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crazy eyes mustafa posted:Just like his character in the Big Lebowski, I don’t think Tony B ever wears a shirt/uniform with his actual name on it, they’re all secondhand lol Now I wonder if that was an intentional callback. Wouldn't be surprised.
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Sep 21, 2019 16:36
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You don't make funna me 
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Sep 22, 2019 12:37
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crispix posted:You don't make funna me You're crowding me
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Sep 22, 2019 14:19
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Basebf555 posted:He's really the only one of the main crew that I could see being decent company to have a beer with or whatever. This is of course based on personality alone, I'm going with the premise that I wouldn't know about all the horrific murders and whatnot. I guess Sil could be ok. Paulie is just insufferable though, I doubt I could spend 10 minutes with the guy. Honestly, the ones with kids they are around regularly (not Ralphie!) are the only ones that have the ability to act normal from time to time. The rest have zero incentive to behave any other way.
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Sep 22, 2019 19:31
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We often see Tony appear in some very... interesting outfits but I just want to show my appreciation for this particular shirt  Like, this had to be a dare or something. I laughed out loud when he walked in wearing it 
crispix fucked around with this message at 20:53 on Sep 22, 2019 |
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Sep 22, 2019 20:50
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Season 5, Episode 3 - Where's Johnny?Junior Soprano posted:He never had the makings of a varsity athlete. Sitting at the bar of the Bada Bing ahead of opening, Tony is reading his newspaper when his cousin Tony Blundetto arrives with a fresh delivery of linen. Tony cracks wise about his legitimate job in a good-natured way... until he realizes that Blundetto and the simple barman Georgie are effectively on the same level, in fact Georgie might even be a step above him as he brings back dirty linen for him to haul away. Watching his cousin go through his receipt book to make note of his delivery, Tony can't help but stare, and when Blundetto catches him he admits it is hard for him to see him like this. Blundetto jokes, asking if he means seeing him work a real job... and though Tony doesn't say it, that is what he means. Tony holds a level of contempt for the "working man" in spite of often fetishizing the mindset of his poorer forebears, he bears more in relation to the upper class exploiters he often railed against in therapy. Now, to borrow a line from Goodfellas, he sees his cousin being an average nobody, a schnook, and he doesn't like it. Even this empathy however is born out of guilt, as for the first time we get just a bit more detail on the circumstances around Tony B's imprisonment. It seems Tony himself was meant to be part of the hijacking that sent Blundetto away for 15 years, but he was jumped by a "couple of goons" and had his head cut open. He went to the ER and got 16 stitches, but Blundetto went to the hijacking and got 15 years. Tony B for his part seems completely at ease with this, even commiserating that Tony could have died, but obviously this has always been a source of guilt for Tony. Pure chance saved him from going to prison, and now he has his success while Tony B is stuck in a menial job. Of course, Tony being Tony, he can't help but get a little prickly when Blundetto quips that he was always a lucky gently caress. He complains that he still has other sorrows in his life, proving Svetlana was right when she noted that even when he has everything he isn't happy. Even he can't help but feel a little pathetic complaining though as he watches his cousin sling a sack of dirty linen over his shoulder and head out the door, leaving him to sit at the bar with a drink and a newspaper to take the day at his leisure.   Not that Blundetto doesn't have his own perks. He'd casually dropped to Tony that he and Feech La Manna still hang out, and this is true today as well as they drive through the suburban streets in Feech's Cadillac after having lunch at Feech's expense. Feech is half being friendly and half recruiting, reminding Tony B that if he came onboard with him he'd be eating lunch like that every day. Blundetto, who has already had this conversation with Tony, insists that he is serious about his massage therapy, but Feech doesn't see why that should be a roadblock. If anything, a "square job" like that is good for appearances, it is why Feech himself - only recently out of jail after twenty years - owns a bakery. The conversation takes a more dangerous turn when Tony is brought up and Feech sarcastically refers to him as "the boy king", then asks Blundetto if he can trust to talk openly about his thoughts on his cousin. Before Tony B has a chance to answer though, Feech spots a landscaping truck on the side of the road and pulls over to the side, promising Blundetto this won't take long. Feech approaches the landscaper with the look of a nice old man looking to make conversation, unti he gets up close and bellows with a big smile over the noise of the equipment, demanding to know what the gently caress the landscaper - Sal Vitro - is doing. Sal shuts down his trimmer, confused, he's doing the lawns. No, Feech smilingly insists, HIS nephew does all the lawns in this area. Sal doesn't really know what to make of this, he's been doing the lawns in this neighborhood for 26 years, and finally he's had enough of catering to this strange, rude old man who claims Gary La Manna works the neighborhood, and tells him to gently caress off. That's all the "provocation" Feech needs, and he kicks Sal right in the balls. Tony B isn't shocked, the violence doesn't sicken or upset him... but it does concern him, because he's trying to stay clean and this isn't going to help. Tossing aside his cigarette looking more irritated than anything, he approaches Feech who is raining down blows on the hapless Sal Vitro. For his part, Feech looks more alive than ever. Like when he got WAAAAAY too into his story about savagely beating another inmate on his first day in prison, he is giving vent to two decades of frustration as he screams at Sal while pummeling him. Standing up, he grabs Sal by the crotch and hauls him to the side of the road, allowing him to stomp on his wrist which crunches and folds in truly sickening fashion. Tony B pulls him aside, again looking more put out than revolted, reminding him they're on parole. Feech's message has been sent however, and he strides off followed by Blundetto, leaving poor Sal Vitro wailing in pain on the sidewalk with no idea what he has done to cause this violence. At Junior's house, the elderly Tommy Di Palma is trying to get Junior's television up and running as Junior wanders about in pajamas and dressing gown offering unhelpful instructions. Di Palma gets it up and running and they settle down to watch, Tommy flicking through channels on the Cable Box which leads to a scene simultaneously hilarious and heartbreaking. An episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm is airing, and when Junior sees Larry David and Jeff Garlin on the screen, he becomes bewildered. Why are he and Bobby on the television? Is this his trial? When did they film this? Tommy is baffled, explaining this isn't real, it's just television. Junior doesn't respond, just staring quietly, suspiciously at the television screen, trying to wrap his head around what is happening.   