Sopranos 05/06

[8675309]

It was nice to see more Christopher. I can't decide if I think Chris or Paulie will bring down the mob.

[flickster]

IMHO, Christopher will be sleeping with the fishes in the near future.

Paulie would never be a rat, that's what Tony realized on their trip to Florida. Paulie may be a first class asshole, but the mob is all he's got. It's the only thing in his life.

[AuntiePam]

Since Tony has to worry about both Chris and Paulie, as well as Phil Leotardo, I won't blame him for whatever he does.

Wasn't he great in those scenes with Melfi? It's probably not difficult for an actor to bring tears, but to almost cry -- that's gotta be hard.

Tony was okay with A.J., wasn't he? Didn't mind that he was a dropout, working in a pizza store, as long as the kid was happy.

I don't get what brought that on with Chris and Dolan. Was Chris worried that he talked too much? Or was it the reminder that he was in the mafia? "Oh yeah, I'm a hood. Better kill somebody today."

[Lakai]

The scene with Tony and Melfi was beautiful. Even though Tony is a mob boss, he still is a father dealing with a depressed son. I felt a little bad for Tony when he blamed himself and his genes for bringing this on A.J. Tony knows how bad depression is, and I think it is killing him that A.J. is going through this. What father hasn’t shared Tony’s sentiment, that he should be dealing with this depression and that his son should be left the fuck alone?

It seems as if depression is not the only thing A.J. is getting from his father. It looked like A.J. started feeling a lot better after him and his friends poured acid on that kid. That seems to be what makes Tony feel better too- the drugs, sex, and violence. There was one episode where Tony had to stay away from the Bada Bing because he was advised to lay low. He became even more depressed than usual because of it. A.J. looks as if he is headed down that road. You noticed how hyped up he was when he got home? It could have been that he was doing hard drugs, but I think it more likely that he enjoyed beating up that poor kid. Carmella was of course happy that her son was happy, if she only knew why…

I don’t know what to make of this whole Chris thing. He drinks and people make fun of him, he stops and people don’t like him. I don’t know if there is anyway out of this mess for him. Well, maybe there is a way out, but Chris is way too dumb to figure it out. He is going to end up trying shoot his way to the solution and that can’t end too well.

[Marley23]

I loved the second half of this one. I missed part of Tony's scene with Melfi, but when he was talking about his genes, that did feel very real.
It seems as if depression is not the only thing A.J. is getting from his father. It looked like A.J. started feeling a lot better after him and his friends poured acid on that kid. That seems to be what makes Tony feel better too- the drugs, sex, and violence.
And when Tony was pushing A.J. out of the house, he was pushing him right into that. Even though he always said he didn't want that for A.J.

[flickster]

I loved the second half of this one. I missed part of Tony's scene with Melfi, but when he was talking about his genes, that did feel very real.

And when Tony was pushing A.J. out of the house, he was pushing him right into that. Even though he always said he didn't want that for A.J.

I think it was the comparison of AJ to the other kids at the Bing. They may be thugs, but at least they had a pulse. He may not have been giving AJ a direct shove into the biz but that may be the outcome.

[Hippy Hollow]

IMHO, Christopher will be sleeping with the fishes in the near future.

Paulie would never be a rat, that's what Tony realized on their trip to Florida. Paulie may be a first class asshole, but the mob is all he's got. It's the only thing in his life.
Oh yeah. Chrissy is toast. As soon as the details come out about Tim Daly's whacking, Tony and friends are going to put two and two together... and his distance from the boys at the Bing will certainly mean that The Family will cut their losses, just like they did with Adriana.

Looks like AJ had his initiation into the life. Being known as "Tony Soprano Jr." gives him juice, and just like his dad with the chopping fingers at Satriale's many moons ago, he's "wired" by seeing some schlub getting burned with acid.

[Marley23]

He may not have been giving AJ a direct shove into the biz but that may be the outcome.
No, I don't think it was intentional. I guess it was inevitable- who here ever thought AJ would be good for something else anyway?

