The Sopranos (HBO) TV Show • Page 33

This misinterpretation seems pretty common with people who havent seen it, frustrates me to no end. It definitely puts a spotlight on toxic masculinity but its much more sensitively written. Other antihero shows like Breaking Bad and even Boardwalk Empire are MUCH more bro-y.

 

I just watched that episode recently and it’s probably my favorite so far as well.

 

The show changed for three reasons: the death of Nancy Marchand, the September 11th attacks, and David Chase's disappointment in audience sympathy for Tony.

Season Four is the best season. There is a sense from the very first episode that things are not going to go well. For the first few seasons, there is the typical upward mobility of Tony besting his enemies, from Junior to Richie to his mother. Season Three was dramatically rewritten after Marchand's death, and Jackie Jr. always comes off as someone to pity rather than an antagonist. Season Four continues this trend, as the clash stop being about Tony versus a captain or the fight for the top spot but constantly feeling the pressure of New York. He can never really escape it for the rest of the show, whether it is Carmine of Johnny Sack or Phil Leotardo. We have spent so much time seeing Tony as a natural leader, both at home and in his criminal element, that he feels smaller and weaker when you know that the New York Families dramatically outweigh Tony's. Every time he dodges impending doom there is a sense that sooner or later someone in New York will decide they have had enough of Tony undermining them or driving a hard bargain. Of course, in all of the confusion of the civil war after Carmine's death, Tony gets the worst option in Phil Leotardo. We know what it will come to even if the plot moves around it.

Small things, like Chris' drug use, balloon into full-blown addiction. Paulie's temper turns into rebellion and betrayal. Tony's daughter melts down completely, his wife finally cannot take anymore. Even his financial security takes a dive, as he finds himself having to dress down his captains for low percentages. Even though Season One had the FBI raid the house and Season Two had the potential murder charges, the walls feel closer in season four than any time other than the final handful of episodes.

 

My favorite season was definitely the last one. Everything culminates perfectly.

 

I remember going to Shea stadium when Citi was announced but hadn't begun building yet. There was a spot in the parking lot that claimed that was going to be where one of the foul poles to citi field would be.

I could be totally making it up but idk why I would create that story in my head.


Btw I fucking hated Shea Stadium so much.

 

Shea Stadium wasn't a great place to see a game, it was just a giant concrete building, nothing really special. my parents and grandparents have way fonder memories of it than I do.

The foul pole thing makes sense, in the main parking lot of citi field right now there are plaques in the ground where all the old bases and pitchers mound were from shea, which i think is a cool memorial.

 

I just remember the concessions being these tiny little narrow hallways

 

I was definitely wondering when Christopher's plot line w heroin was gonna come to a head, I was wondering about it all since they went to Italy

 

man i love the italy episode lol

 

Paulie getting rebuffed at every turn was fucking hilarious, esp when he asked for the spaghetti at dinner

 

SHE WAS ABUSIVE TO THE STAAAAAAFF.

 

Comendatore! That’s RESPECT

 

omg...end of s4 ep 8 has tony and carmela engaging in 4d chess after she stole a bunch of cash from him and it's amazing how cutthroat she can be (justifiably so given the situation w her finding evidence of tony being w yet another woman) but it's also really sad because of all that progress they had made the last season with learning to communicate better... L

also wow breaking bad ripped off this show p hard in a lot of places

 

Watching BB first is the only way to stand a chance of really appreciating it and not just seeing it as inferior and a letdown. Plus it’s one of the worst offenders for the problematic handling of women we were talking about a few days ago.

You’re getting into such a great run right now and I can’t wait to hear more of your reactions!

 

I wish i experienced more of this show live. Admittedly it was nearly impossible as i was only 11 when it premiered and even through high school it was a show my parents would not have been keen on me watching, so i only got to see Season 6 prt 1 & 2 live.

 

I watched BB first and Sopranos filled the void for me once I finished it. Then, I realized how vastly superior Sopranos is to BB. Not only is Soprano’s treatment of women more nuanced than BB, but its overarching themes strive for spirituality and the very meaning of existence. Though BB is a great show, that’s something I never felt from it.

 

Carmela really is the goat character in the show IMO

 

it was very obvious that Gilligan tried to make Skyler the Carmela of BB but, he just did it so, so poorly.

 

like, a perfect example is when Carmela and Cousin Brian (I think mid season 4?) try to get Tony to agree to like, iirc an investment or savings plan, and he wants no part of it, because Carm is always, from Season 1, worried about the financial future of the family should something happen to Tony (and even though you know that part of it is because she secretly couldnt bear to live a middle class life, it never really comes off that way) - and IMO it's always seen as like a reasonable logical plan and whenever Tony balks at her ideas you're like why is he being this dumb, yet any time Skyler tries to make moves in BB for the safety of her and the family, it's always painted in this light of like, annoyance and just her being a burden and cross for Walt to bear. Skyler is legitimately an antagonist at many points in the show and it never should have been that way.

 

I haven’t watched BB since it aired and I feel it won’t hold up to whatever I remember. Especially with how good BCS has been.

 

I enjoyed BB but had no real desire to return to it the way I did other shows i'd completed, until my wife expressed the desire to watch it and we went through it (still havent fully finished it) and i am enjoying the second re-watch more than I thought i would have.

 

After we finish up the sopranos I think we’re going to start the wire as my girlfriend has never seen it.

 

IT'S A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY!

 

lmao the scene where they're in the manager's office at Green Grove and she's trying to communicate with Livia in italian and she's having none of it is always hilarious