In typical fashion of these hour long dramas, the second episode lacked the vivacity and life of the first. Although not as exciting or dynamic, some important story lines are set in motion.
Junior gets out of prison and one of the sweetest characters, Junior’s new right-hand man, Bobby is introduced. Janice and Livia begin to play each other, acting sweet and devoted one minute and the next dreaming of killing each other. In the end, it looks like they’ll have plenty of time to live out the drama, or as Tony said, reenact Who’s Afraid of Baby Janice since they’re going to be moving into the childhood home as soon as Livia is better.
One thing has changed though; Grandma Livia doesn’t seem to quite have the means to control the family anymore. Her desperate call to Carmela is a sign of that; although I’m sure even the littlest of jabs- talking to Meadow and A.J., a few words to Carmela and of course, using Janice will eventually help her with her ‘cause’.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Season 2 - Episode 01- Tony, A Perfect Life?
“When I was 21……” What a montage to open the season and welcome us back into the world of the Sopranos. Every character is introduced to us again without a single word being uttered. Some have changed, A.J. is older, Dr. Melfi is working out of a hotel, Tony is the boss and then, some haven’t changed at all, Carmela is still pulling her baked ziti out of the oven, Livia is still laying alone in a hospital bed- her cold eyes staring out at us plotting and scheming her next move and Chris is snorting a line of heroin. Time has passed but most remains the same or has it?
At first we believe Tony’s life is finally coming around. He seems happy, in control, making money and killing off anyone who even speaks a word of dirt against him. But after a number of surprises, Pussy’s mysterious reappearance and his money grubbing sister’s return, the repressed demons surface again. A panic attack and failed psychiatrists meeting later and Tony is back begging Melfi to take him back. It’s obvious she’ll eventually succumb and help him but at this point she gives him a good F you and sends him on his way. Although he may have seemed on top in the beginning, the reality is that Tony is lost, drifting in a world without control and ready to blow at any moment. By the end of the episode it seems clear that Tony is actually in a worst place than we’ve ever seen him before. What a great way to set up a new season!
Favorite moments:
The BBQ. Tony enraged by his sister’s sneaky action, must try to repress his anger at a family BBQ. A mega moment of acting for Gandolfini as Tony is forced to go ‘play’ with his friends by Carmela. He sees Pussy, manning the BBQ and begins slinging insults, his eyes beady and his tone bitter and harsh. Just as he couldn’t realize the truth about his mother until it was staring him in the face, he can’t face what he probably already knows about Pussy. If Pussy doesn’t know it, he’d better watch his back.
The final scene. Tony comes home early. Carmela, dressed in heels, her face made up and her hair coiffed perfectly for a day at home, is surprised to see him. They barely say more than a few words to each other. It seems like both have something to say but neither does. They’re distanced with no connection. She makes his food, he tells her to sit and still nothing. Maybe their marriage has hit one too many speed bumps, maybe without the kids around they don’t know what to do with each other, maybe they’ve stayed so separated that they have nothing in common anymore, or maybe one too many wrongs have been done and the marriage is broken. Whatever it is, you know this is the beginning of what will be a dramatic and difficult time in their marriage.
At first we believe Tony’s life is finally coming around. He seems happy, in control, making money and killing off anyone who even speaks a word of dirt against him. But after a number of surprises, Pussy’s mysterious reappearance and his money grubbing sister’s return, the repressed demons surface again. A panic attack and failed psychiatrists meeting later and Tony is back begging Melfi to take him back. It’s obvious she’ll eventually succumb and help him but at this point she gives him a good F you and sends him on his way. Although he may have seemed on top in the beginning, the reality is that Tony is lost, drifting in a world without control and ready to blow at any moment. By the end of the episode it seems clear that Tony is actually in a worst place than we’ve ever seen him before. What a great way to set up a new season!
Favorite moments:
The BBQ. Tony enraged by his sister’s sneaky action, must try to repress his anger at a family BBQ. A mega moment of acting for Gandolfini as Tony is forced to go ‘play’ with his friends by Carmela. He sees Pussy, manning the BBQ and begins slinging insults, his eyes beady and his tone bitter and harsh. Just as he couldn’t realize the truth about his mother until it was staring him in the face, he can’t face what he probably already knows about Pussy. If Pussy doesn’t know it, he’d better watch his back.