The Bada Bing is open now and Tony has moved to the back office to continue his busy day of doing the word puzzles (not the crossword) in the newspaper. Patsy announces that Bobby has arrived for his appointment and Tony gives him the nod, hugging his brother-in-law as he enters. This meeting is at Bobby's request, and he gets right to the point: he isn't satisfied with simply being Junior's glorified caretaker. What he offers is a reasonable and undemanding point: he values Junior, he doesn't mind looking after him... but he's also got kids to take care of and a new wife, and following his promotion he expected to be out on the street more. He doesn't just want more money, he wants a chance to be out there earning for himself, not getting a handout. But nothing happens in a vacuum, and Tony is familiar with his situation better than most. Rather than confronting Bobby about it though, he digs for info. How is Janice doing? Bobby admits that she's struggling a little, excusing it as the difficult of taking on a ready-made family. Yes she's sleeping more, but he thinks that is due to her having Epstein-Barr before quietly admitting that she may be prone to depression. Tony, who is as well, clearly thinks this is bullshit but just nods along before agreeing with Bobby's hurried assurance that he doesn't regret marrying her. Having gotten what he feels is the full story, he explains that Bobby is the only person in Junior's crew he can really rely on to look after him which is why he can't take him out of the picture. However he acknowledges Bobby's concerns, and promises that he'll find a way to help him earn more, including taking on more collections duties. It isn't exactly what Bobby wanted but it is at least not an outright rejection, so he thanks Tony and they hug before departing... leaving Tony to consider how to deal with what he has guessed is the real driving force behind Bobby's restlessness. Paulie has brought his mother around to visit her sister Mary, where she is regaling her with her love of Green Grove   In Brooklyn, a bartender reads his paper in an empty bar. When a man and woman walk through the door he doesn't even look their way as he grunts that they're not open. Lorraine Calluzzo finds that amusing, considering his debts does he really want to turn away business? He offers a perfunctory apology for not realizing it was her and hands over a wad of cash, pretending disinterest as he calmly notes that it is "most of it". The lady shylock isn't impressed, asking if he'd really pull that kind of poo poo if she was a "big friend of the family" instead of a woman, and her boyfriend/heavy Jason Evanina stone-faced demands the rest of it. The bartender, Dan, doesn't argue or negotiate, he simply turns away to take the money out of the cash: he had enough to cover what he owed, he was just going through the motions of 1000 other gamblers testing the waters and seeing how much if any give they could get. There's nothing personal on either side, it's purely business... but what follows next isn't. The door opens and Phil Leotardo enters flanked by his brother Billy and Joey Peeps. Lorraine's entire demeanor instantly changes, she becomes entirely too friendly, forcing a casual attitude at odds with her usual confident attitude. As she tries to make small talk, Phil just approaches with a beaming smile, clutching a phonebook to his chest... and then slaps her across the face. Jason has allowed the others to flank him and is quickly restrained, while Lorraine is shoved into a chair while Phil snaps at the horrified Dan to keep out of this. The issue is money, of course, but Lorraine hasn't been holding back, she's just been sending it to the wrong person. With Carmine's death, Johnny Sack has demanded all kick-ups come to him, but she has been sending them to Little Carmine instead and they're done telling her. As she flies into a panic, moaning that Little Carmine was good to her father which is what won her loyalty, she falls into desperation and offers to do anything if it means living, including sucking all their cocks. Phil is startled and amused, this is the first time a shylock he had to beat down or threaten has offered that, and he asks the musclebound Jason if she is any good before sneering that he probably taught her how. Pressing the phonebook to her chest to muffle the shot, he places the gun against it and pulls the trigger... and she doesn't die. Pretending to be surprised despite this clearly been a long held intimidation tactic, he leafs through the book and notes to Joey Peeps it is her lucky day, the bullet only made it to the R's. He offers the final warning: she kicks up to Johnny Sack or next time... there'll be no next time. I've always found this scene disturbing, which perhaps is a little hypocritical of me given the level of violence we see between men on the show too. It isn't so much the violence towards a woman itself that is problematic for me, but the way they choose to introduce and define the female character as a tough-as-nails and highly-respected badass who almost immediately is reduced to a quivering mess offering sexual favors to stay alive. It feels almost unnecessarily mean-spirited, and while there is plenty of scope for a character who talks tough but falls apart when put under pressure the fact that this happens to one of the only women mobsters feels misguided. Especially given she was only introduced in the previous episode so her falling apart lacks any real impact and makes her look like a bit of a joke. Does anybody else feel this way or am I just overreacting? In any case, the immediate result of this assault is that the power vacuum at the top of the Lupertazzi Family needs to be dealt with, so a meeting is called... with Tony and Junior Soprano. They meet with Lorraine and Jason at Melvoin's legal office, the lawyer promising he has no issue with them taking as long as they want in the protected, illegal-to-bug location. The meeting itself has been called at the request of Angelo Garepe, who joins them to discuss the current problems with the Lupertazzi Family. Junior asks Angelo how he enjoys being out and living with his daughter, and the once feared Consigliere of one of the Five Families beams as he happily recounts his growing relationship with his grandson. Tony, politely impolite, cuts him off and reminds him of time, and they get into business. Lorraine, wearing glasses presumably to hide her still emotional state, complains bitterly that Johnny didn't even wait for the maggots to get to Carmine before setting himself on the throne. Angelo admits things are bad, Johnny is reaching out with both hands and if things aren't settled soon, there could be bloodshed. Jason speaks up, complaining that they almost already died, and Lorraine snaps at him to be quiet: "Men" are talking. She clearly doesn't forgive him for being so useless in the bar.   Tony agrees that while Carmine never formally named a successor, they had all assumed it would be Johnny since Little Carmine was based in Miami. Angelo asks Tony if he has any suggestions as to how they might deal with this, but before he can speak Junior sparks up to ask why Angelo is asking Tony, after all he never even had the makings of a varsity athlete. They're all taken aback, Tony quickly putting on a smile and laughing that Junior is just breaking balls before pushing forward. His idea is that there could be a power-sharing situation, a "triumvir... thing" between Johnny, Little Carmine... and Angelo himself. Lorraine agrees that power-sharing seems to work for the Sopranos, and again Tony pushes past Junior's grumpy, distracted mumbling that it isn't all it is cracked up to be. But Angelo is quick to dismiss his own inclusion, reminding them he is happily retired. Tony makes it sound tempting though, three of them means less duties, he'd still be able to spend time with his grandson, and if things get heavy he's not a lightning rod but just another voice to be added to the mix. Plus Johnny would still be making more as a Triumvir than he ever had as Underboss. It seems to be the solution they'd all been hoping for. Somebody else offering solutions to problems is Paulie Gualtieri, as he meets with Sal Vitro in a bar where the landscaper is drowning his sorrows. Paulie assures him that now he is aware of Sal's woes, he will gladly get involved to solve them. Sal is reluctant, noting that his wife has been pressuring him to go to the police, which immediately gets Paulie friendly but firmly making it clear this would only make things worse. No, let him deal with it for him for his Aunt's sake and get Sal his territory back.... oh and hey if Sal wants to give him a small percentage of his ongoing business well sure that would be nice too! Sal, who has prided himself of never getting involved in "stuff" over the last 26 years, is like Angelo: reluctant but also tempted by the opportunity to get back what was taken from him. Angelo went away and now others are fighting for a throne that should have been his, while Sal has unfairly lost his neighborhood but now could get them back. In effect he is going to use the mob to solve a problem caused by... the mob. Offering his thanks to Paulie, the deal is done. At La Manna Bakery, the slogan is "Our Bread is La-Manna from heaven" which is.... goddamn, Feech. Feech is sitting at his desk at his "square job" in the back office of the bakery when Paulie arrives and they embrace while throwing casual, good-natured insults each other's way. They make brief small talk about Tony's separation from Carmela and how neither of them ever had a need for a wife, Feech correcting himself again