Artie wants to kill Tony. Tony wants to kill Corrado and Livia. Everybody wants to kill Jimmy Altieri.
The first season of The Sopranos comes to a close at New Vesuvio.
Episode 13 – Originally aired April 4, 1999
Written by David Chase
Directed by John Patterson
_________________________________
Tony Soprano has been betrayed, both professionally and personally, over the course of the last few episodes, and now it’s time for payback. Jimmy Altieri is dispatched early and easily. Chris, using the lure of a beautiful Russian woman, draws Jimmy to a hotel room where Silvio is waiting for him. His mouth is stuffed with a message to the FBI and anyone who may be thinking of becoming a rat:
Tony must also take vengeance upon his Uncle Ju, but Junior’s henchmen must be disposed of first. Tony pulls a gun out of a fish (a novel way of referencing the Godfather‘s “sleep with the fishes” line?) to kill Chucky Signore. And in a scene that almost seems like a preview of the notorious episode “Pine Barrens,” Paulie and Chris chase Mikey Palmice down in a forest. Although his men are whacked, Corrado escapes—he is arrested by the Feds before Tony can get to him.
The greatest betrayal, however, is one that Tony is unaware of (or perhaps just unwilling to admit to himself). Dr. Melfi guesses that Livia, with Borderline Personality Disorder, is more culpable for recent events than Tony will admit. Melfi says that people with this disorder are good at “creating bitterness and conflict between others in their circle.” Her words touch a raw nerve, and Tony explodes, smashing a table and looming over his therapist.
Melfi’s suspicion is confirmed when Tony hears the FBI recording of Livia machinating against him. Agents Grasso and Cubitoso seem to enjoy playing the damning recording to Tony, but Agent Harris takes no pleasure in the event. And neither do we. James Gandolfini, who has been excellent all season, is sublime in this scene, eliciting our sympathy as he modulates between brashness and vulnerability, between insolence and humiliation. Gandolfini was afforded the opportunity in this episode to display many of Tony’s characteristics: hot-headedness, cold vengefulness, leadership ability, sense of humor, cheekiness. However, we don’t know—and we’ll never know—if Tony Soprano had it in him to kill his mother, because she escapes his wrath when she has (or pretends to have) a stroke.
Of course, I understand why David Chase does not allow his protagonist to kill his mother. If Tony murdered Livia, it could have led to Game Over for The Sopranos—many viewers would no longer have been able to relate to a mother-killer, even when the mother in question is as horrible as Livia. Corrado’s escape (by arrest) and Livia’s escape (by stroke) are scriptwriting ploys that keep our sympathy for Tony Soprano intact—as well as keep the series’ primary tensions intact—for next season.
This season started off with a bang: the explosion of Vesuvio in the Pilot episode. That storyline comes full circle here, thanks to Livia. Proving Melfi correct, who had earlier suggested that Livia is good at “creating bitterness and conflict between others,” Livia artfully reveals to Artie that Tony was the man behind the destruction of his beloved restaurant. Like a puppetmaster, she pulls Artie’s strings, and he later confronts Tony with a gun. But Tony’s intuitive grasp of psychology is as cunning as his mother’s, and he knows exactly what to say to Artie to diffuse his anger. And with that, Tony evades all the major mortal threats against him in Season One. This doesn’t mean, however, that he is totally in the clear. There will always be storms brewing in Tony Sopranos’s life. A particularly wicked storm roars up by the end of the episode, preventing the Soprano family from completing their trip to Aunt Patty’s. Tony decides to shelter his brood at New Vesuvio. As he pulls his Suburban up to the restaurant, we see a tree (a mythological object in SopranoWorld) that has fallen in front of the place:
The restaurant provides a warm, ambient refuge to several of the major players of this season. Clearly, Artie and Tony have repaired their relationship. Even Charmaine softens her hard stance against the Sopranos. Artie remembers that Tony enjoys Regaleali. (We might remember this too—Tony and Carmela shared a bottle in the Pilot.) Tony raises a glass and makes a toast to “the little moments, like this, that were good.” The crashing sound of a tree falling outside immediately follows the toast, and it catches Tony’s attention for a moment before Springsteen’s “State Trooper” leads us into the end credits.
