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The Sopranos: Rewatch

Probably the most borderline pornographic sex scene I've seen in any show I've watched. Hate it and skip through it every time.
 
You didn't specifically refer to anything but I assume you are talking about the Melfi rape scene?
 
He just reviewed House Arrest, where Tony fucks that secretary and the way it is shot (not to mention it happening out of nowhere) makes it unbearable to me.
 
Yeah, same. I was joking about it being cool, I didn't even watch it. I switched to another tab cause it was more than a little awkward sitting through that.

THE WHITE KNIGHT IN SATIN ARMOR

- The possibility/likelihood of Richie's son being gay was a nice introduction to this episode, because I knew from that point the whole episode would be extremely fucked up. Tony not wanting Richie around his kids cause of the Beansie thing, well, that isn't fucked up at all. Neither would I. Jackie Jr. gets introduced and now we're subjected to his generally horrible acting job.

- Irina's moody bitch attitude is so funny, but Tony's is even more funny. Telling Irina she deserves better than this shit, and her reply of she'll kill herself takes shit to the next level later on.

- Richie's play to get rid of Tony was a massive mistake, I don't know why he was so quick to trust Junior, or any of the other captains to not tell on him immediately.

- Pussy now deciding to get all hardcore on Tony and trying to put him in jail is a dickheaded move. The only thing I don't understand is why now? It doesn't make sense within the scope of the show. He and Tony wasted that douchebag in the soda shack, why in the hell would he make that leap now, when Tony trusts him and hasn't done anything wrong to him?

- Carmela hitting depression mode over finding Tony's clothes in the dryer and Janice's speech at the engagement party sucks. Then straight after realizing Irina DID try to kill herself it was like DAMN GIRL. And Svetlana gets introduced here, I always liked her character. And related to that earlier part of this bullet-note, Janice and Carmela's interaction at the bridal shop is pretty interesting. Carmela is obviously right that any mob marraige would head down the road hers has.

- The way these FBI guys were talking about Pussy is pretty cold, but they had no problem eating Tony's food, so, how fucking weird.

- As soon as Junior finds out nobody will go in with Richie on a hit with Tony, nice to see him immediately tuck tail. Guy is smart. Jackie Jr. chiming in was just fucking stupid. What a toolbox.

- Pussy farming for information from Christopher pisses me off. lol Chris stealing Pokemon cards, trying to get Pussy involved, and then that RAT MOTHERFUCKER calls Skip and tells him about the Pokemon heist.

- lol at Irina calling Tony a fucking bastard when he's there to try to help her. Bwhahaha at Svetlana linking psychiatry and the gulag for political rehabilitation.

- Loved the part when Janice told Richie that Tony didn't want him around his kids, and Richie launched his beer into the fireplace.

- MAN THIS RAT FUCKER FOLLOWING CHRIS AND RECORDING IT ON HIS WHATEVER THE FUCK. Then damn he runs over some poor sad sack on his bike and piledrives another vehicle.

- And then whoa shit we go into some more crazy shit when Irina calls Tony's house. Carmela launches into that completely justified tirade and wow.

- lol at Junior being so high and mighty over telling Tony that Richie was gunning for him. I don't understand how this could be a revelation to Tony. Nice that he parlays it into further money from Tony, that's some OG stuff. Tony not even needing time to think on killing him was ruthless.

- Richie raging on Janice over the Richie Jr. bullshit regarding him being a gay was messed up. AND THEN WHOA SHIT HE SAYS PUT MY DINNER ON THE TABLE BEFORE PUNCHING JANICE THAT'S SOME OLD SCHOOL 1950'S MAN SHIT. THEN THIS DUDE SAYS WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT AND ARE YOU GONNA CRY NOW. JANICE WALKS AWAY GETS A GUN AND BLOWS THIS MOTHERFUCKER INTO OBLIVION WOW WHAT A FUCKIN MOMENT NEVER SAW THAT SHIT COMIN FIRST TIME I SAW THIS SHOW. MAYBE THE BEST TV DEATH OF ALL TIME. CRAZY BITCH SENT THAT FOOL TO HIS GRAVE

- It's extremely obvious that Pussy was going to get killed from this point, laid up in the bed after his car accident and being told he wouldn't be allowed to help the FBI out.

- Seeing Richie iced laying on the floor was some awesome shit. Lol Chris and Furio being the only two to know exactly what happened to him is amazing. Carmela calling Janice's place only to find Tony really was there, even more interesting to see how little she trusted him. Hahaha cutting up Richie and Chris says "It's going to be a while before I eat anything from Satriale's." Ha, and a a GOAT type scene gets even better when Livia rolls her way down the stairs in that chair and starts talking to Tony. That's fucked up how she smiles at Tony's story about Richie not coming home that night, then calls Tony cruel and laughs at home falling down. How fucked up.

