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Visitor Opinions: Updated Daily
I feel this show is sleeping with the fish! The first two years where great, after taking one and half years to re-write the third year to change it from a three year show to who knows how long it can be milked? Go back to the original script and I will forget-about-it.
review by Jeff.
It seems as though the majority of Sopranos comments on the web are centered on people wanting more sex and violence. Sopranos is the most intelligent show in the past 10 years, and the creators take great care in their characters. Shouldn’t we, as intelligent viewers, care more about character development (which this season has not lacked) instead of wanting to see more blood? By saying the show’s best quality is violence is to strip it of its genius.
review by Derek.
Here is what my cable viewing guide says about the Finale... "Whitecaps - Carmela & Tony consider buying a summer home on the shore; Little Paulie and Benny break in a new sound system on the Stugots." And a whitecap is a wave with foam on top. Add this description with the trailer and this is what I see: Benny & Little Paulie shoot someone in what looks like a black vehicle which could have been Christopher's Rover, but that was stolen, so that opens a lot of angles up. And maybe they take the body on the Stugots? Christopher is back, at a sitdown with NY, and Tony tells him something that "can't get out." Also Carmela finds something out, maybe that Furio didn't go home as some people were suggesting. And Paulie tries to give it like he was playing Jonny Sack. But who knows, this show is really good at twisting trailers to their liking by taking things out of context.
review by Brian.
Well, another hour of nothing-save the therapsts ever inflating thighs. No sex, no violence, no nudity, no Christopher, no Adriann, no frigging show!! Just a lot of phsyco babble that I could get better by going to my local weight watchers meeting with a cheesecake in a box-the suspense would be better and the cast would look the same. Wait,I'm sorry, there was the catapillar on the dead guy's head scenes , now what was the director purpose in -wait a minute, who cares, this show used to not force its audience to make a story out of nothing it, it, like Tony ,grabbed you by the balls and said "watch this motherf****r if you you have the guts, forget about it, get in the friggin' car, we're going for a ride".Now, half way through the season, I feel like I'm still standing on the corner, waiting for the bus, where the hell is my ride? Did the show die with Big Pussy? If so, how's about he comes back from the dead, along with Tony's mom and-o well, fugedaboutit.Cioa.
review by David.
The man named Christopher Columbus was an evil guy who murdered indians and his spainard compadres were evil pirates. Dude this was a long long time ago, who cares if italian americans want to praise this guy on the sopranos show or the sopranos show depicts it in this way or if he was born in italy and landed in europe or whatever language he spoke. Obviously it was latin where spain and italy speak latin. Remember, this was in 1490 something, dialects have changed dramatically. I agree with this shows rating of 5.5 but I'm sure it's going be an interesting ending.
review by Jason.
Episode 50 should have gotten a 2 or 3 for a rating. The worst episode in the 4 year show. A complete "filler" episode. Maybe shorten season to 10 episodes instead of 13 to keep from other "filler" crap episodes.
review by Hacks.
ok, im really sick and tired of people saying how much they hate this season. first of all people HAVE to realize that if all that they are looking for is violence and sex then they have come to the wrong place because this is actually a very intelligent show. people have to look past the action to see the deeper themes hidden within. what we are seeing is an evolution and i agree with the one person who said that you have to look at the season as a whole to get the most out of it. and as for the people who say that everything is incoherent and dijointed WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? this season is absolutley no differerent from past seasons. The only difference this season may have with other seasons is that there may not be as much violence. but what does that matter anyway? if anything i think this season is probably the most coherent and interseting of them all. look at what is at play here. first of all you have junior's trial which is actually what the whole season is revolving around indirectly. everything that happens, including tony and christopher's relationship and ralphie's death, has ties to this trial. meanwhile, you throw in christopher's drug problem which has been building up for the longest time. tony had so much hope for christopher and wanted him to be the one to carry the family into the 21st century. imagine how hurt he was when he found out? not only was tony trying to make the relationship closer to make sure he was looked out after if he ever went to prison but christopher was one of the only people tony has ever trusted and now this is destroyed. let's also not mention the tension building up between tony's crew and johnny sack's. johnny sack is playing paulie so badly. paulie doesn't even see what's going on because his jealousy and anger is preventing him from doing so. and with the upcoming feud between the families (which is going to be undoubetdly cool and unique) paulie's part is going to be very critical. ummmmmmmm....what is else is interesting. oh yeah, adriana working for the feds? this couldnt have come at a worse time. the feud, the trial, ralphie's death, chritopher's drug problem? all of these things are very delicate issues...issues that are going to have dangerous repurcussions. its actually kinda sad how tragic it all is for her. ralphie's death was a great shocker. that episode made ralphie to look like a good guy and tony as bad guy. i dont even think ralphie burnt down the stable. tony is acting on pure impulse and its not getting him anywhere. in fact, there was a foreshadowing in the episode where he beats the assemblyman with a belt out of the clear blue. dont u see what i mean when i say LOOK AT THE SEASON AS A WHOLE? look for these little things and see what its all comign down to. every little thing that has happened in this season is very important if only you looked a tiny bit deeper. furio and carmela's relationship is what i think will be the nail in the coffin. i believe that this storyline is going to be the most important in the end because i think whatever happens with this is going to be what ties the whole season to a close. the only boring thing about this season is janice's relationship to bobby but every season is going to have somethign that you don't like. so just suck it up and dont be so critical. start being intelligent and look deeper. its there. the writers havent lost their touch, i think the fans have. all the fans want to see is violence and mafia cliches. they dont care about things such as themes and meanings. its so dissapointing. my predictions? i think that tony and his crew will actually beat the new york crew because a feud is inevitable. i think paulie is going to die. i think furio and carmela will hook up and this will cause alot of problems. i think the russian will come back. as for the whole adriana and chris thing, who knows? until we find out everything just quit your whining and enjoy the fact that the show is still existing.
review by N/A.