after once more referring to Tony as "kid". With that out of the way, they get down to business. Paulie is relaxed, smooth, laying it out so it all seems reasonable. He explains Sal Vitro mows his Aunt's lawn, that Feech's nephew is making trouble for him in Sal's neighborhood, and makes it clear that now he is putting in a good word for Sal before asking Feech to do him a "favor" and have his nephew back off. Feech, no stranger to this style of packaging demands into seemingly reasonable "chats" considers briefly before answering. Anybody else he would have lost his temper, but Paulie is a fellow mobster so he comes at it from a different angle. Mr. Jerry, the "fruit" that owns a series of hair salons came to Feech asking him to take his bets on the Knicks. Paulie is outraged, Jerry is "his" customer, and Feech agrees... but who the gently caress is this gardener? A friend of his Aunt's? Then he doesn't belong to anybody and the territory is anybody's to take. Given the hosed up nature of the mob and its rules, Feech is essentially in the "right" here when he says what's Paulie's is Paulie's but what isn't... isn't. But Paulie follows the overriding unwritten rule of,"Just do whatever the gently caress suits you at any given time" and the two fly into a rage screaming at each other until Feech demands he get the gently caress out of his store. Furious, Paulie storms out, knowing he didn't really have a leg to stand on and pissed off because he'd already taken it upon himself to tell Sal he was going to fix everything. To make matters worse, after finally putting his animosity with Christopher to bed he's now gone and made a new enemy, and this one isn't somebody he can dangle his seniority over.  Tony drives with Janice and AJ, on their way to Junior's for a family dinner. Now that Carmela is no longer part of the dinners, Junior is once again welcome and even Barbara and Tom will be attending. Bobby is meeting them there, he's taken the kids to the noon mass, and Tony is surprised, he had no idea he was religious. Janice, who had a thing not so long ago with demonstrative born-again Christianity, is clearly not keen on the idea herself. She says he's basically trying anything he can to deal with his stresses, which include Bobby Jr having started wetting the bed again (AJ, disinterested in the back seat, perks up with glee at this tidbit). Tony notes that Bobby recently visited him and casts Janice a wry look when she expresses surprise, and after a moment she smirks and admits she may have put the idea in his head, but what is wrong with him discussing his career with his wife? He needs a push now and then to help him is all. Tony, his suspicions confirmed now that Bobby only came to him because Janice talked him into it, reminds her that maybe she could help Bobby out by taking a more active hand in Junior's care too. Janice is offended by the suggestion she doesn't, laying out all the many things she has to do already like cook for Bobby and the kids, do the Sunday dinners at her house AND prep the starters for this family dinner at Uncle Junior's. Not long after they arrive at Vesuvio's, where Tony is amused by the discovery of just how Janice has "prepped the starters"... she paid Artie to make them for her! Waiting on the order, Janice admits that now she understands why Livia was the way she was, dismissing Tony's claim she chose to be that way by saying nobody would CHOOSE to be like that, it was an ungrateful husband and selfish kids that made her like that. Even if Tony could admit to himself that his father was a huge piece of poo poo, he certainly doesn't see Bobby in that light. But rather than arguing, he just takes the opportunity to needle at Janice as the food she "prepared" arrives from the back. They're still waiting on mushrooms, but as a surprisingly friendly Charmaine offers them wine, Tony decides to take this opportunity to settle a long-standing issue: Artie. In the kitchen, Artie spots Tony entering and uncomfortably tries to play it cool while Tony makes small talk. It seems he's been staying at a Motel 6 recently, he'd been staying at his aunt's home after the breakup with Charmaine but now the aunt has taken it back, so he'll be moving in with his cousin at the end of the month. Tony, whose own marital life is in tatters but is at least doing better than Artie, carefully brings up the notion that maybe Artie might like to stay with him at Livia's old place, which he currently has to himself. Artie thanks him but is quick to decline, so Tony gets to the real heart of the matter. Tony B has told him what he already knew himself, that he and Artie being on the outs is ridiculous. Once again he offers his home, pointing out there are two spare rooms, and Artie's wall finally breaks down. The two old friends smile and embrace and, all is good with the world once more, the rift sealed through this selfless act... until Tony is leaving the kitchen and just can't help himself. Pausing, knowing its wrong but not able to stop himself, he calls back to Artie that he might be able to save him 70% on his linen and they should discuss it. Artie immediately agrees and Tony leaves still smiling, while Artie is left to consider whether Tony has once again seen all the angles and taken "advantage" of him.   At Junior's house, Tony joins Junior and Bobby in the lounge to watch a home renovation program on the television. Junior wanders out to the kitchen to demand from Janice when they're going to eat, and she explains Barbara and Tom still haven't arrived with the entrees. Well when will they get here? Janice is irritated, reminding him she told him five minutes earlier they were arrived at 2pm. Not wanting to argue, she suggests they start on the pasta, and calls everybody to the table. As they settle in to eat, Bobby makes small talk with AJ who for once doesn't sneer or roll his eyes since the question is about his High School football team. He admits they lost twice against Delbarton, and Bobby - who reads up on the football teams - warns they're supposed to be an even stronger team this season. Tony thinks it is the fault of the line coach, but this pleasant (for the boys) and uncontroversial subject gets turned on its head when Junior suddenly leans in close towards AJ and notes conversationally that Tony never had the makings of a varsity athlete. Tony drops his utensils, pissed off at this coming up yet again, asking what the hell Junior's problem is, especially since he lettered in football. Junior doesn't back down though, he's talking about college which just irritates Tony more, since the guys at Seton Hall were 7 feet tall and he had no chance to compare. Junior keeps at it though, turning back to AJ to explain that the problem was Tony's small hands (which is hilarious given the size of his paws now), and Janice gets the giggles, remembering their father used to say the same thing. Tony, who has always hated being reminded of a time when he wasn't the top dog, demands to know what Junior's sudden obsession with this is about. He brought it up during the meeting the other day and, in a nod to the pilot episode, reminds him about the time he said it in front of "the girl cousins", humiliating him. Voice raised, ignoring Janice's surprised insistence that this really isn't a big deal, he complains that it is undermining behavior and he's trying to teach his kids not to do it. Junior is seemingly ignoring him, just eating his meal without comment or even looking his way as Tony declares the subject at an end. Barbara (played by a new actor) and Tom arrive with their kids, saying the traffic was bad, Tom making a note about how they were "checking the trucks again" (there are a couple comments here and there in this season reminding us of the new norm in America where terrorism was a seemingly ever-present thread). Tony, who just ranted about how he's against undermining, takes a dig at Janice by again mocking "her" prep-work of the pasta. Barbara greets Junior who simply replies that he dislikes tardiness, and Tom grabs a seat and makes his own comment about football. The subject seemingly triggering Junior's memory again, he looks up and offers that Tony never had the makings of a varsity athlete, sending Tony into a fresh rage. Screaming at Junior, he demands AJ get his coat (he didn't bring one) because they're leaving. A bewildered Barbara begs somebody to tell her what is going on, while the kids just cringe at Tony's outburst and the slamming of the door behind him. Junior just keeps on eating, and when Barbara admonishes him, asking if it was really necessary, he shrugs that Tony is a "goddamn hothouse flower" and that has always been his problem. In awkward silence now, the "family" dinner continues. 