I find it notable that the final sound of Season 1 is that of a tree falling. Coupled with the image of a fallen tree minutes earlier, it seems to harken back to the rotting tree that Tony was convinced he saw in Melfi’s “Korshack” painting in “Denial, Anger, Acceptance” (1.03). The painting was not actually a Rorschach, nor did it seem to contain a rotting tree:
In fact, the painting depicted quite a serene and pastoral scene. Tony’s misperception probably arose out of his preoccupation in that third episode with the cancer that was rotting Jackie from the inside out. The pair of fallen trees (one seen and the other only heard) that close out this season remind us that, despite the warm, serene ambiance of the final scene, something is rotten in Sopranoville. Death and sadness and conflict are never far away in The Sopranos.
___________________________________
FOOD, FAITH AND FIREARMS
This episode provides a litany of images that show the unholy connections between religion, consumption and violence. Father Phil is quite the character here. He engorges himself on food at New Vesuvio and food made by the mob wives, and at one point he even raids the Sopranos’ refrigerator while Carmela is out. He feels no compunction wearing Jackie Aprile’s old watch, which may have been purchased with blood-money, if not directly taken off some unlucky stiff’s still-warm wrist. A shot of him comforting Rosalie Aprile (moved to tears by the sight of her dead husband’s watch) shows that Phil goes, via the wives, hand-in-hand with the Mob.
Phil blissfully lacks self-awareness of his own sketchy behavior, until Carmela (in a fit of jealousy) calls him out on it. She is on to his coyness, manipulations and neediness and sees that “…a lot of it is tied with food somehow.” Father Phil’s indulgence in rich, tasty food parallels him to the mobsters who share his culinary zest. Like them, Phil is too ready to give in to temptation. As the series progresses, we will see more and more that The Sopranos itself is also “tied with food somehow”—food will be used to help define issues of masculinity, sexuality and power.
____________________________________
TITLE SIGNIFICANCE
Anybody wanna venture a guess here? The title most probably refers to the ’60s sitcom starring Barbara Eden, which itself derived its name from the first line of a popular Stephen Foster song: “I dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair.” Is Chase, in his typical way, building upon layers of cultural history with this title? If so, to what end? I don’t see the significance of it, particularly because Jean Cusamano never appears in the episode, in dream or otherwise (although she is fleetingly mentioned in Melfi’s office).
Perhaps it is one final flourish of ambiguity. As with all things ambiguous, the title begins to take on nebulous, chimerical associations the more we ponder it. When I think of Barbara Eden’s show, I also think of her co-star Larry Hagman. Hagman later played JR Ewing on the ’80s primetime soap Dallas. Dallas was notorious for its season ending cliffhangers. The Sopranos is—at least with regards to this season finale—the anti-Dallas. No heart-stopping cliffhangers here. Tony’s toast in the candle-lit restaurant is about as anti-climactic an ending as you will find in a primetime season finale. The Sopranos certainly utilizes elements of the soap opera—more than one clever commentator has called the series The Soap-ranos. But this series never hesitates to break from the conventions of primetime drama and soap while pursuing its unique aesthetic.
Although this first season broke many molds, it is probably the most conventional season of The Sopranos. Season One had a certain compactness: a limited number of characters; easily followed storylines and arcs; a mainly traditional buildup of tension, with larger and larger dramatic thrusts escalating to a climax of sorts, and then quick denouement. Later seasons will take many of the conventions of television and completely upend them.
___________________________________
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
-
Fr. Phil shows up at the Soprano house with the Renee Zellweger film, One True Thing. The “true thing” in the title refers to Zellweger’s character’s mother. In The Sopranos, Livia is the furthest thing imaginable from a “true” mother.
- Dr. Glen Gabbard, in The Psychology of The Sopranos, argues that Dr. Melfi’s diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder for Livia is charitable. He thinks she is close to being a true psychopath, certainly closer to true psychopathy than Tony. I don’t know very much about Borderline Personality or psychopathy, but Livia does seem to smile when the EMTs wheel her away from Tony (and his wrath)—and it puts a chill down my spine every time I see it.