I don't think the season has been bad or uninteresting but a few episodes have lacked excitement. First of all, in regards to who will get killed off i believe Paulie will. I think furio and carmela may kiss but carmela is not stupid enough to sleep with him. If furio was to get killed off as well as paulie who does that leave? Tony as boss, chris as underboss and silvio as consiglieri, the other characters(vito, patsy etc) arent strong enough to play a bigger part. I think maybe some new characters will be introduced as the soprano crew is beginning to look a little weak. There is surely no way tony will introduce AJ as many times he has said hes scared his son will follow in his footsteps and he doesnt want that life for him. I dont reckon adriana will get found out before the end of the season but i hope chris does end up killing her.
review by James.
This is for the people who think the Soprano's "suck". Where do you get a say in it? If you don't like the show, don't watch it, and if you don't, then please do not criticize those who do. Personally, I love this show, because it goes in depth with a modern day mob boss and his family's shortcomings and what he does to deal with it. The sex and violence is excessive, yes, but think about how mafia work. They don't sit down and try to discuss their problems with hot cocoa and big smiles, they resort to violence and self-gratifying actions. It's a screwed up way of living, sure, but isn't everyday life as it is? As for a show, I think it was a brilliant idea, very creative and inspired. I mean, a deeper look at mafia life? How smart was that? I'd like to see someone else come up with something better. The sex and violence is just a part of call that. It comes with it, like sappy music and cookies are for "tradit! ional" family sitcoms. It may not sit right with some people, but that's why it's on a paid channel and no one is making you watch it.
review by AW.
I agree that this season's episodes seem disjointed but this is done with a purpose. There are so many characters on this show that it's hard to develop a meaningful plotlines for all of them that intertwines with those of other characters. Hey it sucks that we haven't seen Meadow in a while but she's unneeded this year. Her whole purpose was to relate to Jackie and now that she's moved on, there is no need to keep her around. The disjointed plots serve to focus on as much as possible while still relating back to Tony. And that's what the series is about. And I don't think Furio will die this season... we need something to look forward to :) And I hope we see NJ vs. NY eventually.
review by Manny.
Alright the guy who wrote that review Jason Rodriguez, is a blithering idiot. Columbus was from Genoa. When Genoa and Venice refused to finance his voyage, he went to Portugal, when they refused, he went to Spain, where, for his achievements he was granted citizenship and office as governor of Spanish America. Anyone who doesn't know this should try reading a fu--in' book sometime. There are even many theories that Columbus was a Sephardic Italian Jew, though that has not been proven.
Someone ought to punch the idiot who made the complaint about Hispanic racism. I'm Jewish and Paulie was calling Zelman and Hesh Christ-killers. So if we Jews didnt complain about something that horrible that has been the reason that millions of Jews have been prosecuted throughout history and is potentially dangerous, this loser has no right to complain about some people accusing Puerto Ricans of causing street crime, whether or not it is true.
On another note, the first four episodes of this season were incredible, but then it went downhill until the episode where Ralph was killed, things are lookin' good for the rest of this season.
review by Douglas.
I think the last episode with Paulie and the painting of Tony & Pie-O-My revealed a lot more than it showed. At first Paulie was "honored" to have it on his wall and then all of a sudden he couldn't stand looking at the picture of Tony, like he was guilty about something.... That seems to me like a foreshadow that Paulie may have flipped. --- Christopher bringing up the Russian makes me think that the Pine Barrens angle is not over with just yet ---- Here's my view of things to come: Christopher gets taken out, maybe because he is flipped at rehab (the feds did send the brochures, so maybe they have access) or the Russian gets to him. AJ gets Devin pregnant, and Tony still wanting to rely only on blood, introduces AJ to the business.
review by Brian.
In response to the viewer who was upset about the portrayal of Puerto Ricans in Episode 49, I have to wonder why he wasn't upset with the last 3.75 episodes that have portrayed Italians as cold-blooded murderers and criminals? Sure it is fine when Sicilians are so constantly depicted in the movies as mafiosos that if you tell anyone that you are Sicilian the first word that comes out of their mouth in "Mafia". I mean lets be realistic, Mafia movies are one of the most popular genres yet they are virtually non-existent in real life.
That said, even as a half-Sicilian I love the Sopranos and feel it is the best show on television ever. While I agree with most of the rumbling from fans about this season, I feel that Episode 49 was one of the best episodes yet. It had everything we love about the sopranos drama, intelligence, and dark humor. The intervention scene was a masterpiece both shocking with Christopher own mother urging his associates to beat him and at the same time amusing as everyone was constantly reminded of being non-confrontational. As if I was not already excited about the rest of the season, this episode brilliantly set up what will undoubtedly be an exciting last few episodes.
review by Adrian.