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Sep 23, 2019 09:59
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Paulie has visited his aunt again, having gotten her television fixed. As he drinks tea, he notices Sal awkwardly moving about outside with his equipment. His aunt says it is such a sin that because of the attack on him, he's had to fire his assistant and take his son out of college. This is the last time he will be doing her lawn, and Paulie frowns as he sees a sad Sal offer him a nod, almost as if accepting that nothing can be done and he acknowledges Paulie was powerless to do anything. At night, Tony has a one-on-one meeting with Johnny Sack outside Shea Stadium. Amicably, they discuss the current situation, with Tony letting him know that Angelo came to see him after Lorraine reached out. Johnny is disgusted with Lorraine but clearly holds no animosity towards Tony, even commenting on the fact Tony slept with Lorraine once in the past. With the small talk out of the way, Tony carefully approaches the subject of the leadership situation, asking if having Phil smack his shylocks around is the best way to maintain stability? Johnny's reply is aggressive but reasoned: if he doesn't quickly establish who is at the top of the pecking order, nobody knows who to kick up to and everybody will start holding back and relying on the confusion to get away with it. Tony agrees that this makes sense, but Johnny isn't done venting, complaining about how Lorraine was always quick to recommend killing people and it was only right she taste her own medicine. Tony attempts to calm him, but gets a little heated himself when Johnny has the gall to blame him for giving Little Carmine ideas after he legitimized him by going to Miami to meet with him when the HUD scam was causing issues with Carmine. Forcing himself to maintain his composure unlike at dinner, he agrees that Little Carmine is an rear end in a top hat but points out he has a following loyal to his father. Then, with dreams of being a puppetmaster in his head, he explains the Triumvirate idea to Johnny, claiming it was all Angelo's idea. But as he talks up the virtues of the proposition, the fact it'll lessen their profile to the FBI and how three of the other Five Families are doing something like this, Johnny gets more and more outraged. "What's this, the loving UN now?" he demands, and of course he's going to reject it: he's gone in expecting to be THE Boss of the Lupertazzis after decades of playing second fiddle and now it's been suggested he share? Tony quickly, angrily tells him to forget he brought it up, thankful at least that he gave "credit" for the idea to Angelo instead of himself. Another day, Tommy Di Palma is watching a Tony Robbins infomercial where Bobby comes in with groceries, asking where Junior is. Tommy, eyes glued to the screen, says he's upstairs taking a nap, but Bobby found the garage door open and the car gone, and when they rush to the upstairs bedroom they find it empty. Sheepishly Tommy admits he fell asleep and it's been at least a couple of hours since he last saw Junior, but more troubling is his watch and wallet are still sitting by the bed, so where could he have gone? Especially since the conditions of his bail mean he's not supposed to leave the house (there's no electronic bracelet, at least). The answer is Bloomfield Avenue. Shuffling down the road in a coat over pajama bottoms and an undershirt, he stops outside the Church of Ministry Faith Center, the number 468 on the door triggering some memory for him. Inside he finds kids being schooled on how to sell candy to raise money for drug prevention programmes, and being admonished to push harder to sell the Turkish Taffies that nobody wants. Junior approaches a man who tries to explain they're closed for a private rental, but he demands to know,"Where's Johnny?" and asks to speak to Damiano before demanding again to know where Johnny Soprano is. An old maintenance man overhears Junior cursing and warns him to watch his language, but he did overhear the name Soprano and notes this used to be an Italian neighborhood... but they're all long gone now, and it is now predominantly black. It seems Johnny used to own the building and kept "vending machines" inside, but they're long gone too. The younger man forces Junior out the door as the kids giggle, relieved to have something else other than a lesson on profit margins for lovely chocolate to keep their attention. Outside, Junior automatically grabs for his keys so he can go to the car, but when he spots the electronic fob attached to them his mind rejects it. With the keys now reduced to a mystery, he becomes dazed and wanders away in the opposite direction. A sweating Bobby has, in his desperation, put through a call to Bobbi San Fillipo on the off-chance Junior might have gone to see her and try and make up after their disastrous parting in Boca. She hasn't of course, and once he hangs up he becomes frustrated by Tommy telling him what he already knew, that they haven't spoken in years. Worse news is to come though, as Tommy belatedly remembers how odd Junior was acting earlier, wanting to see "Johnny"... oh also he thought he was one of the characters on television the other day too! At Bobby's, Janice is reading a book on bed-wetting when Bobby calls to tell her Junior is missing, hoping against hope he might have called on her. He hasn't of course, and as Bobby has a mild freakout, Janice becomes distracted noticing Bobby Jr pumping chocolate sauce into his glass of milk. She smoothly pulls the glass from his hand and pours it down the toilet as she talks, downplaying the issue, saying he probably just popped next door to gossip with the neighbors. Bobby, who was quick to think of Johnny Soprano over Johnny Sack, explains that his grandfather exhibited some of the same symptoms as Junior is now which is why he is worried. He rejects the idea of calling Tony, unlike Janice he doesn't just want to jump to Tony to fix everything like a Knight in White Satin Armor when it all goes wrong. So he's going to go out looking, but to do that he needs Janice to come to Junior's in case he returns in his absence. Janice immediately starts to complain, but is cut off by an uncharacteristic angry outburst from Bobby, who proclaims that sometimes he feels like he loves Junior more than she does. Stung by the accusation, she has a moment of shock followed almost immediately by anger at being questioned. Like Tony, she doesn't like being called out on things no matter how accurate they might be.   Happily this rather fraught scene is immediately followed by one which, though filled with brutal violence, is also deeply, deeply comical. Paulie drives down the street, and of course it turns out that his newfound appreciation for Sun Tzu isn't from reading anything but buying the book on tape and listening to it as he drives! Nodding in approval to the concept that there are "five essentials for victory" before he even knows what those are, he spots a La Manna Landscaping truck on the side of the road. Pulling over, he approaches a tree where a cigarette smoking man is bracing a rope to keep the man in the tree trimming branches from falling. Paulie asks for Gary, who is the man in the tree, so he approaches and begins bellowing up at him to come down so they can talk. Gary La Manna has no idea who this weirdo is, why it matters that Sal Vitro did his aunt's yard down the road, and seems amused when Paulie shouts up that he's going to make good on Sal's busted arm. He tells Paulie to eat poo poo, and Jimmy - a big guy - suggests he takes a walk. Remembering the first essential for victory is to know when to fight and when not to, Paulie puts his hands up and walks away... and grabs a shovel, comes back and brains Jimmy from behind, causing Gary to fall from the tree directly onto his feet! Winded and possibly with broken legs at the very least, Gary lays on the ground gasping and wheezing as Paulie goes through his pockets and pulls out his wallet, stealing his money and calling it and the lawnmower a downpayment. He demands Gary take care of Sal's orthopedist bill by the next Tuesday.... oh and also from now on he makes 10% of Gary's gross in this neighborhood! Gary is outraged but shuts up when Paulie threatens to strike him with the shovel too. In a bizarrely hilarious coda, Paulie then wheels the lawnmower along the road and loads it into his trunk, which of course can't close properly. So he just hops into the car and drives away down the road, trunk bobbing up and down as he goes. It's brutal, it's violent, it's stupid and short-sighted and also absolute loving comedy gold. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HfRzQBHIP4 At Livia's, Christopher is waiting to drive Tony to an important meeting. He's well dressed, and Tony comes down still doing his tie as he lays out important information to Christopher. They're going to meet with Johnny Sack to figure out the new contractor for their joint operations now that Jack Massarone is dead. More importantly than that though, Tony warns Christopher he is under no circumstances to make comment if the current issues between Little Carmine and Johnny come up. Christopher agrees readily enough but Tony really wants to hammer home the point, not pleased to be distracted by a phone call. It's Bobby who has finally bit the bullet and called to tell him Junior is gone, which leads to a darkly comical moment where Tony thinks his Uncle is dead. Once he learns he has "wandered" though he loses interest, sneering that Junior is dead to him (a phrase he used to reserve for the late mother whose house he now lives in) and hanging up, never quite grasping the significance of Bobby's use of the phrase "wandering". Bobby is left to ponder why Junior's own flesh and blood seem less interested in him than Bobby does, and he settles in to wait for Janice to arrive... and waits, and waits.... and waits some more. Finally she arrives, greeted immediately by his demand to know why it took her an hour to arrive (Junior has been gone at least 3 hours by this point). Acidly she points out that she was picking up HIS daughter from school, but Bobby is already moving past her, preparing to head out in search. He sent Tommy Di Palma home, and isn't impressed when she complains that Tommy gets a day off but she doesn't, reminding her Junior disappeared on Tommy's watch. Bobby Jr asks if he can come with him, and when his father says no he almost desperately asks if Janice can go with him and leave he and Sophia in the house to themselves. Bobby is pissed and warns him about being rude, while a fed up Janice decides to go upstairs and take a nap. Left alone with his kids, Bobby sighs, warns them to get their homework done and then heads out the door. At the bar where Carmine once held court, Johnny has quickly assumed that position as he meets with Tony, Christopher, Joey Peeps and Vito Spatafore. But before getting down to business, he's taken the chance to vent over their lunch, complaining about how he and Little Carmine were close until he went to Florida and got ideas above his station. Tony offers a quiet comment designed to move them on, but Christopher mistakes it for an invitation to comment and adds in that he was unaware of how tight Johnny and Little Carmine used to be. Tony isn't happy but it seems safe enough, Johnny sighing that they were like brothers, which is clearly a natural end to the conversation... until Christopher keeps talking, noting it is a shame they can't work things out. Tony, desperate, tries to steer the conversation to the food but Christopher has his own momentum now, offering his own proposed solution: maybe Little Carmine can keep Lorraine as HIS shylock in exchange for Johnny getting a piece of Little Carmine's Florida action? It's only when the reply comes that Christopher - who doesn't even have the defense of being high as a kite on heroin anymore - finally grasps how badly he's hosed up, as a fuming Johnny says he'd move to Miami if he wanted to be involved in Florida business, and recalls how not so long ago Christopher was the guy who had to wait in the car, a system he far preferred. Vito tries to speak up in Christopher's defense, but Johnny Sack has now reached a point in his life where he feels he no longer needs to listen to anybody beneath the level of another Boss (and even then, under protest) and he storms away from the table and past Phil at the bar, trailed by Joey Peeps. Quietly, Vito reminds Tony that he didn't say anything. In the car, Tony is livid, screaming at Christopher as he drives himself, to angry to let Chrissy take the wheel. Christopher makes a doomed effort to explain himself and gets shouted down, Tony ranting that now he has to make it up to Johnny somehow by doing something nice for him, and he has no idea what that might be. Christopher, belatedly, has realized discretion is the better part of valor and says nothing. Fuming in silence, Tony finally gets his emotions under check and attempts to explain it all again. A war between Little Carmine and Johnny is bad, but there is a chance it can be worked to their advantage.... if they keep on people's good sides. Johnny is probably going to win, so they need to stay on side with him, but if Little Carmine wins it would be like a gift-wrapped package to them so they have to curry his favor as well. In the meantime, they can pick up crumbs from the fallout, but only if Christopher is smart enough to keep his ears open and his mouth shut.   Adriana meets with Agent Sanseverino, where without enthusiasm but also without hesitation she offers up more tidbits about Tony's deals, including sending Christopher to talk with the new president of the Electrician's Union. But she becomes more animated when Sanseverino makes a rare lapse in professionalism to inquire about the confusing nature of Tony and Christopher's relationship. Are they Uncle/Nephew or cousins? Adriana explains he is Carmela's cousin, but because Dickie Moltisanti was a mentor to Tony he considers Christopher to be a nephew. Also complicating things is that thanks to the tangled nature of their family trees, Tony and Christopher are actual cousins themselves (as are Tony B and Christopher, whose mother is a Blundetto), just further removed than Carmela and Christopher's direct relationship. As Sanseverino takes notes, Adriana takes the opportunity to ask a more personally important question: how long will she have to remain an informant? The answer horrifies her, as Sanseverino nonchalantly replies that a major RICO case like this will takes years to be resolved. Junior Soprano sits on a broken old bench by the side of the road, looking out over sprawling urban decay, not recognizing anything beyond the giant Pabst beer bottle. An older homeless woman takes a seat beside him, asking if he's living around there, and eagerly he asks if she knows him. She cackles at that question, and peering closer he asks if she's from the Jupiter Club on Sixth Street. That place caught fire a long time back she explains, and when he asks her if she knows his brother Johnny she tries to flirt by saying Junior clearly got the good looks. She cackles at Junior's confused question on if they'd had relations before, and for the first time he notices her badly damaged foot. It was run over by a taxicab, and she's just been limping around suffering from it ever since, unable to afford to get anything done about it. But the word taxicab sparks a memory for Junior, who reaches into his pockets and finally remembers what they are for. When she hears he has a car she asks if he wants a "date", which she has been angling for since she figured out he wasn't homeless himself. Ignoring her as she asks if he can at least give her a ride to the shelter, he gets up in a panic, wanting to find his car, and walks away leaving her pissed at wasting her time. But his triggered memory of the car doesn't help his still confused mind. As night falls, he crosses Clay Street Bridge and wanders through a vacant lot, tripping over an abandoned mattress spring. As he checks the hole in his pants, he turns and spots a police car slowly approaching, and makes a pathetic effort to run away, hugging tight to the side of a dumpster trying to hide. The police approach him and he immediately clams up, refusing to show ID or answer questions, complaining his car was stolen and he wants his lawyer. The officers, who probably deal with this kind of situation on a regular basis, are not aggressive or confrontational. Instead they humor him, asking his lawyer's name (he can only remember "Mel"), asking where he lives, what is his name? Having questions he can actually answer overrides his natural reluctance to talk to them and he barks out Belleville and Corrado Soprano. The latter makes them laugh, figuring he's loving with them, and carefully they entice him into the car by pointing out it'll be warmer inside than out. Janice answers the doorbell and is relieved to see Junior there with the police. He shuffles inside without a word, straight past her and onto the couch, looking grimly mortified. Proximity to home seems to have returned him to himself, but