Sopranos Watch: Runaway Train
SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't watched last night's Sopranos yet, barricade yourself in a safehouse until you have.
HBO/Craig Blankenhorn
So, it turns out that everyone predicting a high body count was right. Last night's episode, The Blue Comet, was not only plot-packed--it was a rare Sopranos episode that seemed like, if anything, it was moving too fast--but dense with character and beautifully made.
Bobby's murder in the toy-train store, complete with the train's eye view as Baccala's doom came hurtling down the tracks at him, will go down as one of the most memorable Sopranos visuals ever. And the replay of Bobby's words as Tony lay himself down with a machine gun in his hideout--going to the mattress if not the mattresses--was haunting. "You probably don't even hear it when it happens." Poor Bobby heard that one all right. (Ultimately, though, you've got to feel worse for his kids. First their mother in a car accident, now this--and suddenly their only earthly parent is Janice freakin' Soprano.)
The Sopranos could have survived the loss of Bobby, but with Sil down--comatose, we hear, and not likely to recover--this must be the end for Tony, even if he survives, and even if he wins the war. Sil, Tony's consigliere, was Tony's brain, his better, cooler-headed self; he saved Tony from far too many bad decisions, and that will cost Tony far more than any loss of muscle.
And yet despite the loss of favorite characters and actors--salut, Miami Steve--was there anything in the episode as brutal as Dr. Melfi's firing of her longtime patient? Melfi's scolding of Tony was long overdue, but the episode's writers (David Chase and Matthew Weiner) didn't let her claim too much moral high ground. If everything she said about Tony was right, what she didn't say about herself was conspicuous: that she was really letting Tony go because she was professionally and personally shamed by Elliot Kupferberg, her own therapist. Like anyone else on The Sopranos, Melfi is not above vanity and self-deception. But there are moral lapses and there are moral lapses, and Tony's attempt to draw equivalence got the biggest laugh of the night: "I gotta be honest. I think as a doctor, what you're doing is immoral!"
In all, The Blue Comet was masterful at playing out the tension between wanting to see Tony destroyed and wanting him to be victorious. It has never been plainer that he deserves whatever he's got coming to him. (For instance, coldly consigning Uncle Junior to a state mental facility rather than pony up for his care. Yes Jun shot him, but Tony's always been able to sentimentally reattach to his uncle--as long as it didn't cost him a nickel.) And yet who wants him taken down by Phil Leotardo? Paulie's right: there's no bigger c__________ than Phil, and he's managed to become an even less sympathetic boss than Tony, rigid, resentful, cruel, petty and utterly joyless.
Yes, you could say many of the same things about Tony, but Tony is a philosopher compared with the emotionally stunted Phil, twisted by his anger, his stingy religious morality and his warped, childish sense of honor. His ultimate reason for the decapitation attack against the Sopranos: "They make anybody and everybody over there. And the way that they do it is all f___ed up. The guys don't get their finger pricked, there's no sword and gun on the table." This is how you run a Mafia family? It sounds like how a third-grader runs a clubhouse.
Lastly, there's A.J. Is there yet more to be played out in the terrorism angle? Tony's aid to the FBI obviously delivered his tipoff last night, but we saw further signs of A.J.'s deepening obsession with WMDs and IEDs, as his lady friend read him an Internet report about a purported nuclear plot by al Qaeda. I don't expect A.J. to suddenly become a jihadi in the season finale, but it seems as though David Chase, in his dark-inflected way, is making a few comments on how terrorism is perceived and used in post-9/11 society. On the one hand, it's a useful device to pursue ulterior power interests (as when Tony passes on information to earn credit with the Feds); on the other, it can be distracting to the point of danger and mental illness (as with A.J., so depressed and fixated on hypothetical doom that he can't motivate himself to flee a very real threat).