The final scene. Tony comes home early. Carmela, dressed in heels, her face made up and her hair coiffed perfectly for a day at home, is surprised to see him. They barely say more than a few words to each other. It seems like both have something to say but neither does. They’re distanced with no connection. She makes his food, he tells her to sit and still nothing. Maybe their marriage has hit one too many speed bumps, maybe without the kids around they don’t know what to do with each other, maybe they’ve stayed so separated that they have nothing in common anymore, or maybe one too many wrongs have been done and the marriage is broken. Whatever it is, you know this is the beginning of what will be a dramatic and difficult time in their marriage.
Episode 12 and 13- The Italian Mother
It all comes to a head here. Pussy has gone missing. Tony is lost in depression and hallucinating about a voluptuous Italian dental student house sitting next door. It takes an assassination attempt on his life to get Tony to wake up out of his stupor and begin to figure out the real truth. Then, the shit hits the fan.
Scenes to remember:
Dr. Melfi forces Tony to face something she’s already known for a long time; that his mother is the mastermind behind it all, including the attempt on his life. Man, alive! Even when I expect it and saw how carefully the season is built around this revelation, it is quite a scene when it finally is shown to Tony. The scene is constructed so tightly, every moment, the delivery of every line, the tension growing as Melfi rattles on and on about personality disorders, all to the point where it explodes or should I say Tony explodes, shattering the glass table, breaking the unseen barrier between psychiatrist and patient and coming so close to Melfi he actually spits in her mouth. It is an explosive moment, a shocking moment and a perfect moment.
As an audience we’re wishing Tony would listen to Melfi and finally we’re given the payoff when we learn that the retirement home where Livia has been living has been bugged by the FBI. As Tony listens to his mother rattle on about his seeing a psychiatrist, his depression and his meetings at her home, Tony has no other option but to face what he’s known but couldn’t admit.
Tony has to take care of those who’ve harmed him but before he can do that he and Carm (does it surprise anyone else that she takes the news of his mother in stride?) must suffer through one of the most uncomfortable family dinners. Imagine sitting at a table with your mother and uncle who have just tried to kill you?! The reactions from Carm, Junior, the kids and of course Tony are priceless and sell the scene so well.
Carm gets one more great scene in this season. Her confrontation of the priest is a wonderful piece of acting for Falco. Man, she is a tough woman. She direct, honest and takes no bullshit; it’s no wonder she’s with Tony.
Tony finally gets to take care of his dirty laundry. He kills his rat, kills Junior’s men but not Junior, who got lucky and sent to prison, and finally opens up to his guys about going to a psychiatrist. (Yet, another wonderful moment in this episode)! But just when he’s going to get the real revenge he’s been craving, smothering his mother, she’s beat him to the punch and pulled out the big guns by pretending to have had a stroke! He lets her know though, oh he lets her know.
These two episodes are so well done. The dream sequences are unreal, the scene where Tony is awoken from his stupor is thrilling, the moments we see Tony realizing what his mother has done are stunning, painful and cathartic. And finally, watching as Tony gets his justice is a thrilling and satisfying end to a wonderful first season. This is why The Sopranos is still considered the best. It broke the barriers and still, after having seen many of these shows, lives on. It’s like the fine wine Tony is always drinking, it only gets better with age.
Scenes to remember:
Dr. Melfi forces Tony to face something she’s already known for a long time; that his mother is the mastermind behind it all, including the attempt on his life. Man, alive! Even when I expect it and saw how carefully the season is built around this revelation, it is quite a scene when it finally is shown to Tony. The scene is constructed so tightly, every moment, the delivery of every line, the tension growing as Melfi rattles on and on about personality disorders, all to the point where it explodes or should I say Tony explodes, shattering the glass table, breaking the unseen barrier between psychiatrist and patient and coming so close to Melfi he actually spits in her mouth. It is an explosive moment, a shocking moment and a perfect moment.
As an audience we’re wishing Tony would listen to Melfi and finally we’re given the payoff when we learn that the retirement home where Livia has been living has been bugged by the FBI. As Tony listens to his mother rattle on about his seeing a psychiatrist, his depression and his meetings at her home, Tony has no other option but to face what he’s known but couldn’t admit.
