Easily the most shocking episode since Ralph beat one of Tony’s strippers to death.
Based on what happened this week and the previews for next week, it looks like things are definitely coming to a head of some kind, perhaps setting up some epic mob war to monopolize the show’s fifth (and last) season. It may be between the NY and NJ families, or possibly a civil war in the Soprano family, with Ralphie’s death being a catalyst.
Needless to say, I never saw ANY of that coming. Wow.
No kidding. I mean, there were so many right reasons to kill Ralph, so it was very odd to see him whacked for a completely wrong one.
By far the best ep this season… and one of the best eps of all time.
I’m pretty stunned they killed such a powerful earner (and key character in the show), but then again they offed Big Pussy really early in the series.
I was screaming at the television! I couldn’t beleive Tony killed Ralphie! Did Ralphie set the fire? At first I thought Paulie set it. Hubby says it was Ralphie for retaliation over Tony ‘stealing’ his girlfriend.
Either way, I was completely shocked. Ralph was Tony’s biggest earner!
I think we’re seeing Tony in a downward spiral. He beat the shit out of the councilman, and now murdered Ralphie in a similar fit of rage… I don’t know where it’ll all end up.
I’ll miss Ralphie though. He was such a scumbag, but his was a great character who was always interesting to watch.
Out of interest how many weeks separate the councilman episode and this one?
The councilman episode was last week here and I do not want to miss this one.
Cheers
Yeah, a real shocker! Fantastic episode!
I can’t believe they showed Ralphie’s decapitated head! :eek:
Anyone else think that Christopher suspects Tony killed Ralphie?
I saw the actor who portrays Ralphie on Conan and he claimed he was not going to be wacked. Meanwhile I missed it last night. I can’t wait to see the replay.
I’m sure Chris knows. He’s stupid, but he’s no moron. And it was a nice oddball touch, making Ralphie bald. hahaha
I’ve always hated Ralph, but the worst thing about Tony killing him is that Joe Pantoliano is gone from the show now. That guy is a really good actor and I like him in everything I’ve seen him in.
Christopher might have been too wasted to figure out anything right away. He might just be thinking Paulie made good on his promise to kill Ralph for the phone call Ralph made to Paulie’s mother.
I’m just glad Ralph finally got what was coming to him. I’ve been waiting for this ever since he killed Tracy.
I disliked Ralphie’s character but will miss him now that he’s no longer on the show. He was a mobster, no doubt, but he wasn’t your run-of-the-mill mobster. His, er, idiosyncrasies were very entertaining.
Who will take over for Ralphie? I submit there’s no one in Tony’s crew competent enough to replace him as a capo.
I was really getting cranky about this season because the show has been sucking big time!
but last night made up for it! Best episode yet!
I assumed Christopher would take over. Tony’s been giving him more responsibility lately and he’s already served as acting capo while Paulie was in Jail. Of course, now that Tony knows about Chris’ drug use, he might be hesitant to bump him.
Two of Ralphie’s crew was there when Ralphie figured out who told Johnny Sack about his fat joke, and were there when he placed his vengeful phone call to Paulie’s mother. Plenty of people know that Paulie was pretty damned upset about that phone call.
Ergo: anyone wanna bet that Ralphie’s “disappearance” gets pinned on Paulie Walnuts?
Another question: did Ralphie actually set the fire? Or did he just not care? Paulie mighta killed Ralphie’s horse over the phone call.
Yet another question: is this the season’s “big hit”? Kinda early, dontcha think?
If Tony makes Christopher capo of Ralphie’s crew, knowing that he’s a (damn near) junkie, I’ll be so pissed.
I originally thought Paulie was the fire-setter. I think Johnny Sack is the one who will get the blame, not Paulie, as Christopher knows that Paulie couldn’t have done it.
I also think Carmella/Furio hook-up in the season finale (or, if I’m wrong and they do it sooner, Tony finds out in the season finale).
Does it matter that Chris knows Paulie couldn’t have done it? Keeping his mouth shut would be the ultimate test of his loyalty to Tony.
That would make Furio dead in the season opener? 
Welllllllll…here’s what I posted in my thread…:::taps fingers:::
This was the most intense episode I’ve seen in a long time. That beats both Pine Barrens and the one where Melfi is raped. I said to Mr. Rilch, “This first ten minutes has been one :eek: after another…I wonder if they’re going to keep up the pace.”
They did.
Friend has a friend named Dylan who often spoils shows like Sopranos and 24 for him. If Friend comes bopping in here tomorrow (I know he didn’t see this episode because he was doing something else tonight) and says, “Oh yeah, Dylan told me blah and blah and blahdeblah,” I will say, “You tell Dylan that if he ruins another Sopranos before we get to show it to you, his head is going into a bowling bag.”
Regarding the episode:
Paulie was totally right. I mean, it’s really not his fault for repeating what Ralph said; Ralph’s the one who said it. And there is a line in the sand when it comes to mothers. They don’t count any less than kids. And didn’t you love when he said “Yes” in reply to Tony’s question “Is that understood?” and his voice was totally different? Like he had to reach way down to find it in him to say that.
And he’s also right about the “thousand other things” Paulie has done. He killed a stripper, for crissake! And the funny thing is, Paulie said that before Ralph killed the horse, or before anyone even knew about the fire. So Tony found his own line in the sand. He really loved that horse :(. (And to those who are wondering, Ralph did set the fire. He admitted it; it was an insurance scam. To him, the horse was only an investment, so he decided to cash in early.)
People on another board have been speculating, and I tend to agree, that Tony’s eyesight is going to suffer. Look at that last shot: that could indicate his sudden, extreme sensitivity to light. And wasn’t he kind of stumbling around in the dimly lit Bing?
I thought for sure that the burial was only being dragged out so long for the sake of having a cop or a passerby observe them. I guess there was another purpose, like Tony’s intervention with Christopher. I love how he couldn’t even work the steam shovel, which he would know how to do if he’d had active jobs instead of no-shows! And that shot of Tony working the levers with a cigar in his mouth was priceless.
I can also sympathize with Uncle Junior. Sure, it might work, but then he’d have to keep the act up for the rest of his life. It might even get him committed…wouldn’t that be a kick in the tuchus.
“Welcome back to Vital Social Issues, with Christopher Moltosanti!” He is a trip. Amazing that the comic relief has to come from a junkie.
Svetlana to Janis: “You are a boring woman.” :::applause:::
Did anyone catch the “Sympathy for the Devil” references?
Ralphie to the surgeon: Allow me to introduce myself.
Priest to Ralphie: Were you there when Jesus Christ had his moment of doubt and pain?
Also, possibly unrelated, Uncle Jun babbled to the tester lady about where he was when Kennedy was shot.
Interesting.