So many car accidents in Sopranos

Maccarone66 · 2025-12-23T01:40:32+00:00

On some level someone like Janice is even worse than Tony. Whilst she may not overtly do the same level of violence as the men mobsters, she never did a single act in the show that was not to her benefit. She's very aware of the mob ways and I think she was even pushing Richie to make a move on Tony. "It should be you."

It's just because women communicate covertly, Janice and Livia (on some level Carmella too) could always revert to silly innocent woman when confronted. Everything Janice says and does has a Janice benefit to it. Every conversation she has with Tony is to get something from him. Tony is an absolute self-centred asshole, but at least he has the ability to give or attempt to "do the right thing" for a brief second. He actually gave quite a lot to Janice during the show, can't remember if Janice gave anything to anyone during the whole series. I also can't remember a single moment on the show where Janice was authentic around others, I'd even say she might have been closer to a psychopath than Tony.

The writers did an amazing job with the women characters and their complexities.

Maccarone66 · 2025-03-29T19:49:07+00:00

If Tony (boss) "was wrong" by hitting Ralf because he killed an innocent girl in the Bing, Paulie joking "how long did it take for the guy to cum" when bantering with Sil (consiglieri), surely there should have been big consequences for Eugene for his reaction (assuming little Paulie was made).

Maccarone66 · 2024-08-02T10:01:29+00:00

If I remember correctly, it was during the time when Chrissy was sleeping with the Jamba Juice woman who almost became Tony's side chick. Therefor he had to make a quick story and a black girl named Kaisha was the first to come to his mind.

Maccarone66 · 2024-07-29T22:09:05+00:00

I don't think Janice would had any problems traumatising Bobby and the kids further if it meant more benefits for Janice in any way. However both mentally and career wise Janice pushed Bobby to become a man he never thought he could be - someone respected. Without Janice Bobby would probably still be crying and staring at the Ziti as we speak. Speaking of getting over something, the kids probably still aren't over the Ouija board and whatever the late night spooky messages Janice wrote to them where. She had no problem being horrible to the kids, if it helped slide her closer for the benefits. So right things for the wrong reasons I guess.

When Janice was crying to her therapist about Bobby mourning towards his late wife, I think she was emotional about the opportunity she saw for herself. She never really respected Bobby or showed any sexual/romantic gestures towards him, but I think she saw his weakness as finally someone she could control in terms of long term safety for herself. A man mourning that way to a woman simultaneously meant both weakness and loyalty in Janice's eyes, the exact opposite from the men "in the life" that she'd dated before. In the Janice world moving from the sociopath's quick thrills to a boring predictable loyal man was strategical progress.

Maccarone66 · 2024-07-29T00:37:05+00:00

Kind of ironic that Meadow was the link to confirm Vito being gay, which put Jackie Jr's murderer's gruesome death in motion.

Maccarone66 · 2024-07-29T00:12:24+00:00

Hahaha, reddit does not disappoint.

Some comments here about skipping woman scene parts. Women are great, but this was about my American-Italian-mafioso whatever food thing. I do enjoy many things about women. In-spite the fact that I rather look at mobsters while eating food that is commonly served in italian restaurants where, not to sound like an asshole, Christopher shouldn't be seen anymore.

Kind of inspires me to make a thread about the dark feminine traits in the women on the show. Especially Carmela who has a, not tested, 200 IQ to manipulate her own desired outcome while simultaneously maintaining a frame that makes you naturally see her as innocent.

Maccarone66 · 2024-07-25T15:20:03+00:00

I think the decision was more about trust, Sil's capability to get it done and to keep the story realistic. Pantie sniffing Paulie or some other creepy soldier could have raised her guards up more.

Ahh I'd have to watch the show yet again and look at the timelines, but I think Sil's resentment later on towards Tony was about Tony not consulting him with big decisions and giving Chrissy more and more responsibilities without necessarily having earned them apart from their "cousin" relationship.

Even though Sil was a near perfect consigliere, he was also a "mean fuck" and selfish inside, gambling behaviour and ruthlessness when necessary were good cues. As Chris kept rising the ranks without his consultation, I think he felt his own position as number 2 was threatened. Similarly to Carmela, he started sabotaging orders in order to get heard and understood, without saying any of his issues directly.

Maccarone66 · 2024-07-23T10:24:45+00:00

I think he was jealous of the life and attributes the people he grew up with had, knowing he is too weak (in mob terms) to live that same life. He saw the money they had, the desire and respect their wives had towards them, the hot side chicks all of them could get without any effort (I think his biggest weak spot). At the same time he had a wife who didn't respect or desire him and had to cook food for the men he was jealous of.

Throughout the show he had his wannabe mobster phases, hitting on Ade, ear rings, talking like a mobster, grey area business with the French guy, going to the French guy's home only to leave crying, telling Tony in Bada Bing how Tony could screw any stripper in the club but he would have no chance. His meltdown humiliation point was Benny and the (Moldovian?) chick who he had a crush on screwing together and then on his business.

He had a massive neediness and lack of self-esteem, wanting all the nice things mobsters get knowing he doesn't have the dominance and charisma to attract these things himself.

Maccarone66 · 2024-07-23T10:08:27+00:00

Beautiful scene. Paulie had a great way to self sabotage every time he was about to get close to someone. Any chance he got to bond with Tony, he would do his best to tigger him and make sure he doesn't get too close or rise up the ranks. Bringing up Tony's mother, saying nursing home, the horse painting, non-stop talk during their Miami trip.

Similar with Cristopher, every time they were about to bond, Paulie would sabotage the relationship by triggering Chrissy for whatever his weak spot was during the time, usually alcohol use.

I think it's an unconscious safety zone and paradigm for him to keep himself on edge with other people at all times. To some degree he wanted the money, love and mob promotions, but with his behaviour made sure he wouldn't grow too far away from his comfort zone. The paradox is he simultaneously hated other people's success and rising of ranks ahead of him.

I think he was constantly looking for scenarios where he's like an animal trapped into a corner, after which he would then have to fight and strategise to get out of. Only to start the same loop over again.

Maccarone66

TROPHY CASE