Tony has to take care of those who’ve harmed him but before he can do that he and Carm (does it surprise anyone else that she takes the news of his mother in stride?) must suffer through one of the most uncomfortable family dinners. Imagine sitting at a table with your mother and uncle who have just tried to kill you?! The reactions from Carm, Junior, the kids and of course Tony are priceless and sell the scene so well.
Carm gets one more great scene in this season. Her confrontation of the priest is a wonderful piece of acting for Falco. Man, she is a tough woman. She direct, honest and takes no bullshit; it’s no wonder she’s with Tony.
Tony finally gets to take care of his dirty laundry. He kills his rat, kills Junior’s men but not Junior, who got lucky and sent to prison, and finally opens up to his guys about going to a psychiatrist. (Yet, another wonderful moment in this episode)! But just when he’s going to get the real revenge he’s been craving, smothering his mother, she’s beat him to the punch and pulled out the big guns by pretending to have had a stroke! He lets her know though, oh he lets her know.
These two episodes are so well done. The dream sequences are unreal, the scene where Tony is awoken from his stupor is thrilling, the moments we see Tony realizing what his mother has done are stunning, painful and cathartic. And finally, watching as Tony gets his justice is a thrilling and satisfying end to a wonderful first season. This is why The Sopranos is still considered the best. It broke the barriers and still, after having seen many of these shows, lives on. It’s like the fine wine Tony is always drinking, it only gets better with age.
Episode 11- A Rat in the Crew
Tony learns some disturbing news about his crew; there’s a rat. Junior learns some other disturbing news (of course from Livia) that Tony’s holding meetings with the other mob bosses behind his back.
It’s an episode that sets up what will change the comfortable way of life which Tony has been leading. In learning that his best friend has betrayed him Tony is haunted and does everything in his power to find out that it isn’t true. Tony is literally heartbroken and scene after scene demonstrates just how much of a betrayal this is.
If you have ever read about Gandolfini’s eyes, this is an episode which demonstrates the soulfulness of them. Watch the scene where Tony meets with Pussy at his house. He desperately wants Pussy to tell him the truth and he desperately wants the truth to be different from what he already knows.
It’s an episode that sets up what will change the comfortable way of life which Tony has been leading. In learning that his best friend has betrayed him Tony is haunted and does everything in his power to find out that it isn’t true. Tony is literally heartbroken and scene after scene demonstrates just how much of a betrayal this is.
If you have ever read about Gandolfini’s eyes, this is an episode which demonstrates the soulfulness of them. Watch the scene where Tony meets with Pussy at his house. He desperately wants Pussy to tell him the truth and he desperately wants the truth to be different from what he already knows.
Episode 10- Adriana Tries to Become a Somebody
I would divide this episode into two major story lines, one of which I find more interesting than the other. Although I came to adore Adriana in the series, her attempt at becoming a record producer is not one of my most favorite story arches for her character. It is important though to show just how different she and Chris are from Tony and Carmela. This younger generation of Mafioso are more self-centered, less talented and not as concerned with the values, which the older members hold so dear. They are searching for ways to better themselves instead of being concerned with the brotherhood of the mafia, which definitely makes Adriana’s story vital to understanding the divide that’s beginning to exist within the mafia. A divide which Tony will need to deal with as the show continues.
The other story line put Tony into another fascinating circumstance. Tony joins his neighbor for a BBQ and later a game of golf. The BBQ scene is shot in a very similar manner to some of the previous scenes which take place in Tony’s backyard with his friends. The similarity makes the awkwardness of how Tony fits in even more apparent. Instead of being in the center of his group, he’s on the far side of the men, being squeezed off the screen and being forced to lean on the man next to him just to be heard. The men talk about their business, just as Tony has done in the past, but now Tony doesn’t have a clue what they’re talking about. It is really strange to see Tony go from the main man to an outsider. The scene seems to be winking at its’ audience through its duplicity; the mafia guys are really not so much different those normal, wall street types.