now he's left with the confusion, shame and paranoia of knowing that somehow he'd gotten lost in his own head. Janice has Bobby Jr collect his wallet and shows his ID to the cops, who are surprised to see he really is Corrado Soprano. If they know he's violating bail (they probably don't) they don't seem to care. They leave, probably thinking they have a hell of a story to tell at the precient. With them gone and now he's safe in his own house, Junior lashes out at Janice for hovering over him, snapping when she tries to send Bobby Jr to the bathroom with him. Not appreciating having her concern thrown back in her face, she lets him go, as he complains bitterly about just wanting to get some exercise and having everybody go crazy about, trying to pretend this is all a big misunderstanding. Tony sits at home drinking beer and watching His Girl Friday when Janice knocks on the door. She and Bobby have come to see him to address the Junior situation, with Janice explains he was found in Newark in his slippers, trying to find their father. Bobby doesn't mince words, saying what he truly fears, that Junior may have Alzheimer's, but Tony is still sulking about the varsity athlete bit and sneers that maybe he'll get lucky and Junior will forget his number. Poor Artie walks into this scene, full of life and happy after reconciling with his old friend and getting a swinging bachelor's pad (too sad middle-aged balding men drinking beer in one of their parent's homes) to live in, only to turn on his heel and get the gently caress out of there when Janice gives him a sarcastic smile and coldly tells him they're in the middle of a family meeting. Janice tries to take a serious tone with her brother, saying Junior may have a real problem that they must deal with, but Tony is doing his "I totally don't care, look how much I don't care, I'm totally not caring right now" thing and smugly tells her that like he told Bobby, Junior is dead to him now. She's disgusted by his childishness, asking if his ego is really that fragile. He waves that off unconcerned, saying there is more between him and Junior than she knows (probably even Bobby doesn't know he tried to have Tony killed), and tells her her to take him to the doctor if she's so concerned. She makes the valid point that Tony is the only person Junior truly relates to/respects and thus the only one likely to convince him, and with great, immature satisfaction he notes that you reap what you sow. Janice, pissed off at coming hat in hand to Tony only to be rejected, lashes out in the best way she can, by pointing out just how valid that saying is to Tony himself. After all, here he is living alone in their mother's old house without his family, and with great glee (probably genuine, as Tony both loves an excuse to lash out AND is hypocritical enough to think he's the victim in his situation) he asks if SHE is really going to give him advice on marriage. Janice attempts to take the high ground, offering a line Tony himself has used many times in the past: there's a lot she could say that she is NOT going to say, but Tony won't let it go. In the kitchen, Artie is cringing as all the dirty laundry gets aired, with Tony accusing Janice of trying to pawn the poo poo onto him as always. She tries to defend herself but he steamrolls right over her, his laughing replaced by spitting fury he probably isn't even aware of as he taunts and belittles "free-spirit" Janice, moaning about how he was left to play "the good son" to their headcase mother that Janice now supposedly related to, while she was off dropping acid and blowing roadies ("ROADIES!?!" bellows a shocked Bobby). Janice is mortified, demanding he admit to Bobby he made that up, but now Tony has shifted into that quiet rage that is always more threatening than his explosive shouting. He taunts her for failing to stay away, accuses her of planning to drain the life from Bobby like she has to every other man before her (she killed Richie Aprile in this house, remember?), mocking her so-called depression and tiredness. Getting exactly the reaction he wanted from her, he lunges at her after she slaps him, calling her a stupid oval office, accusing her of being just like "your" mother, throttling her, crying that she's going to do to Bobby what Livia did to their father. Oh yeah, Tony certainly doesn't have any outstanding issues with his mother! Bobby and Artie manage to break them apart, and Janice - who just got throttled by her brother! - flails her arms wildly at him, Artie getting smacked in the process, then runs wailing from the house. Tony, momentarily satisfied by his burst of temper, tries to act like the big man and smugly tells Bobby that if he wants more responsibility he can start by controlling his wife. Bobby, utterly revolted by this pathetic display, says nothing and simply leaves the house. Unlike his wife or his brother-in-law, he can control himself.   Having been the cause of one completely ridiculous overreaction leading to violence, Tony soon finds himself the arbitrator for another. At Satriale's he attends a sitdown with Feech and Paulie to discuss their little war over territory for a landscaping business. Feech is disgusted by Paulie's unprovoked attack on his nephew (no mention of his own shattering of Sal Vitro's wrist) while an offended Paulie claims that Gary leapt out of the tree with a chainsaw to attack HIM! Tony finds the whole thing ridiculous, but comes up with a solution guaranteed to please nobody and thus probably be the fairest solution: Sal and Gary can split the territory in two. To pay Sal's medical bills, Gary will have to cough up $500, and when Paulie complains he already told him 1200, Tony - who always wants everything all the time - reminds him there are compromises in life... but when he sees Paulie's face fall, he decides to err on the side of caution and agrees to bump it up to $1000 for pain and suffering. Feech doesn't like this but he also understands the pecking order better than most, and so he simply sits and nods, even when Tony reminds them both that he is supposed to be getting a taste of their scams and that counts retroactively since he only heard about it when they needed him to make a ruling. His only protest is to assure him he just wanted to make sure it was a going concern so he didn't leave Tony expecting regular money that wasn't going to come in. Paulie hears this though and quickly throws in his own sweetener, promising on Sal's behalf that he'll do Tony's lawns too for free. This gives Tony an idea, and pours them both a drink, satisfied that on top of his new idea he's also for once found a solution that everybody can, if not love, at least like. Oh right, except for some guy called Sal Vitro! Paulie meets him not long after on a job, where Sal introduces his sullen son who clearly isn't happy to have been pulled out of college life to mow lawns. Paulie gives him the "good" news, he got him $500 for his arm (loving Paulie kept half the money  ) and half his area back! Sal is devastated, but when he starts to complain he sees the look on Paulie's face and meekly offers him thanks instead. Paulie struts away head held high, satisfied in his "good deed" for the day before stopping to look back and let Sal know he'll have to do a couple lawns for free now. Sal submits to his fate yet again, and Paulie walks away, leaving Vitro to consider how lucky he is now to have half his original territory, a busted arm, extra free jobs to do AND have to pay a percentage of his revenue to Paulie... all because some grumpy old man decided to shove him out of a job he's been doing for over a quarter of a century. Tony is playing golf on a foggy day with Eugene when a stranger spots and greets him. Tony doesn't recognize him at first until he introduces himself, he's Dr. Harry Winer, the neurologist who worked on Livia back when she was at Green Grove. Tony is friendly, and when Winer asks if Janice told him he was treating their uncle he looks surprised but quickly agrees that yes he was told. Seemingly he hadn't actually thought they were going to do anything without him, and he's even more surprised when Winer starts talking about infarcts and slowly realizes that holy poo poo there was actually something physically wrong with his Uncle causing him to act strange, he wasn't just being a nasty old man. As Winer lists the symptoms, he's horrified to hear every problem that Junior has been exhibiting is typical: not just the forgetfulness and repeated questions, but even the obstinacy and impatience. Winer apologizes if he has gotten into the middle of a