(S06E18) It's been a long time since something on the shocking tip happened and at the same time, I wasn't surprised at all. Tonight, something I certainly thought would go down this season did, but certainly not how I'd have thought. I have a feeling that some of the "old" Tony Soprano might have returned, unfortunately for only three more weeks before this show finishes up.Was this week perfect? By all means not, but taking out a character that has meant something to all the show's fans forever, and showing what looks like an inkling of an ugly finale when it comes to Tony and the New York crew could provide for one of the more fantastic endings, perhaps the one we all deserve after surviving through so many production delays and season holdups.
From day one of this season I knew that Christopher was going to lose his life, but while it could be surmised that Tony's hand would be involved, I have to say that I never would have taken that literally. The preview last week showed a bit of the truck getting in an accident, but who knew this would have been the end of it. When Christopher started spitting up blood, I knew he would die, it was just a matter of how long. When Tony ditched on calling 911, it was so very clear that he wanted to end this right here and now. Later on, when he was talking about being relieved that Christopher was dead because of his being weak, I couldn't help but think that the same thing was exactly what I heard in my head when he was suffocated. Whether Tony knew that Christopher was truly a weak link in the chain of the Soprano crew or not, or that there was a Fed that could have been the guy in the stairwell last week, or that evidence could have been left at JT's shooting, it didn't matter. What did matter is that the dominoes have most certainly begun to tip over.
It was pretty awesome that we got to see Big Pussy in the kitchen recently, and Tony mentioned him again tonight. That was the last character that truly meant something to a lot of fans of the show that had his life cut short (of course others have died, but not necessarily someone *that* integral to the stories), and now that Christopher's storyline has ended, presumably there'll be no more Cleaver, especially after the mug was tossed into the trees in Tony's backyard. On top of that, Tony most certainly took advantage of the end of his nephew's life by hitting up his chippy on the side, even going as far as taking peyote with her. Something that longtime Weblogs, Inc.-family friend and Cinematical founder Karina Longworth mentioned tonight got me thinking after the show closed, though - that Tony could think that the "universe is rewarding him for killing friends." He clearly knows what he's done, as he mentioned a lot of it to Melfi - in his dream and for real - and the peyote has him thinking... clearly or something, so is that the second domino falling in our big chain reaction finale?
Something else that will probably get as much airtime here as it did on the show was the death of Paulie's "mom." Paulie, not surprisingly, acted all peeved at the lack of support his extended "family" gave him in this time, but it's a pretty solid bet to say that Paulie just doesn't get it. It's always about him, and it's always "personal" when someone does something that potentially impugns him. Just unfortunately that it worked out that way for him, considering his longtime service on this show, but perhaps his demise won't be a life-or-death one and much more about showing how disjointed he ends up from Tony and the crew. If anything, I think that if Tony were to find out exactly why and how Christopher fell off the wagon, that could cause a bit of a problem between the two old-school guys.
As for A.J., he's clearly feuding with himself these days. He seems to like having been causing problems with his friends when it comes to settling gambling debts, but the attitudes - and racist comments - that the guys made around him definitely got him stirring. Unfortunately, he's just enough of a wimp to push the bicyclist back into the shoving in the street, leaving him with nothing but a futile "why can't we all just get along" with his shrink.
As far as ratings go, I'm going to give this episode a perfect 7 for the week. Sure, it's high, but I think the drama of Christopher's death and Tony's "coming out" party with the peyote definitely have me thinking that we will have a solid ending to a solid show. I definitely think we'll have some blood on the hands of Tony Soprano. That said, I think the previews for next week where Carm is talking about the "Soprano curse" could be talking more about whatever situation that their son has gotten themselves into than anything about Tony himself. 
What I want to know, if I have any question for all you readers this week, it's whether we think that there is any possibility that Tony could give up all of what he has in order to keep Carm with him, and take a package with the Feds as an ending or not. Beyond that, I'm just going to predict that we've only begun to see the "action" that will affect all of the long-timers on this show in the next three weeks.
(ed: when I say "perfect," I mean was it the best episode ever? No. Was it great in the scheme of this season and overall shows on television? Definitely.)
Giveaway Thursday: Tickets to the New York Television Festival ... all of it!
I miss the media-friendly John McCain - VIDEOS
Giveaway Wednesday: Supernatural, season three
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
5-14-2007 @ 12:38AM
David said...
