the Sopranos- Page 8

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 1:49pm

My thoughts on the way the Vito situation was resolved:

While I see Luscious' point about the possibility of the show "glorifying" such an atrocious act of violence, I don't believe that was the intended effect, nor do I think the general response from viewers would be of "rejoicing". This series has OFTEN done many scenes that are meant to show that these characters AREN'T likeable. That they're vicious, corrupt, brutal and quite often downright evil people. Think, for example, of the scene in which Ralphie beat his pregnant stripper girlfriend to death. Here we had a character who had provided a lot of comedy relief, and who was somewhat "likeable", suddenly do a completely vicious and violent act. It's like a wake up call from the producers: These people AREN'T the heroes.

However, I still don't think that was the case in this episode. Vito's death was carried out by Phil, who, all season, has been slowly presented as an unlikeable loose cannon. A thorn on Tony's side. I don't think viewers particularly LIKE Phil, and to witness him take "justice" into his own hands, regardless of your views on homosexuality, is there as an obstacle to Tony. He killed a capo from another family, without the blessing of that family's boss.

Which is why Sil, and all of Tony's "thugs", despite their flagrant and disgusting homophobia, ganged up on that guy (****, I suck at remembering names), when he described what he'd done to Vito. Even THEY in their homophobic, violent ways were OUTRAGED at these turn of events.

And thus, a war has started.

BTW, was Vito's death an homage to Marlowe's Edward II, or am I just reading too much into it?

Oh, and Chita, I DO get the impression that Carmela brought up Jackie's death because she suspects Tony was behind it.
Updated On: 5/22/06 at 01:49 PM

[Luscious]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 3:14pm

Two random thoughts that sprang to mind while watching last night's episode...

The irony of Phil literally coming out of the closet to perform his dirty deed on Vito.

Assuming she wasn't CGI'd in, Drea de Matteo getting a free trip to Paris for a five second appearance. Shweeet!

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 3:21pm

I, too, thought that Phil coming out of the closet was absolutely brilliant. This show excels at details, and that was one of the best of the series.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 6:00pm

The Sopranos this year started out, literally, in a coma

They seem to have gotten back to where their fans wanted them to be. Everyone knew as soon as Vito came back he was a goner. Vito having dinner with his family - a sort of last supper? Did he really think when he returned he would be accepted back or did he secretly have a death wish & wanted someone to kill him?

I do not think there were surprises other than the viciousness of the killing & the timing. Another reason he was killed, brought up a TV critic, was that this was thought of as a sign of weakness someone ( maybe even the Feds) could use against Tony etc. Some high level characters have gone and as the series winds down more & more will go

At least we will only have to wait about 6 months for the final 8 episodes

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 7:30pm

Yes, it is a winding down of all the characters as the show will be ending next year. To me, The Sopranos cast so many Goodfellas alumni that the writers can't help but pay occasional homage. In season one, it was Christopher shooting the baker in the toe, and last night it was Carlo and Sil's re-creation of the murder of Billy Batts - played by smiling Frank Vincent, the man in the center of this story. (Phil in this story)It was a bad thing that that Carlo and Sil did. Phil can get away with killing one of Tony's captains because Vito was marked for death anyway and because he is the boss of New York. Even if Tony wanted to go to the mattresses, he does not have the manpower to do it. But if and when Phil, who wanted Jersey's blood, since the Tony Blundetto thing, figures out what happened, he can rain five boroughs worth of fury down on Tony. As Tony drove away from Satriele's, you could see him figuring out exactly how much trouble he is in. After thinking about that he goes and gets A.J. a job because he knows he does not have much time and Sil and Carlo just took matters into their own hands. He does not seem to have the control over the guys as he once did. And while Tony was figuring how small and vulnerable he was against New York, half a world away Carmela was having her own sense of self smashed to bits. In Caldwell, she may be hot stuff but when she sees France and all its treasures she realizes she is just another insignificant speak in the scheme of things. Traveling does open one's eyes to things. Notice the callbacks to old events: chopping up bodies at Satriales, Carm and Roe's aborted trip to Itay, Mr. Wegler's book about Abelard and Heloise, Richie Aprile's gay son, the deaths of Jackie, Jackie Jr.,Cosette and Adriana. I am glad they did intermingle these events in the story line. With Meadow moving out, her business in ruins and AJ a lost cause, Carmella cannot think of anything to do but to go to Paris with Rosalie. Melfi asks Tony how he wants to live his life and he changes the subject because he does not know what he might want or whether he will be around to get it. It seems like the chracters know the show is ending too.
Last week we saw the end of Johnny Sack's life as a respected wiseguy, and last night saw the end of Vito's life, period. After looking like a man with a death wish last week, he made a half baked attempt to get back in with the family only to wind up dead and with a pool cue impaled at the hands of Fat Dom and Gerry the hairdo. Was that symbolism for Vito to get the message when Phil came out of the closet? RIP Vito we will always have Johnny cakes. Carm's unrest about Adriana, reached its conclusion with her dream in Paris about seeing Adriana and Cosette. Iit was her way of dealing with the truth of Ade's death. A truth she would never accept in the real world. Although she initally had her breath taken away by that beautiful city, the weight of the place, plus the presence of her traveling companion eventually put her in a morbid frame of mind. Roe is not just Carmella's best friend, she is the wife of the previous boss, and she had a son who died because he was just as big of a selfish screw up as AJ. Is Rosalie April not the most down to earth likeable character in the whole show? Not complicated or bound up with neuroses like everyone else, she's game to hook up with a biker (from Belleville, France) and when Carm has her own weird moment, Roe calms her down by singing a song by Edith Piaf. Quite a gal.