- After being arrested, Corrado refuses to cut a deal with the Feds and testify that it is Tony who is actually Boss. It’s difficult to know how much of this refusal is due to Corrado’s oath of omerta and how much of it is because he doesn’t want to be upstaged by his young nephew.
- The hazardous “oral” behaviors which the episode title “Boca” punningly referred to a few episodes back are recognized here by Tony who, with complete seriousness, says “Cunnilingus and psychiatry brought us to this.”
- The song heard at the beginning of the episode, “Inside of Me,” is by Little Steven (Steve Van Zandt).
- An entire website could be devoted just to the study of the music on The Sopranos. David Chase collaborated with Kathryn Dayak and Martin Bruestle (and sometimes Steve Van Zandt) for music selection throughout the series, and their choices add a powerful dimension to the show. Each piece seems selected for the lyrical or tonal or sonic or narrational contribution that it can make to the episode at hand. The songs that close out each season, in particular, seem just perfect, and The Boss’ “State Trooper” here is no exception.
If you enjoyed the write-ups for this first season, please consider visiting my Venmo or PayPal. Thanks.
Follow @SopranosAutopsy
Facebook.com/RonBernard
Instagram sopranos.autopsy
Email: Ron@SopranosAutopsy.com
© 2024 Ron Bernard
Sopranos Autopsy 
The episode 3.01 “Meadowlands” begins with a dream. Tony dreams with Jackie and Livia in strange attitudes. In Melfi’s office, he sees Jackie Aprile on a stretcher, “wired” and smoking. When Tony asks what was going on, Jackie just answer “storms.” As the heartbeat of Jackie alters, he adds “You smell it? That’s rain.” Tony is more lost than ever and tries to get an answer from the mysterious Melfi, who turns only to become Livia, amalgamated in the hairstyle and dress of Jennifer. Then Tony gets scared and tries to leave … and wakes up from his nightmare.
Is there a premonition here? Could Jackie be – then the family’s boss – a representation of Tony – the “future” head of the family? Jackie is foreshadowing the “storms” of the final – both literal and metaphorically speaking. Jackie is “wired” to a monitoring team and for me that refers to the (future) Pussy’s betrayal and FBI recordings of Livia and Corrado listed here. The menacing figure of Livia at the end of the dream, amalgamated with Melfi… May also tell us about of Tony’s process-of-truth induced by Melfi’s words to discover the betrayal of Livia?
LikeLike
One more point:
En the dream, that Jackie (for me, a representation of Tony) is smoking could mean that he is relaxed or ignoring the dangers looming over him, which clearly are Livia (appeared intentionally at the end of the dream, and “surprisingly”) and ‘wires’ around his body (alluding to the FBI microphones & recordings). Tony feels that something bad will happen (storms?) but makes an effort to deny his reality (represented throughout the episode “Isabella”, where he creates a fantasy world; but also for his endless sleep) even though reality suddenly overflowing with the attempt to hit. From there, he awakes and takes action (a pulse of life over a pulse of death).
Errata: Meadowlands is episode 4.01.
Regards Ron !
LikeLike
That’s an interesting interpretation Chris – I never noted those connections between the dream-sequence in “Meadowlands” and this Season Finale. I didn’t even remember that Jackie says “thunderstorms” in that dream-sequence, but you were able to connect it to the storm that closes out this episode and the metaphorical “storms” in Tony’s life. This is a good example of how David Chase fills The Sopranos with interconnected imagery and dialogue, much of it often very ambiguous, inviting us to come up with our own interpretations of what it all means.
LikeLike
Only one more humble contribution, I would not to become annoying: Father Phil pays for his food with a gift certificate given him by “Dellacroce” Family. Here is a wink of David Chase because Aniello Dellacroce was an awful mobster who became underboss of the Gambinos (he was the mentor of John Gotti). This is another way of linking the Catholic Church with the Mafia. Additionally, he doesn´t handle money, but influential relationships – a balanced way to demonstrate power without flaunting that power (a watch in his wistle is another example of this, because he shows his influence (his “friends”) but is covered with a cloak of piety and religiosity, since the watch is an inherited object and not directly obtained by his particular actions.)
