The Sopranos 3x13 Reaction
Added 2024-12-27 01:35:30 +0000 UTC
Comments
Michael Franzese, who was a former captain in the heyday of the Mafia, also claims that the Godfather influenced real life as much, if not more than real life influenced the Godfather. Before the Godfather mobsters behaved much more "thuggish", but after the movie they were expected to behave and presents themselves in a different, more classy manner.
Gaboxxy
2025-01-07 02:08:57 +0000 UTCMaybe it wasn't as common in early 2000's Serbia compared to the U.S, who knows?
Gaboxxy
2025-01-07 01:58:24 +0000 UTCThere were no subtitles on the singing in anyone's version of the show
robert klein
2024-12-31 03:20:51 +0000 UTCThe Oedipal conflict you think is so important is facile. It’s also debunked in the first episode’s conversation with Melfi. And if you think those old tragedy plays don’t have anything to do with subverting patriarchy you must in some sort of denial
Ben G
2024-12-29 20:13:59 +0000 UTCNothing about Tony's conflict with his mother is about "subverting patriarchy" lmao. You are not subverting patriarchy just because you have a female villain. The Tony/Lyvia conflict is rooted in far far far older dynamics than the facile, 2020 era framework you are regurgitating. And by old, I'm talking Greek tragedy/classicial/Shakespearean inspirations/parallels. Some of these (oedipal!) are LITERALLY discussed during his therapy sessions!
Julien
2024-12-29 07:08:25 +0000 UTCJames Gandolfini died in real life 2013 which sucks, he could of been part of another great television pieces. He munched food in Rome while having clogged heart and dropped dead.
MichaelChiklisCares
2024-12-28 21:58:18 +0000 UTCWhy does LM act like the early 2000's was the 1940's or something? Yes, child psychology was a thing back then and schools even had counselors that helped children.
BNJ
2024-12-28 21:49:23 +0000 UTCYeah it's clear they care A LOT. They're literally shouting at each other over what to do with AJ, desperate to find a solution. We have also literally seen them punish AJ for getting in trouble and AJ explicitly said himself that he feels too much pressure and they expect him to go to a good school like Meadow. It's been pointed out before, little things and nuances matter for the larger ideas being explored. Making clean one to one comparisons is risking missing the forest for the trees.
Veya
2024-12-28 20:43:47 +0000 UTCI don’t think I fully agree that Tony and Carmela can be compared to Jackie Jr’s parents. They definitely care more to the point where AJ acts out but still has some shame and fear about getting caught.
Mahni Alizadeh
2024-12-28 17:01:37 +0000 UTCI just realized the military school principal is the guy from Saw.
Michael M
2024-12-28 16:11:08 +0000 UTCLola actually nailed the explanation for the final scene's music switch, which is really impressive for a first watch. It's supposed to pull you out of the scene by drawing attention to the contrived sentimentality of the music. Chase is intending to draw attention to this by moving through several pieces of sentimental music from various cultures as we see everyone looking emotionally moved by Junior's singing. No matter the race or genre, its universal that we all have our version of tearjerking music that might bring tears to your eyes but there is nothing substantive underneath it. Just pure saccharine bullshit. These men did not care about Jackie and or are part of the process that had him killed, but are at his funeral looking teary-eyed to beautiful music. Meadow is the only one in the scene that saw through it and called it out for what it was. It's really one of my favorite final scenes in the show.
Random Random
2024-12-28 00:44:49 +0000 UTCI think there’s an interesting but untenable fatalism (determinism) to LM’s view of child-rearing, wherein a parent basically has hegemonic power over the trajectory of a child’s life, and bears full responsibility for how they turn out. In the case of The Sopranos, it’s indisputable Tony and Carmela messed up their children, so that’s not really my concern here—it’s this underlying view that parents, if they just punched in the right numbers or executed the right formula, can guarantee perfectly healthy and well-adjusted children, when there is a more complex set of genetic and environmental factors at play beyond the household and any particular parenting style. The concentration of all agency in the figure of the parent is likely to produce a neurotic and paranoid parenting style that is nearly as damaging as a more oblivious one.