Well, the end of Season 4 is soon coming and I think that the killing of Ralphie was a sign that this will not be the last big shock of the season. When I watched it last week I was just shocked, while at the same time I was cheering for Tony during his fight to the death. That was just awesome! One of the other fans mentioned Christopher may end up killing Adrianna. This is a definite possibility. That would be a total shocker if there ever was one. And if you know the Soprano crew, they don’t like having witnesses lying around to tell the story. Besides that, my other prediction for the grand finale is that yes…Furio and Carmella will likely do the “hippidy-dippidy” and Tony will find out on the last episode. Since we now know that Tony is now a cold-blooded gangster, he may take it as a personal insult against his family…the “other family”, for messing around with another man’s wife. So, Furio may get whacked. But damn, I really like the idea of Adrianna getting whacked by Christopher for being a rat. It works on so many levels. For the most part, I think that it would develop Christopher as more than just a made man, and more like Tony’s other half. Only time will tell!!!
review by Chris.
I am not all that disappointed with this season like most the people on this site. The dialogue is still really well written. I do think David Chase is aware of what people are saying and that we are headed for a explosion for the end of the season. I kinda think Ralphie dying was pure shock value. I never saw that coming, but I bet we see alot more.
Here are some theories I have.
1. I think Furio and Carm will wind up sleeping together. Wheather or not Tony finds out who knows.
2. I think that blonde FBI agent that took over for Ciccerone is going to tell Tony about Adriana and on the finale Chris kills her.
3. I think a fued will break out with The New York Families.
4. Patsy Parisi is bound to get arrested soon. He may rat.
5. Junior will beat The Rico
6. I think Tony will make Chris Capo of Ralphies crew to ease the tentions.
7. Oh I alsohink Paulie or Johnny Sack did the horse stables fire.
review by Timothy.
I personally believe it is too soon to pass judgment on the fourth season of the Sopranos. It is difficult to judge any one episode as the measuring stick on whether or not the season is good. Sure, there are some episodes which are more interesting than others, but the beauty of the Sopranos is that in tv terms they take their time to develop storylines and characters and it may take one, two or five episodes or even a whole season in retrospect to really know where they are going with someone or something. Many times throughout the show's history they have opened a storyline and then have dropped it, perhaps for a better direction or perhaps to go back to it later and that only adds to rhe realism of the show. Life is never tied up in a nice neat little package and if the powers that be behind the Sopranos want to keep the show on a realistic footing, they won't do it either.
review by Dana.
Tony Soprano was my hero. This is not just an expression. I seriously wanted to pattern my life off of his. He is the epitome of tough but fair. He's a great leader, a loving father and husband, and an excellent business man. Take away the fact that he cheats on his wife, and he is my ultimate role model. But after what he did last week, everything changed. It wasn't just the fact that Tony killed Ralphie. If he had just killed Ralphie, I would be fine with it. But it was the way he killed Ralphie and the reason he killed Ralphie and when he killed Ralphie that is killing me. I can't tell if my perception of Tony Soprano is different from everyone else's, or if David Chase and the writers are trying to villianize him. The Tony Soprano I know and love, the Tony Soprano from the first three seasons would not have done what this Tony Soprano did. Look at the hits that Tony has been involved in, it has always been extremely justified and Tony has never lost his head. The scene last week just made Tony look like a cold-blooded psycho. Don't get me wrong, Ralphie did deserve to die, but why now? Why right after Ralphie finally looks like he's going to turn over a new leaf? If Tony had killed him right after the stripper incident, I would have been cheering Tony on. But over a horse? Come on. I try to tell myself that it actually was about the stripper and Pie-O-My was just that last straw. But if that is the case, then the show did a horrible job of conveying it. If they had shown Tony thinking about that night and dwelling on it, then I could see him doing this. But there was never any indication that Tony was hung up on it. And the way he killed Ralphie. It has to take a lot to choke the life out of someone, to literally watch the life drain out of someone's face. Tony has never committed an act that cold-blooded, except for the college episode where he strangles the rat, but that was understandable. I'm still a huge fan and will always look forward to Sunday nights, but I am really hoping that future episodes will shed some light on why Tony committed such a terrible act and maybe we'll find out that Ralphie really did kill the horse. But until then I will be heartbroken and I willnot look at Tony the same.
review by Patrick
I really love The Sopranos and I am not usually a fan of gangster movies or shows. Now I've seen 3.75 seasons' worth of episodes and I think this year is just as good as the other three, if dark and brooding. What do you expect when the Soprano world revolves around a character like Tony, a multi-faceted, doomed, intelligent everyman born on the wrong side of the law? He reminds me of the gangster figure in Joseph von Sternberg's Underworld (silent, out-of-print) who lifts a small cat out of a window during a shootout with the police so the animal won't get hurt. Tony is a mixture of brutal, if usually controlled, power, as well as tenderness. Ralphie was a volatile psycho. Anyone who would beat a pregnant young stripper to death and shrug it off, then burn a beautiful horse alive . . . well . . . society does not let civilized individuals like ourselves contemplate vengeance, even for the innocent and helpless. However, I must admit some vicarious pleasure at seeing Ralphie "whacked," even if I found the details of getting rid of his body all too realistic and repulsive. This show touches a primal vein. Ashamed of myself in Chicago?
review by N/A
I AM SO UPSET ON THE RECENT SHOW WHICH AIRED ON NOVEMBER 17 WHEN SOME SPANICH GUYS ROBBED CHRISTOPHER AND HIS GIRL FRIND SAID THEY WERE PUERTO RICANS. WHY DID YOU HAVE TO SAY THEY WERE PUERTO RICANS?COULD YOU NOT HAVE SAID THEY WERE SPANISH? I AM A RECENT FAN BUT I DON KNOW ANYMORE IF I WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH YOUR SHOW. I THINK AN APOLOGY WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. SIGNED NOT SO FAN OF SOPRANOS ANYMORE...
review by Nishant.
