The Sopranos 6x02 Reaction
Added 2025-04-05 00:24:53 +0000 UTCI didnt even realize that it didnt render properly, last 10 minutes of the review didn’t render, i’ll re-render it and post it in the morning
the whole reaction and the review: https://youtu.be/EtysMK9H-yM
Comments
My Goddesses!! I love you another great reaction!!!
robert klein
2025-04-15 07:10:42 +0000 UTCGood interpretation. We sympathize with Tony because of the circumstances he was raised in, and said circumstances lead him to live a life from which is incredibly hard to escape and repent, but nevertheless he has to take responsibility for his actions as no one else will for him. That's what the dream is trying to metaphorically portray: he dind't intend to take on Finnerty's identity, and it's not fair that he has to pay for those crimes when at his core he is maybe not a bad human or a criminal, but the fact of the matter is that he did take Finnerty's identity and he has to take responsability for it, same way in "real life" at his core he is not pure evil and due to circumstances he had to take on the role of Tony Soprano the mob boss, yet he still has to be expected to atone for his sins even if in a different life he could've been a regular dude. That's life, it's unfair and we can't choose the cards we are dealt when we are born into this world, yet we still are expected to take responsibility for our lives and the choices we make because nobody can and will do it for us. Some people are dealt horrible cards and they still manage to thrive, others are given the best possible one and still manage to fuck it all up. In the end it doesn't matter if we're good "deep down", what matter is what we do.
Gaboxxy
2025-04-06 20:58:13 +0000 UTCYou’re usually spot on but don’t you think you’re being a bit tough on AJ? I feel like a teenager having trouble dealing with his dad literally dying is… fairly understandable? Don’t get me wrong, he still has to man up and face the situation, but well… in the end HE DID, so I don’t know how much more we can fault him for it. And I get your point regarding AJ telling Carm that he failed school in that moment but, when was it going to be a better moment? If he waits and Tony ends up dying, would that be better timing to tell her? I feel like at that point it’s better to come clean sooner than later.
Gaboxxy
2025-04-06 19:54:38 +0000 UTCYou're both right that Edie Falco's acting is amazing here, but I also love the makeup and costuming the show did for her in this episode. This is one of the only times in the entire series where we don't see Carmela dressed up, with precisely applied makeup and styled hair. She always looks "put together". But here she's obviously wearing whatever whatever she can grab. Whatever she can put on in a hurry. Whatever is low-maintenance. Because for one of the only times in the whole show there's something overpowering her urge to put on a good face for everybody else. I've said in previous episode comments that AJ is the one who never had a chance. With his own innate inclinations combined with the guidance he receives at home and the environment he's raised, he was always destined to end up like he does. That inevitability doesn't excuse his laziness and self-centered mentality, but it's true nonetheless. Other people have the intelligence to break out, or the drive to compensate for the lack of intelligence, or the external support to compensate for the lack of intelligence and drive. But AJ has none of that, so he was always going to end up here.
JBK405
2025-04-06 17:15:22 +0000 UTCIt really is so annoying how many great reveals have been spoiled for them in the previews
Evander
2025-04-06 16:12:10 +0000 UTCThis might be a controversial thing to say, but I'd say overall Tony actually is a "good father". While there are plenty of times when he's been harsh/strict/disciplinarian/even bullyish, it's generally/always(?) in the context of teaching/raising them, and the general tone of his relationships with AJ/Med is caring, affectionate, protective and genuinely loving. AJ gets the brunt of the bad stuff, because AJ is objectively more of a fuckup than Meadow. He is lazy, not particularly talented at anything, and a bit of a drifter, which leads Tony to being harsh with him more often. Meadow is smart and hardworking and gets on well academically so doesn't need as much, but I can't think of any examples of Tony actually being cruel to AJ for no reason. L&M seem to have a remarkably skewed view of Tony & AJ's relationship. When talking about AJ crying that they may never share moments together, Lola scoffs and rolls her eyes and says they never had any moments anyway. They seem to hyper-fixate on the time in s2 when AJ was overeating and Tony shouted at him ("this is my male heir?" — which they have brought up in discussion many times since, thinking that Tony is pushing him into having an eating disorder), but they completely ignore the countless times they share normal loving moments, and that when Tony yells at the kids it's usually because they've done something in need of correction. Tony is certainly a "bad husband" (despite the fact it's basically part of the "deal" he and Carm have that he will constantly cheat on her in return for wealth and status, he is definitely a bad husband), but I think LM can't separate his being a "bad person" (morally) from "bad father". He's a bad person so is by default a bad father. He always wants the best for his children and does what he can for them, including trying to put/keep them on the right track, away from the mob. He's someone who was born into the mafia subculture and does whatever he can to pave the way for his children to become normal respectable civilians.
