FTA-TV The Sopranos

[suedehead]

A killer song and an awesome show = brilliant.

[youtube]5VhfY_5YNV4[/youtube]

 

[placebo]

Just finished this today.

One of the all-time great dramas. Such a fantastically written show
There was just an absolute wealth of interesting relationships going on:
Tony and Chris
Tony and Carm
Tony and Melfi
Tony and Paulie
Paulie and Chris
Tony and Bobby
Tony and Junior
Tony and Sil
Tony and AJ
Carm and Meadow
Tony and Janice
Everyone and Livia
and so many more.

Brilliant characterisation and writing throughout.

As for the finale, I really enjoyed it. I agree with David Chase's opinion on the final part:
"There was so much more to say than could have been conveyed by an image of Tony facedown in a bowl of onion rings with a bullet in his head."

The ambiguity gives it far more depth and thought provoking ideas than Tony being whacked would have.

 

[Righteo]

Initially I thought the ending was a complete copout, but over the years I've since realised it was the best possible way of ending the show IMO.

Very clever writing and brilliantly shot.

It's similar to how I now feel about the ending to Stephen King's Dark Tower saga for those who've read them.

Showing significant moment's of the final scenes from Tony's perspective and the layout of the diner, I think it's perfectly obvious what happened, the original ambiguity and confusion I had over it is long gone.

Anyway, just about my favourite show of all time, interesting how the majority of the cast, save for maybe Falco and Gandolfino, never really kicked on after the show and remain pretty much no-names. Buscemi doesn't count.

 

[Macca19]

Theres no doubt Tony gets shot. It spells it out pretty clear from halfway through the final season whats going to happen. The shooting with Sylvio having dinner and not hearing it happen, Bobby Bacala's comment in the boat, Tony recalling that comment in the boat in the 2nd last episode....its clear what happened. I loved the ending. Thought it was fantastic. Though Channel 9 completely ****ed it up on their original viewing.

Definitely my favourite series of all time. Theres a few just behind (The Wire, Breaking Bad) but I dont think anything will top it. The character development, the relationships, the rawness, the empathy, the hatred...expertly done.

Also agree with earlier comments that Carmela is probably the most unlikable of the main characters. I disagree that she is naive though. She knows exactly whats happening. She knows where the guns are kept, where the money is kept, the goomars. She was under no pretense at all about what Tony was. She may have closed her eyes to a fair part of it in a way to shield Meadow and AJ as much as possible but she wasnt stupid. Very dislikeable character but I think she was excellently portrayed by Falco. Also couldnt stand Janice.

Sylvio was probably my favourite, not to mention that Van Zandt had no acting experience prior to The Sopranos. Richie Aprile probably 2nd....wish he was in it longer.

 

[RobbyRoy]

Currently on Season 5, Episode 8. First time watching the show. First three seasons were brilliant, addictive viewing. Fourth season was a little more trying, but ended up quite rewarding. Fifth season so far, so good.

 

[laminex]

Theres no doubt Tony gets shot. It spells it out pretty clear from halfway through the final season whats going to happen. The shooting with Sylvio having dinner and not hearing it happen, Bobby Bacala's comment in the boat, Tony recalling that comment in the boat in the 2nd last episode....its clear what happened. I loved the ending. Thought it was fantastic. Though Channel 9 completely ****ed it up on their original viewing.

Definitely my favourite series of all time. Theres a few just behind (The Wire, Breaking Bad) but I dont think anything will top it. The character development, the relationships, the rawness, the empathy, the hatred...expertly done.

Also agree with earlier comments that Carmela is probably the most unlikable of the main characters. I disagree that she is naive though. She knows exactly whats happening. She knows where the guns are kept, where the money is kept, the goomars. She was under no pretense at all about what Tony was. She may have closed her eyes to a fair part of it in a way to shield Meadow and AJ as much as possible but she wasnt stupid. Very dislikeable character but I think she was excellently portrayed by Falco. Also couldnt stand Janice.

Sylvio was probably my favourite, not to mention that Van Zandt had no acting experience prior to The Sopranos. Richie Aprile probably 2nd....wish he was in it longer.

He did not get shot, the fade to black is just the carmera turning off and we stop seeing his life. His life just went on to what ever it was going to do IMO.

 

[Gasometer]

...and so the eternal debate continues.......

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

That's what makes the ending so good, it will be debated until the end of time by us Sopranos fanbois and no one can ever truly prove the other one wrong.

I believe he was killed, but there is no way it's definitive. If it was, we'd have seen him get shot. They ended it in black for a reason.

 

[Chism]

Definitely my favourite series of all time. The character development, the relationships, the rawness, the empathy, the hatred...expertly done.