[Diogenes the Cynic]

I don't get what brought that on with Chris and Dolan. Was Chris worried that he talked too much? Or was it the reminder that he was in the mafia? "Oh yeah, I'm a hood. Better kill somebody today."
I think it was a culmination of a lot of bottled rage and personal revelation. Tony's crew are assholes to him. His father figure, Tony (who Chris feels like he sacrificed the love of his life for) has been completely insensitive to him on a personal level. When Chris saw T laughing after Paulie basically said Chris's daughter would end up a whore, it was a personal betrayal and a realization that these assholes he's always been so loyal to -- has literally killed for -- don't really give a shit about him. He's given away his soul to a bunch of petty thugs and dipshits.

So then he goes to see JT, a guy outside "the life" who he thought he could talk to -- who he (mistakenly) thought was a friend -- and JT basically tells him he doesn't care about him either, he's always just been afraid of him because he's a mobster (and a violent psychopath at times, let's face it). Bad enough to get dissed by the likes of Paulie, but now he knows he's (understandably, considering how Chrissy has treated him) not even liked or respected by the AA buddy.

Plus he was drunk, and also I think it's just a bad idea in general to ever tell a wiseguy that he's "in the Mafia."

I think Chris may flip. Ironic since I would have thought he was the least likely character ever to do that a couple of seasons ago but if he ever gets pinched (like for shooting the writer), he might feel that Tony et al do not deserve his loyalty.

[flickster]

No, I don't think it was intentional. I guess it was inevitable- who here ever thought AJ would be good for something else anyway?
Truth is, I don't know that he'll be worth a damn at this either but he'll get a pass because of who he is.

[Marley23]

I think Chris may flip.
With only four episodes left, I'm wondering how much longer things can go before one of the major characters gets killed.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

With only four episodes left, I'm wondering how much longer things can go before one of the major characters gets killed.
I'm guessing Paulie's dream where he asked himself, "When my time comes, will I stand up?" may have been a bit of foreshadowing.

[Joey P]

I don't get what brought that on with Chris and Dolan. Was Chris worried that he talked too much? Or was it the reminder that he was in the mafia? "Oh yeah, I'm a hood. Better kill somebody today."
Nah, Chris loves being told he's in the mafia. Remember when the indictments got handed down, how pist he was that he wasn't named (and Brendon was mentioned), he's always felt like a bit of a nobody, and I think he likes hearing being reminded of what people on the outside think of him.

As for what's going to happen with him (like others have said), virtually every character on the show has a standing invitation with the Feds, anyone of the can flip whenever they want. Now that Chrissy is married and has a kid, I can see it as a possibilty.

[Lakai]

Nah, Chris loves being told he's in the mafia. Remember when the indictments got handed down, how pist he was that he wasn't named (and Brendon was mentioned), he's always felt like a bit of a nobody, and I think he likes hearing being reminded of what people on the outside think of him.


I agree.

When the writer told Chris "you're in the mafia!" he did it in a "get the hell away from me" kind of way. As Diogenes the Cynic mentioned before, that is why Chris lashed out.

It wasn't about being outed, he was told to fuck off by one friend too many. It could have also been a double fuck you, since that guy reminded Chris of his reality. I guess it was a hard pill to swallow.

Maybe I might be leading too much into this, but I think that final scene where Chris fixes a tree, could be a metaphor for how he is dealing with his situation. His whole lawn is ruined and he tries pointlessly to adjust one tree. Likewise, his whole life is probably ruined and his efforts to fix things are also pointless. Unless he fixes everything and leaves the mafia, nothing will get resolved.

[Subterraneanus]

The irony: he was working on a script for Law and Order when Chris showed up. Nice.

Terence Winter's stuff is consistently the best on this show, and the other writers aren't exactly hacks. Great stuff.

[singular1]

What a fan-freakin'-tastic episode!

I wonder what Bobby and Tony were talking about at the barbeque. Was that there just to show that Christophuh was being left out of the family business again?

Anybody catch what AJ poured into his hand from the baggie in the previws? It looked like little rabbit heads. Guess I'm not so much up on what the kids are taking today.

[Trunk]

Maybe I might be leading too much into this, but I think that final scene where Chris fixes a tree, could be a metaphor for how he is dealing with his situation. His whole lawn is ruined and he tries pointlessly to adjust one tree. Likewise, his whole life is probably ruined and his efforts to fix things are also pointless. Unless he fixes everything and leaves the mafia, nothing will get resolved.
I thought that it indicated that he was back in.