AE
2024-12-27 22:46:27 +0000 UTCLet’s not get “cute”
Ben G
2024-12-27 21:30:18 +0000 UTCHow can you watch The Sopranos and think it’s a traditional Italian American mafia show? The main point that started the show was subverting patriarchy. Ie of the power a mother had over her mob kingpin son.
Ben G
2024-12-27 20:42:12 +0000 UTCIf I recall, Dominic Chianese (the actor who played Uncle Junior), is actually an opera singer in real life. Regardless of the hypocrisy of all the characters and the meaning behind that scene, the man can definitely sing 👌🏼
windyMelon
2024-12-27 15:51:30 +0000 UTCIs it bad that I only wanted Jackie Junior to survive longer so we could have more Omar
windyMelon
2024-12-27 15:49:54 +0000 UTC"What was that, last night's reading assignment?"
Abacus
2024-12-27 13:52:43 +0000 UTCI thought Lola's take on AJ was hilariously backward, saying "military school is just like sticking a band-aid on a bullet-hole" and at the same time "they are rich, just send him to therapy!". It's the kind of ironic writing I'd expect to see in The Sopranos itself, like when Major Zwingli mocks the weak willed alcoholic, but then without a shred of self-awareness opens the window to have another cigarette. There's nothing really wrong with AJ, he's a pretty normal teenage boy. Feeling pressure to get good grades isn't a problem to see a therapist about. He isn't stupid, but he is weak willed and lazy, and is lacking guidance and a sense of purpose. He could genuinely benefit from what military school would offer him: discipline, physical fitness, being a part of something bigger than himself, and no TV. (And it's worth clarifying that military school is still just school, it's not like he's actually joining the army.) In season 1, there was a storyline in which the school counsellor wanted to diagnose AJ with ADHD for being a bit mischievous and fidgeting. Tony correctly refused this, saying he's a normal teenage boy who has simply misbehaved. The "just send him to therapy" attitude is even called out earlier this season when Dr Krakower gives Carmela a harsh session and he decries the effect on wider society of people using therapy to excuse them from their own decisions. Lola is keen for Carmela to take AJ away from Tony's toxic influence, but the thing is that AJ being at home with Tony *is* where/how Tony has greatest effect on AJ. Sending him away to MS would actually be rescuing AJ from Tony. When they argue in this episode, Carmela correctly calls out Tony when saying that it's from him that AJ has got the impression that the world owes him a living. AJ's main authority figure is Tony, a lazy glutton who doesn't respect rules and just takes takes takes from everyone around him. Is it any wonder that AJ breaks into the school to cheat his way to success? Going to MS where he would have a stable sense of authority and morals would be a beneficial change. A few episodes earlier, Carmela was outraged that the school didn't punish AJ for vandalism because they wanted him on the football team. She was right to see that AJ is in need of schooling which will give him discipline and direction. Zwingli had the right attitude, calling AJ's cheating a "personal defeat". That is showing an attitude of taking responsibility for one's own actions, acknowledging that you've done something wrong, and is the first step to improving behaviour. Sending him to therapy so he can cry about pressure and expectations isn't going to do any good, that's just turning him into another Tony. Or as General MacArthur said in his farewell address at the point: "Gary Cooper, Gary Cooper, Gary Cooper". Of course the focus of this episode is on Jackie's death, and the comparison with AJ. Jackie had no real guidance, drifted along trying to take shortcuts, just like AJ was doing by cheating in the test. For me, the best moment of this episode is at the burial when the women are screaming and crying, and AJ and Tony just silently look at each other, like "this is what I want to protect you from". Having said that, Lola's take on the strange ending music was spot-on. Someone else below posted the quote from David Chase explaining it, but Lola was right that it's mocking this sentimental facade put on by these people pretending to be crying for this boy that they themselves got killed. Drunken Meadow is the voice of truth in the final scene — protesting by throwing the bread at Junior during his schmaltzy song, and then to Tony: "THIS IS SUCH BULLSHIT!" before running away.