LikeLike
Good observation, that may indeed be a further link between the Church and the mafia as you say. And don’t worry about becoming annoying…I’m always happy to see new insights and interpretations
LikeLike
According to Rosella Merlino’s analysis of the Catholic church and the mob, “If you enter the Mafia and your bosses tell you there is no disagreement between Mafia morals and religion, and you get support from the local members of the church, you don’t see the contradiction anymore”. For that reason, Fr. Phil is essentially ‘blameless’ in overlooking the often-horrific crimes committed by the church’s followers [i.e., Sopranos, etc.] and accepting gifts (of any kind) with a relatively clear conscience.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Ron, because of you and (and Alan Sepinwall) I’ve gone back to watching The Sopranos, from start to finish for the third time. Although I’ve seen episodes piecemeal through the years in reruns and on A&E (what a travesty that was).
While definitely not as deep as what Chris (and you) have both illuminated in this episode, I found myself feeling a tinge of nostalgia as I watched the last episode here, with Tony’s toast at the table. This is the toast and what he says that AJ will eventually reference in the final scene at Holsten’s, although not word for word. AJ’s frustrated at his “entry level job” and Tony tells him to buck up. AJ has that Soprano stare but quickly snaps out of it.
Anthony ‘A.J.’ Soprano, Jr.: You’re right. Focus on the good times.
Tony Soprano: Don’t be sarcastic.
Anthony ‘A.J.’ Soprano, Jr.: Isn’t that what you said one time? Try to remember the times that were good?
Tony Soprano: I did?
Anthony ‘A.J.’ Soprano, Jr.: Yeah.
Tony Soprano: Well, it’s true, I guess.
[the waitress arrives with a bowl of onion rings]
Tony Soprano: I ordered something for the table.
And I love the irony of how Tony doesn’t even recall saying this, meaning he forgot the actual conversation and toast. Although in the final season, he does recall to Artie in “Luxury Lounge” about taking refuge at Nuovo Vesuvio during the storm.
Just two examples of Chase’s interconnected dialogue and references.
LikeLiked by 1 person
John – Tony’s failure to recall what he said at Vesuvio is very similar to AJ’s failure to recall his interest in event planning. This ‘forgetfulness’ is something known as ‘selective recall’, or only choosing to remember certain events while forgetting others. It’s very strange that what they’ve both (deliberately chosen?) to forget are positive events (‘good times’ and potentially rewarding career). Then again, neither individual is particularly insightful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“The pair of fallen trees (one seen and the other heard) that close out this season remind us that, despite the warm, serene ambiance of the final scene, something is rotten in Sopranoville. Death and sadness and conflict are never far away in The Sopranos.”
This is essential to my interpretation of the cut-to-black finale. Maybe Tony died, maybe he didn´t. We don´t know. But does it matter? We´ve seen him get out of some really tough situations, but of course he´s gonna die at some point. If it´s not now it’ll be later, so why do we care so much?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great analysis. Regarding the dream he has of Mrs. Cusamano, it’s possible that while Tony was asleep he was remembering his humiliation a few episodes back as a result of Dr. Cusamano’s invitation to play golf at his club, and is getting dream revenge now by having sex with Cusamano’s wife; and with specific regard to this episode’s title, I Dream of Jeannie was of course a sitcom about a genie who could grant her master any wish he wants, whereas here we have Tony in a crisis situation where there is no one magical enough who can solve all his problems for him, he has to find solutions himself, and often those solutions don’t pan out (his inability to kill his uncle or his mother.)
I’ve noticed you haven’t posted any new entries in a while Ron, and I don’t know if that’s because of other things going on in your life or just burn-out trying to analyze every episode of this long-running series, but I hope you do someday pick up your pen again. These really are some of the best analyses of the show on the Internet. Whatever you eventually decide to do, thank you so much for all the work you’ve put into this. It’s a joy to read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Noticed the continued connection between water and death here. Chucky is killed on a boat and thrown into the ocean, and Mikey almost escapes through the forrest, but trips up in a puddle of water and gets shot. The final scene has the Sopranos taking refuge in food and family inside Vesuvio, as outside rain (death) pours down all around them, and trees (family trees) crumble.