If I continue to have one problem with these final episodes, it's that I'm unconvinced what has changed to force all these events right now. David Chase has said that he decided to stop the series because it had reached its endpoint, but from what's going on, I'm not sure why the series couldn't have ended two seasons ago, or, for that matter, continue for two seasons more. Every situation that has been forced to crisis has been going on for years: the conflict with New York, Tony's strained relationship with Melfi, A.J.'s downward spiral. Maybe it took Phil taking control of the family to finally get the war started, but does that mean that Johnny Sack's good health was the only thing that kept the series from ending in 2004?
These last few episodes have been so good, though, that I can live with that quibble. Maybe the point is that life is like this: you go through a repeating cycle of habits and mistakes, and every time you survive one of those cycles, you mistakenly believe the pattern will go on forever. Then one year, for no particularly good reason, you run out of luck.
One way or another, it ends next Sunday. What are you betting on: bang or whimper?
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1
What a great episode last night. I felt badly about Bobby - he finally gets the respect he wanted and moved up in the ranks only to be shot down by the likes of Phil's crew. I think that Paulie might be playing both sides (NJ and NY) - we can't forget that Paulie is the one that told Johnny Sacks about the joke Tony's crew told regarding Johnny's wife. There are so many loose ends with this series that there is no possiblity of tying them all up in one more show.
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2
I'm on board with the theory that Paulie's playing both sides. I noticed the guy that Sil strangled in the first scene was wearing white shoes -- and our friend Mr. Walnuts has a closet full of them.
Is there a simpler way to sum up the sociopathic personality than tearing pages out of someone else's magazine? Tony's still oblivious to how his actions affect other people, and he justifies it by saying plenty of Melfi's magazines had pages torn out. Just like he justified his illegal activities because J.P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie were crooks, too.
Tony telling AJ that Bobby was "a good guy" echoed his self-assessment from the previous episode's session: "I'm a good guy, basically. I love my family." I think Tony's going down, but at whose hands?
I'll admit I was a little excited that the "friends from Italy" might include our old friend Furio. Alas, he's probably sleeping with the fishes after Tony found out about Carmela's little crush.
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3
Don't forget about Patsie, remember, Tony had his twin brother killed years earlier and also bypassed him for promotion to capo. I think he goes to Phil tells him where Tony is hiding.
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4
It is quite obvious the writes wants us to believe Paulie is setting Tony up. Paulie parks his car in front of the safe house instead of hiding it in back like Tony did with his car. Paulie drives off and stares coldly at Sil just before he is hit. Coincidence? Nah.
The perfect ending for me would be for Tony to be informed by Paulie that Phil wants a meet to end the war. And when Tony and Paulie arrive to meet Phil just before Pau;ie is set to shoot Tony from behind a shot rings out that ends Paulie's evli ways. Then Tony actually confronts Phil as his bald headed henchman who shot Paulie joins him. Tony wacks Phil after a short discourse about what a scumbag Phil is then goes home to announce he is done with it all.
Unfortunately, I think the write will have Paulie shoot Tony from behind at the meet and leave us all sad to watch the show end on such a dismal but probably deserving eneding to the Sopranos.
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5
Some random thoughts: I, too, wondered about all the shots of the white shoes. It would be ironic if Paulie, perhaps the biggest sociopath in the bunch, were to be the last man standing.
Poor Sil! Poor Bobby! And you're right--those poor kids of his. Jeez!
Also, is Patsie giving info to the Feds? Or am I thinking of someone else? And what the heck happened to him after the shooting? He ran off and ... nothing.
My husband and I saved these eps on TiVo and have been doing marathons. Watching them in bunches, instead of spread out over several weeks, it's amazing to see how well this season is holding together. I'm not sure I would have said this a year ago, but now I'll be sad to see it go.
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6
A.J.'s mention of "Shukrijumah," that is--Adnan Shukrijumah, al-Qaeda nuclear specialist--believed by many U.S. intelligence officials to be the "next Mohammed Atta," along with the Jamestown report on A.J's computer screen, in addition to the unresolved whereabouts of the two arabs who featured in earlier episodes... all of these elements lead me to speculate that the entire Sopranos saga could likely go out with the biggest bang ever: a nuclear terrorist attack.
