| Author | Message | ||
     shestheone Citizen Username: Shestheone Post Number: 272 Registered: 5-2003 |
I had many of the same disappointed reactions to this past episode and recent episodes. I think many of us are looking at the show -- knowing it is about to end-- and expecting something to CHANGE. To be all wrapped up. To have a neat ending. But I do wonder if the writers have no intention of wrapping up anything. Just because the show is about to end, doesn't mean life for the mob ends, doesn't mean business ends, etc. I'm beginning to believe that The Sopranos is going to come to an end with all of us left hanging as to the fate of many characters. | ||
| Pippi Supporter Username: Pippi Post Number: 2175 Registered: 8-2003  |
I believe there are still another 8 episodes coming after the last 3 of this season, so we can't say for sure how the series will wrap up. FWIW, I have been thoroughly enjoying the season. No complaints from me | ||
| breal Citizen Username: Breal Post Number: 884 Registered: 6-2002 |
Ok, there were two parts I liked. I liked when the crime bosses converged at the fair but were unable to plot their next nefarious act because all of them had sausage & onion subs stuffed in their mouths. (I see what Doulamama and Lydia mean about the seven deadly sins theme.) And I liked when Tony says to Dr. Melfi, after again saying he feels, after surviving his shooting, like every day is a gift, "But does it have to be a pair of sox?" Very "Is that all there is?" What would be enough, you wonder. | ||
| Lydia Supporter Username: Lydial Post Number: 1831 Registered: 5-2001 |
Breal - Continuing on the religion/sins theme - the back-and-forth with the priest - who was shaking down who? Also there was a lot of making the pious cross motion (not Catholic - dunno what that's called) and then getting down to business. Alleygater - Yes! The final scene with Paulie and his mother was fantastic. I've been enjoying the development of Paulie's character this season, he's so wonderfully self-absorbed. One of my favorite Paulie comments was a few episodes back when Finn described the blow-job and revealed that Vito was pitching not hitting...Paulie's response? "How much more betrayal can I take?" | ||
| doulamomma Citizen Username: Doulamomma Post Number: 1397 Registered: 3-2002 |
breal, "every day is a gift, "But does it have to be a pair of sox?" yes - loved that! | ||
| sk8mom Citizen Username: Sk8mom Post Number: 442 Registered: 11-2003 |
I loved the episode. Chrissy has less insight than a goldfish. I loved his fantasies about "family life" ("that's what it's all about," they toast in the Bada Bing, and Chris speaks of Tony as a wonderful example of fatherhood (look at A.J.). The best line of all -- Christofuh to Mrs.-Most-Likely-to-be-the- next-victim of-domestic-violence, as they are admiring the McMansion-- "Stately Wayne Manor." -- delivered with an incredible degree of conviction! Another fun bit was when he was telling his junkie henchman, who just arranged a contract hit and is, at that moment, shooting up in Christufuh's car -- that he will of course be invited over to the house, for Christmas and such. Another favorite moment was Tony to Paulie in the men's room, after the ride debacle at the Feast -- "You're doin' a heckuva job, Brownie." | ||
| Buzzsaw Citizen Username: Buzzsaw Post Number: 4713 Registered: 5-2001  |
I love you Johnny Cakes! So, it looks like Vito is going back home.... Where are they going w/ all this???? | ||
| Mr. Big Poppa Citizen Username: Big_poppa Post Number: 687 Registered: 7-2004  |
Good question. That was a great episode and the scenes from next week make it seem like we are heading for a fiery season finale. What was Janice's dramatic line? Something like "the only thing linking us together is DNA". I was dying!  | ||
| Brett Weir Citizen Username: Brett_weir Post Number: 1552 Registered: 4-2004  |
This season has reached the point where the payoff could never make up for the weeks of watching secondary characters doing ancillary things. After all the tough-guy, old-school things Johnny Sack has done throughout the series, he cops a plea? And a zhitty plea at that! Vito is home, Vito shoots a guy after a fender-bender, Vito loves Johnny Cakes- who f**kin' cares? Janice and Bacala get way too much attention too, although Tony giggling over the mental image of Bacala changing Junior's diaper was priceless. After a two-year layoff, this has been a dull ride, and it shows in the characters faces. Very disappointing! | ||
| Wendyn Supporter Username: Wendyn Post Number: 3090 Registered: 9-2002  |
I thought Vito's working/watching the clock bit was priceless. Love Janice. What's wrong? She's happy. | ||
| MeAndTheBoys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 3742 Registered: 12-2004  |
