] is [[MundaneAfterlife enough to amount to Hell]] without the need for fire and brimstone and the like. He then answers a phone at Carmine Sr.'s urging. A voice on the other end of the line tells Tony that somebody must be killed, [[FinishHim "Our friend. He's gotta go."]]

Angelo and his son visit Tony B in the casino. He provides Tony B the rest of the payment for taking out Joey Peeps, as well as a sign that reads: "Because I'm The Boss...That's Why!" Tony B hangs it up in the casino kitchen.

Tony S wakes with a start. He looks outside his hotel window to see a central New York still sleeping in the small hours of the morning. The hotel's the night manager calls his room's phone and informs him that Chris have shown up at the hotel to speak with him. Chris breaks the news that Tony B made an attempt to kill both Leotardo brothers during the night, but only managed to kill Billy. Phil survived with minor wounds and is now in the hospital. Tony is now very worried about the repercussions that the New York family may try to inflict on the New Jersey family.

Tony S goes on a business trip to central New York and checks himself into a luxury suite at the Plaza Hotel. Getting bored, he sees an ad for an escort agency and makes a call for an Asian girl. As she waits for her to arrive, he gets a phone call from Silvio, who tells him news of the assassination on Angelo. He quickly puts two and two together, and realizes that Tony B was behaving weird because he knew what had happened to Angelo and is now likely to seek revenge against the Leotardo brothers. He desperately tries to contact his cousin, but is unable to get a hold of him. He frantically calls everyone he can think of who would have a idea where Tony B is, but he has no luck there either, so he tells him to keep an eye for him. The prostitute arrives and, at some point, Tony falls into an uneasy sleep.

Tony S wakes with a start. He looks outside his hotel window to see a central New York still sleeping in the small hours of the morning. The hotel's the night manager calls his room's phone and informs him that Chris have show up at the hotel to speak with him. Chris breaks the news that Tony B made an attempt to kill both Leotardo brothers during the night, but only managed to kill Billy. Phil survived with minor wounds and is now in the hospital. Tony is now very worried about the repercussions that the New York family may try to inflict on the New Jersey family.

Tony S has an extended series of nightmares involving numerous people that he knew, most of them dead by now. The dreams themselves either reflect his guilt over his past crimes or portend worse things yet to come, especially centering around Tony B taking reckless revenge on Phil Leotardo, as well as his troubled relationship with Carmela. At the end of the dream, he walks into his high school's locker room where he confronts Mr. Molinaro, his old football coach, who calls him out on his lifestyle and points out that he didn't have to be a criminal and live with all the stress that comes with being one. Upset, Tony S pulls a gun on Molinaro and attempts to shoot him, but his weapon malfunctions, and the bullets seemingly melt in his hands; all the while, the coach continues to taunt him about showing up unprepared.

Tony S goes on a business trip to central New York and checks himself into a luxury suite at the Plaza Hotel. Getting bored, he sees an ad for an escort agency and makes a call for an Asian girl. Just as his escort arrives, he gets a phone call from Silvio, who tells him news of the assassination on Angelo. He quickly puts two and two together, and realizes that Tony B was behaving weird because he knew what had happened to Angelo and is now likely to seek revenge against the Leotardo brothers, and desperately tries to contact his cousin, and has the rest of the Jersey mob keep their eyes open for her.

An uneasy Tony S goes to sleep in his hotel room. He has an extended series of nightmares involving numerous people that he knew, most of them dead by now. The dreams themselves either reflect his guilt over his past crimes or portend worse things yet to come, especially centering around Tony B taking reckless revenge on Phil Leotardo, as well as his troubled relationship with Carmela. At the end of the dream, he walks into his high school's locker room where he confronts Mr. Molinaro, his old football coach, who calls him out on his lifestyle and points out that he didn't have to be a criminal and live with all the stress that comes with being one. Upset, Tony S pulls a gun on Molinaro and attempts to shoot him, but his weapon malfunctions, and the bullets seemingly melt in his hands; all the while, the coach continues to taunt him about showing up unprepared.

* SweetTooth: Chris hungrily eyes Tony S' Toblerone chocolate bar, and asks Tony for it. Tony obliges, and Chris snatches it up and devours it without hesitation. It lampshades that Chris is still a RecoveredAddict, [[{{Foreshadowing}} for now ...]]

