The Sopranos (The Sopranos episode) The Sopranos (The Sopranos episode) "The Sopranos", also known as "Pilot", is the first episode of the HBO television drama series, "The Sopranos", which premiered on January 10, 1999. It was written and directed by the series creator and executive producer David Chase. New Jersey mobster Tony Soprano passes out while barbecuing. Tony's collapse is diagnosed as a panic attack, leading to his referral to psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi. Tony is initially uncooperative, but soon tells Dr. Melfi a story about a family of ducks which nested in his swimming pool. He goes over tensions between Carmela and Meadow over a
Whitecaps (The Sopranos) becomes violent when Carmela demands that he leave. She threatens to call a lawyer and get a restraining order. Tony dares her to and hands her his phone which she bats away with her hand. She tells him that she doesn't want him sleeping in her bed anymore and that she no longer loves him, and runs upstairs in tears. Later, A.J. helps Tony clear the pool house so that he can stay there. Tony lies in the pool and Carmela asks him to move the chairs from the pool house that he has left on the lawn. Tony thinks