The final straw for Tony is when he joins the same group of men for a game of golf. It doesn’t take Tony long to figure out that he’s been invited to provide entertainment, not as a golf companion. Tony gets his revenge though with a humorous gesture when he asks his neighbor to babysit a box of sand!
The other story line put Tony into another fascinating circumstance. Tony joins his neighbor for a BBQ and later a game of golf. The BBQ scene is shot in a very similar manner to some of the previous scenes which take place in Tony’s backyard with his friends. The similarity makes the awkwardness of how Tony fits in even more apparent. Instead of being in the center of his group, he’s on the far side of the men, being squeezed off the screen and being forced to lean on the man next to him just to be heard. The men talk about their business, just as Tony has done in the past, but now Tony doesn’t have a clue what they’re talking about. It is really strange to see Tony go from the main man to an outsider. The scene seems to be winking at its’ audience through its duplicity; the mafia guys are really not so much different those normal, wall street types.
The final straw for Tony is when he joins the same group of men for a game of golf. It doesn’t take Tony long to figure out that he’s been invited to provide entertainment, not as a golf companion. Tony gets his revenge though with a humorous gesture when he asks his neighbor to babysit a box of sand!
Episode 09- The Coach Cross a Line
Tony has to make a serious decision. Junior breaks up with his girlfriend in a memorable way when the truth about his sexual talents comes out.
Tony is confronted with his two worlds when his daughter’s soccer coach does something which would be punishable by the mafia with death. When Dr. Melfi and Artie confront him with his decision Tony has to rethink what is a natural instinct to him. (Way to go Artie!)
In the end, Tony’s decision leaves him drunk, waltzing and smashing into furniture as Carmela tries to get him to calm down. It is an arresting and tragic scene that shows the conflict Tony feels to go against what he knows in order to do the right thing. Could it be possible that Tony has made progress with his psychiatrist?
Tony is confronted with his two worlds when his daughter’s soccer coach does something which would be punishable by the mafia with death. When Dr. Melfi and Artie confront him with his decision Tony has to rethink what is a natural instinct to him. (Way to go Artie!)
In the end, Tony’s decision leaves him drunk, waltzing and smashing into furniture as Carmela tries to get him to calm down. It is an arresting and tragic scene that shows the conflict Tony feels to go against what he knows in order to do the right thing. Could it be possible that Tony has made progress with his psychiatrist?
Episode 08- The FBI Invade
The episode starts at a wedding where everyone learns the FBI is going to crack down on the mob. Spring cleaning immediately takes place (I mean immediately as in all husbands’ grab their wives and leave the wedding in that second). This is not your normal spring cleaning, in the mob world spring cleaning means that everyone hides their weapons, money and jewelry.
There’s a lot of discussion from Dr. Melfi’s family and the Soprano family about what it means to be Italian. The episode gets a little preachy and seems to be beating in the idea of what is the real Italian. Chris feels jealousy that his friend gets mentioned on TV while he doesn’t get any notice for being part of the mafia. Overall, there were interesting themes but a dull episode in the end. It just fell a little flat. It did try to show the conflict someone like Melfi might have dealing with Tony, which is a question I believe needed to be asked and looked at but could it have been done a bit differently? I like the idea of her talking with her family about her mob patient but eventually found the dialogue forced and unnatural.
The best scene in my mind is a tie but both have the grandmother in it. I find every scene she’s in to be downright fascinating. I absolutely loved Carmela trying to get the grandmother to go to lunch with her so that Tony can plant his hidden goodies in her retirement home. And the other, is the scene where Livia sits with Junior at a monstrously bad stand-up comedian act and plants the information that Tony is seeing a psychiatrist. She knows exactly what she’s doing and yet she plays it off as if a wrong has been done to her.
There’s a lot of discussion from Dr. Melfi’s family and the Soprano family about what it means to be Italian. The episode gets a little preachy and seems to be beating in the idea of what is the real Italian. Chris feels jealousy that his friend gets mentioned on TV while he doesn’t get any notice for being part of the mafia. Overall, there were interesting themes but a dull episode in the end. It just fell a little flat. It did try to show the conflict someone like Melfi might have dealing with Tony, which is a question I believe needed to be asked and looked at but could it have been done a bit differently? I like the idea of her talking with her family about her mob patient but eventually found the dialogue forced and unnatural.
