Sopranos Episode Two Discussion ** SPOILERS INSIDE!

[Danny White]

I think Vito is being set up for a huge fall...The arrogance and homo thing are working against him--it's only a matter of time until the latter catches up to him. We are already seeing that the crew dislikes him...

He also serves as a catalyst for disruption within the family. The writers are moulding him in the shape of Janice--intentionally unlikeable. And Vito's not unlikeable in the Phil Leotardo sense, in that he's a character you can't respect. Because of that, I don't see him lasting long. He may get some status in the next couple episodes, but there's no way he outlasts the mainstays like Chrissy, Paulie and Sil.

One interesting thing they've added into the "Vito Mix" for this season is that he's related to Phil Leotardo (and somewhat close to him). They never mentioned it last season, and probably just invented the relationship in the off-season, since you'd have thought Vito would have mentioned it during the whole Tony Blundetto/Philly dustup last year.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Before the season started James Gandolfini said that this season Tony would not be himself and Robert Iler said this was his favorite season ever.

Sounds too me like big things are in store for AJ. I have never liked his character but hopefully that changes.

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

I don't think I'd like it either... but don't worry, I don't think that's where it's headed.

I think the "Dream Tony" is in purgatory... there are some clear signs of him being pulled in two directions there too. There's a whole lot of symbolism in the dream that I don't quite understand (Finnerty, the monks, his different wife and kids, his alzheimers, etc) but there is some pretty clear imagery as well... the bright light and the fires blazing in the distance (heaven vs. hell), the telephone as a link to either his life or his after-life.

I think this is a dream he'll be exploring for the next episode or two, but then he'll finally come out of it. In the meantime, I think we'll have some good power struggles in the family (both families probably) between Sil, Paulie, Vito and Bobby... and then between Carm and AJ.

I think they have to know they're disappointing some viewers by putting Tony "out of commission" for much of this season... so I have to believe that the "payoff" they have in mind has to be worth it.

Here's hoping!

Don't forget the sign he looks at that mentions heaven and hell. I really hope they don't make Tony Soprano the niiiiiiiiice mafia guy now all because he saw a white light and had a life changing transformation.

My prediction on Christopher: The FBI use the terrorist thing to get close to him, and turn him into a snitch. Perfect irony to have his ex shot because of it only to have him become the new snitch.

 

[jterrell]

It was a bit weird for my tastes. I prefer Tony bagging more dough and chicks and whatnot. This was serious 6 feet under thinktank stuff.

I expect AJ does join the family business while Tony is out of commission and that Tony comes out ok in the end to regain his spot but with AJ in place of Vito who is not gonna make it long with his Finn-love and greedy(even by mob standards) ways.

I'd agree that the show was trying to show Tony Soprano if he wasn't a mobster and basically you had the same guy. He was still a charismatic skirt-chaser with serious self-evaluation and no aversion to breaking the rules of society.

And man Meadow is fine. I'd love to be a stunt double for Fin except that whole Vito thing. What a price to pay for hanging with Jamie-Lynn.

Interesting that Carm who I considered a serious money-grubbing hobag is so torn up and genuinely hurt over Tony's health.

 

[jterrell]

My prediction on Christopher: The FBI use the terrorist thing to get close to him, and turn him into a snitch. Perfect irony to have his ex shot because of it only to have him become the new snitch.

I expect Chris to be the Boss of it all before the show ends.

He is family and has the nads (if not brains) for it.

 

[Danny White]

I expect Chris to be the Boss of it all before the show ends.

He is family and has the nads (if not brains) for it.

I don't know... I think at the very end, Chris may get out of the whole thing.

This isn't my original idea, others have suggested it before... but Chris' screenplay/writing fantasies have always been a theme. It's also clear that Chris' AA buddy who was a hollywood writer (that dude from Wings) is coming back this season.

With Tony on the shelf, does Chris take the little bit of freedom and move into that life?

And in the end, is "The Sopranos" his Hollywood telling of his life in the mob?

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

I expect Chris to be the Boss of it all before the show ends.

He is family and has the nads (if not brains) for it.

I was DVD shoppin' the other day and I saw a Sopranos poster which had pics of all the main characters faces. What interested me the most was i noticed Christopher had some crazy-looking eyes. They cast the perfect guy for that role. He reminds me of the mugshots of famous mobsters who all look normal except for the eyes. Crazy or non-emotional eyes on many of 'em.

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

It was a bit weird for my tastes. I prefer Tony bagging more dough and chicks and whatnot. This was serious 6 feet under thinktank stuff.

I expect AJ does join the family business while Tony is out of commission and that Tony comes out ok in the end to regain his spot but with AJ in place of Vito who is not gonna make it long with his Finn-love and greedy(even by mob standards) ways.

AJ joining the family is up there with my "I will never believe it" list.

Not because it couldn't happen, but because the kid who plays him comes across as a spoiled punk. If AJ goes bad, he gets killed. I'm expecting the same ending as Meadow's boyfriend in season two... or was it season three?

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I don't know... I think at the very end, Chris may get out of the whole thing.

This isn't my original idea, others have suggested it before... but Chris' screenplay/writing fantasies have always been a theme. It's also clear that Chris' AA buddy who was a hollywood writer (that dude from Wings) is coming back this season.

With Tony on the shelf, does Chris take the little bit of freedom and move into that life?

And in the end, is "The Sopranos" his Hollywood telling of his life in the mob?

I read or heard somewhere that this season christopher will start gravitating back to his screenplay writing. So maybe that is something that will happen and he leaves the business.

If tony dies, ade killed and him not having the best temper to deal with others he will just say screw it and leave.

BUT...we all saw from the first episode that once you are in, you don't leave so who knows.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I read or heard somewhere that this season christopher will start gravitating back to his screenplay writing. So maybe that is something that will happen and he leaves the business.

