Sopranos (spoilers)

[Fatter than Joey]

I think that the writers wanted to.

 

1.) Wrap up the story line on Paulie's cancer.

 

and

 

2.) Remind us that Paulie is a jerk.

 

I don't think there is a whole lot to read into it, other than that. It was a good way for Paulie to "update the viewer" -- w/o the dialogue being inefficient.

[PeaveyFury]

Paulie has pretty much always been loyal to Tony,i can't see Tony ever doing anything bad to Paulie unless he really really stepped out of line.A comment like he made doesn't seem near bad enough to get Tony irrate,plus it wasn't directed at Tony anyways.

 

After watching the previews for next week, I disagree. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

The comment did seem out of place, and the reaction was awkward silence. I think Paulie has some trouble coming next week.

[Fatter than Joey]

I think Paulie has some trouble coming next week.

 

I hope so, I enjoy the storylines with Paulie involved.

[Roscoe Chill]

I'm with Peavey...danzig must not have watched next week's preview. Paulie is going down IMO, whether or not it's next week is the real question.

[BrewCrewForever]

Yeah I to think Paulie's gonna get it, which is a shame cause Paulie has been one of my favorite charcters throughout the show.

[RobertR]

A couple of other thoughts on the episode.

 

It's perhaps irony and a definite contrast to Tony, but Johnny Sac went out surrounded by his loving family. Well played to the end. And I enjoyed the Sidney Pollack cameo.

 

Cleaver looks like a better movie than it has any right to be.

 

Mortality and age was a definite theme last night. And Carmine apparently has found an out, which is something Tony has been looking for.

 

Goodfellas is the usual model for The Sopranos, but between the restaurant hit and the baptism at the end, there's a definite Godfather homage going on.

 

A Paulie centered episode should make it a good one. I get the sense that there's a definite direction here, but I don't know the final outcome. After a couple of seasons that were a bit meandering, I'm feeling confident about the ending.

 

Robert

[endaround]

So was the movie shout out sort of a writing in joke?

[danzig6767]

I'm with Peavey...danzig must not have watched next week's preview. Paulie is going down IMO, whether or not it's next week is the real question.

 

I saw that and Paulie very well could be a goner,i just don't think his comments about Johnny Sac will be much of a reason why.Maybe if it got back to Phil,but i don't see Tony clipping a trusted soldier like Paulie over a comment about Johnny Sac.

[Roscoe Chill]

Yeah, I'm not sure the comment would matter either, but I guess I missed your point of "unless he really stepped out of line." So I would agree with you.

[MKE alz]

I'm amazed how many think the show is still great. I use to care about some of the characters, but I feel they've all been ruined and the show is now rather boring week-to-week.

 

Too many red herrings, too many dropped storylines.

 

If I had to rank shows I watch and could only watch, say, 5 shows a year, between cable and network TV, this would definitely not be in my top 5, probably not even in my top 10.

[Fatter than Joey]

I'm amazed how many think the show is still great.

 

I don't think a lot of viewers think it is "great" -- however -- I have given it the benefit of the doubt during the last few seasons. I think though, with a clear end to the series, i.e. no negotiations for another season, I felt like the writing and storylines would be very tight.

 

This season has been awesome so far. The scene with Paulie standing on the end of the fishing boat was priceless....

[MKE alz]

Quote:

---

I don't think a lot of viewers think it is "great" -- however -- I have given it the benefit of the doubt during the last few seasons. I think though, with a clear end to the series, i.e. no negotiations for another season, I felt like the writing and storylines would be very tight.

This season has been awesome so far. The scene with Paulie standing on the end of the fishing boat was priceless....

---

 

I don't agree. Yet another episode that looked better in previews than what we got. I thought maybe something would actually happen, like other people maybe Paulie would get it. Nope. And the Junior subplot? Lame. I haven't cared about uncle Junior since season 2. Too many loose ends and mismanaged/ruined characters from previous seasons has dragged the show down.

[iluvlamp]

I think the way they portrayed Junior at the end was great. They sewed up his storyline probably and will be out of the picture now. Paulie laughing out loud at 3's Company had me rolling.

[iluvlamp]

I thought it was a very quality episode tonight. Tony and his gambling is pretty good drama. I am wondering why Bobby is acting like he his. Maybe to get back in good grace I assume. Also wonder if Herschel is pissed at Tony for paying him back, or pissed that T was only thinking about the money. Probably the latter.

[colbyjack]

The episode was fine, but the biggest thing that has always bugged me about the Sopranos is how they immediately make issues that weren't previously "big" into major storylines. I prefer when shows show the foresight to build up to these issues.