Agree 100% Macca.

This comment pretty much sums up the whole series for me.

Currently on Season 5, Episode 8. First time watching the show. First three seasons were brilliant, addictive viewing. Fourth season was a little more trying, but ended up quite rewarding. Fifth season so far, so good.

Gee i wish i could go back in time and watch it again for the 1st time!! This is where you get the most enjoyment because you don't know what is going to happen!!

I remember when i first watched it and was pretty much forced to, as a mate put on season 1 on DVD ages ago while i was visiting him and i was not really sold on it until i saw the pilot episode for the first time and thought "gee this is going to be good" to his reply " I told you it is good"!!!

I have now seen every series at least 3 times over and i still put it on every now and then and i am drawn in all over again once more!!

The show really has that effect that just makes you keep wanting to watch the next episode as soon as one finishes!!

"Pine Barrens" still my favourite episode.


Still cannot believe that you cannot get it on Blu Ray yet as well. I am hanging to buy the complete series on Blu Ray but currently it is only season 1 and 5 i think you can get.

 

[Xtreme]

"Pine Barrens" still my favourite episode.

Ditto

One of my favorite scenes wasn't that flash, but just the way it was acted (Tony's voice and Melfi's reactions and the expression on her face) made me giggle a bit, when Tony tells her to disappear and get out of town. Googling it, it was late in the first season.

Dr. Melfi: What am I supposed to do?
Tony: Leave town today, right now. As a matter of fact I'm going to get some guys here to stay with you until you get on a plane.
Dr. Melfi: I can't just do that, lam it! I have a life. I have patients.
Tony: Well you tell them August came early this year.
Dr. Melfi: It doesn't work that way. I have patients who are suicidal.
Tony: Well they're not going to feel any better about their life if you get clipped.

I still havn't purchased the dvds, each time they drop to under $30 i always intend to.... but something manages to keep me from buying them.

 

[Righteo]

Read through this.

There are lots of other theories around, too, which I don't have a link to right now.

It's early and I can't remember everything but I do remember after reading everything I could find about it I was 100% convinced he was killed.

I think I read the same or a similar site and it convinced me too, David Chase himself has strongly hinted that he was killed.

 

[placebo]

"Pine Barrens" still my favourite episode.

God, that episode is amazing.


I think it's a close second for me behind the one where *SPOILERS FOR ANYONE WHO HASN'T WATCHED* Adriana is killed. The quote Chris says in that episode is my all time favourite Sopranos quote: "That's the guy, Adriana. My uncle Tony. The guy I'm goin' to hell for."

Really sums up how much these guys care for each other and the lengths they'll go.

Also, it seems I'm the only one here who liked Carmela. Character aside, Edie Falco's acting is sublime in the show.

 

[Gasometer]

Really sums up how much these guys care for each other and the lengths they'll go.

You reckon?

The only trustworthy relationship might have been Tony-Silvio.

Pauly constantly had to watch his back the last two seasons.
Pussy went fishing.
Christopher was a family disgrace and we saw what happened to him.
Uncle Junior was a nuisance, as was his mother and T barely tolerated Janice.
Janice's d.v partner was disposed of quickly.
John Sacks got the shi*ts up for years over the fat wife joke gone wrong.
Ralphy was diced liver.
The gay guy who I cant remember his name had to run to the hills through fear of a homophobic driven death.

I dunno if you were taking the p*ss above or are serious....what made this show great was that no one was safe.

...which at the moment, makes Sons of Anarchy a seconder to it (at the moment...unless sthing dramatic happens to a lead character this current season...

 

[Righteo]

You reckon?

The only trustworthy relationship might have been Tony-Silvio.

Pauly constantly had to watch his back the last two seasons.
Pussy went fishing.
Christopher was a family disgrace and we saw what happened to him.
Uncle Junior was a nuisance, as was his mother and T barely tolerated Janice.
Janice's d.v partner was disposed of quickly.
John Sacks got the shi*ts up for years over the fat wife joke gone wrong.
Ralphy was diced liver.
The gay guy who I cant remember his name had to run to the hills through fear of a homophobic driven death.

I dunno if you were taking the p*ss above or are serious....what made this show great was that no one was safe.

...which at the moment, makes Sons of Anarchy a seconder to it (at the moment...unless sthing dramatic happens to a lead character this current season...

Absolutey, never forget when I saw Tony murder Christopher for the first time, was shell-shocked. At that point it hadn't been too long ago they were going on road trips, getting drunk and stealing from Bikies

I also thought Paulie would cop it for sure when they were driving down to Florida and he was pissing off Tony bigtime, and when they went on the boat I thought he was definitely a goner. "I remember when is the lowest form of conversation".

