The Sopranos 6x20 Reaction
Added 2025-06-04 21:32:31 +0000 UTC
Comments
He wouldn’t have taken to it imo. He would have had even less patience with another therapist and as we saw in the show other therapists would have dropped him far quicker than Melfi did if not outright refuse to treat him.
Alberto Cruz
2025-06-06 16:57:46 +0000 UTCamerica ya
Aglio Olio
2025-06-05 15:43:35 +0000 UTCHe was way out of line to name Melfi's patient, but Melfi was also becoming dangerously enmeshed with her client (something that happens a lot in therapy; we see it with Janice's therapist buying into Janice's narrative about herself). Personally, I think he was totally in the right to stage an intervention. But of course, keeping Tony's name out of it.
Marcus Cato
2025-06-05 11:22:33 +0000 UTCA funny detail in this episode is that Phil's Ukrainian goomar was seeing a man who looks just like her father. She should have booked a session with Melfi, it might have saved her life.
Abacus
2025-06-05 09:11:55 +0000 UTCI don’t think aj could ever become a mobster. Hes not violent and wasn’t raised like them at all. He was raised poorly but not in a way that would lead to Tony’s type of life. And because he isn’t violent and has morals he can’t go down that path and due to how poorly he’s raised he can’t go down the other one easily so he’s just stuck without any purpose or anything he can do.
Cole
2025-06-05 09:08:55 +0000 UTCRegarding whether therapy can work on Tony, Tony was actually open to the idea of behavioral therapy, which Melfi identified as the next step in his treatment. Of course, this was after Melfi’s rape and it is understandable why she hesitated to send him off at that point in her life. It does present an interesting branch in Tony’s therapeutic journey and you can't help but to wonder what he'd look like now if he had taken that.
IanJ
2025-06-05 08:43:43 +0000 UTCAs much as Elliot was wrong melfi deserved to he called out like that and should’ve been much earlier. At this point therapy has clearly just been a vent session that Tony barely shows up too.
Cole
2025-06-05 08:21:40 +0000 UTCAJ does share some traits with Tony, being morbid, self involved and defensive, but he's emotionally sensitive and has an aversion to violence and watching others suffer that Tony doesn't. I don't think him using therapy to try and justify himself means he's like Tony either, that's literally everyone nowadays lmao. So 'the cycle continues' is true but feels too broad considering AJ has largely been shielded from the very worst of Tony's traits.
Mark M
2025-06-05 07:25:11 +0000 UTCI think she dropped him not just because of the paper, but mainly because he was revealed as her patient and she couldn't continue. The study was a convenient excuse (even though she was thinking about it before).
lambo
2025-06-05 05:17:14 +0000 UTCGreat episode, but I'm one of those who dislike how the Tony-Melfi story came to an end, I think it's the one weak writing decision of the final run. Not that I have a problem with her reading a paper which reaches the tipping point in deciding that she doesn't want to work with him, that's fine as a plot device — I just mean the way it was so neatly tied up, with Melfi defiantly standing up to the bad guy and kicking him out, once-and-for-all, just in time for the end of the show. In a show that normally revels in ambiguity, it felt weirdly direct and obvious and un-Sopranos like. It's the way it would have predictably ended in any other show, the kind of stuff that David Chase was reacting against when he created a show that doesn't spoon-feed closure to the audience. I would have loved it if their final session was something ambiguous that you had to think about but could never be sure of (as was done brilliantly with the finale cut to black) — will they continue with therapy? Hints that she will end it, but like so much in the show, we can only speculate. Has it all been a big nothing? The deus-ex-machina of "science says bad man bad, now ditch this bozo" for me fell flat.
Abacus
2025-06-05 05:08:09 +0000 UTCOr Goodfellas.
Gaboxxy
2025-06-05 04:25:19 +0000 UTCThe Sopranos is more realistic in that sense because often in real life, people mistake the desire to change for actual change. The latter takes significantly much more effort, and it's easier to regress and stay in your comfort zone once you subconsciously realize that.
IanJ
2025-06-05 03:45:23 +0000 UTCPaulie talks about how he only barely survived Mob violence in the '70s when the Colombo's were having a war. His actor, Tony Sirico, is alleged to have been a real-life Associate of the Colombo's at the time. He says he turned his life around when he was visited by an acting troupe while in prison, and that is what inspired him to become an actor instead of continuing that route. Elliot did cross SO MANY ethical lines by outing Tony's identity at the dinner, and he never should have done it. Everybody else should have been furious at him for what he said, not just Melfi, and it casts his entire professional judgement in doubt. Plus, none of THEM are bound by doctor-patient confidentiality, so now the news can be spread. I agree that Melfi should have dropped Tony as a patient long ago, but it's obvious that she's grasping for any excuse at this exact moment. That study is just one data point, and shouldn't have convinced her all on its own. But she wanted a way out since she's known internally for a long time that they're not making any progress.