Abacus
2024-12-27 13:04:17 +0000 UTCI love small moments like that in the show (the scene with Jackie Jr and the little girl). Like you said, at the final moment we were given a glimpse of a nice guy, right before he got whacked. Classic David Chase, toying with our emotions
enchantertim
2024-12-27 12:57:41 +0000 UTCAll due respect L and M (heheh), I respectfully disagree on the first half of the season being more episodic and the second half being more cohesive. I think almost the entirety of The Sopranos is episodic. For example just two episodes ago we had Pine Barrens. That to me is one of the most self-contained episodes of the whole show, and it was on the second half of this season. For years I've always thought that for this show each episode feels like a self-contained mini-movie, and that's what I love about the show. Each episode has its own singular plotlines and its own themes that come to a conclusion within the episode. And if you don't see a plotline coming to a resolution within the episode, most likely you're not gonna see it get resolved ever again and it's open-ended. While the episodes do have singular self-contained plotlines, they still carry the overarching themes and the character developments throughout the entire show, which is to me it's one of show's brilliant aspects. Sure there are some mini-arcs that go over 2-3 episodes sometimes but it's done sparingly. I often warn other people who haven't watched The Sopranos yet in advance by stating that they shouldn't expect to see a show following a chain of single storyline(s) a la Breaking Bad or Lost. "Irregardless", another great discussion gals. I'd also like to mention episode 3x4 (Employee of the Month) won the best writing at the Emmys for this season.
enchantertim
2024-12-27 12:44:38 +0000 UTCGive him a break will ya? It’s an emotional day
Darrach
2024-12-27 12:37:00 +0000 UTC@Abacus I posted my comment before seeing yours but you are entirely correct. That "out of spite" thing is very silly. Jackie was a dead man walking and they both knew it. The only issue was who was gonna do it and none of them wanted to. But it was never in doubt that he had to die.
Julien
2024-12-27 11:59:27 +0000 UTC"Ralphie realized he was being manipulated and killed Jackie out of spite." - There is no basis to believe this whatsoever. The kid had to go and they both knew it. They both tried to throw the responsibility to each other. But Tony is the boss. Jackie was effectively cornered and had to do it. But make no mistake, they both understood from day one that Jackie had to go. It's not just the disrespect, people died at the robbery. You don't get a pass for that.
Julien
2024-12-27 11:57:20 +0000 UTCThis episode aired a generation ago - before 9/11 even. No 15 y/o boy in 2001 was struggling with the erosion of the patriarchy. I should know, I was in college at the time. I feel like you are applying 2015-25 era analysis to a late 90s show. The notion that traditional masculinity was under scrutiny in... an Italian-American mafia world is too funny for words. AJ grew up in the basically most patriarchal environment in America. His father and male friends are literal gangsters and virtually every woman around him is a stay at home mom, including his own mother. The last thing that was eroding in his world is the patriarchy. The simpler reality is that AJ is a punk. It's not that he isn't built for that life. It's that he isn't built for much else either. His parents would have far preferred he did well at school and gone on to become a lawyer or a doctor or whatever, or really just anything that shows promise. Even that he couldn't do. AJ is having the typical trajectory of teenager on the road to nowhere. It has little to do with finding his place in a world where traditional masculinity is under scrutiny. Traditional masculinity was NOT under scrutiny in AJ's world!
Julien
2024-12-27 11:44:41 +0000 UTCFun fact, a different actress was originally cast to pay Danielle, then they altered this episode to add in the replacement. Here's the original actress from when the episode first aired https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqKBiDI1qbs Love this episode. Tony basically acknowledging that he is trying to save his kids from himself. You can see the split in his personality so clearly. I get a little emotional watching the AJ scenes and his therapy session.