Your episode ratings are nuts, EP 48 should have been a 10, EP 45 should've been at least a 9, that was one of the most fucked up episodes Ive ever seen, the rest are fine I guess, Rock ON!!
review by KrazyPantz.
The show seems to have fallen off a cliff this season, after last season being my favorite. It is disjoint and hard to follow. Plot threads are developed and then disappear never to return. Characters appear and disappear. We find out Ralphie has a son for the first time only for the convenience of seriously injuring him. What the heck happened to April going to Europe? Why bother with a relationship between Tony's sister and Ralphie? Just to provide a way to show that Ralphie has a kink? This is supposed to pass for character development?
Why did we spend so much time watching Tony and Christopher fool around with a backhoe? So Ralphie is dead, what does it really mean? That Tony really does like animals? Tony is angry at Artie. For what? Tony previously seemed fond of Artie and certainly did not expect Artie to be a player. I would have thought that Tony would be forgiving in a father figure role toward Artie. The Christopher/Tony roles ring much truer, but the relationship seems to jump unnaturally around from minute to minute. It is not just that the violence has been missing, for crying out loud.
The whole show this season seems like a random collection of ideas, scenes, characters. I wouldn't give any show this season more than a 4. It has simply become lame, unfocused, with nothing to say. A real shame. A waste of excellent actors. I miss it a lot.
review by Channing.
The episode Whoever Did This definitley deserved a 10, not an 8!!! So much happened in that episode! It was great Sopranos like we are used to. There was all the drama...Ralphie's kid nearly (as far as we know) died, Rosie Aprile coming to visit Ralphie in the hospital. The comedy with the prank call to Paulie's mother, Ralphie's rug, Tony on the bulldozer. And all the violence with the murder and what an incredible fight scene between Tony and Ralphie. And now Tony knows that Christopher is doing drugs. I think that the 8 rating should be changed to a 10. I understand that it's not fair to rate it as a ten just because of the previous dull episodes, but this definitely deserves a 10. I think that the only better episode is Pine Barrens...and I'm not even sure if that is number 1 anymore. I think this has to be the best Sopranos episode ever. Thanks for listening.
review by Stephanie.
Ok. People were complaining about not enough violence this season and now we see Ralph getting chopped up and we see his bleeding head being dropped into a bowling ball bag. Now I read some of the recent opinions and people still trash this season. I think this has beeen an excellent season all along. If all people want to see is people dying then i really think they got a wrong show. This show is about the characters and how they change because of events in thier life. That is what i think David Chase's intention was, not to just make a gore fest. Don't get me wrong. I like violence. But that is not the only reason i love and will always love The Sopranos.
review by Ala.
The story lone is beginning to drag. Okay Ralph finally got whacked.. He should of been a long time ago. As for the story, it jumps from scene to scene to rapidly. Lets start showing some of the corruption that's involved in Mob dealings. He's in the waste Management Business. bribes- Hookers-Gambling. These are just some of the topics the show should concentrate on. They should show one of the family boys stag. There's a scene that can bring together all the boys.. Just a thought out of my little Sicilian Mind.
review by Frank.
Now that Ralph is gone, it is very clear that Tony needs a Dog to be his best friend.
review by Holly.
I have watched the Sopranos since day one, but this season I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that the series is played out - it lacks energy and focus. The first year the dynamics between Tony/shrink - Tony/Mother - Tony/shrink/mother established the series. Now this brilliant multiple dynamic doesn't exist at all. Lorraine Bracco is a wasted talent.
The one dynamic left seems to be Carmella as she heads toward a nervous break- down. Last night episode was a four-star yawner. I mean, how many times can you kill off a psycho gangster in the middle of a season? How many more times is Corrado to play the buffoon? How many times does Tony need a bimbo in bed?
Fresh writing is needed. What happened to the nephew's girl friend getting caught?
review by VeeMac.
Aiight... I've been listening and analyzing and now this is what i think...SEASON 4: its been really quiet, they gotta step up the violence, its turnin into a days of our New Jersey lives, ive noticed all the scenes and lighting in this season seem much darker than the previous 3, u never know this could mean in the later episodes we could see alotta hits or tragedies, the russian from pine barrens needs to come back and ray curto the fuckin rat should be found out and settled...now the characters:
Full Review
The Sopranos 4th season has been great, except for the episode “Christopher”, which was tragically boring to watch. I wish the violence would pick up a tad. I like the characters of Ralphie and Johnny Saks, but at least one of them should have died in Episode 43, where the two of them had hits on eachother. If I would have picked someone, it would have had to have been Johnny, as Ralphie has a sadistic side to him, which fans seem to like. Plus its Joe Pantaliano whose playing the part, so he’s got to stay. As for where the season may end, based on the Furio and Carmela attraction, I predict Tony will find out about the affair that will likely take place and the final episode will be where Furio gets whacked. This is only speculation, but it looks like this is the way it is the way it is heading. I hope not as I like Furio…a true hitman; however someone has to go!
review by Chris.