family squabble, he just wanted to say hello, and Tony says a warm goodbye and shakes his hand. Once Winer is gone though he becomes troubled... has he gotten Junior all wrong? Johnny Sack returns home to a pleasant sight. Sal Vitro and his former college-going son are in the middle of mowing his extremely spacious lawns, all for free. What a great guy that Tony Soprano is, it really makes up for Christopher pissing Johnny off the other day! At his home, Junior is watching a nature show when Tony walks carefully through the door, trying his best to act natural. Junior treats it like any other visit, reminding him to shut the freezer door firmly to form a tight seal. It's the kind of thing that would normally irritate Tony, but keeping Winer's words in mind he simply does as he is told and then joins Junior on the couch with a couple glasses of wine. They drink, and Tony gingerly approaches the subject of his recent incident. It's a minefield, everything is in a new context now as he tries to figure out if Junior is being his usual prickly self or simply misunderstanding a question rather than having an episode. Quietly he tells Junior to make sure he takes his medicine to help with his memory. Junior's reply indicates he's entirely present today, as he quips there is plenty he'd like to forget, and Tony - perhaps thinking about his verbal and physical assault on his sister - agrees that goes for him too. As they sit in silence, Tony notices a bag from Feech's bakery on the table. All episode it has been tickling at him, this growing sensation that something is wrong: Feech keeps showing up in person or in conversation. He's hanging out with Tony B, he's getting into territorial disputes with Paulie over scams Tony knows nothing about, he's paying visits and bringing gifts to Junior etc. Junior sees nothing wrong with the visit, but what he says next triggers that concern in Tony again, as he questions why Tony ruled "against" Feech, warning that he's an important man. Tony asks why Feech is bringing stuff like that to Junior, who reminds him - again, he's fully present and cognizant - that despite any arrangements the two of them may have, he is still technically the Boss of this Family and Feech has every right to come to him. Tony doesn't want to argue that point, so they go back to the safety of watching the nature show. But Tony can't resist, not in regards to Feech but what has REALLY been under his skin: the varsity poo poo. He brings it up again, pointing out that the doctor told him he might not have known what he was saying. Junior is clearly embarrassed to be reminded, probably not so much for what he said but the fact his mind kept randomly skipping to it, a reminder of his loss of control (or at least awareness) of his own faculties. Tony tries to move on, to discuss Feech some more, but he simply can't let it go. So maybe he was unaware, maybe he blurted out something from the past without thinking... but why did it have to be mean? Why couldn't it be something good? Looking directly into his Uncle's eyes he asks him a question that cuts past all their usual bullshit demonstrative physicality and proclamations of affection to ask the question directly,"Don't you love me? Junior can't answer. Struggling to contain himself, fighting back tears, it's unclear if Junior is weeping for the fact he caused this question to have been asked in the first place, or if he's weeping for himself and his own growing loss of self. It is the horror of dementia, the loss of awareness, the breakdown of the self. Tony finds himself becoming teary-eyed too, the Uncle who has been such a strong presence - for good and bad - in his life is fading before his eyes, losing pieces of himself. The episode ends in silence, two fully grown Italian men on the verge of tears, unable to articulate the love they have for the other in any meaningful way. It is beautiful and sad and tragic, and sadly something that is all too common in the real world.   Season 5: Two Tonys | Rat Pack | Where's Johnny? | All Happy Families... | Irregular Around the Margins | Sentimental Education | In Camelot | Marco Polo | Unidentified Black Males | Cold Cuts | The Test Dream | Long Term Parking | All Due Respect Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | Season 4 | Season 5 | Season 6.1 | Season 6.2 Jerusalem fucked around with this message at 14:43 on Apr 23, 2020 |
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Sep 23, 2019 10:00
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What's even better is that as Paulie's driving the audiobook talks about how not seeking conflict also has its virtues.
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Sep 23, 2019 11:55
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I think the turf war over who gets to mow turf might be one of the most petty things in the series.
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Sep 23, 2019 12:44
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Dawgstar posted:I think the turf war over who gets to mow turf might be one of the most petty things in the series. And as always the common man pays the most, poor Sal Vitro... 
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Sep 23, 2019 13:24
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Agrees that Lorraine's assault was uncomfortable and arguably over the line but I think they were trying to do a scene to establish Phil as a violent, cold blooded rear end in a top hat. So mission accomplished on that end. And that whole thing with Sal was just sad and I wanted to punch Paulie and Feech for putting that poor dude in that mess. He didn't do poo poo wrong and every mobster he dealt with acted like they were doing him a big favor.
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Sep 23, 2019 13:31
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Vichan posted:What's even better is that as Paulie's driving the audiobook talks about how not seeking conflict also has its virtues. I get so much joy from the audiobook saying,"We know there are five essential virtues..." and Paulie nodding along like he's got any loving idea what is actually being said. He knows it's supposed to be really smart stuff so of course he's just gonna happily agree with what is said, no matter what is said.
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Sep 23, 2019 13:54
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Vichan posted:And as always the common man pays the most, poor Sal Vitro... And you see his truck at everyone's yard for the rest of the series too.
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Sep 23, 2019 13:57
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Sal got his nose and arm broken, dragged by his junk, lost half his customers, had to take his kid out of school, endured all kinds of verbal abuse, and the only good thing that happens to him is that he no longer has to do Johnny Sack's house for free, and that's only because Tony wanted to stick it to Janice once she took ownership. Also, I can't help but laugh at "Hey Phil, those Mets tickets, right?" and his reply of "Lorraine, how about this humidity?" followed by a smack. There's just something about Phil's no bullshit attitude that's so darkly funny at times. EDIT: crispix posted:We often see Tony appear in some very... interesting outfits but I just want to show my appreciation for this particular shirt The one that looks like it's covered in leaves is my vote for Tony's worst shirt. Pope Corky the IX fucked around with this message at 14:19 on Sep 23, 2019 |
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Sep 23, 2019 14:16
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I figure the shirt is very expensive, which is Tony's only method of determining class.
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Sep 23, 2019 14:51
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 Here's the shirt I vote Tony's worst throughout the entire series. If we're talking about jackets, I vote the gold one he wears when Melfi tells him to gently caress off in "Blue Comet".
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Sep 23, 2019 15:40
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I always assumed Carmela did the vast majority of Tony's clothes shopping.
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Sep 23, 2019 16:28
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Tony's immense collection of horrible beige/brown shirts is a standout even in a sea of lovely mobster clothes from the Soprano family. No one in that entire group ever dressed well on this show.