The best scene in my mind is a tie but both have the grandmother in it. I find every scene she’s in to be downright fascinating. I absolutely loved Carmela trying to get the grandmother to go to lunch with her so that Tony can plant his hidden goodies in her retirement home. And the other, is the scene where Livia sits with Junior at a monstrously bad stand-up comedian act and plants the information that Tony is seeing a psychiatrist. She knows exactly what she’s doing and yet she plays it off as if a wrong has been done to her.
Episode 07- Tony Remembers His Childhood
AJ is diagnosed with ADD, which makes Tony begin to question if he’s doomed his son, through his nature and through nurture.
Memories of his father and mother and his life as a boy come back through flashback sequences.The sequences, which reminded me of the early scenes in Goodfellas or A Bronx Story, were a nice change a pace from all episodes so far.
The question of if he was predestined to end up a gangster or if he had had a choice comes up. Grandma learns that Tony has been seeing a psychiatrist and trouble really starts brewing. It all comes down to his mother again. The human side of Tony really comes out at the end of the episode. Here he simply is the family man; playing Nintendo with his son or making an ice cream Sunday by spraying half a can of whipped cream in his mouth.
The mob stuff doesn’t take center stage in this episode; instead it really focuses on fatherhood. The whole episode helps to see where he came from and what makes him tick. It also poses an interesting question for Tony; why did he become a gangster? Did he ever really have a choice or was his fate sealed the moment his father didn’t get out?
Memories of his father and mother and his life as a boy come back through flashback sequences.The sequences, which reminded me of the early scenes in Goodfellas or A Bronx Story, were a nice change a pace from all episodes so far.
The question of if he was predestined to end up a gangster or if he had had a choice comes up. Grandma learns that Tony has been seeing a psychiatrist and trouble really starts brewing. It all comes down to his mother again. The human side of Tony really comes out at the end of the episode. Here he simply is the family man; playing Nintendo with his son or making an ice cream Sunday by spraying half a can of whipped cream in his mouth.
The mob stuff doesn’t take center stage in this episode; instead it really focuses on fatherhood. The whole episode helps to see where he came from and what makes him tick. It also poses an interesting question for Tony; why did he become a gangster? Did he ever really have a choice or was his fate sealed the moment his father didn’t get out?
Episode 06- Tony Loves Dr. Melfi
Junior becomes boss and already trouble is brewing. Junior’s not stupid but he’s just not able to handle all the difficult personalities around him. A mob boss needs finesse, sensitivity and the ability to be one step ahead, all of which Junior is incapable of. Junior’s biggest fault is that he cannot separate his personal grievances and his pride from the job of being the boss. When it comes down to it, he’s not Tony. Unfortunately for Tony, Junior’s not taking his position lightly and is already mixing it up within the organization. And, on top of it all, Livia sticks her hand into the mobster’s business, yet again, convincing Junior to charge a tax to Hesh, Tony’s longtime friend and adviser.
So, while all this is going down, Tony is also facing other challenges. These challenges lie in the bedroom. A few fantasies later and Tony believes he’s in love with his therapist. In a wonderful scene at the therapists, Tony admits to Dr. Melfi that he’s in love with her only to be shot down when she explains that it’s simply a byproduct of therapy. The dialogue is so good in this scene and Lorraine Bracco gives a wonderful performance here. She has to show Melfi keeping cool and yet you can see how hard it is for her. As he tells her she remains tightlipped with her usual neutral gaze. It’s as though you can imagine Dr. Melfi putting on an act in that moment, desperately trying to not show any emotion and carefully choosing her words. Most likely she’s been trained for moments like this but it seems that with Tony there is a greater danger. (I mean, if there was one single patient you wouldn’t want to piss off and belittle it would be Tony Soprano)! She treads lightly with her words but stands her ground when he reacts to his bruised ego. It is a wonderful, brutal scene.
And lastly, the tender scene that follows Tony’s confession where Tony and Carmela lounge by the pool strikes a totally different chord. In the previous episode Carmela’s strange and tempestuous night with the priest has led to her recognition that she has a lot of guilt and sadness because of her acceptance and at times gratefulness of Tony’s job and behavior. This all leads to her shocking confession in this episode that she accepted and even welcomed Tony’s ‘goomahs’ in the beginning of their marriage.
