Season 3

Season 3
Information
Season	3
No. of episodes	13
Disc release	The Sopranos The Complete Third Season
Original run	March 4, 2001 – May 20, 2001
Preceded by	Season 2
Followed by	Season 4

The third season of the HBO drama series The Sopranos began airing on March 4, 2001 and concluded on May 20, 2001, consisting of thirteen episodes. The third season was released on DVD in region 1 on August 27, 2002.

Plot

The story of season three focuses on the relationship between Tony and his children — Meadow, as she begins her first year at Columbia University, and Anthony Jr., who is having behavioral troubles in high school. Tony's relationship with his aging mother, Livia, is brought to a head. Dr. Melfi experiences a horrifying personal trauma, but begins to make real progress in discovering the root causes of Tony's panic attacks. Also featured heavily are Christopher's rise in the mob when he becomes a made man, and Tony's extramarital affair with another one of Dr. Melfi's patients, Gloria.

Starring

• James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano (13 episodes)
• Lorraine Bracco as Jennifer Melfi (12 episodes)
• Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano (13 episodes)
• Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti (13 episodes)
• Dominic Chianese as Junior Soprano (8 episodes)
• Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante (12 episodes)
• Tony Sirico as "Paulie Walnuts" Gualtieri (12 episodes)
• Robert Iler as Anthony Soprano, Jr. (11 episodes)
• Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Meadow Soprano (13 episodes)
• Drea de Matteo as Adriana La Cerva (9 episodes)
• Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano (12 episodes)
• Steven R. Schirripa as Bobby Baccalieri (8 episodes)
• Federico Castelluccio as Furio Giunta (10 episodes)
• John Ventimiglia as Artie Bucco (7 episodes)
• Joe Pantoliano as Ralph Cifaretto (9 episodes)
• Robert Funaro as Eugene Pontecorvo (7 episodes)
• Katherine Narducci as Charmaine Bucco (4 episodes)

Episodes

No.   overall	No. in   season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	U.S. viewers   (millions)
27	1	"Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood"	Allen Coulter	David Chase	March 4, 2001	11.26[2]
Meadow enters college at Columbia University, A.J. continues to ignore authority, and Carmela starts taking tennis lessons. The FBI puts the Soprano residence under surveillance, but their plans are complicated when the house's plumbing ruptures. Patsy Parisihas revenge in mind over the death of his brother.
28	2	"Proshai, Livushka"	Tim Van Patten	David Chase	March 4, 2001	11.35[2]
Tony has an anxiety attack when he finds out that Meadow's new boyfriend, Noah Tannenbaum, is a Jewish African-American. The FBI wants Livia to testify against her son, but she dies before she can. Janice returns from Seattle to plan the funeral, and claim her inheritance.
29	3	"Fortunate Son"	Henry J. Bronchtein	Todd A. Kessler	March 11, 2001	8.37[3]
Tony makes a major breakthrough with Dr. Melfi in attempting to ascertain the trigger of his anxiety attacks. Christopher becomes a made man, though he bungles his first assignment. A.J. excels on his freshman football team, but unexpectedly passes out at practice after becoming defensive captain.
30	4	"Employee of the Month"	John Patterson	Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess	March 18, 2001	7.96[4]
Against Tony's orders, Ralph Cifaretto starts to introduce Jackie Aprile, Jr. to members of the family business. After being brutally attacked, Dr. Melfi contemplates asking Tony for a favor.
31	5	"Another Toothpick"	Jack Bender	Terence Winter	March 25, 2001	7.40[5]
Tony and Carmela's session with Dr. Melfi goes sour. Bobby Bacala, Sr. comes out of retirement to exact revenge on "Mustang Sally". Uncle Junior shares his cancer diagnosis with Tony. Meadow's relationship with her father has yet to improve, though she unknowingly does him a grand favor.
32	6	"University"	Allen Coulter	Story by : David Chase & Terence Winter & Todd A. Kessler and Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess Teleplay by : Terence Winter and Salvatore J. Stabile	April 1, 2001	8.44[6]
A Bada Bing dancer involved with Ralph unexpectedly reaches out to Tony. Meadow's social life at college takes a sudden turn for the worse. Ralph's relationship with the Bada Bing dancer develops into a bad situation, and Tony interjects in a nonverbal manner.
33	7	"Second Opinion"	Tim Van Patten	Lawrence Konner	April 8, 2001	9.21[7]
Uncle Junior survives surgery to remove his stomach cancer. The ongoing borrowing of money from Tony by Pussy's wife (widow, though unbeknownst to her) begins to run Tony's patience thin. Carmela considers making a large donation to Columbia University. Carmela receives some startling advice from a recommended colleague of Dr. Melfi. Tony becomes concerned with the quality of Junior's cancer treatment.
34	8	"He is Risen"	Allen Coulter	Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess and Todd A. Kessler	April 15, 2001	8.60[8]
Though Ralph feels that he is owed an apology, Tony instead bans him from Bada Bing. Meadow begins a serious relationship with Jackie Jr. Tony considers buying a new car. After another major disrespect, Tony disinvites Ralph, and Rosalie Aprile, to their Thanksgiving dinner.
35	9	"The Telltale Moozadell"	Dan Attias	Michael Imperioli	April 22, 2001	8.64[9]
Though Tony and Rosalie are delighted, Carmela harbors reservations over the developing relationship between Meadow and Jackie Jr. Tony's latest extramarital relationship heats up. On Carmela's birthday, A.J. and friends vandalize school property, after which he is placed on probation. Christopher assumes ownership of a nightclub and makes a gift of the establishment to Adriana.
36	10	"...To Save Us All from Satan's Power"	Jack Bender	Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess	April 29, 2001	8.44[10]
As Christmas looms near, Janice offers to cook the dinner. Tony comes across an old Santa Claus costume, prompting him to reminisce about Christmas 1995. Bobby Bacala is enlisted to play Santa Claus at Satriale's annual party. Jackie Jr. starts to walk down the wrong path, and Tony tries to set him straight.
37	11	"Pine Barrens"	Steve Buscemi	Story by : Tim Van Patten & Terence Winter Teleplay by : Terence Winter	May 6, 2001	8.79[11]
A standard collection goes horribly awry for Paulie and Christopher as they end up lost in the snowy Pine Barrens of South New Jersey. Tony's relationship with Gloria starts to go south, as does that of Meadow and Jackie Jr.
38	12	"Amour Fou"	Tim Van Patten	Story by : David Chase Teleplay by : Frank Renzulli	May 13, 2001	5.81[12][a]
Tony asks for advice on his relationship with Gloria from Dr. Melfi. Carmela and Gloria cross paths. With Meadow a thing of the past, Jackie Jr. and friends decide to take an ill-fated shot at earning some respect.
39	13	"Army of One"	John Patterson	David Chase & Lawrence Konner	May 20, 2001	9.46[13]
Tony gives Ralph the responsibility of deciding the fate of Jackie Jr. A.J. is expelled, and his parents disagree over whether or not to send him to military school. Before he can be sent anywhere, it is discovered that A.J. inherited a distinctive trait from his father. Adriana makes a new friend with a hidden agenda