Mark M
2024-12-27 11:08:21 +0000 UTCTony didn't want to give him a pass, he knows that there is no pass to be given. JJ has a death sentence for what he did, end of story. Ralph just talks about giving him a pass hoping that Tony will pull rank and order the hit, therefore taking the responsibility off Ralph, but Tony outplays him by saying "it's up to you, give him a pass if you think that's right, I'll stand by you", therefore giving Ralph control of the decision. It's very clear that Ralph giving him a pass is untenable. Everything Tony says to Ralph in the car and in the previous Satriale's sit down is making it very clear to Ralph that this is a mess that Ralph caused, and it's his responsibility to clean it up. Ralph didn't kill Jackie "out of spite", he wasn't being "manipulated", he was just swallowing the bitter pill and doing what he has to do in his position, both as a captain controlling his own crew, and as JJ's father-figure who encouraged and guided him into criminality.
Abacus
2024-12-27 10:14:46 +0000 UTCAJ typifies the complexity that is plaguing many boys and young men born into a world in which patriarchal, traditional models of masculinity and what it means to be a man are under extreme scrutiny (and justifiably so for the most part). He's really doomed because like so many boys, almost all of them still have parents, just like Tony and Carmela, that have both bought into the traditional patriarchal structure, and are still in positions of power despite it dying out while more women than ever are battling for traditional, societal positions of power. Meadow has her Mum as a clear, society-approved role model or she can pivot towards the even more supported pathway for modern women which is getting an elite education and high paying job. If AJ were to try and follow in the footsteps of his father, ironically, none of his family would approve of it, and none of them one will ever recognise this or want to talk about it because it brings their hypocrisies to the forefront. AJ is also completely fucked because venturing toward elite education and a high paying job is certainly no walk in the park for someone who has been coddled and babied his whole life. It’s painful to watch Tony and Carmela try to find some solution to help AJ when it’s something so much greater and invisible to them both. AJ has no model to go by, partly because he can’t fill the shoes his Dad can, but it’s more that his whole model for an identity is unclear.
Ben G
2024-12-27 09:54:34 +0000 UTCTotally agree, he's a very whiny kid so of course was afraid of the prospect, but getting him away from TV and getting physically fit and disciplined would have done wonders for him.
Abacus
2024-12-27 07:44:10 +0000 UTC- "seeing Bobby and Johnny Sack shed tears is touching for me too" I'm not ashamed to admit it, my estimation of Johnny as a man just fucking plummeted
Abacus
2024-12-27 07:40:59 +0000 UTCAwee Omar. Rip 🙏🏾
PamRenea
2024-12-27 06:02:59 +0000 UTCThere’s a few ways to read it as it was left open to interpretation so either of you could be right. Only thing that is absolutely clear is Tony shifting the responsibility to Ralphie. My own opinion is Tony just didn’t want to deal with the situation at all. He don’t wanna kill his dead bestfriend Jackie’s kid but he can’t give him a pass either cause then he looks bad. So he just makes it Ralphies problem. Tony is a selfish prick like that.
Johnny Bxb
2024-12-27 06:00:32 +0000 UTC"This is the 2000s when there were more avenues to explore as well unlike the late 60s and 70s when Tony grew up. " Not just social options, but financial options. Tony is far more financially successful than his parents ever were. More money = more options in life is unfortunately very true as we can see all over. Also, in addition to the 'never play a rat' thing, Tony Sircio went to prison and became an actor after being exposed to an acting troupe during prison.
Veya
2024-12-27 05:44:25 +0000 UTCI mean it's funny because Omar has roughly the same toxic influence on his environment that Tony does (give or take maybe some extra individuals) but he's made more conventionally likeable that they're also gushing about a murderous gangster at the end of the day. Also, fitting that even chess made an appearance. "You come at the king, you best not miss".
Veya
2024-12-27 04:59:16 +0000 UTCI always thought he did want Jackie Jr.'s death ordered, but he REALLY wanted to distance himself from it. But he also mentioned in the middle of the episode: "That sack of shit Ralphie" so he's probably also blaming Ralphie for Jackie Jr's fate (which tbf, Ralphie did provide the most toxic influence in the season for him). I do agree that the conversation with Tony in the car, regardless of which specific reading, did convince Ralphie to just do it as he realized it just looks bad for him the longer it goes. Or maybe he saw it as a personal betrayal that Jackie Jr. called Tony and not him.