- I wish Janice had stayed in Seattle after going back there. "We buried him. On a hill. Overlooking a little river. With pine cones all around." hahahahahaha and then again with Carmela. "Richie's gone." "What do you mean gone?" "Gone." "Where?" "Don't make me make you an accessory after the fact" Lastly, Carmela brings up an Italy trip that we never get to see her go on.

Video:

Janice kills Richie Aprile - The Sopranos HD 720p

And so goes Tony's greatest foe, without him getting to have a hand in it. Phil was a sick fuck but these Gandolfini and Proval had way better chemistry on screen. All their scenes were really uncomfortable.

For some reason I can't find anything else but this one video. Anyhow, it's probably the most eventful episode to this point and I'd call it the best so far. I think it holds that title until like tomorrow when I watch the next one.
 
909 said:
Yeah, same. I was joking about it being cool, I didn't even watch it. I switched to another tab cause it was more than a little awkward sitting through that.
Click to expand...
Glad I'm not the only one. Least I know it's coming now so I can skip it.
 
FUNHOUSE

- Haha, Tony having to deal with his mom once again. Amazing. "SHE WAS ABUSIVE TO THE STAAAAAAAAAFFFF." Major fuck-up giving his mom those airline tickets. Who makes good decisions under that kind of pressure anyway?

- And we continue with the laughs as Tony eats at an Indian restaurant and they play Indian music, which for some reason makes me laugh. Then he goes to Vesuvio and eats there, what a bad mixture you're certain to get sick off that shit. Calling card schemes are a pretty much dead deal now, one good thing about the proliferation of cell phones.

- Tony's suit game with Carmela was p. cute, bought affection with gifts but that's some kind of game most people should run right there. lol at "it's fuckin' alive"

- And then we have "the dream." Everyone knows which dream I'm talking about. Had no idea this was a dream the first time I saw it, took a little bit to figure that out. I realized there was no way they'd be down in Asbury Park on the boardwalk, that was too unusual. Tony self-immolating was strange as it gets. Whoa Tony's gut basically explodes when he wakes up, what an unexpected turn of events. "It's the chicken vindaloo!" What is it with the Coke though, I don't get that.

- HOW DARE PUSSY DO TONY LIKE THAT ON THE CALLING CARD SCHEME. Actually, totally expected it. Back to the dream, and Silvio in the Pacino outfit from 3 with the "our true enemy has yet to reveal himself" cracked me up. Tony shooting Paulie during the card game did not. Finding out Paulie sends out typed reports on his family at Christmas time, according to Tony's dream, is so....weird. and wtf is with the constant creaking? Then we get even weirder with Furio handing Tony a roll of toilet paper. Oh man Tony is extremely pissed at Artie over eating at his place and thinking that's the cause for his illness. Artie looking for vindication was messed up, but Tony being so fucked up from food poisoning that Artie and Carmela had to carry him was...fucked up.

- Whoa shit Livia busted at the airport with the tickets what a brutal idea.

- And back to the dream we go as Tony is on the toilet. In the dream his dick sticking up in his pants like that is more than a bit unsettling. This "therapy session" was SO WEIRD. lol at Gilligan's Island theme song. I found it weird how his subconscious pushed the Pussy rat situation to the forefront of Tony's brain, but he was in denial about this from the beginning.

- Back to real life, Tony showing up at Pussy's house on a whim was a pretty good idea. Should have done this from the beginning. Pussy letting his guard down while Tony's taking a shit was a big mistake. Perfect alibi to go searching, which Tony does, and then he finds the shit to confirm what we knew all along. And then he has his last dream, which confirms Meadow going to Columbia, which oddly actually happens.

- This scene is so wrong, yet necessary. I don't feel bad at all for Pussy to be honest. Sad that his last words have to be lies. However, he does tell him about the calling cards and Webistics. The Davey bustout too. First watch through the series, I thought this would extend out for a few more years. Tony asking if the acupuncturist was real, well, I wondered the same shit but I guess you never really find out. And fuck they shoot him while he asks to sit down, and Paulie takes his jewelry. That's some heavy hitter shit. One thing I was thinking during this episode was that I wish I had a friend with a boat. Maybe cold-hearted but whatever.

- Ah shit Livia tells them she's in airport security over the tickets and that's bad news of course. FBI agents are at his house already, and they find the fuckin' tickets in his truck. Wow shit imagine your dad being dragged out of the house in cuffs while your friends watched. Tony tripping out over the plane ticket charge was unusual for him, he's never like that. Then we go straight to therapy. Melfi steps up to the plate and knows something's up with him, Tony can't take it while acting like a total child, and away he goes.