"Was this week perfect? By all means not..."
Then why the fuck did you give it a 7? Sheesh some blogers here really don't think.
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5-14-2007 @ 12:50AM
Tom Biro said...
Just because the episode didn't have everything I would have *liked* to see happen is why I didn't think it was "perfect." That said, I thought it was the best, or at least very close to it, episode of this particular season. We had a great turn in the plot of the show, and it's a fantastic uptick on the way towards the end of a series. You find me a "perfect' episode of anything and I'll eat my hat.
That said, there are plenty of "two thumbs up" reviews that reviewers you probably like have given film or whatever and they weren't "perfect" films.
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5-14-2007 @ 1:13AM
Jeff N. said...
It was a very interesting show tonight. The old mean Tony resurfaced.
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5-14-2007 @ 1:30AM
joseph gonzalez said...
What had me laughing was the ending when the garbage was dumped in the water. You could hear the ducks quacking away, and Tony loves the ducks. Also of note was it might have been dumped on a national park of some sort making it a federal crime, so it could come back to haunt him. I see Benny Fazio getting promoted to Cappo, only to promptly get whacked by the New York crew. So it looks like things could be picking up here.
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5-14-2007 @ 1:35AM
Borat said...
For me the most interesting part was AJ's, to an extent. The same thing is sorta happening to AJ which Tony went through, albeit Tony really wanted to be part of it I guess. Tony hung out with his crew when he was younger (Tony, Blundetto, Ralphie, Pussy, etc.) and AJ's going through the same thing, though it's obvious AJ is more of a "modern man" since he probably isn't racist.
But wow...I always thought Tony would kill Chris but not this way. And I liked the dream therapy session and the real one, which were pretty similar.
This season has definitely been better than I thought it would be...and we got to see Artie Bucco too! Little Carmine is hilarious...the guy is so clueless.
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5-14-2007 @ 1:38AM
Borat said...
Btw, the stripper was the absolutely gorgeous Sarah Shahi...I knew I had seen her somewhere before. She was on "The L Word" and "Sleeper Cell".
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5-14-2007 @ 1:39AM
David said...
Wow... it was the best episode this season and that's why you rated it a perfect score when you admited in your review it wasn't. That just makes you a worse bloger than before. Damn you are pitiful.
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5-14-2007 @ 1:44AM
Bill said...
I couldn't get over how incredible Sarah Shahi looked. She was pretty hot back when she was Will Tippin's assistant on Alias, but... wow.
As for the actual episode, I liked it. Maybe not 7 (out of 7) but closer to 7 (out of 10).
http://popculturejunk.blogspot.com/
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5-14-2007 @ 6:21AM
Clint said...
Gotta admit they threw me for a loop with that opening. Thought they'd end the series with Chris going Sammy the Bull on Tony.
3 episodes left. I gotta believe AJ plays a HUGE part in the final outcome of the show, or else they've wasted too much time on this kid.
I'm still waiting for him to bust out singing "I Adore, Mi Amore" or the "D*ck in a Box" song.
http://www.tvdeuce.com
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5-14-2007 @ 9:06AM
Marc Davidson said...
It wasn't pretty watching Tony jump that shark.
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5-14-2007 @ 9:45AM
Tony said...
It may be heading to the point that AJ will join the family business, something that Tony has never wanted for him. AJ has a lot more in common with his dad than was apparent when the series began. This maybe 'the Soprano curse.' There is no one really there to groom to take Tony's place now that Chrissy is gone. As disappointing as Chris was, he was the only one of the crew with the potential to be boss.
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5-14-2007 @ 9:52AM
Connie said...
You said "if Tony were to find out exactly why and how Christopher fell off the wagon." Tony was THERE [in the last episode] when Christopher and Paulie were drinking at the bar. It showed him in the crowd, laughing along with all the other guys when Paulie was "busting b____" with Christopher. Unfortunately, I haven't watched last night's episode yet- taped it- so this was a REAL spoiler for me...
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5-14-2007 @ 10:30AM
MacGuffin said...
Incredible episode.
I sat there while Christopher was dying and saw it as a perfect and credible end. I know that sounds morbid, but it was time.
I also liked Tony feeling relieved about all of this and then going to Vegas to relax. The Sopranos was never just about the mob, it was about a middle-aged American male dealing with all the crap that middle-aged American males deal with. I can definitely relate to that.