To John’s reference of the show’s final scene above, AJ’s repeating of Tony’s own words back to him mirror’s Tony retelling Jun’s story about the bulls that Jun didn’t remember earlier this season. The insistence on remembering the good times in the final family dinner scene also contrasts to Melfi asking Tony about the good times in Livia’s house (one time dad fell down the stairs and mom laughed at him
).
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the title “I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano” simply plays as an indicator of Tony’s transition, as compared to not long ago where “he dreamt of Isabella” (The Madonna), in which he seeks for a mother’s nursery, but not sexually (suppressed by castration anxiety); which is not the case in this episode, wherein we witnessed his transition from a painful being who’s emotionally manipulated by his own mother, to one finally confronts to his mother’s pathology. And the dream about Jean is the revelation of him breaking through (at least in this episode*) the net his mother cast upon him, in reality or subconsciously: since for now he was no longer disrupted by his mother in his dreams.
*I’m still quite new to the show (just finished this episode/season) so I’m not too sure how this complex between Tony and Livia will go on..however this is my observation so far.
LikeLiked by 1 person
can you give interpretation if chris was upset or not about finding out tony was in therapy when he sat down with him, silvio, and paulie
LikeLike
I think Chris may be upset that Tony is attending therapy sessions because it would have seem weak or unmanly, according to Chris’ way of thinking.
LikeLike
i can concur only thing i would say it is more so because Chris without a doubt looks at Tony like a father figure. Because let’s face it there have plenty of incidents where Chris has been seemingly unmanly like in this season. then of course throughout the series we’ve seen Chris act somewhat childish and selfish to the point where he becomes an addict unable to cope with his condition.
i have a pessimistic view of the world mind you, when i say this i include myself. the world is a thing of hypocrisy it always becomes more evident throughout the series.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Matt – I’d say that Chris was most definitely angered with Tony’s admission that he’s in therapy – he abruptly stood up and left the room! Chris has a very idealized image of what a ‘boss’ or member of a crew should be; strong, silent, and a real ‘man’s man’. I’m sure that he saw Tony as a ‘pussy’ for running to a therapist for help! 😖
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am really enjoying your analysis of the Sopranos! Thank you!!
LikeLike
My pleasure
LikeLike
Your analysis has definitely addressed different points of view and rejuvenated my viewing experience. I had not watched the series since James has passed away. Looking at each episode now is almost like re-discovering the Sopranos. That being said, I am excited to keep reading. Being purely opinion and not bashing most of this series season finales, I have found the season enders not to be anything spectacular compared to what may have been in the previous episode (with the exception of Funhouse and All Due Respect). This was a good episode (even the “bad” ones are quite good) but once again, what really happened? We all knew Mikey was going to get it, and an excellent scene to mark the end of a great character and actor. We were expecting Tony to get revenge on Junior and his Ma, but it doesn’t happen. But we kept watching, didn’t we? One scene in particular you brought up was the FBI scene. Definitely a defining moment in the series and for the Tony Soprano character. Well played and acted (as usual) by Gandolfini. and I also think the Artie character could be praised a bit more. Excellent acting on Ventimiglia’s part. I agree with you on the creepy Livia scene when she was taken away. This season was truly groundbreaking and laid a foundation for an amazing series. On to my favorite season. Thanks!