- Christopher finding out he's getting made, Davey appearing and saying he's going to work on a ranch, and Junior getting told to leave before Carmela kills him are great highlights from the graduation ceremony.

- The montage to end this season is even better than the one that started it.

Videos:

The Sopranos Episode 26 Funhouse Tony Soprano Dream Sequences Montage

Sopranos - Pussy's demise

FBI arrested Tony - The Sopranos HD

Sopranos - Series 2 finale

Well, as a season finale, I can see how people would be disappointed with that to some extent. Half of it was Tony playing with his head in a world that doesn't exist, and the episode previous offered a lot of closure. But for me, it's irrelevant that it's a season finale because I'm plowing straight through it. In the scope of the whole show, already knowing what comes up later, it's easily a top ten episode.

I like this season better than the first because I feel like Chase cut out a lot of filler from the first go-round, but one problem with it is that at the end the audience is able to suffer through not knowing where it's about to head. In the first season, the indictments were out, and you knew, or at least thought Junior was headed for trial. Here, it's pushed so far to the backburner that you could nearly forget about how important it is. You also knew Pussy booked it. Now he's dead. Chris wanted made and he wasn't. Now you know he's gonna be. Melfi was gone, now she's not. Heading into season 3, unless I'm missing something, the only marked directions this show are heading that we knew about beforehand, firstly, was Tony's charge for the airline tickets. His own lawyer did a good enough job minimizing it that you don't feel something will happen to him at all. Past that we don't have shit. The FBI lost their key witness, so any angle of dropping more shit on Tony is gone. These two years were about him maneuvering into full control, which he has now done.

I seem to liking the third season the best although there was no real threat to Tony's life, who knows if I'll feel the same. Probably. Ralph was such an asshole.
 
MR. RUGGERIO'S NEIGHBORHOOD

- I remember loving this episode. When they call Pussy "compost," yeah, that's pretty fucked up. Hilarious that they thought Tony killed Richie. Couldn't be more clueless.

- It's hard for me to give lines for each sequence here, cause it's all about the same shit. The entry by the FBI into the Sopranos home is one of the better sequences in TV history. Finding out that they ran the Polish maid's husband's name by anti-terrorism was completely fucked and serves a great purpose; making me hate the FBI. Going into somebody's house like this is wrong to be quite honest.

- Haha at Tony singing along to "Dirty Work." The music selection in this episode is outstanding. Paulie's line about wet shoelaces is the absolute truth, some shit I think about whenever I go in a public restroom and make sure to wash my hands just like him. Learned something from this show. What an explanation too, while they're eating fuckin' lunch bwhahahahahahaha. Guy who killed Philly being at the table with Patsy is awkward.

- Perv verbally wanking over Adriana while she's in that outfit is quite interesting. That outfit is quite wow. In the part right after we see AJ's evolution into degenerate smoker of cigarettes. This suicidal chick, Meadow's roomate, is a qt by the way.

- The scene with the two Poles in interesting, as is the cliche of 'back in my country I was big shot and now in America I drive taxi cab'

- Now it's D-Day. Tennis instructor is obviously a lesbian. ABORT MISSION. Water-heater burst. My God all those pictures ruined, if that happened with my mom's stuff she'd explode.

- Patsy in the backyard with a gun pointed at Tony was some wild shit. Dude needs to put down the alcohol. Fortunately he does nothing and takes a leak in the pool instead.

- Real D-Day begins. Harris obviously finds himself quite important to think Tony giving him the finger while driving by was a big deal. Funny that the maid nearly blew the mission by running away from conversation with her husband. lol at Caitlin freaking out while telling a story about the bodybuilder on the subway. It's fucked up when Tony makes Patsy admit his grief over Tony ordering his brother whacked is behind him, they both know Tony killed him, yet Patsy's family has benefited so much from him being aligned with Tony that Patsy is resigned to his fate with Tony.

- What a dull job having to monitor these conversations in the basement would be. Feel bad for the engineer guy trying to explain his credentials while Tony and Carmela argue.

For some reason I can't spot any of the FBI in Tony's house videos, so it's a no-goer on that front this time. I see how someone could find that episode painfully dull, but not me. It's interesting in that all it really is a look at what the Soprano family does every Tuesday, going through their normally boring daily activities. The thing is, their daily activities aren't that dull in the scope of a television show, because you find out that Adriana dresses like a whore to tennis lessons where she and Carmela are instructed by a dyke, Meadow is rooming with a really strange girl, that AJ loves smoking cigs and tries out for the football team, and that Paulie talks about weird shit when the wiseguys are about to have lunch. Fun show.
 
PROSHAI, LIVUSHKA

- The dump truck bomb surprised the shit out of me, good thing I wasn't fully paying attention. But the retaliation in sanitation war thing made me kinda think Tony was badly hurt on the floor with all that blood around him the first time I saw this episode.