 

[placebo]

You reckon?

The only trustworthy relationship might have been Tony-Silvio.

Pauly constantly had to watch his back the last two seasons.
Pussy went fishing.
Christopher was a family disgrace and we saw what happened to him.
Uncle Junior was a nuisance, as was his mother and T barely tolerated Janice.
Janice's d.v partner was disposed of quickly.
John Sacks got the shi*ts up for years over the fat wife joke gone wrong.
Ralphy was diced liver.
The gay guy who I cant remember his name had to run to the hills through fear of a homophobic driven death.

I dunno if you were taking the p*ss above or are serious....what made this show great was that no one was safe.

...which at the moment, makes Sons of Anarchy a seconder to it (at the moment...unless sthing dramatic happens to a lead character this current season...

I was actually referring specifically to Chris and Tony, but my wording was off. Though I never said anything about 'trust', anyway.
You don't reckon there was genuine care and love between the two? You also don't reckon Chris wouldn't have done pretty much anything Tony would ask?
To me, they were the epitome of what a 'mentor-apprentice' relationship should be in film/tv.

 

[Gasometer]

Fair enough ^ but I would think 'care' would involve 'trust'?

Tony-Chris...total mutual love-hate relationship there...I dont know which one would have killed the other first at many stages through the seasons.

Neither lived up to their own expectations. Both wanted a father-son relationship but it never could be eventuated.

Had Chris not got on the junk, it may have worked out. But the junk in the end is what enraged Tony so much that he reacted the way he did in the end towards him.

Which was baffling because Tony could never see beyond the end of his nose when it came to his own imperfections...yet he saw it everywhere else, Carmella, AJ, Junior, Mother, Melfi, Janice, the Mercedes g/f, Ralphy, Johnny Sacks, Little Carmine...on an on and on.

Perhaps the imperfections he saw in Chris were too close to home?

 

[RobbyRoy]

Gee i wish i could go back in time and watch it again for the 1st time!! This is where you get the most enjoyment because you don't know what is going to happen!!

Yeah it's great. Watched the last two episodes of season 5 last night and really had no idea what was coming. Bit naive of me, but I thought Adriana might make it out alive. I rated Long Term Parking ahead of Pine Barrens as the best episode so far.

 

[Thistle]

Pine barrens is the best episode but this is my favourite scene
[YOUTUBE]OUdZhMsSZcA[/YOUTUBE]

 

[RobbyRoy]

Finished it. Probably the best series I've ever seen but I'll need time to digest it all. What's most amazing about it is that basically every character on the show is ridiculously flawed and the majority are unlikeable; yet they somehow manage to make us sympathise with them. I suppose Meadow is as close to a good person the show had, but even she had her negatives. Her constant huffing over how the FBI and police treated her father and his mates was quite annoying.

 

[NSWCROW]

Dead ???


Chrissy's intervention

 

[Righteo]

Pine barrens is the best episode but this is my favourite scene
[youtube]OUdZhMsSZcA[/youtube]

Hahaha I was just re-watching Season 5 this past week and I'd completely forgotten about this scene, so damn good and the Bobby/Jeff likeness is seriously uncanny. I liked the end of that episode too, Tony asks Junior "Don't you love me?" and he is unable to respond, I suppose that was a minor sneak speak at what was going to occur later? Such a heavily layered show I can't really tell.

Just re-watch one of my favourites today which many don't seem to talk about as often as they should, "The Test Dream". Amazing dream sequence full of symbolism and a plethora of guest cameos, including Annette Benning for some reason. Season 5 is still probably my favourite because of Steve Buscemi alone, such a shame he was only around for the 1 season. His fight with his Korean boss is hilarious.

And as much as I hated Phil he made a great antagonist and a worthy Boss in the final season. Season 5 also has the climax to the Adrianna story arc which was superbly shot. Will probably always be my favourite show, only Breaking Bad has the potential to top it with a kick arse final season.

 

[RobbyRoy]

Dead ???

From everything David Chase has said, the events leading up to the final scene and the way the final scene was shot, I'd say almost certainly.

 

[nicky]

I've decided to watch it after all these years.

Great show, i can totally see what all the fuss is about.

Some classic scenes - classics. There have been some classicly funny scenes.

One element that annoys me a little is the psychiatrist.

 

[vapid1]

I loved the scenes with Dr Melfi and Tony. Gives you a great insight into how Tony's mind works.

 

[Gasometer]

Yep, without Melfi scenes we are left with a two dimensional Tony.

Anyway on a different note, the eps where T is in the Coma after Junior shot him....that flashing light on the tower (is it the Eiffel?) creeps me out still all these years on.

I think its that trapped sensation that he is in the coma and cant escape from it.