JBK405
2025-06-05 02:06:45 +0000 UTCI was thinking of this a long time ago, you did it first,lol
Diego Castillo
2025-06-05 01:56:24 +0000 UTC"Sociopaths" can have the things you described, they're not aliens or robots. Just 2 episodes ago we had an entire story about Tony coming to terms with not being guilty or feeling any remorse at all over killing Christopher, and actually happy/relieved that he did it. I don't think you can do that and not be *something*, whether that's sociopathic, psychopathic or whatever you want to label it. But I'm not a clinician and can't diagnose.
Kara
2025-06-05 01:50:22 +0000 UTC..”Don’t stop…belie-….”
Jack SV
2025-06-05 01:03:41 +0000 UTCI don't think AJ and Tony were watching the same type of military footage. Tony watches history documentaries about the world wars. AJ is more fixated on the current war on terror. Since the final episode was watched, the significance is probably clear. If Tony were a true sociopath (especially in the common colloquial sense of the word) we wouldn't have needed multiple seasons of his emotional effort spent on making sense of his violent lifestyle and his upbringing. There wouldn't be a need for all the panic attacks, depression, dreams, cognitive dissonance and general internal struggle (as a 40 year old man in season one, mind you). It would just make sense to him, the way characters like Ramsay Bolton or Light Yagami pretty much have no inner struggle and are completely comfortable in their skin. He grows into a colder person after his mother tries to kill him (and tellingly his panic attacks don't appear once in the final season) but the core psychological makeup is ultimately different. Melfi only sees Tony in the context of the therapy room. There's been moments alone where his behavior wouldn't make as much sense if that perception is taken completely at face value. Ultimately though, it's not disputable that he's pretty much beyond help. Melfi dropping him here was pretty much set up since the episode where she was raped and refused to use him for revenge. As mentioned the study (a lot to unpack with that one) was simply the tipping point.
Veya
2025-06-05 00:58:47 +0000 UTCI think you're the first person on the internet to make that connection lol, I tried searching because it's interesting but can't find anything. It's a technique used elsewhere but it's definitely interesting, especially knowing Peter Gould et al were directly inspired by Sopranos.
Kara
2025-06-05 00:38:41 +0000 UTCThe Bobby death scene is shot cinematically but it's ultimately a guy getting shot in a model shop. I think that's what they meant, you go to shop for some toy trains, you get popped by two guys and that's it. Conversely the Silvio hit is a lot more classic action sequence, the car pulling up and blocking, Patsy shooting behind the door of the car, Silvio reaching for the gun, the guys driving off and knocking that poor motorcyclist into traffic etc. Maybe there's something to be said about the Bobby scene being shot more "cinematic" (or creatively at least) than the actual shootout sequence.
Kara
2025-06-05 00:37:20 +0000 UTCAlso, The Doors song that was playing earlier in the episode. “When the music is over…turn out the lights.”
Daniel_
2025-06-05 00:20:07 +0000 UTCI feel like their reaction is exactly how the writers would want the audience to feel towards the characters at the end of the show, or at least David Chase. Chase wanted to drive home the fact and was annoyed at how people viewed Tony positively.
nathan
2025-06-05 00:17:16 +0000 UTCMob movies are a lost cause at this point. We need to be proactive and start the Mad Med supplementary material movement. Bye Bye Birdie. Frank O'Hara. Planet of the Apes. If they don't watch all of Dark Shadows before starting Mad Men, they're going to be totally confused.
Mike
2025-06-05 00:15:50 +0000 UTCI'll say it here because there will be much bigger fish to fry on the weekend: "Made in America" is such a perfect name for the finale. I actually disagree that Bobby's death was matter-of-fact. That was one of the more cinematic sequences the show has staged for a death scene. I think it's an interesting choice. The show always positioned Bobby as kind of an anti-Tony. He was certainly a more "Good" character. (Yes, he is still "Bad".) Do they give him such a -- in the words of Patsy Parisi -- cinematic send-off because they think we'll care about his death more than Silvio? Or is it heightened like that speficially to contrast how, after all these years, we don't care about Bobby anymore? I'm not sure. Obviously AJ's depression is real, and I certainly feel bad for him, but it's bleakly funny to see him weaponizing the depression and therapy-speak in that convo with Tony, and Tony immediately seeing through the bullshit. Especially in the episode Melfi finally sees through all of Tony's BS and drops him as a patient. Don't bullshit a bullshitter. And while I'm not saying that AJ is a sociopath (duh), the apple hasn't fallen so far from the tree after all. Wow, do I love that moment where they shadowbox to the Raging Bull music.
