Another very interesting episode which explores Tony’s backstory and his relationships with his parents, by way of his chance encounter with his father’s old mistress, Fran.

There have been hints before that Tony had some kind of strange, Oedipal feelings toward his mother, and the events of this episode lend a certain credence to that. Fran—initially, at least—represents everything Tony wishes Livia had been: charming, affectionate, full of amusing anecdotes. Even the fact that Tony’s father gave away his childhood dog to Fran is symbolic of the parental grass seeming greener on the other side, so to speak. And there’s that subtle hint of a strange, sexual attraction, too, when Tony is turned on by the dog painting while with his mistress.

Of course, it all sours when Fran turns out to be a wee bit opportunistic, blowing the money Tony um...raised...to help her pay her bills. And, more tellingly, when she starts badmouthing Livia.

Meanwhile, we have a deliciously dark and funny B-story, with Christopher dragging his rehab friend, J.T. (a great little guest role for Tim Daly) down into the depths of gambling addiction and a relapse into heroin use. Christopher’s hypocrisy and opportunism here are staggering (and really funny), as he and J.T. flip-flop their positions, with Chris (who is seen casually drinking alcohol, and, y’know, also BEAT J.T. TO A PULP after getting him in hock to begin with) trying to encourage J.T. as he goes back to rehab. There is also more than a little meta commentary on how TV screenwriters are often addicts, and how well-regarded feature-film writers are compared to television writers, since J.T. is offered a grand total of $15 when trying to pawn his Emmy. 

It’s this sort of smartly self-aware and self-deprecating attitude that modern Hollywood (or what’s left of it) could use a few heaping buckets of.