Veya
2024-12-27 04:53:54 +0000 UTCGreat discussion. I think there's some points to bring up though: - The deconstruction of certain ideas in the past couple of episodes: Jackie Jr. is not Tony Soprano. Same exact robbery, but far different in execution. We also see that he's different than AJ. AJ is crying about going to military school and says his parents put too much pressure on him. Jackie is said by Meadow that he mentioned his parents never cared about him (i mean we flat out see Tony and Carm ground AJ at points). It's important to not mix up not caring and ineffectual caring. - You have to remember why they don't jump immediately to therapy for AJ. Tony has an up and down relationship with it and Carmela got an existential crisis over her entire life the one time she went to one that fully focused on her. How many times have Tony stormed out of his therapy sessions? - Military school is their clear desperation. In their minds, and again, we have also seen, they DO punish AJ and discipline him. And he keeps getting into trouble. So they are lost (another Pine Barren connection). They seem unable to reconcile the fact that their mob lifestyle is indirectly influencing their kids and the fact that conventional methods without addressing that will be enough. Also, again, more to read into about AJ beyond all of this for things that's been said a lot already. - Tony is blaming himself for genes, specifically for the panic attacks. We're given indications that he DOES blame himself on a broader level or he wouldn't have said the distance thing with his daughter. Would Livia or Johnny EVER say that? It can't be understated once again, while there are some obvious similarities in their upbringing, AJ and Meadow's childhood ARE different than Tony's. The show is also simply not going to show clean psychology with a one dimensional conclusion. That's part of a huge internal struggle that we're seeing. The push and pull between how much Tony is blaming himself vs how much he is pawning it off. - Carmela's behavior is one of the thesis of the show. I think her acting is selling some ambiguity but we have seen that she knows that Angie is a widow and she's aware of what happened to Ritchie. We also know, since the beginning of the show, that she lies to herself. She's been aware of her kid's souls since the college episode in season 1. This is one of the most realistic aspects of the show and one I think separates it from a lot of other crime dramas. She's not gonna be like "Meadow, your father had Jackie jr. murdered". People lie to themselves even outside of the mob life. - While I can understand why some people don't enjoy those middle episodes, they are hugely important for the authenticity and rawness of the show (I mean we're seeing gushing in this episode about Omar, who has broadly the same toxic influence on his environment but is made more likeable with harsher qualities put on characters like Marlo). But beyond that they had huge thematic importance. Melfi is the ONE character that has not chosen the easy choice over the difficult one. The episode with Tracee is an extension and deconstruction of the idea of limited empathy, thematically cohesive with a lot of other episodes of the season.
Veya
2024-12-27 04:43:51 +0000 UTCThe portrayal of Boonton in this episode is probably the biggest error in the portrayal of New Jersey throughout the series. The real Boonton is a suburban town, bordering on being rural. That's not to say there's no crime there, but it's not an inner city with housing projects. Normally they get the NJ facts right, but here they put the wrong name on the setting. Dominic Chianese is an accomplished singer, and has released several albums. That was really him singing at the end. This is not one of the sequences where there are supposed to be subtitles that are missing from your version, it is never subtitled in any airing. It is just a classic Neapolitan song "Core 'ngrato". I think Rosalie and Carmela both know exactly what happened, but they can't admit it to themselves. Because if they admit it, then they have to admit everything else around it, including their own culpability. Remember how Carmela keeps saying Tony is a "good man" and "good father" every time she tries to explain why she doesn't leave him? If she ever admits to herself that he isn't a good man, then she would have to admit that it is only greed and self-interest that keeps her in the marriage. Rosalie stayed with Jackie Sr. all along, even when she knew what kind of man he was, and is right now dating Ralphie as well. If she accepted that the mafia killed her son, then she would have to accept that her entire life lead up to her own son's death. They might not know specifically that it was a member of Ralphie's crew who did it, on Ralphie's order with Tony's prompting, but they know it was somebody from their world. And that neither Tony nor Ralphie gave the order for it not to happen.