** The next dream. He's in the back seat of the car, with Johnny Boy driving the front seat. The other seats are occupied at different points in the dream by different characters that Tony feels [[GuiltComplex guilt]] over, such as Ralph, Big Pussy, Artie and Mikey Palmice.

** Artie motions Tony to the washroom. Tony tries to find a gun above the toilet but can't find one, in an obvious ShoutOut to ''Film/TheGodfather''. Tony and Finn's father then take care of business at side by side urinals. Tony passes on a copy of ''The Valachi Papers'', regarding it as homework. It doubles as a ContinuityNod to when Big Pussy [[TheMole turned rat]], and [[{{Foreshadowing}} Foreshadows]] that Tony is hardly done with [[TheMole FBI rats]]. Tony remarks that he couldn't find the gun because it's "RealLife". Gunfire outside cues a GilliganCut to ...
** Tony B is [[MoreDakka shooting multiple times]] at Phil. Phil struggles out of his car, and Tony B [[SubvertedTrope seemingly]] [[FinishHim finishes him off]] with a couple of [[FingerGun Finger Guns]]. Tony S asks Tony B, [[WhatTheHellHero "Do you know what you just did?"]] Tony B's reply suggests that he does indeed having [[TheResenter lingering resentments]] over the [[ICouldaBeenAContender robbery where he got jailed but Tony S didn't]]. It turns out that Phil is NotQuiteDead, and asks questions of Gloria, who's holding a mic to him as though she were a journalist. Bystanders at various points ask Tony S why he didn't stop Tony B. The disapproving crowd [[ShamedByAMob closes in on Tony S]], forcing him to run in the opposite direction. The crowd pursues him in what becomes an EscalatingChase led by Carmela. There's even a ColdSniper who takes a shot at him but misses. But Artie is waiting for him to [[ComeWithMeIfYouWantToLive provide him with an escape ride]]. The car ride itself becomes a GilliganCut to ...
** Artie continuing to drive Tony S away. Tony S briefly notices Richie and Gigi sitting in the back. The next scene is of Tony S [[EroticDream shagging]] Charmaine in the hotel room, with Artie right next to them and providing encouragement. Artie tells Tony S that: "She likes it when you rub her muzzle", which itself becomes a GilliganCut to ...
** [[FriendToAllLivingThings Tony S]] sitting on [[Recap/TheSopranosS4E5PieOhMy Pie-Oh-My]] and petting her. He then gets into an argument that [[{{Foreshadowing}} Foreshadows]] to the possiblity of Tony and Carmela [[TemporaryDivorce reconciling]], but where Carmela insists that the horse can't stay in the house. RuleOfSymbolism suggests that Tony showed more love and affection to a racehorse than his own wife. Tony also shows Carmela his [[HiddenWeapons hidden gun]] as an assurance that he'll be safe before he goes off to work, which suggests that he'll always be MarriedToTheJob.
** The next dream is of him walking through the hallways of his old HighSchool. He makes his way to the varsity [[TrophyRoom trophy case]], pulls out his gun, and puts a silencer on it, as though to destroy a painful reminder that he was FormerlyFit. The halls go dark, and Tony makes his way to the office of his former football coach. The coach is aware of him, and even makes a joke [[TeenyWeenie about Tony's gun being bigger than his manhood]]. They get into an argument that also has shades of a ClassReunion. Coach Malinaro saw himself as being a SinkOrSwimMentor who tried to get Tony away from [[ToxicFriendInfluence bad influences]] and realize his potential, although he's surprised that [[ButtMonkey Artie]] is doing well as a SupremeChef. Tony himself plays the BlameGame, pinning his issues on the Coach and his AbusiveParents. The Coach in turn accuses Tony of [[EvilPaysBetter "taking the easy way out"]]. Tony attempts to kill Coach Malinaro with a [[BoomHeadshot shot to the head]], but his cartridge falls out just as he pulls the trigger. He struggles to reload the gun, but the bullets disintegrate in his hand as he picks them up. The dreams finally end with Coach Malinaro telling him, "You'll never shut me up!"