Instead of lashing out at Paulie's behavior (as he did the rest of the episode), he's covering it up, smoothing it out.

What a great episode. . .so much shit got said. Tony & Melfi, Chris & Paulie, Chris & Tony, Tony & Carmela over AJ.

Some super lines.. .

I think Chris said, regarding his wife, "she wanted to get her teeth wet."

Paulie told Chris, "why are you getting all cunty. . .I'm just breaking your balls."

And later, "you can suck it outta my ass."

I loved the shot when Paulie told Chris "your daughter will be working here one day," and they showed all the guys cracking up in slow mo. And, we got a great whacking.

[Rilchiam]

So then he goes to see JT, a guy outside "the life" who he thought he could talk to -- who he (mistakenly) thought was a friend -- and JT basically tells him he doesn't care about him either, he's always just been afraid of him because he's a mobster (and a violent psychopath at times, let's face it). Bad enough to get dissed by the likes of Paulie, but now he knows he's (understandably, considering how Chrissy has treated him) not even liked or respected by the AA buddy.


That, plus J.T. was a bit of a condescending git, and Chris had already been shown to be sensitive to that. Not that I think that's a reason to kill someone, but Chris might. He'd already clubbed him with his own writing award, and since J.T. had just told him to get bent, Chris might have been trying to get the last word. Also, the Mafia taunt might well have had something to do with it. The scene reminded me a bit of Chris shooting the bakery guy in the foot in the first season. "I'm mobbed up! I'm made! Rarrrhhh!"

[Joey P]

The scene reminded me a bit of Chris shooting the bakery guy in the foot in the first season. "I'm mobbed up! I'm made! Rarrrhhh!"
Did you catch who the other guy was in the bakery, the guy the Chris made wait outside. It was Vito, but he was playing some civie named Gino, and he was credited as "Man in bakery."

As for Chris, I think he shot Tim Daly because he was drunk, and Chris does stupid stuff when he's drunk. He told Tim Daly he let him work on Cleaver with him, as if 10 people were begging Chris to write the script and he chose him, he was full of himself, drunk, and Tim wasn't respecting his mafia-ness.
So I'm thinking we said goodbye to Jr last week, and this maybe the end of Chrissy. Since he'd drinking again he'll be back at the Bing and deli, but he'll be pretty useless as a worker. And since he doesn't like the way he get's treated when he's drunk, he might just go and spiral out somewhere else. As for fixing the tree, I think it was a metaphor for one day at a time, he fucked up his life and he knows it's going to take some doing to get it right again, a little at a time. I say keep an eye on the tree, see if someone trips over it and knocks it over, the landscaper yanks it out while redoing the yard, the mailman steps on by accident etc... Come to think of it, it was Paulie who gave him a hard time about the club soda, it was Paulie who he was drinking with and it was Paulie who tore up his lawn. Paulie caused problems in his life both physically (lawn) and chemically (alcohol).

[Trunk]

No one has really mentioned it, but you can't 't underestimate the significance of Tony talking to the Feds.

Sure, it's seemingly about him helping with terrorist stuff, but that's always just been about them just getting a foot in the door. They got Tony to break through the wall of "never talk to the feds about anything"

I'm just saying. . .I don't think the show is setting us up to see Tony break up a terrorist plot. He's not talking to the feds, but he's talking to the feds. Maybe he slams the door shut, or maybe not. He seemed excited to be doing it though.

[Rilchiam]

You're right. In fact, when he was talking about banking goodwill, I thought, "Ah, that's like an insurance policy for a mob boss. When, not if, he goes down, he wants the landing to be a bit softer."

[What the .... ?!?!]

Anybody else think that Chrissy may have done something else crazy before he got home?

I looked for Paulie in the preview of next week and didn't see him.

[Joey P]

Anybody else think that Chrissy may have done something else crazy before he got home?