LikeLike
Thanks again David. Personally, I would add also “Whitecaps” to the list of spectacular season finales. And maybe also “Made in America” – even though it was (mostly) a low-key hour that didn’t have as much blood or action as the previous hour, it’s still one of the most talked about hours of television in history. It’s funny how we tend to see The Sopranos’ season finales as pretty subdued, but in reality about half of them are quite explosive. This perception surely started because 1.13 is just so unexpectedly anti-climactic, and the perception has just persisted…
LikeLike
Doesn’t Chris say something to the effect of “Therapy? I’m not a mental midget” when Tony suggests that he see a therapist… implying that weak people go to therapy. Chris is depressed all the time and it manifests as drug use. I also think on some level, he hates mob life. He might be an idiot, but he has a sensitive soul. Also, there is the feeling that secrets have to be kept.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello, I finished reading your pages and loved it and now I’m giving it a second run-thru. I’m noticing that you’re reviews get more complex as you get into the later seasons. Was this by design, is it because the show gets more complex as it goes through the seasons?
LikeLike
It is definitely because the series became more complex over time.. One of the things I’ve tried to do is document some of the connectivity within the series, and there are more and more connections to be found with each passing season..
LikeLike
The fact that this season ends at a restaurant like at the final episode is no coincidence to me.
Either it is a kind of comparison :
– the first restaurant is Italian : Tony is protected and we get to see the Italian way ( = the mob way)
– the last restaurant is truly American : the child take the American way, Meadow i a lawyer and Anthony in the movie business, but both in the way of the family but in the american way.
Either it is a production trick, if the show wasn’t renewed it may have ended in a restaurant like the final episode.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anyone ever notice the mistake during the wiretap reveal scene with the feds? It always bothered me that the one conversation that they had on the tape regarding Tony being a shell of himself and akin to Livia’s cousin did not occur at green grove where the wire was planted. That particular conversation took place when Corrado and Livia were standing outside waiting to see a movie. Small mistake, but always annoyed me a little haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whoops! Yes I’ve heard that mentioned on Podabing and elsewhere..
LikeLike
Hold on a second, the scene with the wind blowing with Junior and Livia waiting in line could be part of the dream. I think some of the episode Isabella was a dream and some of it was real (the shooting obviously).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Possibly but probably unlikely in my estimation
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great job as always. These last three episodes make for some truly incredible viewing. A stray observation here, what about the bugs at Nuovo Vesuvio? Is it as simple as equating Charmaine’s frustrations with stomping out the bugs in the new restaurant with her frustrations with being unable to stomp out the gangster presence she despises? And then of course Ralph even tries Raid to exterminate Tony in their final confrontation later in the series. I guess once you let these gangsters in, you can never end the infestation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I want to add that this scene with her and Tony, coupled with the jealousy she felt over Fr. Phil and Mrs. Aprile, is probably what prompted her to tell off Fr. Phil in the manner that she did.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whatever prompted Carmela’s remarks to Father Phil..she was right on the money. She was straight forward and direct. I think she wasn’t just jealous, I think she saw him for what he is and felt foolish because she thought he held a special place for her. She does that a couple of times in the series, calls people out on their behavior…I like that about her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Does it not bother you that she is a total hypocrite and judges others for LESSER versions of the misdeeds she performs? Just a terrible woman who thinks she is a victim of her own materialistic and selfish choices.
LikeLike
Well, I wouldn’t say it bothers me, she is not a person that I admire or anything, and actually the whole cast are horrible people really. I just think that she knows when someone is full of shit and doesn’t hesitate to say it. It doesn’t mean she’s a nice person. She knows her husband is a criminal, but she’s not a priest. He should be held to a higher standard and her point is that he benefits from the criminality while he criticizes Tony and his way of life. I think she was right to tell him off.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Orangeannie, from episode to episode , I love your comments the most. Your opinions always either line up with, or help me to fully form my own. I also like that about Carmella – that she doesn’t flinch in the face of confrontation. She does it really well with Wegler, Junior, Livia and even her own Mother. She’s my favorite character.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“he [Tony] modulates between brashness and vulnerability, between insolence and humiliation”
Well-chosen words.
– – – –
“Cunnilingus and psychiatry brought us to this.”
Not an easy line to deliver! More fine acting by Gandolfini.