I so don't need this whole Vito/Vincent/Johnny Cakes, lovey-dovey, hot and heavy, domestic bliss, aspect of the story line! Just seems like a waste of precious final episode time to me. Unless, somehow it's leading up to some big bang ending. Are we thinking next week the underbosses get ahold of him and "take care of business" while keeping Tony away? Janice is a byotch to the tenth degree, walking around Ginny Sac's house with her decorator while the poor woman--who's life is falling apart around her--is sitting there! Funny, Tony trying to console Meadow and her relationship issues: "Talk to your mudda about these things!" | ||
| jem Citizen Username: Jem Post Number: 1539 Registered: 5-2001 |
I'm thinking that Aida Turturro must have a ball playing Janice - that character is just so over the top. She's always pushing buttons with her tears and tantrums. Janice knows exactly how to get what she thinks she wants. Want a ready-made family? Got it. Want a nice house? Got it. Poor Bobby. Poor Bobby's kids. | ||
| Buzzsaw Citizen Username: Buzzsaw Post Number: 4715 Registered: 5-2001 |
I also feel like they turn up the boom mic on Tony when he is eating or breathing. That said, I still like this show. | ||
| breal Citizen Username: Breal Post Number: 885 Registered: 6-2002 |
I liked this one too. The Vito factor gave the epidsode some energy. He's a mess but he sure holds the camera. I love the way he broke up with the hunky fireman. That's exactly how he would do it. What a communicator, is our Vito! Vito's obviously NOT going to try to have a non-mobster life. No witnessing, no protecting, no ratting, none of that. More killing, I think. Will Vito whack Tony? Will Tony whack Vito? How about this one: Vito whacks Phil Leotardo and anybody else who wants to make something out the the gay thing, and resumes his old life. Tony doesn't care that Vito's gay. He only cares about all that money Vito kept shoveling in, better than anybody else. Paulie's got cancer, Christufuh's a junkie. Tony could use Vito's intestinal fortitude in the line up. I know, I know. I have no credibility as a fortune teller at this point | ||
| breal Citizen Username: Breal Post Number: 886 Registered: 6-2002 |
And another thing. It occurred to me that Tony keeps Janice in his life, and gives her half-price houses, partly because--like all these mobsters--he needs high stimulation, high stakes, high drama. Janice is Tony's scheme-y, instictive equal. Maybe she's the only one who can give him a game. She's a girl, so she has to make some of her moves via a proxy--the biddable Bacala. But she's a contender. | ||
| Jersey_Boy Citizen Username: Jersey_boy Post Number: 826 Registered: 1-2006  |
How about the scene with Johnny Sac and the "secret language." Coffee with hickory? Then the "take the cannolis" moment, when he asks about the cake. "No, I mean an actual F*cking cake!" I was laughing. J.B. | ||
| Virtual It Girl Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 4435 Registered: 5-2001 |
Chicory!  | ||
| Jersey_Boy Citizen Username: Jersey_boy Post Number: 832 Registered: 1-2006 |
THANK YOU, FIG. J.B. | ||
| Virtual It Girl Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 4438 Registered: 5-2001 |
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| Alleygater Citizen Username: Alleygater Post Number: 2018 Registered: 10-2004 |
Boring episode, I wondered if it was ever going to end. Not worthy of much analysis. We all want more and it is finally dawning on us all that we aren't going to get what we want. I suspect that as action packed as the final episode will be that most of us will be disappointed. | ||
| Lydia Supporter Username: Lydial Post Number: 1856 Registered: 5-2001 |
Just watched it on TiVo - The "love scenes" were so treacley and Jackie Collins bad - Why on earth would the hunky fireman tell Vito he loves him so soon? Looking at the table in the bar of attractive gay guys, and then you pan to...Vito? If the fireman knew he was a dangerous mobster on the run I'd get the attraction - but so far he's just a conflicted tubby (who hits!) with a penchant for jonny cakes. I did like the scene where Vito coldheartedly killed the sensible New Englandler - that rings true at least. I was surprised he didn't take his truck and switch the plates. | ||
| Jersey_Boy Citizen Username: Jersey_boy Post Number: 881 Registered: 1-2006 |
Highlight, 5-21-06: Phil comes out of the closet to kill Vito. OUT OF THE CLOSET. And, was A.J. on MOL?  J.B. | ||
| us2inFL Citizen Username: Us2innj Post Number: 1430 Registered: 5-2001 |
What with with the Arthur Frommer "going to Paris thing?" Nice shots of the city, and a few quick juxtapositions to Tony and his tribulations, but boy what a red herring at the bitter end of the season. | ||
| ken (the other one) Citizen Username: Ken Post Number: 401 Registered: 5-2001  |
I saw that too, and I laughed!!! Almost as funny as Vito rear ending the car last week!! | ||
| MeAndTheBoys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 3787 Registered: 12-2004 |