Abacus
2025-04-06 11:14:24 +0000 UTCThey spoil Tony B being in the next episode in the streaming platform screen shot!? Who the hell chooses these pics?
Abacus
2025-04-06 10:36:38 +0000 UTCThis episode really hit home with me just because my brother was in a similar situation many years ago (he's fine now). The scenes with them talking to Tony in particular are very true to life. I remember talking to my brother about the football results as it was something we both loved. It's very hard. I love how the show is able to be so relatable, but also reflect these things through the light of a very dysfunctional family. The tension and anger surrounding the family, Carmella having to bend the truth when she extols his virtues. It makes me feel grateful for the family I have.
Mark M
2025-04-06 10:12:35 +0000 UTCI may be in the minority, but I agree with Rosalie; AJ is a selfish boy who doesn’t give a shit. His stomach illness was obviously fake and just a way to avoid any familial responsibilities. He then whines to Carmela throughout the episode while doing little to help, and to me, just seems lazy and trying to use the situation to get out of either going to class or helping out. He also uses the brief approval from Carmela to then reveal he flunked out of college, hoping that being seen in a good light would soften the blow.
Octavio
2025-04-06 04:33:35 +0000 UTCI think the discussion about the types of love and the different reactions to Tony was spot on, but it also highlights exactly why AJ's reaction was different. AJ's reaction showed a more pure love, no ulterior motive. He sees the injury and then went to tears. We see that Christopher doesn't really mourn Tony the same way. Tony's love/hate with his own parents was also mentioned. AJ's reaction was not the same. Tony and AJ has had good moments. More explicitly in the beginning of the show (one of the most memorable endings is them eating ice cream together in the first season). But also we got context clues throughout the show, they'll have a scene where they return from a fishing trip, or AJ preferring to spend time with Tony and not Carmela. I mean in the fifth season we see them watching TV together with Tony B and Artie. Again, the similarities are there. The "poor you" thing is overt (and I don't think it's meant to be subtle once season 3 already used it as a plot-device with Gloria). AJ also has some personal laziness and lack of commitment and poor impulse control that are similar. All aspects are part of his character.
Veya
2025-04-06 01:54:58 +0000 UTCI agree about AJ's thematic relevance and he's probably the second most important character after Tony at this point of the show, which is a huge departure from the beginning of the show where it felt more Meadow focused and the kids in general had smaller roles. It also becomes very important in this final season to remember all of AJ scenes from the beginning of the show or certain things won't completely click during the endgame. The season in general feels like an alternative version of the first one, starting with Junior almost killing Tony, which ended the first season.
Veya
2025-04-06 01:38:43 +0000 UTCThe closing minute of this episode is probably my favorite scene in The Sopranos. Quietly devastating. I revisit it often, and it doesn’t lose its power.
AE
2025-04-05 23:45:55 +0000 UTCTony Soprano/Kevin Finnerty sitting on the end of his bed at the end, scored to the Moby song is one of my favourite scenes easily. Just the epitome of loneliness, as the light on the horizon flashes in the distance. The Omni Hotel is aptly named as omni is a Latin prefix often pertaining to God (omnipresent, omniscient etc) This hotel can be taken as Purgatory, or it can be seen as Hell itself. One interesting detail is Tony is on the 7th floor, which in Dante’s Inferno, is the circle of Hell reserved for those who were violent in life. The chapter of this episode on the DVD is called ‘Seventh Circle’ too.
Darrach
2025-04-05 17:19:59 +0000 UTCRome's end had nothing to do with GoT. Happened long before. THAT SAID, that series is so dear to me. A wonderful watch
Isaac
2025-04-05 16:42:47 +0000 UTCYou know the ending scene was incredibly well made when it even made a certified Tony hater like Lola shed tears lol. Jokes aside, a huge part of the episode making us feel for Tony was the effect his condition was having on his family and how scared they were over the possibility of losing him. It shows how, despite all his numerous flaws, he does genuinely loves his family and his family loves him back. Compare that to when Livia died and her family had to pretend they cared. Tony might deserve to die, but his family is innocent and they would suffer his loss, which is a big part of why this episode had even the biggest Tony haters wanting him to wake up.
Gaboxxy
2025-04-05 15:50:53 +0000 UTCDavid Chase is a self-declared Buddhist, so you're probably right.