Sarah Shahi was terrific. So damn hot, but not in a slutty way. I almost started watching the L-word because I think she is one of the most interesting women on TV and of course, she was terrific on last season's Sleeper Cell.
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5-14-2007 @ 10:35AM
Seth said...
This was another episode this season where characters were stepping out of character towards a manufactured climatic finale, and it pissed me off.
Recently it was Tony suddenly becoming a gambling addict out of nowhere, now he kills Christopher and is not just apathetic about it but happy, not even conflicted - I just didnt buy it.
I also didnt buy Christopher's killing of the screenwriter last week, it was just random sensation.
Also, this week had some very jarring cuts where Carmela and/or Tony were out of position during a conversation - did they lose their continuity grip? WTF is going on?
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5-14-2007 @ 10:36AM
Ryan L. Morelli said...
I tell you what the Sopranos abosolutely suck. Last season and this season has been a COMPLETE disaster. Typical TV and Movie bs. Once the money is made all else falls to the wayside. Chris getting wacked was slightly a kin to the episodes of old, but not really. This show is a complete disappointment.
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5-14-2007 @ 10:42AM
Tele-Toby said...
Being the TV fan that I am, I liked the way it came back to that 'Twilight Zone' reference - that Tony in Vegas was in a hell of his own making.
I think that solar pulse Tony saw at the end while high on the peyote was viewed by him to be God. Which is why he stood up and proudly exclaimed "I did it!" as if to add, "And what are you going to do about it?"
But he could have said "I get it!" as well. Then I'm not sure where to take it....
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5-14-2007 @ 12:00PM
retired desert lady said...
ah, Tony on peyote...is this a return to David Chase's 60s and 70s? Not a typical Tony act but then again this is not supposed to be a typical Tony time...
I was on the floor laughing when Tony was on the floor laughing. what a kick!
I love watching The Sopranos and will greatly miss them.
Thank goodness there are repeats on another channel.
All the best to all you Soprano fans!
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5-14-2007 @ 12:19PM
bmellin said...
If I recall my endless and repeated "experiments" with hallucenogenics during the 70s properly, it's not typical that people who ingest peyote have the same sort of high--too many variables (body weight, amount ingested, state of mind, etc. etc.). I have therefore been skeptical of creative works that use peyote as a symbol of enlightenment, esp. in the way that The Sopranos did last night. Both of the characters seemed to be in the same place at the same time. Unlikely. I suppose there is a romantic notion that this is a drug that is "natural" and has a history of use in NA culture, but, still . . .
So, what about Tony's enlightenment? Like most drug-induced epiphanies, it is undoubtedly meaningless, which may explain why we don't know what Tony means when he "gets it" at the end of his short, strange trip. Perhaps all we know is that he is a seeker of some sort, but he has achieved false consciousness. (AJ, on the other hand, appears to be at a crossroads and might indeed end up with some brilliant insights.) Tony has become such a deluded jackass in the past few episodes, hasn't he?
One recurring image that might be worth tracking is the use of light. I remember that when he was on his deathbed but, in his dream, headed out of a bar with a woman he wants to sleep with, his conversation and dream is interrupted by a bright light from a helicoptor that then becomes the light a doctor aiming at Tony's eyes. And, of course, there is the light on the beacon during this dream and the brilliant light of the house where the dead folks are in his dream. When Tony barfed and then started tripping last night, he stares at a light on the ceiling, and when he has his epiphany at the end of the show, the has just arisen above the horizon. WTF this all means, I don't know, but if I were a bettting man, which I'm not, I'd bet that we'll see this light image at the end of the show.
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5-14-2007 @ 12:23PM
eva said...
These past 3 episodes are the worst. Completely inconsistent with all the characters. Ridiculous. Tony a degenerate gambler? Not love Christopher? All of them completely cruel to Christopher last week? One show is worse than the next. A terrible ending to this great series.
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5-14-2007 @ 12:24PM
Neal said...
David,
Calm down with your insults. Tom's opinions are his own. He gave it a 7 (which by definition doesn't mean "perfect", but a perfect or very-near perfect episode. Possibly Emmy-worthy, even.) "very near perfect" which is what Tom said. Not perfect, but powerful enough and an essential enough episode that it deserves a 7... to him. You may disagree, which is fine, but to attack him personally is stupid. Calm down, have some fudge.
Neal
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