Bada bing, and Vito's done. Very unceremonious after all the build-up, I think. A.J.'s such a little shyt. I liked that Tony broke his car window, instead of breaking his neck, but hopefully got his point across just the same. Although with Numb Nuts it's pretty hard to tell what gets through. Classic, him complaining about how expensive it is to go out to the clubs "a bottle of Crystal costs 500 bucks!" Someone needs to bring that boy down quite a few notches! And yet another "nobody" comes out of the woodwork to be sacrificed in the name of gratutious bloodshed? Who was this guy and why do they care what he thinks about Vito, particularly since they all think the same thing and Vito's dead and gone already? Or is he? I swear I saw a quick clip of him in the previews for the next show. Could the feds have got him and faked his death. Yeah, I know, the pool cue. But perhaps it wasn't fatal? | ||
| The Soulful Mr T Citizen Username: Howardt Post Number: 1973 Registered: 11-2004  |
AJ is a real question - which way will he go? Will he go to work @ 7Am for the next 9 episodes? Or will he rebel and motivate violence? As a character, he has a lot of potential - maybe more now then ever before. He's become a truly unlikable character and you gotta give Tony's character credit for handlng it the way he did. "Calmly" getting him the construction job rather than lashing out, etc. His calmes cracked a bit, but he held it together in way that would make Dr, Melfi.....proud? Great show - Edie Falco is so wondeful as Carmella, her character has untapped stores of intellect, curiosity, anger and sympathy. I liked the juxtaposition of the Lou Costello statue (where in NJ is that statue?) and the works of art in Paris. I also wanted to see Ro's date with Michele. I'd love to see Phil get his cumuppance. Notice he didnt get his hands dirty when Vito got his? One thing confused me: I thought that Tony had AGREED to whack Vito and when Silvio asked to whom the job shold be given, Tony said something about giving it back to Phil's guys, since they were so upset about the whole thing. Did I misunderstand that bit? When Phil and his hired hands showed up in Vito's motel room, I thought it was sanctioned by Tony. But, turns out it wasn't. Anyway, if not, Tony had sanctioned the hit anyway, so now Tony can say he had no role in it and somehow deal with Phil. Once phrase came back to me during this episode, just before the stabbing at Satriali's. "Go home and get your shine box." YOU knew that guy was gonna get whacked right there. | ||
| Brett Weir Citizen Username: Brett_weir Post Number: 1574 Registered: 4-2004 |
Tony's final word was to give it to Carlo since he's been the most vocal about Vito having to go. Carlo (again, another guy they just pulled out of no where) and Sil instead got to kill Phil's guy in Satriale's. This whole season has been so slipshod and random that you have to wonder how any of these guys manage to stay out of jail. AJ is a train wreck; he's not gonna become a working guy for long, and he's surely gonna bottom out before the show is over. Carmela couldn't even enjoy Paris because she knows what a sham her life is; her spec house is in ruins, her daughter is leaving, her son is a mess who hates her and her husband is a murderous gangster no matter how she has rationalized it. And the question of Adriana just isn't going away. Tony is running scared; he knows he can't match up to Phil and the NYC Family. He also knows he can't just sit and wait, so his next move will be critical. | ||
| Zoesky1 Citizen Username: Zoesky1 Post Number: 1510 Registered: 6-2003  |
The Lou Costello statue is in Hackensack. I believe he either was born there or lived there extensively. | ||
| Pippi Supporter Username: Pippi Post Number: 2239 Registered: 8-2003 |
I admit I will miss Vito, but I am glad that story line is over | ||
| Jim Murphy Citizen Username: Jimmurphy Post Number: 283 Registered: 5-2001 |
Not Hackensack - Paterson. | ||
| Alleygater Citizen Username: Alleygater Post Number: 2068 Registered: 10-2004 |
YET ANOTHER unbelievably slow episode. WTF cares about Carmella's trip to Paris? Not I for sure. And was it necessary to see THAT MUCH FOOTAGE of her walking around starry eyed? I don't think so. I hit the pause mid way through the episode and asked TS, "was the Soprano's always this slow in the earlier seasons? I always rememebered THINGS happening, am I wrong?" I liked how Tony handled AJ and wondered why he hadn't played hardball 5 years ago? I laughed when Meadow denied anything wrong with her relationship with Finn. I guess a bad relationship in Seattle is better than her dysfunctional murderous family in NJ. Can't blame her for wanting to get out. I'm hoping that the murder of Phil's guy shakes up the remaining 8 episodes. But am worried that it won't. Alas, there wasn't a lot worthwhile in the episode to talk about. | ||
| Buzzsaw Citizen Username: Buzzsaw Post Number: 4765 Registered: 5-2001 |