JBK405
2024-12-27 04:22:57 +0000 UTCYeah I feel the same way about Jackie Jrs last scene. The big grin he manages to get from the girl is genuinely charming. The one time he came across as somewhat likeable was mere moments before his death. I like how you just call his character ‘Omar’ btw haha, may as well be
Darrach
2024-12-27 04:01:35 +0000 UTCHere is what David Chase had to say on the final scene and the switching between languages (French, Chinese and Spanish, in that order) and what it meant: “That singing thing is about how all over the world people engage in pure sentimentality. Everyone loves a good cry. And I don’t mean to denigrate funerals or death. It also has something to do with entertainment, filmed entertainment. Music can be used so manipulatively. And Junior, who is the most selfish character in the cast, is pouring his heart out. Didn’t mean a thing. Just to wallow in the moment…Pop music is so abused and overused, manipulated and employed in the service of the devil. It was to give the audience a laugh about how they are being manipulated every day.“
Darrach
2024-12-27 03:52:37 +0000 UTCTony didn’t order Jackie’s death he wanted to give him a pass but he didn’t want to take on the responsibility. He didn’t want to piss off the rest of the crew and Chris so he heavy- handedly tried to get ralphie to do it. When he told Ralphie “I taught you were going to give him a pass, you should let him know” Ralphie realized he was being manipulated and killed Jackie out of spite.
Ory
2024-12-27 03:52:29 +0000 UTCFrom what I see about the ending scene, it's a commentary by David Chase about how easily music can be used to manipulate our emotions. We see a touching rendition of Core Ngrato by Junior with all the family members tearing up, only to be sent into a whiplash with the sudden change in language, forcing us to take a more objective view of the whole situation and realize what Meadow realized at her final scene in this episode. The absolute hypocrisy of the mob tearing up at the funeral of the kid they themselves killed. Speaking of Jackie Jr., this episode does elicit a bit of sympathy towards him for me. We saw him being a shithead the whole season, and only in this one did we get a bit of glimpse towards what he could've been. As Omar said, "you should've played that out, that's the only way you're gonna learn". Sums up his life quite well doesn't it? The way he delivered his line afterwards towards Omar's daughter, with a playful "what are you laughing at?" sounds like him at his most genuine, where he didn't have to put up an image of a big bad gangster like his father. Who knows? Maybe in another life without the shadow of the mob hanging over them, Christopher is a Hollywood writer/actor and Jackie Jr. works with kids in some capacity. With AJ, Christopher, and Jackie, one of this season's most cohesive theme is definitely the corruption of youth. Not just for the boys of course, as Meadow runs a full defense for the "family" while talking shit about them in private. We saw the seeds of this in season 2 with Meadow defending his father from Eric Scatino, and now we see her taking it a step further by insisting that her father is just a guy working in waste management who dabbles in organized crime just by happenstance. That scene with AJ slowly raising the volume as his parents fight does show that what he needs above all else is stability in the household. As someone else mentioned, this is the last episode before 9/11, so Tony's line about America hardly going to war anymore was pretty funny in hindsight.