I looked for Paulie in the preview of next week and didn't see him.
I was going to mention that I did see him, but his hair looked compleatly grey. (It might not have been him)

[D_Odds]

That, plus J.T. was a bit of a condescending git, and Chris had already been shown to be sensitive to that. Not that I think that's a reason to kill someone, but Chris might. He'd already clubbed him with his own writing award, and since J.T. had just told him to get bent, Chris might have been trying to get the last word. Also, the Mafia taunt might well have had something to do with it. The scene reminded me a bit of Chris shooting the bakery guy in the foot in the first season. "I'm mobbed up! I'm made! Rarrrhhh!"Can you blame J.T. for being stand-offish. It seems every time Chris comes over, he's getting his ass kicked, and then he gets no credit for the movie. J.T. wanted out from under Christopher, and I guess he got what he wanted.

Tony and Carmella are such bad parents, it is comical. A.J. has needed a kick in the butt since day one. Once again, he's entering the family business. That won't end well.

Paulie's comments were over the line, but that's normal for Paulie. Christopher is in a group where one needs a thick skin to survive, and his is paper-thin. He sees it as everyone against him, but he doesn't realize that had anyone else been taking center-stage like that, Paulie would have been doing the same thing. Paulie offered the olive branch when he ordered Chris the club soda. Chris is right; they don't respect his not drinking, but taking the drink was the wrong decision all the way.

[Honey]

I loved Tony walking down the stairs singing Comfortably Numb.

[Marley23]

I always enjoy it when the characters repeat their failures because they don't understand them. Here, we had Chris complaining about giving Adriana up for the mob- and then giving up his sobriety for the mob.

[Smitty]

I think Chris is going to flip. Here's why:

Years ago, I read an article about the Sopranos that quoted a Fed who said something to the effect that the writers obviously had inside information on the mob. The things on the show were just too accurate. They must have someone acting at the very least as a "consultant" who had mob ties. I immediately thought of Chris and his writing aspirations. I just sort of assumed that there was a mob guy working with the writers, and that the character of Chris was based on him.

If that is true (and it is only wild speculation on my part, to be sure), then I could see Chris flipping and using his insider's knowledge as a way to earn in the "straight" world.

[DoctorJ]

And when Tony was pushing A.J. out of the house, he was pushing him right into that. Even though he always said he didn't want that for A.J.He says that, but does he really mean it? I think he'd rather see AJ as a successful civilian, but he'd rather see him mobbed up than a loser who won't move out of his house. I think there's a part of him that would rather see him in the family business than anything, especially since Chrissy has flaked out.

I think AJ's future is a lot more short-term than that. AJ in the real world (especially the criminal underground) is like a house cat dropped in the middle of the jungle--he just doesn't have any semblance of the skills he needs to survive.

You have to love Christopher's harping about how no one respects him, and how he's done so much and gotten so little in return. How many times now has Chris done something that should have sent him to the meat saw at Satriale's, only to be saved by Tony's soft spot for him? There were plenty of shenanigans early on, his drug problems, his various relapses, and his freakout when he thought Tony and Adriana had gotten it on, to name a few. I'm sure a lot of lesser guys wouldn't have lasted long after letting their girlfriends be FBI informants for a few years, even if they didn't know anything about it.

It doesn't excuse the way everybody has been an asshole about his recovery. Still, he's the last person in the world who needs to be whining about not getting what he deserves. He's damn lucky Tony hasn't given him what he deserves.

Prediction, from nowhere--the FBI acts on Tony's information and picks up the Middle Eastern guys, and it gets back to Chris. That would have to hurt. It also might put Chris in contact with the FBI, and given his impulsiveness he'd probably sign up for WPP on the spot.

I love the way Paulie's nephew has a little white wing in his hair.

[BlackKnight]

They must have someone acting at the very least as a "consultant" who had mob ties.
I know that the guy who plays Paulie was once associated with the mob way back in the day. I don't know if any of the other actors or writers have had connections.

You can read more here:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/sirico/sirico.html

[descamisado]

There was so much in last night's episode, so be patient with me since I'm still wired. I'll go slowly as I get my teeth wet trying to flout my knowledge about what was inferred by last night's episode and all that that entrailed. :D

1) There were a lot of money envelopes changing hands last night. Seems like the family is making a lot a money and even Tony seems to be back on an even keel (no mention of the gambling problem).