– – – –
An amusing thing that some people might have missed. While Meadow is downstairs on the couch with her boyfriend, poor A.J. is upstairs on his bed masturbating. We see and hear the mattress moving, and when he is running across the room to the window to speak to his grandmother, we hear a zip being pulled up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not immediately obvious what AJ is doing, but then we hear the sound of his zipper. All the little details on this show…
LikeLike
The little details are amazing! There’s a scene in this episode where Livia is in bed reading the obits in a newspaper (as many old people are fond of doing). Just noticed the names of the deceased are whited out so you don’t know who actually died. Looks like Green Grove has its own Ministry of Information!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha wow
LikeLike
Small observation: I think Tony refers to the picture on Melfi’s office as a “Horshack” referring to the character on “Welcome Back, Kotter” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welcome_Back,_Kotter#Arnold_Dingfelder_Horshack
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha up your nose with a rubber hose 😆
LikeLiked by 1 person
Upon rewatching during this corona virus life, I noticed a funny little line I thought you might enjoy. When Jimmy describes the Russian Boo Boo , he says: “Big tits and little feet… a hit in any man’s league.” It just occurred to me that Jimmy could be describing himself foreshadowing his own death. He is beefy enough to have man-boobs and his little feet would indicate a small penis. He’s a captain- big “man’s league”- and he’s about to be “hit.”
You know how much I love this site, Ron. I return to it again and again. Thank you for the amazing insights and hard work you put in. Be well.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha that’s clever. Thanks Sue, stay safe.
LikeLike
I hear a lot of people saying that Jimmy was not a rat but for me his reaction when he was about to get killed is a dead giveaway, no pun intended. I’ve watch the show enough times to know that reaction was deliberate by David Chase.
What do you think?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know if Chase meant to make it ambiguous, but it comes off as uncertain to me
LikeLike
This is my first viewing Sopranos from beginning to end, up until now I only caught episodes here and there. And of course I saw the finale.
My first reaction after watching Season 1 and this finale in particular is “How could anyone not understand the series ending?” In the diner AJ quotes what Tony says at this very meal about remembering the good times, which basically tells viewers who have been with the series from the beginning, “Look at the parallels with that meal!” During this earlier meal Tony has just survived a hit attempt, and the closing moment is a huge lightning strike in the darkness while the family is eating together (with the sound of a tree is falling). Combine that with the communion imagery (look at Father Phil and Carmela’s night together and look at how similar the communion/food shots are between that and the series finale diner scene) and I don’t think you need any other scenes/quotes/motifs from Season 2-6: Season 1 already tells you everything you need to know about what that final scene is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s definitely true that Chase calls back moments from this episode as well as other Season 1 moments in the Series Finale, but I don’t know if that gives us “proof” of what happens in the final scene. If we think of this Season 1 finale as an iron-clad template for the Series Finale, then we would have to presume that Tony walks out of Holsten’s diner without a scratch (just as he presumably walks out of Artie’s restaurant at the end of this hour). But I’m not sure that Chase wanted things to be clearly delineated like that…
LikeLike
Ron, love this deep-dive. Discovered yesterday and have been working my way through your essays. Enjoy the style as well as the content of your entries, very much. As far as ambiguity concerning the final scene, I also came across this gem; apologies if you’ve already come across. Also, it’s quite a read, but the first section is the only one that really deals with settling “the argument.”
https://masterofsopranos.wordpress.com/the-sopranos-definitive-explanation-of-the-end/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Master-of-Sopranos is a great blog but I will have some things to say about it in the final write-up…
LikeLike
the way Jimmy dies has always been really disquieting to me. I think I agree that him saying “mother of god” is generally a giveaway that he was a rat, but the fear and the intimacy of it has always felt more visceral to me. Plenty of victims in this show get time to plead or scream, but Jimmy can’t even get that out. He’s afraid, and then he’s dead. It’s an incredible scene, and feels more brutal to me than a lot of the other assassinations
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Ron, great analysis as always! I just wanted to comment on all that white stuff that was on Paulie in the last scene. It was never explained! After thinking about it and reading another message board, he did get posion ivy earlier in the episode, I am just wondering if it is related, perhaps it’s some kind of anti itch lotion… I just thought it was neat that he left it up to the viewers interpretation by not having it explained but also would like your thoughts on it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Shawn. Yes I figured it was hydrocortisone or something like that
LikeLike
I imagine it’s calomine lotion?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anonymous – I think you’re right about the Calamine lotion! Best stuff on the market for itching! Gotta love that stuff!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Suits? Pleurisy?”