I disagree with this past week (Episode 47 - MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS). I would have at least given it an 8. Lots of sex and a decent episode. Though they dont show the princeiple getting beat up.
review by Jim.
I remember David Chase said that the fourth season will centre more on "Tony and Camela as a couple." Remember Season one was largely about Tony and his mother, season two was Tony and his sister Janice and the third season Tony and Carmela as parents. I would assume season five will deal very directly with Tony's other "family."
review by Earl.
As a die-hard fan of Sorpanos for the past 3 seasons, I could not help be feel VERY disappointed about season 4. I'm way past the stage of denial (that would during the ep. 42-45) Now, I'm just in the angry stage where I don't understand how the geniuses who wrote this show for the past few years can botch up the 1st half of this season after taking a long 2 year break. After the 1st two episodes of season 4, its been nothing but filler episodes. Don't get me wrong, I love certain filler episodes (ie. Pine Barrens) but I feel that these eps are so disjointed. They raise many issues and don't conclude on any of them. Things are way too scattered. They made that Ralphie vs. Johnny Sac situation into such a bit deal.. and whoop.. nothing ever came of that now, did it. Lets pick up the main story here... is Silvio jealous of Chris? Is Paulie gonna side with NY? Is Furio gonna be a donky and go for his boss' wife? They better pick it up soon, not too many episodes left now.. let's all hope they redeem themselves with a good 2nd half.
review by Greg.
Eight. 10-20-02 was the sbest episode this saeason. The shows this year seem to not be as tight as past seasons. I am looking for an edge.
review by Bob.
7.5?!?!?!? What on earth man, that episode is every bit as brilliant as “Pine Barons.” I’m giving it a 9.75, I would have taken 2 points if the French guy was beaten on screen. This overly exaggerated need for violence that some of the fans who send you opinions is so-lowest common.
review by Mike.
The Sopranos is a sick disgusting show. I hope our young people aren't watching.
review by Brent.
Real life isnt a roller coaster ride of excitement and people dont have to get whacked every 5 mins for it to be a good episode. The last season finished off alot of plot lines (bar the russian who I think will come back when the time is right.) and so new ones have to develop ie Furio and Carmela, Christopher and his drug problem along with Adriana who has now been squeezed by the feds, we also have Paulie in prison and Junior on trial not to mention Gloria Trillo making another appearance. I think Bobby Baccala is going to turn into a nasty piece of work now his wife is gone and Janice has now woken him up to the fact that work must be done. I think the best of the season is going to be squeezed into the remaining 6 or 7 episodes and I for one cant wait.
review by Tyrone.
What are you writers doing to my favorite show? Tonights show, 10/20/02, was sooooo slow that I almost fell asleep. Watch the first, second and third season shows again you guys and LEARN from your success.
review by N/A
Yeah what was up with that scene where They Show Furio at the door of the french guy.. Are they gonna show him getting beaten next week or do we have to assume that he was.. Why are they not showing these violent scenes anymore??even last week too when they dragged the guy into the club...
Whats up with this?
review by Jim
I think that this season actually has the potential to be the best season ever. There is so much controversy in every show that it makes you even more eager to see the next episode. I also like this season, how they work the whole mob in the show. It shows what it actually is that Tony does and how life in the Mafia really is. I like what it is leading up to ... there is something about this season that just makes you think "What's going to happen next?" The Sopranos is bar-none the greatest show ever, and if you don't like it lately, STOP WATCHING IT!!! So for the millions and millions of us who still do love the show don't have to hear your whining about what they should do about the show. If you know what they should do, apply for a job at HBO. In closing, I feel that this show, The Sopranos, really lets you take a good look inside the Mafia and what it is really all about. The sh! iny maroon Cadillac is the image most people have of the Mafioso, but the frozen body in the trunk is the reality.
review by Chase Dixon
I was greatly impressed by the very first episode, and have watched every one since. Alas, what once was brilliant is now dull, flailing away with sensationalized incidents trying to pass for drama. Mainly, however, this once-great series fails because it's lost touch with reality. Where are the consequences of action? Why hasn't the raging Russian in the woods reappeared for revenge? Do the police give a damn that their retired Captain has been murdered (by Christopher, simply because Tony has possibly lied about the cop's killing of Chris' father)? Scene after scene we see entrances of characters who do their thing and then leave, and what ties them together is arbitrary . All you have to do is think back to earlier episodes, Tony's great monster mother hovering over everything even when she wasn't seen, the white-knuckle tension waiting for Tony's analyst to crack and give the order for him to kill her rapist. Those people were real; what they did had effects; they stank of real life. Well, it was nice while it lasted.
review by WHITSY
This years show sucks bad. You really should consider saving your time and money and just cancel it.The season last year was 100% better then this season.The writers should be fired. Words truly can't express my dissapointment.