I thought that the phil coming out of the closet stuff was strange....maybe in a good way While I felt this was a slower episode, it was worth it to see AJ's window smashed by his dad. That kid won't get another acting job after the Sopranos. Where is this going? an all out war between NJ&NY | ||
| phyllis Citizen Username: Phyllis Post Number: 519 Registered: 6-2001 |
I really liked this week's episode. Things are starting to go somewhere. My feeling was that Tony had okayed the hit on Vito, but it was supposed to take place where he had set up. I think Phil's guys came in and just did it without Tony's okay - making it a problem even though the result was going to be the same. I see the issues with Phil taking center stage. He's a wacko after all those years in jail and doesn't like playing by the rules as he feels he is owed soemthing. So it's a war between NJ and NY and Tony is going to have to call in all the loyalty and respect from his guys. If any of them turn, then he's in trouble. Everyone will be tested - Carmela and the kids as well. Maybe even Melfi? Loved the look on the guys face who borrowed the money from Vito. And all of the nonsense as the mob families lament Vito's lifestyle and how God will punish him. | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 23097 Registered: 6-2001  |
I think Tony wanted to get Vito's AC contacts before he got whacked, and Phil's eagerness denied him that. Phil is really pushing Tony and I wouldn't be surprised if there was a "war between the states." | ||
| Joe R. Citizen Username: Ragnatela Post Number: 443 Registered: 6-2004 |
"And yet another "nobody" comes out of the woodwork to be sacrificed in the name of gratutious bloodshed? Who was this guy and why do they care what he thinks about Vito, particularly since they all think the same thing and Vito's dead and gone already? Or is he? " Me and the Boys: The guy they killed was one of Phil's guys (Dom Gamiello)who participated in the Vito hit. He went to Satriale's to gloat and ended up dead. Not exactly gratuitous. In this world, although Tony had sanctioned the hit, its a big deal to murder a captain in another guy's family. It's common courtesy to let the boss clean his own house in his own way. That's why Tony wouldn't let Phil whack Tony Blundetto last year even though he knew the sentence was "just". | ||
| MeAndTheBoys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 3795 Registered: 12-2004 |
O.K., I missed that connection. Thanks. Guess I'm not up on the finer points of gangsterhood! | ||
| doulamomma Citizen Username: Doulamomma Post Number: 1434 Registered: 3-2002 |
I liked the episode - I thought the scenes of Carmela in Paris were great...cleaning gold statues many hundreds of years old vs. cleaning the Baba Bing! sign...Carmela's realization that there are other ways to live. My husband said the bit about the guys "coming out of the closet" to off Vito - I thought he was reaching, but I guess I missed it! | ||
| Zoesky1 Citizen Username: Zoesky1 Post Number: 1511 Registered: 6-2003 |
Star-Ledger TV critic Alan Sepinwall writes about last night's episode: http://www.nj.com/tv/ledger/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/114827617264330.xml& coll=1 He makes some interesting points about Carmela in Paris and how it fits in with the rest of the show. I liked the Paris stuff, personally, and its impact on Carmela. How depressing to have to go from Paris back to that closeted (as in, hidden, repressed lifestyle of a mob wife turning a blind eye on the murders, etc., even of Adriana) life in NJ...does anyone see the parallels between Vito's closeted life and Carmela's???? Only Vito gets murdered for his, while Carmela goes on and on and on in hers....she knows Ade got whacked, but can't really face up to it except in nightmares. | ||
| Lydia Supporter Username: Lydial Post Number: 1871 Registered: 5-2001 |
Wow - just finished watching the episode this afternoon - there was a lot more layering and coming together w/ this episode. Zoesky - good point - the parallels between Vito's closeted life and Carmela's. At first I thought the whole "Carm and Ro do Paris" was like a very special Brady episode or something, but it was good to take Carmella out of Jersey. She's starting to figure things out - finally. Asking about Jackie and Jackie Jr and being so completely shut down by her best friend was a pivotal scene. Ro's weary growl and contained fury toward Carmella was worth sitting through all the Paris sight-seeing. | ||
| breal Citizen Username: Breal Post Number: 892 Registered: 6-2002 |
I liked the episode too, but couldn't really watch the scene where they killed Vito. It was too cruel. I know--the series is full of cruel murders, Vito was no Jack Twist, blah, blah, blah. But still. Couldn't watch it. Speaking of cruelty, the episode swings pretty hard at the Catholic church's dogma about homosexuality. I liked that about it too. |
