Last night’s Mob Wives followed Renee Graziano’s emotional distress, and it becomes more and more evident that something shady was going on with husband Junior Pagan in regard to her father’s arrest.
Renee is still in a very bad place after both Junior and her father went away on the same day. Karen Gravano understands that, perhaps they needed to be arrested, but she wishes the feds could have at least waited until after Thanksgiving. Over the phone, her friend Nikole pleads with Renee to motivate herself for A.J.’s sake. While, Renee promises she doesn’t let her son see her so upset, she is screaming and sobbing for most of the conversation.
Ramona comes to visit Big Ang at the bar. Ramona shares with Big Ang how horribly Renee is doing. Big Ang has left her multiple messages, but she had no idea things were so bad. They discuss the need to get Renee out to take her mind off of the situation. Ramona can’t believe that Junior would surrender to the feds, and not even tell Renee and A.J. that he was doing so. She knows now that Thanksgiving will be forever tainted for Renee, much like it is for her, as her grandfather died on Thanksgiving. Ramona states that her grandfather was the true definition of “a gangster” that is lacking in today’s society. Big Ang agrees…no one is loyal anymore. Are these women listening to themselves? I know that Ramona loved her grandfather and he no doubt thought she hung the moon. However, for her to be hung up and proud on the fact he was a criminal, is a little off to me.
Carla Facciolo and Drita D’avanzo meet for lunch, and Carla fills in Drita on Renee’s breakdown. Drita can’t imagine what Renee is going through. She thinks that maybe she should take the kids to visit Lee in jail before the holidays. She hasn’t seen him in over a year. Carla tells Drita that Junior left a note before turning himself in to the feds. Drita can’t believe it – she thinks that if Junior was going to surrender, he should have let Renee take him in to say good-bye.
Drita heads to the Drunken Monkey to see Big Ang. She tells Big Ang she is considering taking the kids to see Lee. Drita admits it’s hard to try to shield her daughters from this lifestyle, only to have to take them somewhere as scary as a prison. Big Ang agrees, but she thinks all men look pretty hot in prison uniforms.
Carla and Joe take their kids roller skating. They really are such a cute family. I hope Joe can stay on the straight and narrow because it is obvious his young son truly idolizes him. Meanwhile, Renee goes to Ramona’s for a pre-Thanksgiving dinner. She promises she will stand behind Junior while he’s in jail. Renee has decided to put a positive spin on Junior’s incarceration, because she knows he can’t cheat on her in the slammer. She is brought to tears talking about her father though. Karen arrives and proposes a toast, and Renee starts screaming like a banshee. Celebrate? They expect her to celebrate? She can’t do this – and she leaves. I hope she’s getting some help.
At home, Drita shares a fun moment with her youngest daughter. She hopes to be both a mother and father to her girls, in Lee’s absence. When she tries to bring up the possibility of visiting Lee, Giselle doesn’t want to go. She doesn’t know who he is, she hasn’t even comprehend who “Daddy” is. Even with Drita’s chiding, Giselle is adamant about not meeting Lee. Drita is heartbroken.
Big Ang, Ramona, and Karen take Renee to a drag queen show in an attempt to take her mind off what she’s going through. Big Ang loves a drag show because they sort of remind her of, well, herself. Renee is even laughing – the women can’t believe it! Over cocktails, Drita tells Carla that there are rumors circulating that Junior snitched on Renee’s dad. Carla is floored. Drita and Carla’s husbands were both incarcerated, thanks to rats. Well, thanks to doing criminal activity, but they were ratted out by others doing the same thing. This news makes Carla sick to her stomach.
Karen and Carla meet for dinner, and the pair discusses an article that accuses Junior of flipping on Renee’s father. Of course, Karen needs to clear the air…yes, her father “cooperated” with the feds, but he didn’t do the “scummy act” of wearing a wire. There is no comparison between Karen’s father “cooperating” and Junior “ratting” on Renee’s dad. After setting the record straight on that little issue, Karen hopes that Renee will be able to overcome this madness.
Big Ang has a friend over to her house, and they are chatting about the recent Junior gossip. Big Ang makes it clear that there are rules in this lifestyle and Junior has broken them. His selfish actions will affect how people see Renee and A.J., and that is a tragic thing to do to one’s family. She reveals that when she was arrested, the police tried to get her to be an informant, but no way, according to Big Ang.
Karen and Ramona go to Renee’s house to make sure she’s okay. Renee cannot, and will not believe the article. She points out that the writer has had to recant three different stories. Renee is worried the way things are going A.J. will be losing his mother next, as she’s stretched so thin emotionally. Renee knows that A.J. is being punished for having a father who is accused of being a rat. She apologizes to Karen for having to go through all of this again, as she was labeled similarly due to her father. She breaks down apologizing for not being a good friend to Karen when she returned last year. She is all over the place, crying, shaking, calm, quiet. Karen wants Renee to face the facts that the gossip could be true, but she refuses.
Renee goes to church in hopes of finding some peace. Big Ang goes to visit her sister Janice with a copy of The Post, which basically confirms the rumors that Junior snitched on Renee’s father. Renee is a basketcase and it’s very difficult to watch.
Next week, Renee tries to come to grips with the news. She now believes that Carla has been talking crap about her behind her back. Carla accuses Renee of being extremely paranoid given her current state of affairs.
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF LAST NIGHT’S EPISODE? WILL RENEE BE ABLE TO PULL HERSELF OUT OF HER DEPRESSION? SHOULD DRITA TAKE HER DAUGHTERS TO VISIT LEE?