My regrets, Mrs. McCarthy
The Sopranos is a show about the men and women who are running or are connected to the mafia and their perceptions of 21st century society. The mob is made up of criminals who in turn act like sadistic animals at times. It can't always be funny and it can't always be original because criminals can only do so many original things to earn money.
review by Dave
Why are characters being unresolved (so far)? Is Ray Turco wired or was that just product placement for Office Depot? Is Valerie the Russian dead? If so, who took Paulie's car? I can understand the female FBI actor-switch, ala the two Dick's on "Bewitched." It happens. Now there's a new FBI girl? Are they just trying to give work to as many actors as possible? And why didn't Johnny Sac get his tonight? And now Gloria's coming back??? I can envision dozens of finale scenarios: Paulie kills Tony while they're both in prison. Carmella and Furio do it. Ralphie kills Janice. A big trial where everyone is arrested, including the Councilman. But at this point I think I'd just start the "Godfather" soundtrack and clip the entire cast on Valentine's Day. I love this frickin' show!
review by DI
I'm truly enjoying every minute of the new season! I like that they showed a softer side of Tony, tonight (sun. 10/13), sitting with the sick horse. I'm sure they'll make him a cold blooded mobster again, very soon! Loved the dancing scene with Carmella and Furio! The music was fabulous! Wish I could find that tape! I was shocked to see the previews for next week, where it looks like Tony visits Gloria again! Maybe it's just a dream sequence!
review by Cheryl
As a loyal Soprano fan I've been holding back on judging the new season but it's getting really difficult to find good things to say after only 5 episodes. After each episode I think "what really happened?" and my response is "nothing". I think the writers are trying to set up a bunch of storylines but I'm getting tired of waiting for some action. The 5 episodes so far have been very choppy and scattered. One week we see Meadow several times, then the next week she isn't even mentioned. This is true of several different characters and it makes it frustrating to watch, not more compelling. I want something to happen to someone but instead it's very boring. And does anyone care about Janice and Bobby? I'm ready to stop watching but each week I think it has to get better but then I'm disappointed after I watch it. Is there any relief on the horizon?
review by Lisa A.
Everybody's in the friggin shrink's office. Enough already, bad enough Tony sees a shrink in-between the whacks. Stay the hell away from the doctor's have them go see a priest instead. If you want me to write a killer screenplay just give me the friggin word. I promise not to get to bloody. oh, yeah. What's with the dope in the show? Enough already!
review by TBRD
The “Christopher” episode was poorly written. With all due respect, Michael Imperioli should leave the writing to Chase. The fact that Bobby’s wife’s death is integrated into this episode is almost shameful. Also, the wives’ protest of the luncheon speaker’s remarks of the mafia should also have been omitted. In some ways, this posses a moral dilemma, which should not be addressed in that manner. The wives’ spiteful attitude almost makes it OK for their husbands to be into “waste management”. Of course, there are many subjects connected with this series which should not be addressed, but they are done so in a much tasteful way. Also, it’s beginning to look like this may be the last season for this series due to circumstances surrounding the crime family itself. It’s all going south, especially when you have people ratting on each other (Paulie to Sack). Maybe I’m going off an a rant here, but I love this show and strongly feel that the writers are desperately reaching for some new ideas here which only leave sour taste in your mouth. P.S. Love your site!!!
review by KBK
Come on guys, I mean it took almost 2 years to write these episodes. It's not the great show that it was before. The actors however are still superb, but the material--it could be from any show. Please upgrade the writing staff (maybe the cast should stick to acting), get back where you were before. I'll give it one more week-and than its over for me.
review by Ciao
First, I love your SITE. Not many sites anymore stay updated, Your site is always updated and cool....I miss my Gia email addy, but I'll get over it.
Second, I can see Michael Imperioli is really taking some heat for his role this year. Not only his Chris-Ta-Fa character, but his writing ability. I will have to disagree with everyone there. I think this will be Chris-ta-fa's finest year on The Sopranos. I get this strange feeling that he will take on a HUGE role in the upcoming weeks. And we will all love it!
review by Gia
You've gotta love that the actor that played 'Al Neery' from the Godfather movies was one of the old guys Chris and Sil visited in Rhode Island. Is there a connection between his appearance and the fact that Ralphie gave Tony a bag of oranges in the same episode he (and Johnny Sak) almost got clipped?
Even though ep 3 seemed like a dud, you gotta wonder if anything in the episode will pay off later in the season (will they need to interact with the young Indian casino jockey in CT?)
I'm noticing a shift in Tony's character - or the way the writers are portraying him at this point. Very dark, cold and calculating. In the first few seasons of The Sopranos we grew to like Tony - even love him - a mob boss who was, underneath his tough exterior - kinda like a teddy bear - a family man (of course a 'family man' with a mistress and who regularly hangs out at a topless bar - but a family man, nonetheless). So, now, it's becoming more and more difficult to find any redeeming qualities in Tony. We rarely see him in Dr. Melfi's office anymore - adn when he is there - it seems very superficial - he's not trying to accomplish anything, just complaining about his 'on-the-job stress'. He talks to his daughter about the 'indigenous types' she'll be giving aid to at the law center - claiming they have plenty of money for gambling and crack (talk about profiling) - then we see him perform a very shallow supposedly 'sweet' gesture in brining a slinky black dress and roses to Carmella - he comments that she looks 'like a model' when she tries the dress on in front of the bedroom mirror. Nevermind Carmella's distant look in her eyes - let's talk about Tony's superficial appreciation of Carmella. He can't pay attention to her for more than 30 seconds at a time during a conversation when she has something important to say - but he is happy to dress her up and bring her flowers and make love to her. If we look at this in contrast to Johnny and Ginny Sack - we find an interesting missing piece in the Soprano's marriage - LOVE. Johnny Sack truly LOVES Ginny - he tells Tony he finds her beautiful - "Rubenesque," he says - rather than plump or fat - he sees her as beautiful - she is his life - whereas Carmella for Tony is just a trophy - a blonde woman who cooks and cares for his house and his children and nags him on occasion. We'll never see a tender moment where true character is revealed between Tony and Carmella because they do not share intimacy - their marriage is a business agreement.