IanJ
2024-12-27 03:51:37 +0000 UTCSuch a packed episode. First off, I have been looking forward to you two seeing Michael K. Williams again from the start of the show. This was a year before the Wire, so he was still an unknown. I find it very prescient that his one scene here is involving chess, more specifically chess being used as a metaphor for the fate of characters, like the Wire will do a year later in its first season. Jackie Jr tries to move his pawn too quickly, and forfeits the game. He was a pawn that moved too fast and was taken off the board before his time. I wonder if there was any inspiration taken from the Sopranos to the Wire in this regard? The contrast between Nucci (Paulies mum) and Tony’s is made very clear, and sets us up thinking she will be unhappy but rather she is overjoyed with Green Grove. We get to hear “it’s a retirement community” one more time too, always a joy. Tony does the same manipulation with Carm here that Ralph did last episode with Ro, planting the seeds of promising young men being killed over drug deals gone wrong, before the news comes out about Jackie, very gross. Tony mentioned figuring out “the difference” between his and Jackie’s scores and why they will have vastly different outcomes, so let’s break it down: - Nobody died at Tony, Jackie and Silvios heist, pretty major difference. - No made men were shot or shot at either. More than anything I think this sealed their fate as guaranteed death. - Both Tonys dad and uncle were high ranking mafia members, and far more importantly, they were actually ALIVE, and able to protect Tony from any serious consequences. Jackie Jr has assumed because of who his father was, all would be fine. I like Tobin Bell as the dean of the military school here, it’s quite a comedic scene for such a gruff, serious character. The way he asks what’s missing from the routine and immediately answers his own question is hilarious. Tobin Bell is most famous for playing Jigsaw in the Saw movies. “The US Army hardly goes to war anymore”, this episode aired 4 months before 9/11 and of course within a few years, the US would be embroiled in its ‘War on Terror’ on numerous fronts. Tony says “How are we gonna save this kid?” followed by the cut to Jackie Jrs coffin. The episode is not at all subtle in tying these two characters in the viewers mind and what dangers may befall AJ if things go the same way. Meadow switching to defend the Mob when confronted by Jackie’s sister is very interesting, essentially parroting her mother’s words and fighting back against her own. She is between two minds and between two worldviews it seems. Paulie rejects Tony’s drink at the wake, exactly what Ralph did earlier this season to which Paulie was outraged by, essentially asking Tony for permission to kill him. Johnny Sack once again “not sticking his beak in” and with barely any effort, gets insights into the tensions building in the North Jersey Mafia. I’m glad the girls find him fascinating because he is definitely a favourite of mine. The underboss of one of the Five Families and he is just levels above these goons from what we have seen of him so far. We get a callback to what Tony ended Season 1 with: “remember the good times”, and Junior offers a similar sentiment here and vows to “stop and smell the roses”. Junior singing Core N’Grato is beautiful and love the scene but it is definitely hypocritical for all these men to be weeping and misty-eyed at the wake of a boy they all know they killed, either directly or indirectly with their whole organisation. Still, seeing Bobby and Johnny Sack shed tears is touching for me too. We see somewhat of a generational gap between the younger generation of Italian-Americans and the older ones here. Adriana, with her mouth full of chewing gum, doesn’t know enough Italian to understand the song, and the kids table has no sentimentality or respect for their elder singing in their ancestors tongue. Their parents however are taken by the performance and watch in revered silence. I look forward to rewatching Season 4 alongside all of you!
Darrach
2024-12-27 03:26:59 +0000 UTCCome on ladies, Carmela obviously knows what happened, she's not stupid. The same way she knows that Pussy is not in witness protection. But she's also not going to tell Meadow "Yeah your father ordered his death". Of course she's going to deflect it to drug dealers or whatever. Carmela does her best to shield her kids from the truth and that also means she has to pretend that the awful things that happen have nothing to do with Tony or his business. She may not know the details but deep down she knows that whenever someone that is part of this mafia world dies or disappears it's not some random act. I really don't understand why LM are still so confused by Carmela's behavior.
BNJ
2024-12-27 03:21:48 +0000 UTCI think "keep it simple" is just good advice. And it's often used by people who are in fact intelligent. So, I personally don't agree with that. Also, he'd have no reason to call him stupid, since he doesn't know much about him other than his academic pressures. Also, the main reason why it's "Keep It Simple Stupid" is for the acronym K.I.S.S.
ODIS
2024-12-27 03:21:38 +0000 UTCTony does and doesn’t blame himself. He deflects blame onto his genes, but he also recognizes that it’s good for Meadow to stay far away from him. He knows he’s hurting AJ and despairs of his ability to help him. His general rage and zeal for military school is an expression of desperation. He doesn’t know what else to do. Tragic for everybody involved.
AE
2024-12-27 03:18:44 +0000 UTCThe principal of that military school called A.J. stupid at the end of their talk without directly saying it. The full phrase is "keep it simple stupid"
Yarrow
2024-12-27 03:06:17 +0000 UTCHonestly I think military school would have been good for AJ. The kid needs some structure and discipline in his life and I'm sorry but not everything can be solved with therapy. All they're going to do is drug him up anyway, that's what most of these therapists do.