You are a damn fine analyst Ron and have a lively mind. You’re like the Lionel Trilling or Edmund Wilson of the Sopranos. I have been very edified reading these essays and you help me see things I never would have. Really..Thank You.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Graham
LikeLike
I think the food aspect is central to narcissism. My dad is a narcissist and he is VERY particular about food. My dad is a lot like Tony and my mom is a lot like Carmella and I am even a lot like AJ. My dad’s mom was a lot like Livia, very emotionally abusive. But food was one place we could calm down or feel normal I guess. When we would go on road trips (which were a nightmare) we could ONLY eat at Cracker Barrel or Bob Evans. And hotels were the worst, they had to be Hampton Inns and if the staff was pampering to him he would blow the F up and we would have to leave and find another Hampton Inn. But food is totally a part of the world of narcissism, just my observation. And viewers like food, so it makes it nice to watch. It’s calming since the show is so violent and graphic, the food is a nice get away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I meant to say if the staff at the hotel was NOT pampering to him, he would blow the F up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: The Soprano Onceover: #57. “I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano” (S1E13) | janiojala
Corrado’s arrogance and narcissism – prior to and following his arrest – will come back to haunt him. He is so full of himself that he just doesn’t understand that he’s in peril of losing his freedom forever! Of course, his declining mental health (evident in future episodes) will continue to affect his ability to effectively choose and run his crew. As much as I dislike him, he stokes the proverbial fire at opportune moments and keeps me entertained! 😆
LikeLiked by 1 person
8th rewatch…
Episode one: Tony tells Artie that he HAS to leave town for 2 weeks. That should be a red flag, right? So, in this episode, Artie confronts Tony (pointing a rifle at him, no less) demanding to know whether he burned down his restaurant. Really? It took all of this time to put 2 and 2 together? Well, of course Tony denies this – after all, HE didn’t do it! Also, I wondered if Livia was totally faking dementia – or Alzheimer’s – even though she wandered off from the retirement home, apparently didn’t recognize Meadow, etc. My guess is … maybe, maybe not … And, Corrado is incarcerated and talks to a Fed (?) without a lawyer present? And finally, I absolutely loved Carmela’s put-down of Fr. Phil! But really – to do this because she’s jealous of Rosalie? What a let down. Sigh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
P.S. Problems with Season One:
1. Tony’s a mob boss, so why doesn’t he have a permanent driver? Bosses do NOT drive themselves!
2. A ‘real’ mob boss would NEVER see a psychiatrist! Ever!
3. Tony should have immediately ordered a hit on Corrado.
4. The NY famiglia was much more powerful – and had more manpower- than NJ, so why would Tony tempt fate?
~
I know this sounds like quibbling, but … Anywho, I still love this series, faults and all! 😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
One more thing…
Fr. Phil has NEVER been to Vesuvio after all the years it’s been around – three generations since it opened – and only recently heard that it’s a good restaurant? There’s a big disconnect here. Oh yeah … he uses Yiddish words too. Odd.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Overall, I’m not so enthralled by Dr. Melfi. For example:
Episode 1. She greeted Tony as if she was a 16-year old schoolgirl meeting her prom date for the first time. Also, her comment that she had a ‘duty to warn/report … technically’ (danger to others) was wrong, wrong! She had a Legal AND Ethical duty!
Episode 6. She knew that her car was stolen, but didn’t report it? She also let Tony off the hook after asking him ‘what else have you done’ (he had her followed!), and then immediately said ‘I don’t want to know’.
Episode 13. She diagnosed Livia with Borderline Personality Disorder without even meeting her! I’d be surprised if any reputable mental health professional would even suggest this possibility!
Yes, Melfi did some good work with Tony. I won’t challenge that. However, her professionalism is questioned.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Any significance you see in the Meadow’s making-out scene/Georgia O’Keefe line and the Jean Cusamano big ass/quite slender discussion?
LikeLike