Mike
2025-06-05 00:04:03 +0000 UTCDoes anyone else think that the scene of Melfi reading the paper may have been paid homage to in Better Call Saul when Howard's wife reads Kim's confession? The editing is extremely similar and both take place in the penultimate episode of the series.
kevin coleman
2025-06-04 23:51:53 +0000 UTCRegarding empathy for the characters, if I were to boil down the main message of The Sopranos it’s that people can change, but most don’t or won’t. Watching people piss away opportunity after opportunity to change their lives for the better, to make good choices for a change, inevitably erodes empathy.
John Collins
2025-06-04 23:46:47 +0000 UTCbro if anything, this show has shown it doesn't take brains to make it in this business. Stupidity is not AJ's problem, it's not being a psychopathic killer.
kevin coleman
2025-06-04 23:45:46 +0000 UTC1000% right about the lack of glamour. The old movies that Tony loves so much and The Godfather gave a certain aura to organized crime. The Sopranos says in no uncertain terms this life is hard, it’s mean, it’s debilitatingly stressful and the two likeliest endpoints are imprisoned for a long time or murdered, likely by someone you once considered a close friend or family. I just don’t understand the criticism the show ever got for glorifying the mob.
John Collins
2025-06-04 23:42:32 +0000 UTCAlways funny to me that Melfi dumps Tony like asbetos into a new jersey river as soon as she actually reads that study. Bye bitch! 👋 Also when they later show that Carm is actually hyped that Meadow is switching from pre-med to law like lmao. For some reason that shot of Patsy Parisi running along the river is lodged in my brain. Funny how that happens. Excited for the finale! and then you knooow what time it is.... 🥃🚬
Kara
2025-06-04 23:26:32 +0000 UTCBefore you start Mad Men you should watch Godfather 2 and Goodfellas.
BND
2025-06-04 23:25:22 +0000 UTCSopranos rewatch before mad men?
Nicholas
2025-06-04 23:24:03 +0000 UTCAm I the only one who thinks AJ would never, ever be a member of the Mafia. He's way too stupid lol. Even Tony says "he'd never make it". Nor does it ever seem like he'd want to be a part of the mob. Jackie Jr was dumb too but he at least wanted to. AJ hasn't shown anything like that.
Eric Viola
2025-06-04 23:10:38 +0000 UTCOne of my favorite things about the Sopranos is how many characters in the show butcher the English language. The sacred and the propane, the hair apparent, a couple of three things, no stigmata these days, etc. etc. https://youtu.be/gsqf6IY-3oo
JClark
2025-06-04 23:06:20 +0000 UTCthe irony of the video ending with a black screen as you guys go into the last episode lolll
r m
2025-06-04 23:00:30 +0000 UTCNah Mad Men
Eric Viola
2025-06-04 22:54:23 +0000 UTCwhat is that? An energy drink?
BND
2025-06-04 22:52:35 +0000 UTCGodfather 2??
Joe Lazarus
2025-06-04 22:48:24 +0000 UTCI can't believe Tony hurt AJ's tailbone! What a monster!
BND
2025-06-04 22:46:06 +0000 UTCI'm curious to see your reactions specifically to the final scene of the series. peak of television
Bernardo
2025-06-04 21:53:09 +0000 UTC6x01 still blocked
fionan franklin
2025-06-04 21:53:03 +0000 UTCI can’t believe you’re at the end either, time is just going too fast for me
Knot
2025-06-04 21:49:49 +0000 UTCThey did earlier, now understandably they're colder towards most characters which I think was David Chase's intention
bondbond53
2025-06-04 21:45:38 +0000 UTCYa know I’m kind of surprised they didn’t latch on to Bobby like I thought they were going to. He’s usually the type of character they fall for. Especially when you compare him to the rest of Tony’s gang ha
Tyler Jackson
2025-06-04 21:43:43 +0000 UTCCan’t believe there’s only one Sopranos upload left. It’s been quite a ride
Kitchener Leslie
2025-06-04 21:41:36 +0000 UTCMONSTER DAY TOMORROW is so close 😭
Bernardo
2025-06-04 21:38:45 +0000 UTCAny chance we get Mad Men before Mad Men starts?
bondbond53
2025-06-04 21:37:53 +0000 UTCAny chance we get Godfather 2 before Mad Men starts?
UNC
2025-06-04 21:34:43 +0000 UTC