If tony dies, ade killed and him not having the best temper to deal with others he will just say screw it and leave.

BUT...we all saw from the first episode that once you are in, you don't leave so who knows.

I really doubt Tony dies because he's been in all of the previews for the season like the scene where he asks Chris if he's going to take care of some ones kids after he's gone. I think he recovers and tries to retire but gets pulled back in like Michael in the Godfather.

 

[Danny White]

I read or heard somewhere that this season christopher will start gravitating back to his screenplay writing. So maybe that is something that will happen and he leaves the business.

If tony dies, ade killed and him not having the best temper to deal with others he will just say screw it and leave.

BUT...we all saw from the first episode that once you are in, you don't leave so who knows.

I think the Chris/Muslim connection is leading somewhere.

Maybe Chris goes FBI witness and is relocated to Hollywood.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I think the Chris/Muslim connection is leading somewhere.

Maybe Chris goes FBI witness and is relocated to Hollywood.

I laughed out loud last season when Ade was trying to get him to flop and she said he could try male modeling

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

AJ is going to kill Junior, then the fat guy will start to come on to AJ who kills him and then takes over for Tony.

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

Well.... Tony Soprano ain't gonna die. Oh my lord was I sweating that one. Boy did they almost have me. Why I just knew they were going to whack the biggest star of the series, only three episodes into the season.

On a serious note, was anyone else really creeped out by Tony's last moment in "purgatory" before waking up? Seeing his mother, but not really seeing her. Wondering if that was hell in the house? I found myself screaming at the screen: "Don't go in there Tony!" I thought it would have been even more mysterious if they had left Steve Buscemi's character out of it. I'm not quite sure what the point of his cameo was other than getting revenge for his murder and prematurely forcing Tony into death.

And thank goodness AJ isn't a mobster yet. The day that snot-nosed spoiled kid becomes a legit mafioso is the day I quit watching.

Looks like Paulie is in some serious bleep next week. Ya knew it was coming. Can't wait to watch.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Well.... Tony Soprano ain't gonna die. Oh my lord was I sweating that one. Boy did they almost have me. Why I just knew they were going to whack the biggest star of the series, only three episodes into the season.

On a serious note, was anyone else really creeped out by Tony's last moment in "purgatory" before waking up? Seeing his mother, but not really seeing her. Wondering if that was hell in the house? I found myself screaming at the screen: "Don't go in there Tony!" I thought it would have been even more mysterious if they had left Steve Buscemi's character out of it. I'm not quite sure what the point of his cameo was other than getting revenge for his murder and prematurely forcing Tony into death.

And thank goodness AJ isn't a mobster yet. The day that snot-nosed spoiled kid becomes a legit mafioso is the day I quit watching.

Looks like Paulie is in some serious bleep next week. Ya knew it was coming. Can't wait to watch.

About Paulie...don't be fooled by previews. Not saying he will not but they have a way of making things look one way and it be something different when the show airs.

Besides I read somewhere that when they offered the guy to play the part of paulie he made them promise they would not kill him off.

Plus paulie is one of my favorites, always good for a laugh and I still think the pine barrens is one of, if not the, best episodes because of paulie.
I also like when christopher was doing bad and paulie started freaking out about everything.

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

About Paulie...don't be fooled by previews. Not saying he will not but they have a way of making things look one way and it be something different when the show airs.

Besides I read somewhere that when they offered the guy to play the part of paulie he made them promise they would not kill him off.

Plus paulie is one of my favorites, always good for a laugh and I still think the pine barrens is one of, if not the, best episodes because of paulie.
I also like when christopher was doing bad and paulie started freaking out about everything.

You're right. The Sopranos loves to tease folks with their episode previews. And I love the *******s for doing it!

 

[Yeagermeister]

All I know is that I want a dishwasher like Paulie found :jackpot:

 

[Gaede]

Pretty funny episode. I was on the edge of my seat there at the end, thought they were gonna kill Tony! It was such an incredible scene!

Chris describing his film idea was hilarious

“My idea is Saw meets Godfather 2…Proven track record, both genres…

Young wiseguy, assassin, gets betrayed by his people—they whack him. They leave his body parts in dumpsters all around the city, long story short, he gets put back together by science—or maybe it’s supernatural? [louder] And he gets ****ing payback on everyone who ****ed him over, including the c*** he was engaged to—she was getting porked by his boss the night the hero was killed.”

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Pretty funny episode. I was on the edge of my seat there at the end, thought they were gonna kill Tony! It was such an incredible scene!

Chris describing his film idea was hilarious

“My idea is Saw meets Godfather 2…Proven track record, both genres…

Young wiseguy, assassin, gets betrayed by his people—they whack him. They leave his body parts in dumpsters all around the city, long story short, he gets put back together by science—or maybe it’s supernatural? [louder] And he gets ****ing payback on everyone who ****ed him over, including the c*** he was engaged to—she was getting porked by his boss the night the hero was killed.”

I thought it was funny when Silvio (I think it was him) was debating the difference between Michael Myers and Jason lol.

 

[Danny White]

I liked the episode. I think Edie Falco is a lock for an Emmy this year.

But I thought the movie subplot was a stretch. Maybe it's going somewhere, but I didn't like that part of it.

The two biggest things I'm interested to see play out is the Vito/Philly connection and how they're going to move AJ into "the family."

The Vito/Philly thing is especially interesting. He's the "Ralph" or "Richie Aprile" of this season. Making him and Philly close is a good move. NO WAY Vito makes it through the season, IMO, but I'm interested to see how it plays out.

Also, while AJ can be annoying, it's clear they're moving him in that direction. I hope they do it well without forcing him into the role with too many far-fetched contrivances.