- Amazing the reversal effect before this Noah scene. I hated Noah from the beginning but it had nothing to do with his race, he seemed like a total dickbag. Tony calling him a moolie was WILD. Noah was daddy's worst nightmare times two to Tony anyway, not only did he think he was a moolie, but he had the Jew factor as well. Shit like that scares parents, nice to see the show touching this ground and addressing it. Him going full-blown after seeing Uncle Ben's face was hilarious to be honest.

- CGI Livia is wrong, I guess they had to write her out somehow. That being said, it's so obvious and horrible looking. Wonder where this show would have went had Marchand not died. Hard to watch this part.

- The clips from The Public Enemy were interesting this episode (will try not to mention them again), but wow at Tony saying to Meadow, "maybe if I say it in Swahili."

- Then, er...Tony gets the news his moms kicked the can. Not surprising that his reaction seemed to be one initially of relief. Also, not good to leave a kid alone in a house after his grandmother dies. Funny how his crew comes over and watches the X-Games, Paulie Walnuts isn't exactly the guy I'd expect to be into skateboarding. The false sympathies are quite interesting. Carmela's parents obviously didn't like her, and it's interesting to see them walk in during the middle of Tony raging about Janice being selfish and not wanting to come to the funeral. lol at that case being "colder than her tit," but Janice's son being homeless was something I kinda suspected to be completely honest.

- Ah shit RALPH CIFARETTO MAKES HIS DEBUT. Accompanied by Janice and her hysterics! Good thing Tony took Ralphie and Albert to the pool for their dispute and not the basement. Knew immediately that Ralphie was gonna be a fuckin' psycho.

- Whatta Godfather callback at the funeral home. Of course Janice would seize on the chance to make this about herself. So much facepalming.

- Tony expressing his relief and gladness at his mom's death at his appointment with Melfi, and asking if this made him a bad son, while expressing what kind of people are bad sons, is fairly typical of people's emotions at this period in time, when society has become so materialistic and parents are viewed as a drain on yourselves rather than family which is fun to be around. Lots of people think it but are shit scared to say it, I'm glad I don't feel that way about mine. Then he calls his mom a cunt. Whoa.

- Finding out Buffalo Ray was an FBI informant really surprised me, but then I recall him being caught with Vin at the brothel in season 1. He was so minor all along, but I didn't expect it. It's also interesting that he isn't a reluctant rat like Pussy, he's full blown and a LET'S DO IT type.

- bwhahahaha at Janice digging for gold, money, or whatever the fuck in the basement of Livia's house. Tony finding out his mom kept so much stuff of his was a good development.

- Everyone's funeral preparations, Silvio mad about missing the Jets game, Furio/Adriana/Chris doing lots of drugs are just a lot too much. Councilman gets introduced here, and we have the reappearance of the preacher. Junior's progression towards being obsessively worried about his own death and illnesses, begins here I believe. "Chinks and their housewives" is another wow comment from the Soprano family.

- Oh man Ralphie's first asshole moment comes as that Joe Zachary guy gets beat half to fucking death in front of his own home.

- Janice/Svetlana spat begins now. I like this one. Everyone else but Janice wanting to respect Livia's wishes is, well, pretty disgusting on Janice's part anyway.

- Carmela gets absolutely bombed this night. wtf Pussy in the mirror, oh god this Janice part. This may be my moment of hating her the most. Cringes abound. Who in the hell was the random guy that walked halfway down the stairs? I mean, I get that it was supposed to be a ghost and all that, but who was it? The lady Livia ran over early into the show has something nice to say, but that's about it. Janice is such a bitch, that's all I can think to say about this, other than that Chris' super high speech was outstanding. Artie about to blow his top was bad news, good thing Carmela interrupted and let loose with the truth about this whole deal before he opened his mouth. Loved Hugh's speech cause I would have a hard time not doing some shit like that myself.

- End of Public Enemy tears Tony up for the first time during all this and that's it.

Videos:

Tony Soprano and Meadow's boyfriend

The Sopranos: 3x02 Proshai, Livushka - Livia's Funeral Afterparty

The CGI effect Livia was so horrible, yet it doesn't bother me all that much. They had to figure out some way to write her off. I don't really like the last 15 minutes of this episode, because funerals aren't really my thing, and I don't deal well with real death, which this reminds me of. Sometimes I'm numb to it, sometimes I get really overemotional about it. And oftentimes when dealing with situations like that, I have no idea what I'm supposed to say. Whether that's normal or not, I don't know. Objectively speaking, it's a good episode because so much shit goes on, but I could do without watching it again. The abhorrent racism mixed in with false sympathy is too conflicting.
 
