This is my favourite episode of season two, and second to only Pine Barrens. The dream sequences are fantastic, and the whole aspect of Tony finding out about Pussy through dreams is terrific--a real change from the usual cop informant way! The scene in which Pussy is shot is handled beautifully. How he admits to it, the music playing, Paulie feeling betrayed and getting all angry about it, Silvio likewise, though he gets more anxious than anything else (this was far from that his life script had planned for him) and Tony is distraught, albeit the stronger of the three.

I think Tony knew all the way throughout season two that Pussy was working with the Feds, ever since the fat guy returned from Peurto Rico. Prime example: why pass Pussy over for captain, and make the new pecking order Paulie, Sil and he? What about Puss, his best friend and most trusted earner? Tony knew about Puss, but didn't want to admit it. He gave Pussy, his best friend for almost all of his life the benifit of the doubt, as it wasn't acceptable for him to turn on Pussy and confront him about it.

I have just finished watching season two (again!) and when you look back, Tony and Pussy share glances throughout, which IMO translate to "I know what you're doing, Puss, but don't make me do what I don't wanna do"--or something to that effect. The dream topped it all off. As season two progressed, it became more unbearable for T to handle; take note in "Bust Out," in which Tony asks Pussy why his name hasn't popped up in the FBI inquiries, to which Bonpensiero replies, "Give 'em time." Watch the look Tony gives Pussy then. He knows, and Pussy knows he knows, but Pussy is convinced that it's all due to his paranoia, and that Tony knows that Pussy has no choice but to rat him out--so that makes it acceptable, at least to Pussy.

When Tony starts to dream about it it's the last straw, he knows that Pussy's ratting him out has reached its peak, to the extent where he even dreams about it. That's when he had to do something. And only then.

This is excellent writing, and the directing of this episode is tremendous. Is it a dream? Is it real-life?

The dream's ended now. Or has it?

Sorry for rambling, just thought I'd let you know about my feelings for this plot in season two.

Mick

Great episode indeed, i also noticed the glance Tony gives in Bust Out

Oh, by the way, here's that scene with Tony talking with the fishes (one of my faves of the whole show):

Fish: Hey Tone, how is it going?

Tony: You didn’t get sick?

Fish: Nah...

Tony: How much do you weigh?

Fish: Eight pounds.

Tony: You lost a lot of weight.

Fish: Swimming, best exercise. Works every muscle group.

Tony: Get the fuck out of here! You never exercised once in you life.

Fish: Anyway, four dollars a pound... You know I’ve been working with the government, right Tone?

Tony: Don’t say it.

Fish: Come on Tone, sooner or later you got to face the facts.

Tony: I don’t wanna hear it.

Fish: Well, you gonna hear it.

Tony: Fuck.

Fish: You passed me over for promotion Tone. You knew.

Tony: How much shit you give 'em?

Fish: A lot.

Tony: Jesus Puss. Fuck of a way for it all to end, huh?

Fish: Yeah...

Tony: Yeah...

Fish: These guys, on either side of me, they're asleep.

Tony: Don’t say that, not fucking funny.

Tony in anger flips over the stand with all the fish.

Tony: Don’t see you flopping around down there!

Mick