T's giving any information to the Feds came out of left field, but I think it was only there to show how vulnerable he still feels, given everything (and everybody) around him seems to be falling apart. And I think T does still have it in his mind that A.J. might go to college. Note his comment to Carmela that going to the titty bar (natch) might be the way back, to normalcy and to college.

2) Overall, the episode left a lot of characters in a more sympathethic light.

(a) Tony, good decisions and bad, seems to truly be troubled by how his genes and parental guidance have affected A.J. His anguish was quite palpable in the Melfi scene, and his question "Is that all there is," echoed how A.J. felt about there being nothing more that mattered.

(b) A.J., fuck-up or not, genuine or not, seemed to truly have cared about Blanca and was trying to build a life and do what he had to do (the pizza shop job) to make it happen. When it fell apart, he truly felt lost.

Additionally, it's interesting that the 2 times Tony has told A.J. the he has to do something, "no debate," it has led to a result Tony didn't/wouldn't necessarily like and something that didn't/may not turn out too well:

(i) Tony forced A.J. to go work at the construction site, which is where he met Blanca, and we now know how tragically that turned out; and

(ii) Again, forced out of the house, A.J. ends up being part of "beat-down" and gets turned on to "violence" as a "drug" -- similar to Tony. (That yellow SUV being part of the crime may portend trouble later if the victim talks.)

(c) Christopher, repeat fuck-up that he is, actually won my heart last night. He seems devoted to his wife, daughter and father-in-law and went to bat for the FIL when Paulie crossed the line (who knew there was another line you could cross when it comes to crime).

To me, if he wasn't a lifelong mobster with probably no other choices (ahem), he would be just your average working class shlub, tying to make it in this world, with his ups and downs, dreams, aspirations, failures and foibles and family loyalties, just like the rest of us. Last night shows he's really trying and, as dumb as he is, that counts for a lot. I really felt for him when he comes home, straightens up the tree, and then goes inside to his family.

And if he hasn't now done something mean to Paulie (as has been suggested), I think he actually saved himself by killing a Joe Citizen, instead of a made man, like he probably wanted to. He was carefully not to touch anything on his way out of J.T.'s apartment and, unless his fingerprints are still on the Humanitas writing award, he may get away with it (T and Co. would definitely figure it out though).

And the moment of "normalcy" with the family around the table at the end was priceless.

[Hippy Hollow]

I think Chris is going to flip.
There's no way that Chrissy will survive to even do that.

Chris is dumb enough to go to the feds that Tony sees at Satriale's. That won't be a secret very long, and he has burned bridges with everybody. The only reason that Chris is even alive is because of Tony, as DoctorJ noted upthread. The Adriana thing was completely his fault - he was careless and drugged up the entire time. And now he's wreaking havoc within the family. As fucked up as what Paulie's nephew was doing with the boosted power tools, he totally overreacted. As Tony pointed out, he needed to have a sit down and dealt with it that way instead.

The JT murder is pretty significant. He wasn't a nobody. He was a moderately successful writer, is clearly linked to Chris professionally and personally, and the girlfriend knows that he's kicked his ass before. They're coming after him, and Tony is pretty good at reading Chris. He knows that he would love to get out of the life, and he knows that he has dirt on all of the family. So he'll have to take him out, either directly or indirectly, and that will make Tony want to leave in some way... but I don't think he can, either. Tony would never flip. His ego is too huge, and he cares too much about the Soprano name. He knows that exposing AJ to the thug-lite college boys will probably lead him down the path, but his ego couldn't accept that his son was acting like a wuss.

The last scene of the episode was awesome. Because that will be the last peaceful scene in the Soprano family, methinks. If something happens to Christopher, Carmela is going to freak the fuck out, and she's gonna know that Tony was connected (just like how she is fighting on a daily basis to find a way to believe that Adriana "ran away."). AJ's becoming a small-time hood. Meadow will get selectively preachy, while ignoring the fact that all she has is because of her dad's illegal activities. The other family, of course, is going to explode starting now.

[Hippy Hollow]

(c) Christopher, repeat fuck-up that he is, actually won my heart last night. He seems devoted to his wife, daughter and father-in-law and went to bat for the FIL when Paulie crossed the line (who knew there was another line you could cross when it comes to crime).

