"Walk Like a Man" is the 82nd episode of the HBO television series The Sopranos, the fifth episode of the second half of the show's sixth season, and the 17th episode of the season overall. Written and directed by executive producer Terence Winter in his directorial debut, it originally aired on May 6, 2007, and was watched by 7.16 million viewers upon its premiere.

Starring

• = credit only

Guest starring

• Tim Daly as J.T. Dolan • Max Casella as Benny Fazio • Cara Buono as Kelli Moltisanti • Michael Countryman as Dr. Richard Vogel • Michael Drayer as Jason Parisi • Arthur J. Nascarella as Carlo Gervasi • Dennis Paladino as Al Lombardo • Joseph Perrino as Jason Gervasi • Dania Ramirez as Blanca Selgado • Matt Sauerhoff as Victor Mineo • Matt Servitto as Agent Dwight Harris • Danielle Di Vecchio as Barbara Soprano Giglione • Michael Kelly as Agent Ron Goddard • Greg Connolly as Stan • Nolan Carley as Mike • Frank Santorelli as Georgie • Marianne Leone as Joanne Moltisanti • Anthony J. Ribustello as Dante Greco • John Cenatiempo as Anthony Maffei • Frank John Hughes as Walden Belfiore • William DeMeo as Jason Molinaro • Mando Alvarado as Felix • Ed Vassallo as Tom Giglione • Lawrence Bingham as Construction Worker • Madison Connolly as Alyssa Giglione • Anthony Piccolo as Thomas "Tommy" Giglione, Jr.

Synopsis

A.J. struggles with depression after his breakup with Blanca. He quits his job at the pizzeria, sulks around the house, and makes comments suggesting thoughts of suicide. Carmela persuades him to start therapy. Tony tells Dr. Melfi he was going to permanently quit therapy but decided against it in light of A.J.'s problems. He laments that his son has inherited his "rotten fucking putrid genes". Tony persuades A.J. to attend a party at the Bada Bing with "the two Jasons" – Jason Gervasi and Jason Parisi. Carmela is angry at first, but is later satisfied to see that A.J. is socializing again. He begins to associate with a profitable sports betting business they are running at school. At a frat party, they use A.J.'s SUV to take a kid who owes them money into the woods. They pour sulfuric acid on his toes while A.J. helps hold him down. Tony speaks to FBI Agents Harris and Goddard about Ahmed and Muhammad, who have stopped visiting the Bada Bing, and gives them the cellphone number one of them had used. Christopher and Paulie are selling stolen power tools in a hardware store belonging to Christopher's father-in-law, and dividing the take. However, Christopher is seeing the other members of the crew less than before. At a barbecue that he and Kelli host, Tony tells him that his absence from Soprano family gatherings could be seen as a lack of commitment; Christopher reminds him that he is avoiding such meetings to keep his sobriety, as there is always alcohol around. He tells Tony that his father, Dickie Moltisanti, wasn't much more than "a fucking junkie." Paulie sends Little Paulie and Jason Molinaro to break into the hardware store and steal some items, which they sell to Paulie's Cuban contacts in Miami. Christopher confronts Paulie and demands compensation; Paulie crudely rebuffs him. Tony brushes off Christopher's complaints. Christopher finds himself increasingly sidelined in the family, with Bobby apparently taking his position in Tony's inner circle. When Little Paulie steals again from the hardware store, Christopher tracks him down and throws him out of a third-floor window. He survives, but with six broken vertebrae. Paulie then vandalizes Christopher's landscaped front garden with his Cadillac CTS. Tony makes peace between Christopher and Paulie, and the money situation is worked out. The two reconcile their differences at the Bing, where Christopher drinks with Paulie to mark the occasion. Christopher gets drunk and rambles about his daughter, causing Paulie to make some off-color jokes. Christopher thinks everyone is laughing at him, Tony most of all, and abruptly leaves. He goes straight to J.T.'s apartment, but J.T. cannot help him much as he is no longer Christopher's sponsor, he has work to do, and it is dangerous for him to hear the things Christopher starts to tell him. Rebuffing him, he says, "You're in the Mafia." After a few seconds, Christopher quietly says, "Fine", and begins to walk away, before turning around and killing J.T. with a shot to the head.

First appearances

Deceased

Title reference

Production

Connections to prior episodes

Other cultural and historical references

Music