* ComicallySmallBribe: The Guatemalan OldMaid tries to alleviate her situation with [[BadBoss Tony S]] by bringing him Enchilladas. But Tony S isn't impressed, as he just passes them on to Tony B.

** The dream-sequence conversation between Tony and Gloria Trillo ferred to events that were revealed in earlier episodes: Tony once hit and choked Gloria, Gloria died without having had children, and Tony's mother once threatened to poke out her son's eye with a fork.
** The chase scene, in which some men are wearing lederhosen, evokes the angry mob scene in ''Film/Frankenstein1931'' in which a few men are similarly dessed, and recalls "Denial, Anger, Acceptance" in which Shlomo Teittleman likened Tony to a golem or a Frankenstein; in that same episode Tony tells Dr. Melfi that the analogy bothered him.

* DreamingOfThingsToCome: Both Tony S and Carmela comment that whenever he has a dream about Coach Malinaro, it means Tony S was "unprepared".

** Angelo delivers a payment to Tony B for [[ProfessionalKiller killing Joey Peeps]]. The scene also makes a point of emphasizing how close Tony B and Angelo are as {{Best Friend}}s.

* ItsAllAboutMe: Tony is more worried about looking like the bad guy if he breaks up with Valentina too soon after the accident, then about the fact that Valentina is still in agony after suffering horrible burns. He's also oblivious when it's obvious that Tony B is really struggling with issues of his own.

* ParentalSubstitute: Tony B makes himself clear he regards Angelo as one.

* {{Retirony}}: Sort of. Angelo wanted to live a quiet retired life after leaving prison. But he got drawn back into the game by the likes of Rusty Millio, Little Carmine and Tony S on account of the SuccessionCrisis overtaking the New York family. And his part in Joey Peep's death leads to his own death [[{{Revenge}} in retaliation]]. Phil to Angelo: "You couldn't [[PrecisionFStrike fuckin']] retire!?"
** It is also perhaps a RiddleForTheAges whether [[BlatantLies Tony S]] mentioning Angelo as the originator of the [[WeCanRuleTogether power sharing plan]] was a contributing factor for making Johnny Sack and his allies suspicious of Angelo, or whether Angelo's part in Joey Peep's death was enough by itself.

** Tony S asks Carmela more than once if the sun has yet risen over her house, but she answers no each time. Tony S is desperately hoping that the DarkestHour has passed, and that things will get better, even though all the obvious signs say otherwise.

** The episode makes multiple references to ''Film/TheGodfather''. Creator/AnnetteBening speaks the line, "I don't want my husband coming out of there with just his cock in his hand," referring to an almost-identical line spoken by Sonny Corleone. Afterwards, Tony's reaching behind the toilet tank for the non-existent gun is a reference to a similar scene with Michael Corleone. When Tony Blundetto shoots Phil Leotardo in Tony Soprano's dream, he exits the same make and brand car (Lincoln Continental) in a similar fashion to Sonny Corleone, during the famous toll-booth shooting scene.

* SuspiciousSpending: Tony S avoids raising attention over his stay in an expensive New York hotel by using a false name and paying in cash. He has to use a credit card to cover incidentals, but is careful enough to avoid any charges.
* SuspiciouslyAproposMusic: One of Tony S' AnxietyDreams has Finn's father, who looks an awful lot like the late Detective Makazian, recount his days in his high school glee club by singing "Three Times a Lady". The lyrics themselves could provide a [[SarcasmMode sarcastically perfect]] summary of how Makazian felt Tony the UngratefulBastard had treated him.

* ThemedAliases: Tony S and Chris gives their last names as Petraglia and Montevani respectively to the New York hotel to avoid leaving any traces of their true identities behind for law enforcement.

* TranquilFury: Tony S visits Tony B in his home, and picks up that Tony B seems agitated and angry. And indeed Tony B blows up at his kids over relatively minor things. Tony S' own SelectiveObliviousness causes him to misread that Tony B is in fact quite angry over something else altogether. It isn't until he he gets the news of Angelo's death from Silvio that Tony S realizes that Tony B was planning a RoaringRampageOfRevenge even that morning.