The one woman who has finally made her jealous is the one who is finally helping her husband face his demons; a role she is not able to fulfill. Her confession of this to Tony is one of the first moments where the connection between Carmela and Tony first shines. Their marriage will become more and more central to the series as it goes and in this episode you’re given a real chance to see that even with everything they really do care about each other.
So, while all this is going down, Tony is also facing other challenges. These challenges lie in the bedroom. A few fantasies later and Tony believes he’s in love with his therapist. In a wonderful scene at the therapists, Tony admits to Dr. Melfi that he’s in love with her only to be shot down when she explains that it’s simply a byproduct of therapy. The dialogue is so good in this scene and Lorraine Bracco gives a wonderful performance here. She has to show Melfi keeping cool and yet you can see how hard it is for her. As he tells her she remains tightlipped with her usual neutral gaze. It’s as though you can imagine Dr. Melfi putting on an act in that moment, desperately trying to not show any emotion and carefully choosing her words. Most likely she’s been trained for moments like this but it seems that with Tony there is a greater danger. (I mean, if there was one single patient you wouldn’t want to piss off and belittle it would be Tony Soprano)! She treads lightly with her words but stands her ground when he reacts to his bruised ego. It is a wonderful, brutal scene.
And lastly, the tender scene that follows Tony’s confession where Tony and Carmela lounge by the pool strikes a totally different chord. In the previous episode Carmela’s strange and tempestuous night with the priest has led to her recognition that she has a lot of guilt and sadness because of her acceptance and at times gratefulness of Tony’s job and behavior. This all leads to her shocking confession in this episode that she accepted and even welcomed Tony’s ‘goomahs’ in the beginning of their marriage.
The one woman who has finally made her jealous is the one who is finally helping her husband face his demons; a role she is not able to fulfill. Her confession of this to Tony is one of the first moments where the connection between Carmela and Tony first shines. Their marriage will become more and more central to the series as it goes and in this episode you’re given a real chance to see that even with everything they really do care about each other.
Episode 04- A.J. Learns the Truth and Episode 05- A College Visit to Remember
The Godfather, Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco and so on and so on. The mob story has been done so often that a six and a half year-long series might seem to be unoriginal or even unnecessary. While the themes and basic ideas remain the same, The Sopranos is anything but a retelling of a story already told.
So what makes it so remarkably fresh? In all reality the success of the show is probably a number of things- smart writing, a strong cast of actors, a mixture of humor/drama/psychological thriller; but that’s the same formula as the previous mobster flicks I’ve listed. There is one simple factor which makes The Sopranos stand out on its own. That factor is the character Tony. With Gandolfini’s whole embodiment of the character, Tony’s many facets and complexities bring to life one of the most remarkable characters to ever be scene on a TV. The show really is at its best when it contrasts the two conflicting areas of Tony’s life; the mob world and the real world.
In The Sopranos the mundane continually intersects with the extraordinarily violent world of the mafia, making the viewer constantly unsure how to understand this wonderfully complicated anti-hero. In these two episodes the effects of Tony’s job on his children takes center stage.
At age 13, A.J. begins to figure out what his father really does when he gets special treatment during a playground fight. At the end of the episode the young boy’s full realization of the world he’s been brought up in is depicted in an elegant scene.
In a cemetery, A.J. watches as his father stands around with his ‘uncles’ at the former mob boss’s funeral while government agents manically take photos of every person at the sacred gathering. A feeling of pride, wonder and confusion come across the boy’s face. Distanced and standing across from Tony and the other mobsters, he sees what his father really is and then, in a split second, his father looks at him and winks. It’s a wonderful moment when we the viewers’ share the same perspective as A.J. We are outside of the dangerous world of the mafia looking in but with one swift glance and blink of an eye we are brought in, connected and fascinated simply through the charm and charisma of Gandolfini’s Tony. He may be dangerous, but you can’t help get swept away by him.