So, I'm losing interest - because Tony is no longer a sympathetic character and the storylines are too scattered and incoherent. There is no continuity in the scripts. All in all, Season 4 has been a huge disappointment - I think we're going to pass on the remaining shows in Season 4 - I can only see it getting worse from here on out.
So long, Sopranos. My time is too valuable for shallow soap operas.
Again, Christopher columbus was a SPAINARD, he was born in Italy to a Spainard mother and father then migrated back to his original roots in Spain. Christopher Columbus spoke spanish because his parents were spainard....(putting 2 more cents back in)
He really was from Italy. They have since "Americanized" his name which I beleive was originally Colombo. He was an Italian who wanted to explore however, Italy would not fund his expedition. So he turned to Isabella and Ferdinand for funding. He was a womanizer, a theif, a really poor excuse of a man in general. No wonder the Soprano family wants to celebrate him.
Obviously, ep. 3 is filed under "filler episodes". I mean, you could have stuck it anywhere in the season and it wouldn't have made a difference. Hell, you could even stick it in season 3 and not notice. Disappointingly, it did not pick up on any of the important storylines layed out in the previous two eps. At the end of ep. 2 Adrianna is given an ultimatum, talk and give up Chris and life as she knows it, or do a long bid in county lock-up. Then ep. 3 leaves you hangin' for an hour. She is even shown in a scene as if nothing happened. The suspense is killin' me! I consider myself a true fan-one who has an intelligent and true understanding of what is being portrayed. I have a couple of observations. First, anyone knocking Mike Imperiolli should just stop. I own season 3 on DVD, and his commentary on the ep. he wrote (The Telltale Mozzarella) is a prime example of his dedication to The Soprano's as a true art form and the show's overall devotion to realism. Admittedly, last week's ep. may have been boring, but those who view the show as just a great action/drama there to satisfy their insatiable apetite for violence need to understand that the show exists on a higher level. I'm an Italian American from the Tri-State area (Staten Island) and I have a deep appreciation for the show's accurate and very real portrayal of street level, blue collar, working class Italians from the Northeast. Second, Furio's stand on the Colombus situation is very real. Those who don't understand what I mean need to get in touch with their roots. In Italy, Northern Italians consider themselves superior to Southern Italians (Naples on down). There is tremendous friction and it has been this way forever. If you are from the Southern regions, you don't have Italian pride, you have Sicilian pride, Calabrian pride, Neopolitan pride, etc. It is an interesting topic that I suggest reading up on. Last, I am amazed at the new revelation about Ralphie. I honestly don't see any made guy's back door swinging both ways. However, I am secure in my manhood and if he likes it that's his prerogative.
review by Jimmy
I just saw the episode last night for the first time. I didn't get a chance on Sunday so I was 2 days later than most. I cheated and read reviews on the show ahead of time, and most were negative. So my expectations were quite low considering. Overall, it wasn't all bad, but far from being a great episode. However I'm always a believer that each chapter serves its purpose and there were some seeds planted for possible plotlines to come (ie. Janice/Ralphie, how will Bobby be now that he's a single man, Ralphie and Johnny, this will serve as another catalyst towards some bad blood between New York and Jersey as I predicted will be a primary plotline in the next two seasons, and Paulie serving as Johnny's new bitch will provide something for the future when this plot boils). Remember in "Funhouse" (final episode of season 2) when Tony dreamed that he shot Paulie (maybe foreshadowing something in the future).
I like the subtlety of episode 4-3. Sure, the overall excitement from a Mob Drama standpoint wasn't there, but it was an episode that did delve into other dimensions of the characters outside there Mob persona's. It's not a one dimensional show which is shown through many characters. Artie's not mobbed up, yet plays a key role within their circle. Also, I noticed that Adriana was off a bit, she never looked comfortable within the circle of mob wives and we all know that it's due to her new dilemma with the FBI.
So overall, I agree with you, a 5/10 is a good rating for this particular episode. I think the previous 2 were more like a 6 or 7. But as I mentioned in an earlier review, judge this series per season, rather than per show. An episode will not always be mind blowing, and so far none of the 3 have been. Usually they pick up, and judging by what I think's about to come (New York vs Jersey Family War), then I'll be glued to my set week in and out from here on in.