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7
A brilliant episode! The hit on Bobby was visually breathtaking as an homage to the hit on Don Corleone, both set pieces focus on the unseen assassins swiftly approaching by foot and low camera angles focused on just their shoes. Phil has to get his just desserts though. I hope for a Godfather ending with Tony personally killing Phil ala Gotti's do in of Castellano. Tony, now in a position to be King of NY, ends up thinking about finally getting out. However... the terrorists start carrying out doomsday. Of course all this is leading to the inevitable Sopranos movie. A cliff hanger ending is what I suspect. Chase said this was the last "episode"...TV terminology. Do you actually think Time Warner would turn down the chance to make $200-300 million on a film at the box office and then run it on their cable systems? Fugettaboutit!
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8
I (sadly) expect Tony to be whacked by one of Phil's crew. It would be poetic justice if, as Tony was being whacked, the FBI came after Phil and was able to put him away for the rest of his life. Then, since he refused to compromise with Tony, he can spend the rest of his arrogant life behind bars, compromising again as he complained he had to do for 20 years.
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9
Has anyone every been able to predict what would happen next in a episode of "The Sopranos"? I believe Tony will win his war with Phil and the episode will end with the family sitting around the dinner table, just like every year. Meadow's law degree will come in hand as she take control of the family, using A.J. as a figurehead.
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10
How about all the symbols?
Emptying the pool... (remember the first season? Tony with the ducks...) ...The Doors "The End" playing in the background ... The "Exile on Main Street" comment; i.e. no place to hide... We are going all out!!! -
11
Either way people its out of our hands. So just sit back and enjoy the masterpiece of drama that we enjoy for its brilliance of bringing good story to film. I don't think there will ever be another character driven peice that will paramount this Jersey story. Tony being the most dynamic character I encountered in my life...calculated sociopath,loving father & above all a true boss. Thanks for the ride...it was great.
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12
Tony will not die next episode.
Out of all the scenarios mentioned above "the Soprano's Movie" sounds more like what the next step is to be. If that's the case though, wouldn't Tony need to survive this war? Because I can’t see myself going to see this movie without Tony
How about this as the movie plot: Tony learns one of his muscle man (preferably Pauli) betrayed him, but still gets to Phil before Phil’s men get to him. Then Pauli goes on the run and Tony goes after him.
To spice up the movie, throw in the Russian dude they left in the forest few seasons ago too. While you are at it the Terrorist suspects and other characters Tony and his crew crossed sometime in the past can come too.
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13
I think Tony will win the war against Phil - prolly whack him himself using his assault weapon that Bobby gave him.
He arrives home victorious only to have AJ kill him, while Carmela watches approvingly.
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14
A couple of episodes back, Tony was talking to someone at the golf club and he told him to take control over the family. We got the "I realize now how much more there is to life" speech. I believe it was the same guy who went with Tony to Phils house last episode. Same speech both Tony and Phil made and look where it got them.
I think he is going to whack Phil and finallt take control over the family with Tony dodging the proverbial bullet and giving up a huge stake to keep his life.
This is my first full season with the series so I don't know much more. But I am enjoying it.
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15
I doubt Tony will be killed, they will keep him around for the movie. Most likely it will be a prequel with the regular cast from the earlier seasons.
Phil is the worst.boss.ever and is micromanaging. Too much focus on avenging the murder Blundetto committed.
It would be nice if Tony killed Phil and took over NY, he could get Carmine to relocate from Miami and become the consig for the new NJ/NY mob. Patsi will get a promotion since Meadow is dating his son.
Paulie has to go, he has made too many mistakes- the Ginny Sack joke, pushing Chrissy to drink again, irritating Tony with his stories, he is slipping. -
16
After reading all of your comments, I realize that no one knows anything at all, let's just enjoy a great show while we can.