 

Now, we all know Tony spends money like crazy, but to try and justify the the money woes storyline by having Tony's shrink bring it up like it has been a long-time issue seemed way too forced to me.

 

And, as far as I can remember, there has never been an ounce of animosity between Tony and the Jewish guy (I can't remember his name), and again, they suddenly introduce that story as well. Maybe a minor nitpick, but the series has been littered with similar stuff. It just bugs me a little because the show has so many opportunities to be one of the best shows ever, and really the only thing that makes it so well-liked it because it is about the mob, which always does well at the box office.

 

It looks like more drama for Paulie this week, as it looks like they're going to try and resurrect the issues between he and Christopher.

[BoneDaddyKool]

I thought it was good, Tony losing money on a gambling gimmick is good...

 

Phil, realizing that, should try to capitolize...

 

I'm Not saying... But I'm just saying....

 

Killing Tony is the easy way out...

 

making it interesting, is the hard way out.

 

We'll see what happens..

 

Good thing Entourage is awesome... again. I love that show.....,

[JoeHova]

I agree with colby that the gambling problem thing seems a little too contrived, considering I don't remember them talking about it in the past. Other than that, I thought it was a pretty good episode. I loved the scene of Tony trying to get Carmela to bet her house profits on the Jets game and then the scene of him getting pissed at her because the Jets won and he missed out on his "sure thing". That was great TV.

[danzig6767]

I agree with colby that the gambling problem thing seems a little too contrived, considering I don't remember them talking about it in the past.

 

As someone who had some gambling problems in the past,i know firsthand that it can go from casual fun to betting everything pretty quickly and before you really realize it's happening.

 

It's true there wasn't much buildup to the gambling problems,but maybe it's happened quickly to Tony .Mix the compulsion that gambling can bring and issues in his life,i didn't find it all that contrived.

[Bent Wookies]

Pretty weak episode. I thought the gambling thing was very contrived. They're going for the theme of setting up different characters in situations where that person has serious reason to think Tony's about to whack them but then doesn't - first Bobby, then Paulie, now Hesh. I imagine Chrissy and Sivio will get their turns, along with maybe Melfi and AJ?

[Fatter than Joey]

I don't think the gambling problem is nec. the crux of Tony's financial woes.. Here is what I got out of the episode.

 

1.) Tony loses Vito and his best source of income.

 

2.) Phil killed Vito.

 

3.) Tony has to deal with Vito Jr. and a 100K house/move.

 

4.) Phil killed Vito, and refuses to deal with Vito Jr., and the house

 

5.) Phil is feeling a money pinch from gambling and debt to Hersch. While the gambling is part of it -- I think it is also important to understand that losing Vito cost Tony, and perhaps the gambling was a way to recoup some of those earnings, and now he throws good money after bad.

 

I think that Phil v. Tony is going down soon. I suspect as well that Tony's guys are going to have to start earning more here soon as well.

 

I hope that is what is getting set up here at least, otherwise I don't see any reason to bring Vito's wife and/or kids into the storyline. Not a super episode by any means.

[RobertR]

David Chase is adept at defying expectations.

 

For the first time, I actually liked an AJ centered episode as he struggled with depression. And Tony's advice might end up backfiring on him. And Tony's other "son" Chris completely melted down. With Phil looming in the background, Chase is obviously setting up the expectation that one of the two isn't going to make it to the finale. Whether he follows through or not is up in the air, but the idea that there's no future for the next generation of Tony's "family" is obviously one of the issues that Chase has in play.

 

Robert

[Fatter than Joey]

For the first time, I actually liked an AJ centered episode as he struggled with depression. And Tony's advice might end up backfiring on him.

 

Agreed -- good observation.

 

I have always thought AJ would get in some sort of trouble that allows the feds to pinch Tony, and then he flips on his crew. I think this sort of storyline is more likely to happen than a full blown gang war.

 

I totally did not expect Chris to shoot the guy from Wings, I suspect Chris does make the last show.

 

Perhaps Tony has to make a choice between his 2 "sons"?

[iluvlamp]

OUTSTANDING!. I don't know how the acting could get any better. One of my favorite episodes.

[gypcasino]

Wow. I didn't see that coming. I figured he'd end up looking at the wrong side of the grass sooner or later but but not that way.

[BoneDaddyKool]

Good episode. I knew Chris wasn't gonna make it. Now "T" is falling into a similar type of behavior. I see the setup for Phil winning, but will it really happen? Good topic to discuss. The first couple episodes this season were nothing more than setups, I get that, but at least tonight really seemed to set things in motion, for what, the last 4? 5? episodes. Now I really look forword to the end.

 

P.S. GREAT episode of Entourage tonight. Best since the series premire, by far.