FORTUNATE SON

- Chris getting his button is pretty cool, the oath is interesting. The raven outside is strange, I never really thought of that as being a bad omen. Paulie's explanation of how their percentage scheme works is quite interesting.

- lol at Janice's food mess on the coffee table. Does anyone really do that?

- Tony telling Melfi about "Meadow bringing him a black" was er....uncomfortable. Calling Noah "Buckwheat" is even worse. How awkward for him to conduct business during an appointment.

- Jackie Jr. is the fucking worst. I love Chris telling this clown not to disrespect the pizza parlor, but then he disrespects it in the next sentence by saying he can't be seen in a place like this anymore. Tony's attempt at a lecture was interesting, lol at him saying Richie was a rat, and then telling Jackie to ask around if he didn't believe him.

- AJ as freshman football benchwarmer brought back some good non-memories for me, I remember when I was in freshman football I never had that problem. Started every game but one. And my dad was kinda like Tony in this regard, loud football parent. This is the episode where you find out AJ has some mental issues of his own. It's nice to see Tony not flip out at AJ for spilling his glass of milk.

- Chris blaming the raven for his failures in paying Paulie was something anyone could have seen coming. Teething issues for anyone in a new job is quite normal.

- This shit with Janice stealing Svetlana's leg has an amazing payoff, but what bitch would actually take somebody's fake fucking leg? lol at "that slut sow stole my leg," and lol at it panning straight to Christopher beating on a drug bum who owes him dough. Oh god "hello Tony," how awkward is this. Maybe if Tony was nicer to her at these points she wouldn't have ratted on him at the end of season 4.

- YES FLASHBACK. Junior is so weird in these. Satriale getting his finger ripped off by Tony's dad while Tony was watching explains so much. I like Tony's explanation that the experience wasn't traumatizing for him at all. One note for later, he tells Tony never to gamble, as we know, he disobeys. lol at kid Tony passing out and gashing his eyebrow open.

- Tony's consistent racial slurs w/r/t Noah are p. bad. This Noah guy saying he'd punch Tony's lights out is hilarious, maybe he wanted thrown in the ocean.

- The benefit concert jacking is both gross and funny at the same time. For starters we find out that Jackie is so nervous he pisses his pants. Finding out about how money is passed up the chain from Paulie to Tony was interesting too.

Videos:

Christopher Gets Made

The Sopranos-Chris robs a benefit concert

This episode was mostly centered around plot introduction, so while it's good, it's not one of those that has great re-watch value. Chris scrambling for ways to pay Paulie was neat though. Employee of the Month is next.
 
These recaps definitely make me want to pick up the whole series on Amazon. I didn't even watch this show until after it was off the air, but I love it so much I even watch the censored reruns on A & E.
 
909 said:
Carmela is obviously right that any mob marraige would head down the road hers has.

Lastly, Carmela brings up an Italy trip that we never get to see her go on.

For some reason I can't find anything else but this one video. Anyhow, it's probably the most eventful episode to this point and I'd call it the best so far. I think it holds that title until like tomorrow when I watch the next one.
Click to expand...

I still like it more than the finale. Just way more shit happening. A lot of the dream sequences of the show are cool but a bit tiresome at times. This one was packed with action from start to finish, and Richie digging his own grave only to get whacked by his fiance is one of the best deaths like you said. I never saw that coming either.

Carmela could have gone on the Italy trip in between seasons, and Bobby Fat fuck never cheated on his wife, but she died in a car accident which is much worse, so
 
And yeah Livia's satisfaction at the idea that Richie left Janice and then laughing at Tony while simultaneously calling him cruel only adds to that whole sequence.
 
Apparently the airline stuff was supposed to be the main storyline for all of season three, but then she died.

"I hated Noah from the beginning but it had nothing to do with his race, he seemed like a total dickbag."

I laughed that you had to specify that it had nothing to do with his race.
 
Franklin Delano Romanowski said:
909 said:
Carmela is obviously right that any mob marraige would head down the road hers has.

Lastly, Carmela brings up an Italy trip that we never get to see her go on.

For some reason I can't find anything else but this one video. Anyhow, it's probably the most eventful episode to this point and I'd call it the best so far. I think it holds that title until like tomorrow when I watch the next one.
Click to expand...

I still like it more than the finale. Just way more shit happening. A lot of the dream sequences of the show are cool but a bit tiresome at times. This one was packed with action from start to finish, and Richie digging his own grave only to get whacked by his fiance is one of the best deaths like you said. I never saw that coming either.

Carmela could have gone on the Italy trip in between seasons, and Bobby Fat fuck never cheated on his wife, but she died in a car accident which is much worse, so
Click to expand...

Bobby prob couldn't cheat on his wife. Other than the coma episode(s) I love the dream sequences in this show.
 
