It’s practically a mandate for any television series, comedy or drama, to feature a Christmas/holiday-themed episode. This was even the case for a show about organized crime in The Sopranos. As a show about a Christian, Italian-American family clinging on to tradition in an ever-changing world, Christmas is unexpectedly a cherished time for both Soprano families, the blood relatives, and the family made up of captains and soldiers. Considering that Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), the imposing mafia boss who reluctantly looks after his ailing mental health, felt the weight of the world on his shoulders throughout each episode of David Chase‘s acclaimed drama, his stress would only be compounded during Christmastime in the Season 3 Episode, “To Save Us All From Satan’s Power.” Given the moniker “Stress-mas” by Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), the festivities unearthed a troubling realization for Tony upon reflecting on the past involving remorse over his disgraced fellow wise guy and friend.