'''Season 5, Episode 11'''
!The Test Dream

Tony S is becoming bored with Valentina. They argue, which results in Valentina getting the long sleeves of her nylon kimono too close to a gas burner while she's trying to cook eggs. She ends up getting burnt badly, and survives only because Tony smothers the fire with a blanket.

The next morning Tony S goes to visit Valentina in a hospital burn unit, ensuring her that he will take care of all her medical bills, but Valentina is delirious from the painkillers she is on and is unable to hold a coherent conversation with him. Afterwards, he goes to visit Tony B, lamenting the rotten luck of Valentina getting injured and disfigured just as he was about to break up with her, knowing that splitting with her now will unquestionably make him look like a bad guy. During the visit, Tony notices that his cousin is behaving rather erratically, but he cannot figure out why.

Tony S goes an business trip to central New York, and checks himself into a luxury suite at the Plaza Hotel. Getting bored, he sees an add he sees an advert for an escort agency and makes a call for an Asian girl. Just as his escort arrives, he gets a phone call from Silvio, who tells him news of the assassination on Angelo. He quickly puts two and two together, and realizes that Tony B was behaving weird because he knew what had happened to Angelo and is now likely to seek revenge against the Leotardo brothers, and desperately tries to contact his cousin, and has the rest of the Jersey mob keep their eyes open for her.

An uneasy Tony S goes to sleep in his hotel room. He has an extended series of nightmares involving numerous people that he knew, most of them dead by now. The dreams themselves either reflect his guilt over his past crimes, or portend worse things yet to come, especially centring around Tony B taking reckless revenge on Phil Leotardo, as well as his troubled relation with Carmela. At the end of the dream, he walks into his high school's locker room where he confronts Mr. Molinaro, his old football coach, who calls him out on his lifestyle and points out that he didn't have to be a criminal and live with all the stress that comes with being one. Upset, Tony S pulls a gun on Molinaro and attempts to shoot him, but his weapon malfunctions and the bullets seemingly melt in his hands; all the while, the coach continues to taunt him about showing up unprepared.

Tony S wakes with a start. He looks outside his hotel window to see a central New York still sleeping in the small hours of the morning. The hotel's the night manager calls his room's phone and informs him that Chris have show up at the hotel to speak with him. Chris breaks the news that Tony B made an attempt to kill both Leotardo brothers during the night, but only managed to kill Billy. Phil survived with minor wounds, and is now in the hospital. Tony is now very worried about the repercussions that the New York family may try to inflict on the New Jersey family.

* FreezeFrameBonus: Paulie and Patsy can be found in the crowd witnessing Tony B's pseudo-execution of Phil.

* ItsAllAboutMe: Tony is more worried about looking like the bad guy if he breaks up with Valentina too soon after the accident, then about the fact that Valentina is still in agony after suffering horrible burns. He's also oblivious when it's obvious that Tony B really struggling with issues of his own.

** Tony B is [[MoreDakka shooting multiple times]] at Phil. Phil struggles out of his car, and Tony B [[SubvertedTrope seemingly]] [[FinishHim finishes him off]] with a couple of [[FingerGun Finger Guns]]. Tony S asks Tony B, [[WhatTheHellHero "Do you know what you just did?"]] Tony B's reply suggests that he does indeed having [[TheResenter lingering resentments]] over the [[ICouldaBeenAContender robbery where he got jailed but Tony S didn't]]. It turns out that Phil is NotQuiteDead, and asks questions of Gloria, who's holding a mic to him as though she were a journalist. Bystanders at various points ask Tony S why he didn't stop Tony B. The disapproving crowd [[ShamedByAMob closes in on Tony S]], forcing him to run in the opposite direction. The crowd pursues him in what becomes an EscalatingChase. There's even a ColdSniper who takes a shot at him but misses. But Artie is waiting for him to [[ComeWithMeIfYouWantToLive provide him with an escape ride]]. The car ride itself becomes a GilliganCut to ...

* ItsAllAboutMe: Tony is more worried about looking like the bad guy if he breaks up with Valentina too soon after the accident, then about the fact that Valentina is still in agony after suffering horrible burns. He's also oblivious when it's obvious that Tony B is himself really struggling with issues of his own.

The Leotardo brothers force a car crash on Angelo as he's driving home. They then throttle him and beat himbefore stuffing him in the back of their car where they shoot him.