BNJ
2024-12-27 03:05:36 +0000 UTCI been dreaming of that fucking lo mein all the way the fuck over here! Now - who came in here and ate my shit?
Alexander
2024-12-27 03:04:04 +0000 UTCThanks for the reaction. Another incredible episode. There were some aspects where I disagreed with your POV. Some points: 1. Tony has mentioned on multiple occasions that he wants his kids to have their own life and make their own choices. Meadow is doing that. Yes, some of the things Tony has said and the circumstances at home are not easy but at the end of the day, AJ has to take some individual responsibility as well. I don't think Tony's upbringing and AJ's upbringing are the same. This is the 2000s when there were more avenues to explore as well unlike the late 60s and 70s when Tony grew up. 2. When Tony speaks to Melfi, Melfi is actually trying to get him to take some responsibility and clean up his act instead of complaining about his genes. She's calling him out right there. Tony realizes that A.J. is much more like him than he thought, but not in the way he wanted. Tony could hustle his classmates as a child. AJ is not that. 3. To Lola's question about the final scene, my POV is that the guests are watching Junior sing an Italian ballad with tears in their eyes, obviously moved by his singing and feeling a connection to their cultural heritage. However, they are at a funeral of a young man whose death was ordered by men at that very funeral ultimately showing that it was all bullshit, and they each, in some way bore responsibility for Jackie’s death. The transition to the other languages was meant to illustrate that Junior could have been singing any other song, because ultimately the words were meaningless it was all for show, and not to honor Jackie. As I've mentioned before, the show does a great job at outlining everyone's hypocrisy. Everyone there lives a life of lies. This is also the last pre-9/11 episode which feels extra eerie. 4. I think the gentleman at the military school has a perfectly reasonable conversation with AJ and underlines how important discipline is for them. Its a little over the top, but you have also seen shows like Band of Brothers. You know the way people from that walk of life are conditioned and trained to face difficulties later in life. 5. Tony Sirico - who played Paulie said that the only condition has put when accepting the role was that he never be an informant.
Karan Verma
2024-12-27 03:02:17 +0000 UTCTony looks at Jackie Jr and Tracee and sees his children. Military school is just a way for AJ to get the discipline and structure he knows he is incapable of giving him. He knows he is a bad influence to his children and wants to get them out of his orbit. "How are we going to save this kid?"
DustmanNorochj
2024-12-27 02:49:26 +0000 UTCI’m an avid sopranos fan, I still don’t know the context of the ending
Knot
2024-12-27 02:46:56 +0000 UTCPertaining to your comment that they are all acting like they are in the godfather, David Chase said he wanted to make a show about the first generation of mobsters that grew up watching the godfather every day.
Mitchell
2024-12-27 02:44:29 +0000 UTCEveryone gangsta until Omar opens the door
My Toasty Toast
2024-12-27 02:38:12 +0000 UTCThat is actually Dominic Chianese singing Core Ngrato at the end, brings a tear to my eye every time.
LegacyFilms
2024-12-27 02:09:43 +0000 UTCive been waiting for this moment lmao omar comin!!
Josip
2024-12-27 01:53:18 +0000 UTCHoly fuck looks like I need to catch up on the Sopranos I didn't know Omar comin' 👀👀
Gunner
2024-12-27 01:50:50 +0000 UTCyessss, I waited 5 months for this specific reaction!!!
ashton
2024-12-27 01:43:53 +0000 UTCOmar's coming yo!
HenryM
2024-12-27 01:41:05 +0000 UTCWe all knew that was going to be the thumbnail. Oh, indeed :)
Michael M
2024-12-27 01:40:41 +0000 UTCFinally! The reaction I've been waiting for. Omar's coming. 😂
Chidi.
2024-12-27 01:39:22 +0000 UTCI knew a little Omar would brighten y'all's day
Isaac
2024-12-27 01:37:35 +0000 UTC