To me, if he wasn't a lifelong mobster with probably no other choices (ahem), he would be just your average working class shlub, tying to make it in this world, with his ups and downs, dreams, aspirations, failures and foibles and family loyalties, just like the rest of us. Last night shows he's really trying and, as dumb as he is, that counts for a lot. I really felt for him when he comes home, straightens up the tree, and then goes inside to his family.

And if he hasn't now done something mean to Paulie (as has been suggested), I think he actually saved himself by killing a Joe Citizen, instead of a made man, like he probably wanted to. He was carefully not to touch anything on his way out of J.T.'s apartment and, unless his fingerprints are still on the Humanitas writing award, he may get away with it (T and Co. would definitely figure it out though).

And the moment of "normalcy" with the family around the table at the end was priceless.
Wow. I think I hate Christopher more than ever now. He treated Adriana like shit when she was alive, and basically pushed her into the Feds' arms. But his ego is so huge, he leaked some much stuff to her to hang the family with. Adriana's cooperation is probably going to come into play here at some point. He puts the family at risk for his own ego (Cleaver) and pisses off the people who cover his ass. And I don't buy the new family bit at all. Granted, we haven't seen much of Kelly and the kid, but I think he just walked into a relationship because it was needed for appearances. Hell, he had been with Adriana for years, and after basically killing her, he's with another chick less than a year or so later? His anger, IMO, was more about the disrespect to him than the disrespect and concern for his father-in-law, wife, etc.

The JT murder was actually much worse, IMO, than if he had killed Little Paulie. If it was in the family, it could be easily contained. Not that it would be pretty, but I don't think law enforcement would go all out trying to solve that murder. JT lives in an apartment/condo... I'm sure others heard the argument. I'll have to watch again, but he might have left evidence in the apartment. We heard him knocking, but did he touch the door? Fibers from the carpet, shoeprints. He also kept the gun... and I'm betting he's not smart enough to toss it right away. Chances are that JT's apartment has cameras and there's at least some evidence of him coming in or out of there when the murder took place. And because JT wasn't some vagrant or druggie, the cops are going to really want to solve this murder.

[descamisado]

Wow. I think I hate Christopher more than ever now. He treated Adriana like shit when she was alive, and basically pushed her into the Feds' arms. But his ego is so huge, he leaked some much stuff to her to hang the family with. Adriana's cooperation is probably going to come into play here at some point. He puts the family at risk for his own ego (Cleaver) and pisses off the people who cover his ass. And I don't buy the new family bit at all. Granted, we haven't seen much of Kelly and the kid, but I think he just walked into a relationship because it was needed for appearances. Hell, he had been with Adriana for years, and after basically killing her, he's with another chick less than a year or so later? His anger, IMO, was more about the disrespect to him than the disrespect and concern for his father-in-law, wife, etc.

The JT murder was actually much worse, IMO, than if he had killed Little Paulie. If it was in the family, it could be easily contained. Not that it would be pretty, but I don't think law enforcement would go all out trying to solve that murder. JT lives in an apartment/condo... I'm sure others heard the argument. I'll have to watch again, but he might have left evidence in the apartment. We heard him knocking, but did he touch the door? Fibers from the carpet, shoeprints. He also kept the gun... and I'm betting he's not smart enough to toss it right away. Chances are that JT's apartment has cameras and there's at least some evidence of him coming in or out of there when the murder took place. And because JT wasn't some vagrant or druggie, the cops are going to really want to solve this murder.Everything you've said in this thread may be 100% correct; my post was just what I implied from the show. ;)

[Hippy Hollow]

Everything you've said in this thread may be 100% correct; my post was just what I implied from the show. ;)
Oh yeah. I'm pulling this out of my ass as well! ;)

I think there is a point about feeling sorry for Christopher, and if I didn't know his backstory I suppose I would feel bad for him.

Two things come to mind: first, the name of the show is "The Sopranos." When I first heard the title I thought it was a show about operas. Soprano is an odd name, jarring, because it is so closely associated with... singing. Sopranos sing. Hmmm.

The other thing was the scene with Christopher straightening up the tree. There's some kind of foreshadowing going on there. The yard was destroyed by someone in the family. Chris manages to resuscitate one tree, which remains standing, even though the entire yard outside of that tree is wrecked. It speaks to his general attitude about life and might be a clue about how this whole thing ends...