The next episode is Meadow’s turn to confront what she’s already known for a while, that her father is in the mafia. Tony and Meadow get some quality time when Tony is given the task of driving his daughter to college visits around the East Coast while Carmela lays home in bed sick. Tony as a father is strict and demanding; continually trying to make his children understand and follow his sometimes archaic values. But, at the same time, he is also a gentle, caring, normal dad. He is a man who can’t get over what a beautiful and intelligent young woman his daughter has become at a dinner and all the while planning how he will manage to kill an ex-mafia member.
The inner conflict Tony has to deal with really comes head to head in this brilliantly written episode. Tony drives his daughter from campus to campus but then spots a man he thinks ratted out many of his friends to the feds. Tony dines with his daughter and has a heart to heart with her about his career but cannot really tell her the truth; only a half truth. Tony whisks his daughter away to hang out with some college kids so he can investigate the ex-mafia member further but before he can make a move he has to lovingly assist his drunk and stumbling daughter back to their hotel room.
Tony’s two worlds have never come so close to colliding as is shown in this episode. It is obvious that Tony will eventually have to face some consequences for his actions, maybe not now (some noisy neighbors distract the gunman from shooting Tony as he helps Meadow into the room), but it is obvious that in the future there is going to be no hiding who he really is and no hiding his family from the danger of his job.
So what makes it so remarkably fresh? In all reality the success of the show is probably a number of things- smart writing, a strong cast of actors, a mixture of humor/drama/psychological thriller; but that’s the same formula as the previous mobster flicks I’ve listed. There is one simple factor which makes The Sopranos stand out on its own. That factor is the character Tony. With Gandolfini’s whole embodiment of the character, Tony’s many facets and complexities bring to life one of the most remarkable characters to ever be scene on a TV. The show really is at its best when it contrasts the two conflicting areas of Tony’s life; the mob world and the real world.
In The Sopranos the mundane continually intersects with the extraordinarily violent world of the mafia, making the viewer constantly unsure how to understand this wonderfully complicated anti-hero. In these two episodes the effects of Tony’s job on his children takes center stage.
At age 13, A.J. begins to figure out what his father really does when he gets special treatment during a playground fight. At the end of the episode the young boy’s full realization of the world he’s been brought up in is depicted in an elegant scene.
In a cemetery, A.J. watches as his father stands around with his ‘uncles’ at the former mob boss’s funeral while government agents manically take photos of every person at the sacred gathering. A feeling of pride, wonder and confusion come across the boy’s face. Distanced and standing across from Tony and the other mobsters, he sees what his father really is and then, in a split second, his father looks at him and winks. It’s a wonderful moment when we the viewers’ share the same perspective as A.J. We are outside of the dangerous world of the mafia looking in but with one swift glance and blink of an eye we are brought in, connected and fascinated simply through the charm and charisma of Gandolfini’s Tony. He may be dangerous, but you can’t help get swept away by him.
The next episode is Meadow’s turn to confront what she’s already known for a while, that her father is in the mafia. Tony and Meadow get some quality time when Tony is given the task of driving his daughter to college visits around the East Coast while Carmela lays home in bed sick. Tony as a father is strict and demanding; continually trying to make his children understand and follow his sometimes archaic values. But, at the same time, he is also a gentle, caring, normal dad. He is a man who can’t get over what a beautiful and intelligent young woman his daughter has become at a dinner and all the while planning how he will manage to kill an ex-mafia member.
The inner conflict Tony has to deal with really comes head to head in this brilliantly written episode. Tony drives his daughter from campus to campus but then spots a man he thinks ratted out many of his friends to the feds. Tony dines with his daughter and has a heart to heart with her about his career but cannot really tell her the truth; only a half truth. Tony whisks his daughter away to hang out with some college kids so he can investigate the ex-mafia member further but before he can make a move he has to lovingly assist his drunk and stumbling daughter back to their hotel room.
Tony’s two worlds have never come so close to colliding as is shown in this episode. It is obvious that Tony will eventually have to face some consequences for his actions, maybe not now (some noisy neighbors distract the gunman from shooting Tony as he helps Meadow into the room), but it is obvious that in the future there is going to be no hiding who he really is and no hiding his family from the danger of his job.
Episode 03- Business Crosses Cultures
This is an episode with a lot going on for every member in the family.
