AllMovie

Elements of the darkly humorous Fargo (1996) are recalled in this Emmy-nominated episode directed by one of that classic film's stars, Steve Buscemi. A simple collection from a Russian goes awry when he and Soprano family mobster Paulie Walnuts (Tony Sirico) exchange words, then blows. Determining that the desolate Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey are the perfect dumping grounds for the Russian's body, Paulie drags soldier Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli) with him, promising a night in Atlantic City once the corpse has been disposed of. Things don't unfold as planned, however; their victim isn't dead and turns out to be a former Army commando who assaults them, then escapes. Disoriented, Paulie and Christopher can't find their way back to the car and end up spending a frozen night in the woods. Meantime, the Mafia organization's boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) learns that his new lover Gloria Trillo (Annabella Sciorra) has an unstable, violent streak, and his daughter Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) sees another side of her boyfriend Jackie Aprile Jr. (Jason Cerbone).