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

- Crazy bitch calls Tony's house once again, this time to complain about her sister not having her prosthetic leg yet. I love how long it takes for Carmela to finally pick up the phone one of these times. This Janice digging for money in the basement shit is comical. Funny that Tony is completely onto it.

- This episode begins the Ralphie covering up all of Jackie's indiscretions so that his mom doesn't find out. Nice when he brings Jackie along to do a pickup and the dickhead calls Ralphie a wop. Then it's awesome when they beat the shit out of this guy. "You oughta take an anger management course, fuckin racial slurs."

- Aw man the introduction of Ginny Sack. So many great and horrible jokes to be had at her expense. And they are had at the Bing. How can Paulie get outraged over this later in the show? It's great how Johnny always walks in during these joke sessions.

- Tony's attempt at a guilt trip to get Melfi to continue with her treatment is pretty effective. At the same time it seems to be a legitimate guilt trip in that he really means it.

- Fuck, I hate this part. Meaning the rape of course. Can't watch it. lol at Tony asking who ate the last piece of cake during Melfi's phone conversation with Carmela. It's ridiculous how police fuck up open and shut cases like this. Sucks when family resorts to attacking and blaming each other when things like this take place.

- AH SHIT THE FBI GETS SOME RELEVANT INFO ABOUT THE BENEFIT ROBBERY. NOT GOOD.

- Melfi and Tony's conversation at the first therapy session post-rape is interesting. I want so badly for Tony to do something to this rapist piece of shit, but at the same time I know that as the moral compass of this show it would be wrong for Melfi to play any part in it. Can't believe this fucker is employee of the month at some shithole wrap fast food joint.

- lol at Jackie, "don't worry Tony, I won't say anything about the moulinyan."

- Speaking of great and hilarious things, the Russians breaking into Janice's house. YES. And Janice getting her shit smacked up YES. LEG RETURNED TO SVETLANA YES. Janice's soul searching and conversion at the hospital was great too.

- Melfi's coke machine dream is quite interesting. Great when that rapist gets chewed up by the big bad rottweiler. If only Tony was to find out about all this. The end scene is p. great, was nice when Tony made his list and offered to go to behavioral therapy, but previous events in this episode dictate Melfi isn't up for that at all. Of course she can't say anything about the rape though, it would ruin the show.

Video:

Dr. Melfi's Realization

Interesting episode but not one for the YouTube. Anyhow, the Melfi storylines have wavered back and forth between seeming aimless and right on point since mid-season 2. This was way on point as you learn a whole shitload about her character. That being said, from here on out her character becomes increasingly less notable from season to season, and it takes a long time to build towards her breaking it off with Tony when it was so close here. There is one flaw in this episode, namely that violence against women lurched from wrong to hilarious and back to wrong. That was strange.
 
ANOTHER TOOTHPICK

- Awkward first therapy session with Carmela in the room. Of course Carmela was going to explode in some sense, most people would, but lots of people wouldn't really defend their therapist either. So this is a bit unusual.

- This cop storyline is interesting in that it reminds you what type of person Tony really is. Brings some levity to the series, as you totally understand how he runs over everyone in his path who dares to oppose him. Even regular people who are just doing their job. Of course, Tony doesn't wear a seatbelt in his car, it's indicative of his personality, so that's not surprising. His initial behavior with the police officer is amusing though. Hilarious that Carmela approves of it to some extent in that she thinks the police officer is wrong to write him up for speeding which is just lol

- Aw this shit is sad. Mustang Sally destroys this guy, it's nice to find out he's Vito's brother so there's some payback for this attack with the putter. Shit this guy gets FUCKED UP. Ralph's joke in the hospital makes me want to see him get ended immediately. So does Jackie's declaration of wanted violence against Mustang Sally. What a toolbag. Paulie putting that dope in his place was one of the best things so far this season. As was fat ass Vito breaking into the Whitman's chocolate.

- Doubling down on awkward, and this Artie infatuated with Adriana is MAD awkward. I dislike this storyline and find it so awkward that I nearly want to fast-forward past it which is quite rare for this show.

- Tony agreeing with Bobby's dad to do the hit on Mustang Sally is really messed up. It's obvious somethings up with Junior considering how he's acted all episode. Well it turns out it wasn't Tony's idea, so this isn't really his fault.

- Artie's passive-aggressive comments and behavior towards Chris is really agitating. Chris is usually so quick to anger that I'm surprised he didn't actually stab Artie in the eye as opposed to just threatening him. WHOA SHIT TONY SLAPS ARTIE and gives him the total emasculating treatment. Artie calls his wife a cunt and I laughed at that unfortunately.

