FLips's Sopranos watching thread

[SuperBacon]

The music is absolutely fantastic and really adds to the show hugely.

I've been using this with this watchalong https://www.tunefind.com/v2/show/the-sopranos

One of my favourites from early series is this gorgeous Stones song, and I've never been a fan of them.

Vitos just arrived in Dartford ffs. Here we go...

[FLips]

Tony just sent Melfi a bulk bottle of detergent after watching Prince of Tides. Season 5 off to a great start.

“Thank you for the flowers”

”and the detergent.”

[SuperBacon]

The beauty of the show is the conflicted feelings you have for each character.

Watching Vito get beat to death and then find out he had a cue stuffed up his arse is always genuinely hard to watch.

But then you remember he's an absolute cunt who shot an innocent man to death the episode before because his car was crashed into. 

Then you have an all time great moment with Little Carmine and his "meeting of minds" and him mentioning Phils brother Billy and "whatever happened there" Just such a dense man.

And also I've said before (probably in this thread) but the New York crew are absolutely pathetic. I know some of the Jersey lot aren't exactly that physically intimidating, but come on, I reckon I could take out Butchie even with my bad knees. 

The way all 4 foot of him tries to intimidate Tony with a "We gotta stop meeting like this" when Tony's probably had sandwiches bigger than him.

On the subject of food, they kept mentioning something called a bialy, which Tony has with his coffee. Ooof madon, they sound amazing. Like a bagel with a dented middle filled with onions and things.

That's me looking for one in the Polish bakeries and shops next time I'm in London.

[FLips]

You’re absolutely right Bacon. My feelings towards certain characters on my second time around are so different to my first watch. I remember the first run through I sympathised with Carmella whereas this time I’m finding her completely complicit. 
Dr Melfi as well, I dunno how it passed me by but there’s a few times where she has a clear out and chooses to keep Tony around or tempt him back. 
The main one is Tony though. I think the first time round you kinda fall for his charm a bit because he’s the main character but this time he’s been the undisputed bad guy from the start. Completely destructive, contradictive, hypocritical, mean spirited and can give it but can’t take it at all. Just a very shitty person.

[LaGoosh]

I always figured someone like Butchie was a bit of a Richie Aprile figure back in the day. Small in stature but a fearless nasty cunt. The top guys in New York are all old men but they have way more soldiers than the Soprano family (they're a glorified crew!) does and that's where the threat is.

Little Carmine is someone who I think may have been smarter than he looked. Come out with a lot of stupid shit but there's a couple of scenes where he's quite deliberately stirring the shit. I wouldn't be surprised if he did the "whatever happened there" intentionally to cause more Tony/Phil tension like he did once with Carmine and Johnny Sack. Tension between Phil and Tony works in Little Carmine's favour and I assume he takes over as Boss after Phil.

[SuperBacon]

One of my favourite things (again I think we've covered thisssshhhh) is TV and film paradox. So like they mention Frankie Valli several times and then he pops up as Rusty.

Then we have characters at some point watching HBO (Tony watches Band of Brothers, Junior watches Curb) where The Sopranos airs, and of course the greatest crossover when there is an episode of Gilmore Girls playing, a show which references The Sopranos plenty of times.

But then I discovered that Mustang Sally was actually in Gilmore Girls which takes it beyond.

[LaGoosh]

The actress who plays Gloria Trillo is also in The L Word which in a hilarious moment Tony Soprano mentions he is a fan of: "that lesbian thing with the Jennifer Beals...it's not bad. Is she a dyke in real life?".

[Carbomb]

The first case of Celebrity Paradox that comes to mind, mainly because it's deliberately egregious, is Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back - Affleck, in the same movie, plays both himself and Holden, and Holden references Ben Affleck playing him.

 

Back on topic, probably have posted this before, but I think the essence of what makes The Sopranos so engrossing is that the portrayal of each criminal character is specifically intended to give the audience a living, working example of the sheer charisma and appeal of such horrendous people and how skilled they are at expressing the sympathetic and complex sides of their characters that causes normal people to be taken in by their glamour, forget the atrocities, and be drawn into that toxic vortex. Not only do we see how it works on the civilian characters written, we get to experience a sense of it for ourselves.

[TheBurningRed]

If Uncle Jun thought he was on Curb, I hope he never saw Godfather II. His mind would’ve been blown. 

[FLips]

“Sacrebleu where iz me mama?!”

Fucking hell. Forgot how spiteful that was. Tony isn’t half a proper bastard in season 5, to everyone.

[LaGoosh]

1 hour ago, FLips said:

“Sacrebleu where iz me mama?!”

Fucking hell. Forgot how spiteful that was. Tony isn’t half a proper bastard in season 5, to everyone.

The evil little smile he does at Janice after she kicks off at him is pure Livia. The only thing Janice can do is crumble in tears. Tony then walks down the street with a spring in his step. Janice tries to improve herself just a little and Tony has to stamp it out immediately. One of the most brutal scenes in the whole series.

[FLips]

That’s the full series done for the (I think) 3rd time now?

I still stand by that while Seasons 5 and 6 are brilliant in their own way, the slow miserable slog pace of them aren’t as fun on rewatches. 2-4 are the prime seasons where the drama and humour blend perfectly. Watching Tony butt heads with the likes of Richie and Johnny Sack is much more exciting than watching Tony finally succumb to his misery and fuck everything up for two straight seasons (3 if you count 6a and 6b).

I had that usual sense of emptiness when it finished though and decided fuck it I’ll just loop back to season 1.

Edit: I’m already finding new stuff. How did I miss Chris getting Emil’s name wrong and saying “taste the wares, Email” before shooting him in the head.

Edited October 23, 2025 by FLips

[SuperBacon]

Yeah I finished it the other day as well. Nothing new to say really, I still think it's the best and the ending is spot on. Even when series 6 drags, its still spot on.

"Yeah! We're gonna win this thing!" still makes me die inside though. Worst moment of the show?

Enjoy this clip of the stars playing a charity softball game.

Notable by his absence, Mr Gandolfini, because as we all know, he never had the makings etc.

Can now watch that David Chase doc I've been putting off.

Edit: sorry, forgot my favorite bit this time around. Tony's "How about that?" to Bobby. Just incredibly funny.

 

Edited October 23, 2025 by SuperBacon
With his schlong in Jan's mouth

[Carbomb]

24 minutes ago, SuperBacon said:

"Yeah! We're gonna win this thing!" still makes me die inside though. Worst moment of the show?

Maybe I'm giving too much credit, but I think it's an excellent moment - shows just how enthralled and conditioned the agent is by the mafia glam, to such cringeworthy and sad degrees.

[wandshogun09]

I’m due a rewatch myself. Actually started it again months ago but life got in the way and I got sidetracked. My Mrs has never actually watched it properly, other than bits here and there when I’ve had it on. She mentioned giving it a go recently so that’s my excuse to start it all over again.