[D_Odds]

Fortunately for him, Moltisanti doesn't have to worry about Gary Sinise and the rest of the CSI team. As for Christopher being in the apartment, he's been there before, plus he has reason to return there and speak with J.T. Moltisanti's lawyers wouldn't let this get too far, assuming that they come back to this in the next 4 episodes. I see The Sopranos fans constantly prognosticating as if this were a network drama, and everything ties together and brought up in future episodes. I'd give it about a 75% chance that this killing (and Bobby's) doesn't get much more than a mention in the final 4 episodes. This story is much, much more character-driven, and much less event-driven, so much that many events are left to stand on their own by how they affect the character, as opposed to driving the story itself.

[Trunk]

FWIW, I also think that killing this guy might turn into something bigger and crucial, instead of being left hanging.

They made a point that the guy was writing on a tight deadline for a big show. This is going to be found out quickly, and be a high profile murder case. And, lots of people know the guy knew a mobster. Yet, if they leave it hanging, I won't be surprised.

Note, Chris did wipe down at least the doorknob when he left. . .with his sleeve.

One thing is certain though. . .we won't see Tony singing AND AJ going into the family.

[descamisado]

Fortunately for him, Moltisanti doesn't have to worry about Gary Sinise and the rest of the CSI team. As for Christopher being in the apartment, he's been there before, plus he has reason to return there and speak with J.T. Moltisanti's lawyers wouldn't let this get too far, assuming that they come back to this in the next 4 episodes. I see The Sopranos fans constantly prognosticating as if this were a network drama, and everything ties together and brought up in future episodes. I'd give it about a 75% chance that this killing (and Bobby's) doesn't get much more than a mention in the final 4 episodes. This story is much, much more character-driven, and much less event-driven, so much that many events are left to stand on their own by how they affect the character, as opposed to driving the story itself.I agree with most of this, which is what led me away from that the murder will be significant to the ending. However, if Chrissie manages to return to the apartment and speak with J.T. after last night's episode, I really gotta see that one!

[Marley23]

We heard him knocking, but did he touch the door?
Well, JT didn't let him out...

D_Odds makes some good points. Russian Interior Decorator aside, I do think that Chris doesn't always get so lucky at leaving his past behind him. I would be shocked if Adriana's murder doesn't get brought up some more.

[DoctorJ]

Does anyone think Meadow's mystery date will turn out to be someone interesting? Didn't they (briefly) show her cuddling up with someone in the preview?

[descamisado]

Well, JT didn't let him out...No, but Chistopher took pains so that his fingerprints would not be on the knob (I'm not sure if he wiped it or used something over it when he left). But, like someone else said, he's been to the apartment before and I have a feeling that, if J.T.'s murder becomes a significant issue, the writing award Chrissie beaned J.T. with in another episode might have the incriminating fingerprint(s).

[Joey P]

A thought jumped into my head a while ago and I keep going back to it.
What if Carmella flips?
I keep envisioning a slow motion montage of Carmella talking to the Feds and then her and the kids being driving to the other ends of the world (really, they'd need to leave the country) intermingled with Tony and crew being cuffed and hauled out with a look on their face of "This time it's for real" and knowing it was Carmella and the kids that sold him out.

[Marley23]

What if Carmella flips?
That's just about the one thing I can't imagine. They've put so much effort into establishing her materialism and her complicity in Tony's crimes that it would probably feel like a big cheat. Just this season, she's been worried a bunch of times about what would happen if he was gone. Even if she found out about Adriana, I think she would stick around. She might end up a big-time alcoholic, but walk away from that life?

