The Sopranos Season 5 Episode 8
The Sopranos
Season 5

Ep 8. Marco Polo

  • TVMA
  • April 25, 2004
  • 53 min
  • 8.7  (6,306)

Tony Soprano and his crew are still reeling from the recent death of Carmine Lupertazzi, and the power shift in New York has created tensions between rival factions. Johnny Sack is now the boss of the Lupertazzi crime family, but he faces opposition from other capos who want a piece of the action. As the episode opens, Tony is watching news footage of a protest outside his daughter Meadow's college, where students are demanding better treatment for janitorial staff. Tony is disgusted by their sense of entitlement and complains to his wife, Carmela, about the "Joe College bullshit" that's infiltrating American culture.

Meanwhile, Christopher Moltisanti is struggling with his sobriety and his relationship with his fiancée, Adriana. He's just completed rehab and is tempted to drink again, but he's also worried about the consequences of his addiction on his future. He confides in Tony, who tries to support him the best he can. But Tony is also juggling other problems, like settling a dispute between his neighbor and a contractor, and negotiating with a priest who wants funding for a new community center.

As the episode progresses, tensions between the Soprano crew and the Lupertazzi family escalate. Johnny Sack is annoyed that Tony didn't attend Carmine's funeral and sends a message by withholding payouts to Tony's associates. Tony confronts Johnny and is warned to tread carefully, as he doesn't want to start a war between the two families. When Tony's cousin Tony Blundetto (aka "Tony B") is released from prison, Tony uses him as a pawn to try to smooth things over with Johnny. But Tony B has his own agenda, and his recklessness puts the Soprano crew in danger.

At the same time, Meadow becomes involved in a relationship with Jackie Aprile Jr., the son of a deceased mob boss and one of Tony's protégés. Tony disapproves of the relationship and warns Meadow about the dangers of dating someone from "the life." He tells her that Jackie is too much like their friend Christopher, who has become a liability to the Soprano crew because of his drug addiction and his loose lips. Meadow is torn between her loyalty to her father and her feelings for Jackie, and the situation becomes even more complicated when Jackie gets involved in a scheme to rob a card game.

As the title of the episode ("Marco Polo") suggests, there's a lot of hidden maneuvering going on in the criminal underworld. Like the children's game, the players are constantly searching for each other, trying to outwit and outmaneuver their opponents. But unlike the game, the consequences of their actions are deadly serious. In the end, the episode sets up the inevitable collision between the Soprano and Lupertazzi families, and leaves viewers on the edge of their seats as the tension builds towards a violent climax.

Description
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The Sopranos, Season 5 Episode 8, is available to watch and stream on HBO. You can also buy, rent The Sopranos on demand at Max, Amazon Prime, Amazon, HBO NOW, Vudu, Microsoft Movies & TV, Google Play, Apple TV online.
  • First Aired
    April 25, 2004
  • Content Rating
    TVMA
  • Runtime
    53 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    8.7  (6,306)