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17
I think tearing the magazine page out fails as an example of evil behaviour, even though Melfi gets riled up over it (at a point where she needs some concrete example to smack Tony with). It's a recipe, in a magazine in a doctor's office. You don't read a recipe; you copy it, or you rip it out. And magazines in waiting rooms are just there to fill a couple of minutes. I think if I were in my doctor's office and wanting to tear a page out, I'd ask and expect that nobody would care. Yes, he didn't ask, but really, I think it's just Melfi displacing her real anger onto the most trivial of things, as couples do.
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18
What about Tony becoming a FED RAT and taking down the NY crew? And along the way, finding out Paulie has been playing both sides of the fence with NY. Then Tony takes out Pualie as his last hurra before going into witness protection and becoming that sales person from his coma/dream sequences from last season. A typical David Chase plot twist for the worst?
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19
I doubt Tony will die in the last episode. Good call(s) on making a Sopranos movie...or is that too predictable? I was thinking that they would do some kind of Sopranos reunion show in a few years...and who would tune in if Tony was gone? Both Phil and Paulie need to get whacked. I almost liked the Phil character awhile back, but he really needs to go. As for Paulie, I think he will surely get whacked. It was hinted at a few episodes back when Tony took him out on the boat when they were in Florida...I really thought he was gonna get whacked then. Clearly the hostility between Tony and Paulie has been building. Whatever happens I'm grateful for an excellent series...now to figure out what the heck am I gonna do on sunday nights at 9...
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20
I think there's only one word for anyone who's expecting a Sopranos movie:
Fugheddaboutit!!!!
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21
I think Marc may be right: Sopranos sing. Did anyone notice in the preview that there was a brief shot of Tony in an SUV, looking into a bright light shining at him? Either he'd just died or law enforcement pulled him over.
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22
No, no movie, Chase doesnt want this to turn into a movie. There are things that are left untied (russian in the woods, Uncle Jun, the arabs...)but that just makes you keep thinking of what the ending could be. My guess is Tony will come out victorious on the Jersey/new York war, but at the very end will meet his own end by someone completely out of no where. Everyone is ganna be mad after the end of next weeks episode anyway, why not end it the Tony Montana style that everyone has been waiting for. (ever since bobby got him that b-day present) That way no possible way to make a movie... maybe a prequel with Tonys father and Jun, with Tony as a boy growing into the family, I'd go see that.
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23
I like the concept that Tony has been working with the Feds and that’s probably who will show up to pick up Carm Aj and daughter. The Feds have been working with Tony and was notified of th epending hits. I agree Tony wacked Bobby and this will be blamed on Phil so Tony is taking advantage of the mess with Phil. All will show up at the end with Phil and Paulie being arrested by FBI and the story will end.
Actually I don’t know a darn thing but it is fun to speculate. Pualie is without a dount a traitor thus the reason why he so easliy parked his car in front of the safe house. He is not that dumb. Close though.
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24
Chase is (obviously) going to throw us a curveball this Sunday. A dark horse is going to put an end to T, and maybe even Phil as well. I can see the old-school guys coming in and cleaning both houses in order to start fresh. How about this: HESH comes out of nowhere, still pissed about Renata's death and Tony's attitude, and paves the way for Paulie to slide in as the new NY/NJ boss. Unlikely, but that's what is so great about this show - ANYTHING can happen!
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25
i had a thought, and i could see it played out.
Janice is a gutsy broad and seeks revenge as well. i could see her confronting Phil in an attempt to put a stop to the gang war and plugs him herself. she killed Richie Apriel for less. then she is taken down by Phil's henchmen. at least it plays well in my head.
- poniewozik Loved the season. Mrs Tuned In wd have put u on the main list RT @boredtodeath Thank u for incl us in Time's Top 10. We'll take hon mention. - 5 hours ago
- poniewozik @carr2n Virgin is the best, LAX-JFK - 5 hours ago
- poniewozik Did NPR interview abt multiscreen multitasking. After, automatically reached for iPhone in pocket. Like don draper wd have for cigarettes. - 6 hours ago
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