Gaboxxy
2025-04-05 15:46:05 +0000 UTCThe ending song's lyrics fit the theme of the episode so perfectly that it almost seems as if they wrote the episode for the song. For anyone interested here they are, I don't even think they need explaining: "Where were you when I was lonesome? Locked away with freezing cold Someone flying, only stolen I can't tell, this night's so old I don't wanna swim the ocean I don't wanna fight the tide I don't wanna swim forever When it's cold I'd like to die What was that, my sweet, sweet nothing? I can't hear you through the fog If I holler, let me go If I falter, let me know I don't wanna swim the ocean I don't wanna fight the tide I don't wanna swim forever When it's cold I'd like to die" One of, if not the best music choice for an episode ending I've ever seen in a T.V show.
Gaboxxy
2025-04-05 15:43:08 +0000 UTCCan't wait for the next episode, it's one of my favorites in the series.
TylerNorCal
2025-04-05 15:32:49 +0000 UTCHbo Rome would be a fun watch. Only 2 seasons and partly for budget reasons got cancelled for Got
Artemiz
2025-04-05 15:22:36 +0000 UTCdid mad men win? :D
Richard Ramirez
2025-04-05 12:48:38 +0000 UTCI feel like that "purgatory" sequence is strongly affected by Buddhist ideas, even if it's mixed with Christian undertones. Finnerty's name is associated to Infinity, both through a joke in that bar and just because of the similar sounds, and I feel it represents Tony slowly losing his sense of individual identity, dissolving into a non-individualized consciousness. He loses his briefcase, then has an Alzheimer's diagnosis (so, he's forgetting who he was); in that same scene he refuses to clarify what his "real name" is... and all the while, he's using Infinity as a new identity.
Simon M. y Atana Sumi
2025-04-05 09:36:08 +0000 UTCTo me Kevin Finnity represents Tony soprano. He scammed the monks just like Tony scammed people. When Tony is given this identify like Tony was through his father and trauma etc, he can either accept it and become Kevin finnity or fight it and try hard to be the man who is better and loves his family in a way people should. He starts thinking maybe he is Kevin finnity because right now he is but he doesn’t have to be. He can “find his wallet” in real life if he really tries. He has also said multiple times that if he wants in the mafia he would be selling patio furniture and that’s exactly what this Tony used to do, to show even more he represents the one who is without the mafia life. He has to choose who he is and where he wants to go.
Cole
2025-04-05 08:31:56 +0000 UTCI knew you two would appreciate AJ's development this season lol. He's kind of a Skyler of the sopranos - most people (I'm sure not here, but those who watch on surface level) hate him because he's annoying or spoiled teenager, while missing the bigger picture. But to me he is the most thematically relevant character in the entire series. The deep exploration of how the family lifestyle affects children and their mental state is probably the most important thing that this show tackles. The character is just so well-written and realistic, and the actor really kicks it out of the park.
terrier
2025-04-05 07:59:10 +0000 UTCThe off-screen joke about Junior babbling about the Kennedy assassination is such a funny mental image.
Wayne
2025-04-05 07:33:53 +0000 UTCNo they were right. It represents heaven.
Clause
2025-04-05 05:26:58 +0000 UTCI think the distant lighthouse represents the real world rather than heaven. It's like how they use the light the doctor shines in his eyes as a link where he glimpses the real world. A lighthouse is a guide, and it's like something far off calling for him, like his family in the hospital room trying to be heard. Heaven and hell are both represented by the images on the TV in the bar, where he sees both fire and a beautiful landscape with a cross.
Abacus
2025-04-05 05:04:20 +0000 UTCThat scene makes me so hawt down there
Abacus
2025-04-05 04:24:24 +0000 UTCThe actor who played AJ nailed it. Up until this point he was actually very criticized by the public and critics on his acting skills. He was believed not to have the necessary range and talent to act the deeper and more emotional parts. He clearly proved everyone wrong imo.
Gaboxxy
2025-04-05 03:46:27 +0000 UTCThe look in Lola’s eyes when she saw AJ talking to Tony about cars in the icu is so real. Glad I wasn’t the only one really affected by that.
Justin
2025-04-05 03:16:38 +0000 UTCMan, that "American Girl" scene might be my favourite scene in the whole series. Powerhouse shit from Edie Falco.
Mike
2025-04-05 02:20:52 +0000 UTCYou’re both right; Chris thought he was in hell, Paulie then tells him he was in purgatory
Octavio
2025-04-05 01:22:04 +0000 UTCForgot how great an episode this was. Just a dramatic shake up for everyone that makes you almost forget all the horrible things Tony has done and feel sorry for him.
mundanelotus
2025-04-05 00:43:07 +0000 UTC