Posted: 5/22/06 at 8:23pm

I agree that Rosalie is a charmer - I was very happy she got more screen time. But Rosalie also sits squarely with those in the "family" who refuse to see, accept or deal with the results of their actions. She is in deep denial. Carmella and Tony, in different ways, are struggling to deal with the ramifications of their lives, whether it be via a dream, therapy or a trip to Paris.

I absolutely love this show!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 3:55am

Wow, Broadwaylady, that was quite a well written and extremely observant summation. Thank you.

I know that Phil killing Vito was necessary for the final battle lines to be drawn, but I was a bit surprised that it wasn't Tony's direct order that did him in. Tony's wavering on the decision will have a much greater impact on the coming events than if he had just done what he knew in his heart needed to be done weeks ago.

The best cut of the entire series may be the cut from Carmella standing in awe at the incredibly beautiful statues in Paris with the look of overwhelming inspiration on her face to the scene outside of the bar with someone yelling to the person washing the Bada-bing sign "Make sure you wash all that **** off her tits!"

It is going to be hard to see this show end.

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 9:13am

These writers are incredible.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/24/06 at 8:15pm

In todays NY post or News was an interview with the actor who played Vito

He said his death scene would have been more gut wrenching (more pleading for his life) but his part was severely cut by the editors

[Glebb]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 6:25pm

Soon.

[Glebb]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 9:48pm

Jane2, are you watching?

[Glebb]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 10:03pm

OK, can I just say that my favorite thing is that Patty McCormack (yes Rhoda from The Bad Seed) is Liz La Cerva.

[fflagg]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 10:16pm

And the next door neighbor on THE ROPERS.

What a lame conclusion episode. What happened? Chris is banging the real estate agent, they both fell off the wagon, A/J has a hot g/f with a kid, Carm is pursuing a P/I investigation into Adriana's disap, and Meadow moved.

I thought Christopher was going to get offed, Adriana would come back, and Carm would find out that Tony is back banging chicks. Some plot point with drama. Instead it was a 55-minute bore.

[Luscious]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 10:28pm

All set-up. No pay-off. Disappointing. Guess that's why they really weren’t promoting it as a season finale; just the last new episode of the year before the final 8 in January.

Updated On: 6/4/06 at 10:28 PM

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 11:13pm

I must have missed the part about the real estate agent's fiance.
What happened to him?

Posted: 6/5/06 at 12:16am

she lied. she is seeing Tony's nephew, Christopher.

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 4:17pm

There sure was editing going on. First the real estate agent is dying from a cough on the couch, next scene, she and Christopher are smoking crack in a car.

The ending was disappointing but I'm not going to complain. Entire season was brilliant. Almost everyone I kn ow has either watched it, taped it, is borrowing it, buying it, etc. I'm sure the 8 episodes in Jan. will really bring things to their proper ends.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 4:22pm

"What would you give me for a basket of kisses?"

I had no idea!

[Glebb]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 4:25pm

A basket of hugs.
Neither did I!

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 4:55pm

Don't think of it as a season finale. You may feel happier that way. I've heard complaints about this season but this was the first time I was unsatisfied. I know I've been waiting for weeks for some kind of explosion but there was nothing. I'm not saying we need an all out war between Phil and Tony, or Carmela to visit the FBI offices in search of Adriana, or Paulie to die of cancer, but we needed something to happen instead of the kind of jokes disguised as resolutions. Carmella abandoning the Adrianna search as soon as Tony revived the spec house or Phil's heart attack tabling the war. I thought when Tony went to the hospital bed, he was going to put a pillow over his face. That's what I wanted him to do. Phil made fun of Johnny sack crying and he did the same thing. The latter half of the season had not had the same drive as the first five episodes but each hour has featured at least one compelling development or image: Johnny Sack, broken man; Tony finally taking a firm hand with AJ; an oblivious Carmella helping Tony getting dressed for a tryst. She said he looked handsome, ugh. Last night was just another espisode of the Christopher Moltisanti junkie hour. To me drug addicts are very boring. We got it when Christopher shot up in Italy; we got it when he was high at Livia's wake and we really got it when he sat on Cosette. Why do wee have to see it constantly, we get it. Julianna Margulies proved also that no matter how good you look in skimpy underwear it doesn't make you look good puking in it. Even Tony had to acknowledge to Melfi how much his life is running in place and that, since his therapy sessions have not done him any good, he just comes to see her. Not coincidentally, the only character not stuck in the mud was AJ. Not only has his derisive nickname been upgraded from "Prince Albert" to "Working Man" but for the first time in his life he seems to understand responsibility. Falling for the right girl helps, but of course Carmella's prejudices do not allow her to see that she could be the right one for AJ. Before, he would have been dumb enough to think he could scare those punks outside Blanca's apartment, or callow enough to use them as an excuse to bail; instead, he offered them his bike to make them go away. That was probably just about the smartest and selfless think he ever did. Is AJ's redemption enough to tide over to January. I think not. But I will wait like everyone else. Since it is the very last 8 episodes, I assume that they will all be pushing daisies except the wives.

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:15pm

I just loved how Tony arranged for Carmella's house to reappear to give her a divertissement from her obssession with Ade.

And I love how they show how Christopher keeps falling off the drug wagon-it really is what happens with so many people. Just going through rehab does not always work.

I also loved how Tony suddenly got mushy and conciliatory with Leotardo right after they threatened him with the death of someone near and dear. Can't wait to see who it is.

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:15pm

sorry, double post.

Updated On: 6/5/06 at 05:15 PM

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:18pm

What do we think of AJ's new girlfriend?

"At least she is Catholic" - I fell out!

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:38pm

I missed the episode but I heard the the new girlfriend is hot. And do you think Julianna used a body double? That's the rumor.

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:51pm

The girlfriend is hot - and has a three year old son who is really cute. I never would have thought that about the body double...I wonder.