Tony has to deal with the business of a Jewish family and with his friend, Jackie Aprile, dying of cancer. Carmela has a silent auction at the home. She asks family friend Artie to cater the event but ends up treating his wife, her ‘friend’, as a servant. Charmaine gets back at her in a great scene that is unexpected and bitter. Meadow has trouble handling everything she has to handle in high school so she goes to extremes to get through it.
The best parts of the episode are two scenes. The first involves Tony trying to help his dying friend with the only way he knows how, a dancer from his club. It’s a humorous and sad attempt to help a friend. It shows just how lost Tony is with how to help his friend but at the same time how much Tony cares for his friend. It proves that, in his own way, Tony truly has a heart. Tony may be a brute but he is no Golem as the Jewish father has suggested.
The other great scene is straight from The Godfather, a montage of violence and peace. It all begins with Livia, the conniving grandmother. More and more we see just how much power she has over the whole mafia. Manipulative and vengeful, it is obvious how detrimental her words can be as she advises Junior to scare Chris and kill Chris’s friend. What follows is a carefully crafted scene in which a moved Tony watches his daughter’s choir sing an angelic song as the violence blessed by Livia occurs. It’s a brilliant homage to one of the most famous scenes in cinema.
Sopranos
When I saw James Gandolfini had died my heart sank. The days following his death I read post after post, article after article about how upset people/critics/actors were about his passing. It was really interesting to me because when he was alive he didn't seem to be one of the most well-known or often talked about actors around. Essentially he had one role which everyone remembered so fondly that in his death people felt they'd lost a friend.
So, my way of paying tribute was to watch his one great role again. The first time I saw The Sopranos was four years ago. I had left my job at a high school and was waiting to start my next at a new school. My boyfriend (now my husband) was working long hours at a catering company. Being alone in a foreign country where I didn't speak the language meant I had a lot of time on my hands. I had never really watched a long running hour-long TV drama before and thought I'd give this one, which I'd heard so much about, a try.
At first, I attempted to watch the series with Tomas but finally couldn't wait for him to come home on the weekend or one night a week to get to the next episode. Pretty soon I was doing what so many others have done with these types of shows, living it. When I reached the last episode I felt even more alone than when I started it. I lived, breathed and solely thought about The Sopranos.
This time things are much different. I have time but not so much. My husband and I are watching it together so I have someone to share it with. But I quickly realized that one thing is the same, as with all these types of shows I watch; if you watch them fast, you forget. It's one of the real downsides of watching a couple episodes a night. A week in and it all starts to blend together. So my solution was to try to keep an ongoing commentary about each episode. I figure I don't have to say much, just whatever is on my mind when we finish each.
I didn't start with the first two episodes because I didn't get the idea until the third. (I'll go back and do those two in the future). Sometimes I write a lot and sometimes I write a little. I write them fast and then add things if I think of them later.
So here's to Tony....
So, my way of paying tribute was to watch his one great role again. The first time I saw The Sopranos was four years ago. I had left my job at a high school and was waiting to start my next at a new school. My boyfriend (now my husband) was working long hours at a catering company. Being alone in a foreign country where I didn't speak the language meant I had a lot of time on my hands. I had never really watched a long running hour-long TV drama before and thought I'd give this one, which I'd heard so much about, a try.
At first, I attempted to watch the series with Tomas but finally couldn't wait for him to come home on the weekend or one night a week to get to the next episode. Pretty soon I was doing what so many others have done with these types of shows, living it. When I reached the last episode I felt even more alone than when I started it. I lived, breathed and solely thought about The Sopranos.
This time things are much different. I have time but not so much. My husband and I are watching it together so I have someone to share it with. But I quickly realized that one thing is the same, as with all these types of shows I watch; if you watch them fast, you forget. It's one of the real downsides of watching a couple episodes a night. A week in and it all starts to blend together. So my solution was to try to keep an ongoing commentary about each episode. I figure I don't have to say much, just whatever is on my mind when we finish each.
I didn't start with the first two episodes because I didn't get the idea until the third. (I'll go back and do those two in the future). Sometimes I write a lot and sometimes I write a little. I write them fast and then add things if I think of them later.
So here's to Tony....
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