- Bobby finding out that Junior didn't do anything about the situation with his dad was a little saddening, but Junior's justification was quite on point. But when Junior saw him coughing like that, tried to tell him he couldn't do it and was told by Bobby Sr. that he was dead anyway, that was a pretty harsh scene. Also, the more often Johnny Sack is in this show the more you realize how much he will become a problem for Tony later. He has a knack for getting in other people's shit.

- Charmaine is one of very few levelers in this show. Of course she's right in that accepting Tony's proposal allows Artie to be a front for him, even though Artie gets all wound up and can't see the truth for what it really is.

- TIME FOR THE HIT. MUSTANG SALLY YOU GOIN DOWN. His trick to get this guy to get him a glass of water before blowing his shit up was amazing. But oh no he missed and blew his ear off then had to wrestle with this motherfucker to BLOW HIS BRAINS ALL OVER THE FUCKIN CEILING. Aw man then he shoots that one fucker straight through the chair with the evilest grin on his face and blood all over his shit. THEN HE (a lung cancer patient) SMOKES A CIGARETTE. WHAT A GANGSTER. Oh no then he wigs out during one of his attacks, drops his inhaler and crashes into a telephone pole. Game over for that crazy old dude. Junior's morbid questions were so weird., but then he completely loses his shit and starts throwing stuff everywhere without realizing it. Old dudes bonanza this time.

- Artie and Charmaine blowing up at each other was real neat, Artie always seems to get the short end of the stick.

- Junior's cancer reveal was a whoa shit first time through. Totally unexpected until the earlier events in this episode. Tony pledging not to tell anyone only to tell Janice immediately after was comical in how realistic that is.

- Love how the FBI got fucked over by something as random as Meadow needing a lamp for a biology lab. His feigned shock over a black guy stealing her bicycle was er...interesting. At least nobody tried to make Meadow leave the lamp at the house.

- Artie with this earring, how absolutely horrible and awkward this whole situation is. His advances towards Adriana are so creepy, like, uh...facepalming my whole way through this crap.

- Junior's confession to Bobby that he has cancer is sad, but his interest in the TV show moreso than this conversation, not so much. It's like a false sad.

Videos:

The Sopranos - Tony Gets Pulled Over

The Sopranos - Artie Loves Adriana

The Sopranos - Bobby Bacala Sr Visits Mustang Sally

This episode has a TON going on. I think the amount of storylines used here were juggled quite nicely. Only one I didn't like was Artie's, but it's necessary to advance the story along as clearly both Bucco's were not that happy with each other. Good stuff, I really have nothing more to elaborate on with this one.
 
Was there ever a point to Pussy being in the mirror? Did they say why they did that? I remember being shocked when I saw it too, but confused as well. The only thing I can think of was that they were at a funeral, so it's a callback to an earlier death? I don't know.

I'd be relieved if my mom died too if she tried to have me WHACKED
 
Next up is the one episode that I don't know if I could ever re-watch even though it's maybe one of the three or four most important ones in the show's whole run.
 
born to die said:
Next up is the one episode that I don't know if I could ever re-watch even though it's maybe one of the three or four most important ones in the show's whole run.
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At first I thought you meant the Melfi rape episode, until I scrolled up. Always fast fwd that scene.
 
Melfi rape scene is not as brutal as Ralphie repeatedly tossing a Stripper's head against a thick metal railing. That CLANG gets me every time.

Was there a controversy surrounding that scene? I didn't watch the show during its initial run, but I vaguely remember it being talked about on CNN and other Talking Head shows.
 
UNIVERSITY

- This episode is all sorts of messed up. Tony's thank you gift from Tracee showcases her naivety which only further highlights what tragically happens later in this hour.

- Ralphie shitting on Jackie Jr at the dinner when his own moms + Tony and Carmela are there is p. hilarious.

- Everything about Noah makes me want to punch this doucher in the face. From his stupid comments about what did you think when you met me, to the stupid fuckin way he acts later...just ugh fuck this stupid guy and all people like him. This rich kid syndrome shit is detestable. Neat touch for Meadow to take her x-acto out of the room in case Caitlin got even more wonky than just pulling her hair out. And wtf this Noah talking about being used to the mean streets is he for real? The moment of Meadow losing her virginity, dunno if that's supposed to be important in the context of the show or not, is tainted by him. Maybe that's supposed to represent how wack it is to save your virginity only to more likely than not give it away to someone not deserving. I dunno.

- VIP room has great parts and not so great parts. Before and way before gag was the best gag that Paulie would later repeat to somebody else. Tracee trying to get up on Tony, way awkward and not so great. Oh man this fuckface Ralph with the Gladiator quotes. Biggest sociopath in the whole show by far. His line to Tracee about how many cocks she sucked tonight, mad fucked up. And then to Gigi this sequence

Ralph Cifaretto: Where's Tony?
Gigi Cestone: Gettin' his weasel greased.
Ralph Cifaretto: Oh, your kid brother's here?

goddamn and then he says he has a cousin that's a fag. This dude is outrageous. And then with the lock and chain swinging it around at Georgie what the fuck it pans to Tony getting his dick sucked in the middle of it what a visual and Ralph cracks the guy in the head with the fuckin lock. This guy is a complete cocksucker.

