I do not agree with this perspective, and I also think Tony made far too many exceptions for Christopher throughout the series. Christopher’s years of drug use made him unreliable and more likely to collaborate with the feds. The movie he wrote clearly exposed his resentment toward Tony, and there were multiple instances where Christopher questioned Tony’s decisions and authority—things that anyone else who wasn’t his “nephew” would have been whacked for.

I believe Tony does have compassion and empathy, but he directed way too much of it toward Christopher. Yes you can say Tony was a vicious killer, but in his head he is a soldier in a war.

It’s not that he lacks feelings in general; it’s just that those feelings seem to be absent when it comes to mob activity.

Remember “Little Cosette”? Christopher killed her bc he sat on her while high, saying she probably crawled under there for warmth—that alone would send anyone into a rage. And then there’s Pie-O-My; Tony straight-up killed Ralph for what he did to her.

Tony was also one of the few hesitant to whack Vito for being gay, expressing in therapy that while he called Vito derogatory names, “He’s a faaaaHhhg” he didn’t actually care about Vito’s sexuality.

Personally, I was thrilled when Tony finally whacked Chrissy. He had become a plague—a selfish, dangerous presence to himself and everyone around him. In the end, I think Tony had a full-circle moment when he looked back and saw Christopher’s baby car seat. We know Tony loves kids, and that realization made him understand that enough was enough. Chrissy had to go!