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Sep 23, 2019 16:37
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Suxpool posted:I always assumed Carmela did the vast majority of Tony's clothes shopping. Price is also Carm's way of determining style.
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Sep 23, 2019 16:47
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Best shirt is in a few episodes, the print is various cuts of meat Tony’s cabana shirts are inherently hilarious. They’re just meant to be comfortable- he has two gears, formal and slob, and only looks nice when he feels obligated to.
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Sep 23, 2019 18:38
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A jacket so ugly an entire episode was named after it. The shirt under it is awful but the jacket was a bridge too far for even Tony Soprano.
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Sep 23, 2019 18:50
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Agent Burt Macklin posted:A jacket so ugly an entire episode was named after it. The shirt under it is awful but the jacket was a bridge too far for even Tony Soprano. With how he sniffs the jacket it probably smelled something awful.
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Sep 23, 2019 18:57
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It's interesting how Paulie is such a great entertaining character despite having no redeeming qualities whatsoever Johnny Sack twisting him around his little finger resulting in Paulie making a twat of himself in front of Carmine is glorious.
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Sep 23, 2019 19:40
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Agent Burt Macklin posted:A jacket so ugly an entire episode was named after it. The shirt under it is awful but the jacket was a bridge too far for even Tony Soprano. Hey, now! Richie took it off Rocco DiMeo! Toughest guy in Essex County until Richie got through with him!
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Sep 23, 2019 19:43
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Pope Corky the IX posted:Sal got his nose and arm broken, dragged by his junk, lost half his customers, had to take his kid out of school, endured all kinds of verbal abuse, and the only good thing that happens to him is that he no longer has to do Johnny Sack's house for free, and that's only because Tony wanted to stick it to Janice once she took ownership. he also gets arrested by the FBI when they arrest Johnny Sack. Always found that a funny call back
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Sep 23, 2019 19:58
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EwokEntourage posted:he also gets arrested by the FBI when they arrest Johnny Sack. Always found that a funny call back LOL I must've missed that the previous times I've watched the show. I'll have to keep an eye out for it this time.
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Sep 23, 2019 20:03
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Basebf555 posted:LOL I must've missed that the previous times I've watched the show. I'll have to keep an eye out for it this time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=modmq0hnLSA&t=193s
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Sep 23, 2019 20:05
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Omg they bust his arm up again too. This show.
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Sep 23, 2019 20:09
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Dominic Chianese should have gotten an Emmy for this line alone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mADmg6_H1xM
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Sep 23, 2019 20:14
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Jerusalem posted:I've always found this scene disturbing, which perhaps is a little hypocritical of me given the level of violence we see between men on the show too. It isn't so much the violence towards a woman itself that is problematic for me, but the way they choose to introduce and define the female character as a tough-as-nails and highly-respected badass who almost immediately is reduced to a quivering mess offering sexual favors to stay alive. It feels almost unnecessarily mean-spirited, and while there is plenty of scope for a character who talks tough but falls apart when put under pressure the fact that this happens to one of the only women mobsters feels misguided. Especially given she was only introduced in the previous episode so her falling apart lacks any real impact and makes her look like a bit of a joke. Does anybody else feel this way or am I just overreacting? Definitely with you on this, especially when I think her only other scene is getting murdered an episode or two down the road, which again plays out with a weird sexually degrading tone, as if she's being exposed as and punished for being a woman of loose morals or overstepping her bounds or those two things intertwined. It's definitely not just the depiction of misogyny I don't care for, because as hard as the show's season 3 focus on Mafia misogyny was to watch, I thought it was pretty successful in challenging how Tony and the guys view and value women. Here I have no idea what they were going for and it's one of my least favourite sequences of the whole series. I think there's a thin thread in the show that the flipside of Johnny Sack's devotion to his wife is that he loathes prostitutes and goomars and any disreputable type of woman, so perhaps it was supposed to be part of that, but also the Lorraine character is incredibly thinly and contemptibly drawn so the whole thing is just ugly for no apparent reason. I also didn't love this episode bringing in a new Barbara who looks and plays the part totally differently to season 2/3 Barbara, although that's an entirely minor point, I just liked the original actor and wish they'd done a little more with her. On the plus side the landscaping war and the episode's ending are both brilliant - I've alway thought Dominic Chianese is one of the more undervalued actors on the show, and it's all the more impressive when you see him out of character and he's such a dignified old gent. UNRULY_HOUSEGUEST fucked around with this message at 20:45 on Sep 23, 2019 |
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Sep 23, 2019 20:34
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She is weird as she basically exists to show the war but she isn’t really established enough for it to have any real impact. You could have used any one time actor for it. So why use an established but underused character? Feels pointless
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Sep 23, 2019 21:33
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I never got the impression Lorraine was supposed to be particularly badass or well respected. I mean Chris seems sorta impressed with her but the others dont. Even the bartender trys to short her when she goes to collect. All she really is is a loan shark. Even Angie becomes a loan shark after her success with pussys body shop.
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Sep 23, 2019 22:39
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I pretty sure everyone tries to short everyone at some point. That’s like half the mob scenes in this show
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Sep 23, 2019 22:47
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UNRULY_HOUSEGUEST posted:I also didn't love this episode bringing in a new Barbara who looks and plays the part totally differently to season 2/3 Barbara, although that's an entirely minor point, I just liked the original actor and wish they'd done a little more with her. IIRC this was due to a scheduling conflict, the original actress was more than happy to continue but couldn't make this and her prior commitments.
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Sep 23, 2019 23:08
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Jerusalem posted:Looking directly into his Uncle's eyes he asks him a question that cuts past all their usual bullshit demonstrative physicality and proclamations of affection to ask the question directly,"Don't you love me? This is legit the saddest ending of any episode in the series- fantastic writeup.
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Sep 23, 2019 23:30
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Apologies if this has been asked before, or if you’d rather not share them, but do you have all of these episode reviews saved? I would love to send these to some friends (of mine)
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Sep 24, 2019 05:52
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The pictures and text are backed up on my HD, but they're all easily accessible enough through the thread, every write-up includes links to every episode in the season and links to each season as well and that's probably a far more effective way to read them than via text (including bbcode img links).
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Sep 24, 2019 06:44
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Jerusalem posted:The pictures and text are backed up on my HD, but they're all easily accessible enough through the thread, every write-up includes links to every episode in the season and links to each season as well and that's probably a far more effective way to read them than via text (including bbcode img links). I meant non-goons but it didn’t occur to me to just log on a computer and copy paste from your post history. Thanks  I love your reviews mate, amazing work
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Sep 24, 2019 07:22
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Thank you, and to everybody else who has said nice things, it's always lovely to read
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Sep 24, 2019 10:14
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Lorraine def. rubs me the wrong way. She is introduced as someone who has made in the mafia and then the rest of her story is basically just a humiliation conga. It seemed to shout "chicks can't make it in the mob", which contrasted with absolutely imperious Annalisa in "Commendatori" is a weird tack to take.
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Sep 24, 2019 20:06
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