- Tracee continually presenting herself to Tony in this fashion as a daughter would to her father is really sad. I guess it's different cause her tits are hanging out but the overall point is the same, she just wants approval and to be treated like a human, but Tony just doesn't get it.

- Caitlin with the homeless lady that talks all that gibberish shit and has newspaper hanging out of her ass is a traumatizing scene.

- Ralphie and the police officer double-teaming Tracee while she's crying is disgusting. Right now is probably the dirtiest and most disgusted I've ever felt while watching a TV show. To be honest I'm surprised that my mom was able to make it through this episode in the past. It's horrible.

- Meadow starting to see through Noah right after sleeping with him is quite interesting. Don't quite get that whole dynamic to a point where I can pontificate about it, because something like that where I would feel different about a woman after sleeping with her has never happened to me. Caitlin pestering Noah while he was writing his paper was funny, it's great that his grade sucks.

- Ralph's scene at Tracee's place makes me sick too, and it isn't all because of Ralph. Silvio showing at Tracee's apartnment like a slave owner makes for a strange show, when he punches her that is messed up as fuck. Always knew there was a reason I liked Paulie more than him, now I remember. Strange that Ralph finds the abuse of her entertaining.

- The dynamics when Meadow has to tell Noah's dad that Tony is in waste management are interesting. Gotta be embarrassing. The restraining order by Noah against Caitlin typifies everything I hate about these rich kid types. Their entitlement to selective insulation is frustrating.

- Tracee talking back to Ralph in front of everyone was bad news from the beginning.

"I love you too, baby. Hey, if it's a boy, we'll name him after me. If it's a girl, we'll name it Tracee after you... that way she could grow up to be a cocksuckin' slob just like her mother. Are you out of your fucking mind?"

Horrendous, disgusting comment, can't find anything funny about that on any level. Then she asks him if this all makes him feel like a man and he goes to town. Head against the guardrail twice was tough to watch, but at least you couldn't see her face or that scene would have been even more difficult to watch. Then this stupid sack of shit walks back into the Bing all casual and makes up his lies, if only Tony had killed this fuck right at that moment. Who cares about rules saying you can't hit a made guy, Tony's the boss, would have been great if he beat him to death right then.

- Noah laying the breakup line on Meadow was one of the only things (maybe the only thing) in this episode that made me happy, because of course we wouldn't see him anymore on this show. His attempted breakdown of her faults was vicious.

- Tony having to lie about what's dragging him down during the appointment with Melfi was quite sad. Of course he seems to realize that, maybe he could have done something about this from the beginning.

- Stripper song at the end and throughout is a great one.

Videos:

Ralphie Cifaretto

The Sopranos - Ralph Cifaretto And Tracee At The Bada Bing

It's pretty obvious what the points of this episode are, one is to set up Ralph as a major foe for Tony and showcase how detestable he is as little of him has been shown to this point. Another is to contrast the lives of two women who are approximately of the same age from different backgrounds. Don't need to say anything more about that as many people focus upon that as a main talking point for this episode, so I'll move on. Tony obviously should have done something about the Ralphie-Tracee situation from the start, but Tony has an obvious problem with doing the right thing until it's too late. If Davey had killed himself, he'd probably have felt the same way. Richie, he should have gotten rid of after the shit with Beansie, but he didn't do shit about it even after he later crippled Beansie and caused all that other damage. Jackie Jr's another one, Tony talked all that bullshit about him not getting caught up in the life, but when it comes down to it Tony just lets him hang around his conversations all the time and we know what happens in the end as a result of not being more forcible in cutting him off at the knees. Letting Ralph be captain and letting him handle the esplanade too. There are countless instances of this throughout the whole series, unfortunately this has the worst and most brutal outcome (that I can remember right now anyway).
 
Franklin Delano Romanowski said:
Melfi rape scene is not as brutal as Ralphie repeatedly tossing a Stripper's head against a thick metal railing. That CLANG gets me every time.

Was there a controversy surrounding that scene? I didn't watch the show during its initial run, but I vaguely remember it being talked about on CNN and other Talking Head shows.
Click to expand...

The actress claimed there was, and I dunno but I suppose there should be. Parts of it were horrific, but I don't even think the beating is the worst scene in the show. The double team was worse to me in part because of the way it was shot; during the beating you don't see her face, during the other part you do, and it's tough to watch.
 
Thankfully these are the last two disgusting sex scenes in the show. I will never get the purpose of those scenes.
 
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