The Sopranos (Finale): Episode 4

[North East Goon]

A strange yet entertaining episode last night. Tony is feeling the pinch of missing his top earner Vito. To top it off he now has to pony up and take care of his family. Tony is the de-generate gambler he once laughed at others about. How about that shower scene with Vito Jr?

[Thunderball]

I didn't really like this episode. This was the weakest one of the new season.

-Seemed kind of soap opera-ish that Tony is suddenly an addicted gambler. Guys who are involved with the types of things he is, and seen the things he has (Johnny Soprano and Mr. Satriale for example), don't go from being controlled, recreational gamblers to total junkies. Its unclear whether or not he realized it and changed.

-The Tony v. Hesh plot also seemed very random. Especially how Hesh's woman dies suddenly and we're supposed to believe Tony did it, while still paying all the money he owed back.

-The Vito Jr. stuff was weird for sure, but was necessary in showing the problems Vito's homosexuality and subsequent murder caused.

-Very interesting that the Arabs were mentioned again. Perhaps terrorism is not a red herring?

-AJ getting dumped was not surprising. Blanca was a golddigger and saw no future with AJ, while at the same time was sort of disgusted at the Soprano lifestyle, sort of like Finn. AJ will definitely take it hard, perhaps try to commit suicide?

-Something is up with Meadow. She has had very little to do so far... I'd bet something big is up with her soon.

-It seems they are really trying to alienate Tony from everybody. Chris, Paulie, Hesh, Bacala... lonely at the top, or is this the end?

[burn_baby_burn]

I'm a bit surprised about Tony's gambling. I allways thought that after earning so much income off of degenerate gamblers he would know better. When he was a boy he watched his bad chop off Satrialie's finger because he coudn't pay back his gambling depts. He busted out his high school buddy's sports store because of his gambling debts. Now Tony is falling into the same pit as the losers he squeez's for money on a daily basis? Doesn't make sense.

Looks like his relationship with Hect is shot.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Especially how Hesh's woman dies suddenly and we're supposed to believe Tony did it, while still paying all the money he owed back.

I never really suspected that. Of course they don't say how she died. But mob hits very rarely involve people dying in bed. Plus she is a civilian and not connected, why kill her? What does Tony gain from killing her?

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

I never really suspected that. Of course they don't say how she died. But mob hits very rarely involve people dying in bed. Plus she is a civilian and not connected, why kill her? What does Tony gain from killing her?

Typically, it is against the code... but Hesh isn't in their thing... so all bets are off.

I'd assume Tony didn't have anything to do with it, but being so, what would it have hurt to have a throwaway line saying what she died of.

If he did, it would be to send a message that Tony is the Boss and not to be played with. (coming into the Bing for his weekly vig in front of everyone). It is reminiscent of the horse head in Godfather.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

-The Tony v. Hesh plot also seemed very random. Especially how Hesh's woman dies suddenly and we're supposed to believe Tony did it, while still paying all the money he owed back.

?

I dont think we are to believe that. I mean, I didnt think of that when I saw Tony leave the house. I was thinking they were leaving the viewer with the same feeling that Tony had, she's dead, but I don't care how. To be honest, I didnt really think too hard at how she died, nor did I find it that weird that they didnt say how it happened either.


I thought the stuff with Tony and the gambling was great, a side we really havent seen and I totally believed. I used to have a bit of a gambling problem, so I can relate to how he felt, especially when the guy at the bar was going nuts when the Bills won and Tony says, "that jerk off down there probably just won 35 dollars!!!" I laughed really hard, because I had been there many times.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I dont think we are to believe that. I mean, I didnt think of that when I saw Tony leave the house. I was thinking they were leaving the viewer with the same feeling that Tony had, she's dead, but I don't care how. To be honest, I didnt really think too hard at how she died, nor did I find it that weird that they didnt say how it happened either.


I thought the stuff with Tony and the gambling was great, a side we really havent seen and I totally believed. I used to have a bit of a gambling problem, so I can relate to how he felt, especially when the guy at the bar was going nuts when the Bills won and Tony says, "that jerk off down there probably just won 35 dollars!!!" I laughed really hard, because I had been there many times.

Tony just had a really strange look on his face after, and with Hesh he didn't even feign concern like he has been known to do. Nor did he sit and mourn with his longtime advisor. (even if he didn't care). She probably did just die suddenly, but it seemed weird to have her suddenly die just as Tony owes Hesh money and doesn't like the way Hesh is questioning him and their relationship fell apart. Maybe the point was just to plant doubt. I dunno, Chase has a way of planting plot lines in seemingly throwaway scenes. Then again, you may be right, and I'm reading too much into things.

As for the gambling thing, while I appreciate where you are coming from and how it relates to you, and they did present it very well. I just felt that throughout the show, Tony always viewed gambling as a revenue tool insofar as other people go broke and have to pay him, not the other way around. Its like the saying goes, a good drug dealer doesn't hooked on their own product. Tony has always been presented as a deeply flawed individual, but a consummate professional at what he does. He's old school and knows what he's doing, even with the odd recreational stupidity (like his brief snorts of cocaine, which didn't stick around).

[socalwingfan]

I think the gambling problem is just emphasizing how much Tony is losing it. He is starting to lose it big time and his gambling addiction shows how far he has fallen and how little in control of his life he has right now.

[Flames_Gimp]

best episode of the season so far...

[Roy Keane]

The Arabs being mentioned was the most interesting point of the entire episode. Maybe they'll come out of nowhere and whack Tony at the end?

Very soap opera-ish to have Tony as an addicted gambler. Doesn't fit with his character at all.

[North East Goon]

In regards to the Arab thing, didnt the feds mention something about a cash reward for turning in potential terrorist threats? I thought I heard that, but could be wrong?

[burn_baby_burn]

On A&E last night they had the episode where Tony tells Dr. Melfie about his father cutting off Satriale's finger. In the scene with his father, Johny tells Tony to never ever gamble, twice. He also states that a man allways honors his debts.

[Frank the Tank]

I liked the episode, but I too found it odd that Tony's gambling is all of a sudden out of control. And now that Phil is the official head of New York I wonder if we are in for some serious shenanigans? Me thinks we are.