[Joey P]

That's just about the one thing I can't imagine. They've put so much effort into establishing her materialism and her complicity in Tony's crimes that it would probably feel like a big cheat. Just this season, she's been worried a bunch of times about what would happen if he was gone. Even if she found out about Adriana, I think she would stick around. She might end up a big-time alcoholic, but walk away from that life?
See I wasn't sure about that either. I just rewatched Season 1 again, and she is constantly feels guilty about what her husband does, or rather feeling guilty for getting everything she wanted via illegal means. Of course she was also hanging around with Father Phil alot too.
I don't think she'll go down with Tony. I can see her talking before going to jail (she does posses a lot of known hot items and items purchased with illegal money).
I don't think she'd feel like a big cheat, you said it yourself, she's materialistic, she'll do what she can to make sure her life stays nice. She'll soften up as soon as the feds start showing her pictures of Tony actually doing illegal things, and sleeping with lots of other women (she says she's okay with it, but she'd not at all).
I think she WOULD flip, but I don't think it'll be offered to her. But we'll see.

[aliquot]

Does anyone think Meadow's mystery date will turn out to be someone interesting? Didn't they (briefly) show her cuddling up with someone in the preview?
I was thinking (OK, hoping, really) that her mystery date is a woman.

[Marley23]

See I wasn't sure about that either. I just rewatched Season 1 again, and she is constantly feels guilty about what her husband does, or rather feeling guilty for getting everything she wanted via illegal means.
True. Over the years, though, I think they've showed her selling out on that. There are things that upset her, but she's willing to look the other way on almost anything these days. She's given Tony advice about business once or twice and didn't complain when he bent the law to get her spec house built.
I don't think she'd feel like a big cheat, you said it yourself, she's materialistic, she'll do what she can to make sure her life stays nice.
Right, but I don't see how that would happen if she ratted Tony out. By choice and design, she probably doesn't know anything the FBI would want to know, and she wouldn't end up nearly this rich and comfortable if she went into Witness Protection.

[Hippy Hollow]

A thought jumped into my head a while ago and I keep going back to it.
What if Carmella flips?
I keep envisioning a slow motion montage of Carmella talking to the Feds and then her and the kids being driving to the other ends of the world (really, they'd need to leave the country) intermingled with Tony and crew being cuffed and hauled out with a look on their face of "This time it's for real" and knowing it was Carmella and the kids that sold him out.
No way. Carmela and Tony are smart enough to keep their conversations away from the business for the most part. She wouldn't have anything of value to give to the Feds, because she didn't want to know, and Tony hasn't told her. She doesn't even know specifically what happened to Pussy, Ralphie, Adriana, etc.

I don't think the Feds would think twice about even making her an offer. Those FBI guys who are tailing Tony probably know more (and suspect more) than Carmela does.

I also think Carmela is a little on the naive side. Look at her reaction when Tony was busted a few epis back. She was going on as if he was some poor CPA looped into some IRS sting. And I think that's how she views Tony. He's honorable, sure he's involved with bad guys, but he doesn't do anything too out there. Maybe a few fights and tough words. I think she knows how the Barone stuff works, but obviously not about the hijacked trucks, power tools, and that kind of stuff. Partly because she doesn't want to know, and partly because it's not the sort of thing that Tony says anything about.

Meadow's more or less the same way, but she is smarter than her mom. I see an existentialist crisis in her future.

[Trunk]

Carmela "flip"?

maybe. . .well. . .except for that "not being in the mob" part. What is she going to do, show the feds the espresso machine that Paulie bought her?

[Philster]

Mob things to remember while you formulate you predictions:

Often it is just some pissant that brings down a family -- Some mechanic, non-Capitan, OR someone like Bobby.

Mob bosses or those close to the boss have been known to lose an immediate family member along the way.

When someone talks, violence will actually escalate.

[What the .... ?!?!]

I was going to mention that I did see him, but his hair looked compleatly grey. (It might not have been him)

Paulie was in the previews of next week's episode.

[deadeyesdad]

Does anyone think Meadow's mystery date will turn out to be someone interesting? Didn't they (briefly) show her cuddling up with someone in the preview?

I just checked that scene out in slo-mo and the guy in the bed is Tony the girl looks like it could be Meadow but Tony was not her mystery date as he was at the Bing. I don't think they will go down that alley anyways. Both still are clothed and the girl is holding something in her left hand. I feel like I should know the lady but I can't place her right now. It is weird because she looks totally like Meadow but unless Tony is dead I can't figure out how she would be like that with him. The next scene in the preview has Tony in the same shirt telling someone(PHIL)"You got everthing you want".

What a sorry Tuesday I am having to do this