I agree last Sundays episode was not that great. For one it left too many issues open. Like Ad, Meadow and another I can't remember right now. Although it's pretty clear what Ad choose to do considering the way she acted in Sundays episode. And for Tony and Carm to think Meadow ran off the Europe they didn't seem very upset. Unless Meadow came home and that was something that wasn't shown. Who knows but this weeks episode looks good from the clip they showed Sunday. You should do a poll to see what the best line of the season is so far or for past seasons. Season Three I'd have to say Uncle Junior has it hands down with "If your gonna lie to me at least tell me there's a broad in the car waiting to tongue my balls." and this season is Chrissy with "Is thats him, with the sombrero on?" That must've been pretty cool to go to the Sopranos season premiere. well keep up the good work and maybe you should think about relieving some of those pop-up windows.
review by Josh
Wadsa madda wit youse guys? You take a poifectly good TV show and toin it into a freaking soap opera. Forget da freaking family problems and get back to da mob bizness.
review by Joe from Nutley
I think it is going in an excellent new direction... deeper into the personal lives and mishaps of the biological and crime families. I liked the Christopher episode. The "freaky" bedroom scene was the best and I loved the ending.....Tony sharing (or trying to!) his enlightenment with the guys...."what you mean? Gary Cooper was gay?!" I am very pleased, after the long wait, with this new season.
review by Hugo
I think this season has developed very well thus far. The first 2 episodes put down a great foundation for the season, not to mention that "No-Show" was a thoroughly excellent show, start to finish. The first 2 episodes have given us more info on what this season is about and how it will develop than last year's 1st 2 episodes ever did. As a matter of fact, what was last season's "overall plot" anyway? Livia died--which changed nothing(I know that there was no choice BUT to do this, but still), Melfi got raped--which developed into nothing, the Russian got away--which developed intonothing, at first Ralphie was trouble--which, yet again, developed in to guess what: nothing. At least this year we have issues that will definitely have to be resolved. Such as the Ralphi-Johnny Sac problem, Junior's trial, the POSSIBLY GIGANTIC Soprano crew-New York problem, not to mention the whole FBI thing! Sure, last Sunday's episode was not a very memorably one, but we've had at least one of these every season(except maybe season 2). In both season's 1 and 3 we've had these "filler" episodes, shows that neither start a new issue, nor continue on an already-developed one. Such as "A Hit Is A Hit", "Employee Of The Month"(Johnny Sac DID move to Jersey, but besides that?), and "Another Toothpick". I mean, did anybody really care about the whole "Visiting Day" sub-plot? How about the Mustang Sally-old man Baccala story? I think Mustang Sally had to be theee worst Soprano's character ever. The Melfi rape was a traumatic issue, but it didn't do anything to move her character one way or another. So you can put "Christopher" into the same "filler episode" class with those others, but there is no need to go to the dramatic length of saying the Sopranos altogether is going downhill just because of this. If anything, be happy that we got this year's "filler" show out of the way early, rather than have it stuck in at an extremely anticipation-built-up time(like "A Hit Is A Hit", 4th-to-last, just when we were waiting for the Tony-Junior war to start).
So overall, being that we are just 3 shows in and that we have all these new story lines, and the fact that we can write off the "Christopher" episode into the "filler" catagory, I don't think there is anything not to be excited about this season(assuming, of course, that you actually enjoy the Sopranos to begin with). So there you go, lightly opinionated, but overall a very un-bias review of this season so far. If anybody can wrap up this new season any better than that, I would be very interested in reading it.
Although a previous comment caims that Christopher Columbus was from Spain and that the Sopranos writers made a mistake saying he was from Italy, history does, in fact, say that Columbus was from Genoa, Italy. His first voyage to "the new world" was FINANCED by Queen Isabel of Spain. Just my two cents for the forum ;-)
review by Lori
First of all, christopher columbus was from spain not italy. Unless you can prove me otherwise, he quested to puerto rico, santo domingo, cuba,latin america... which is why they speak spanish, they were under spanish rule. Otherwise I very much enjoyed the last 3 episodes of the 4th season. I understand that some parts of the last episode had gotten a little boring but I hope we see more action to come.
review by Jason Rodriguez
We've watched 3 shows now, one worse than the other. The Sopranos has lost it's momentum, something is amiss. The writers are all over the place, with characters who don't make much sense, and mini-plots or innuendos that don't add any excitement to the program. AJ could totally be eliminated and no one would care... he can't act either. Meadow is left out hanging... Janice is the only member of the family left who seems to have retained the characteristics of the original character. All in all, the show had regressed into being nothing but a cheap Soap Opera with the only shock left being the Four letter words, someone Barfing on a table, and Ralphie being treated like a girlie Bitch by Janice...NOT the stuff that made the Sopranos as great as it once was. You may as well forget about the ratings...While you have reduced the power of the Sopranos to that of street thugs, it is not what the public wants to see and be entertained with. You may as well wrap it up this season, or Watching something else on Sunday night and catching a weekly rerun will be the norm.
Thanks you, M Collette
I think Michael Imperioli should quit writing immediately!!! Last night's episode was completely terrible in almost every way. I was mind boggled! These actors has to do their absolute best, (which is normal for them) to SAVE this episode. Please please never let him write again! Steve Bucemi did a fantastic job with "Pine Barrens" but "Christoper" should stick to acting. I tried to write HBO my comments but there is nowhere to e-mail them. I would appreciate an e-mail address if you have one.
Thanks, Marianne
I, like a lot of other people, think that the Sopranos is the greatest television show in history. But i don't understand why some people think it's getting weak. Where? Tony Soprano is still as cool as ever. The stories are great. The acting is superb. What would u rather watch? "Survivor"? Go ahead. I'll stick with a show that is actually fun to watch. And to those who think that the show presents negative stereotypes of Italians, it doesn't. Did they ever say that all Italians are criminals? Nope. At least Italians have a better sterotype than my race. Im Arabic and you know what our stereotype is. In any case, GOD BLESS THE SOPRANOS!!!
I thought the 42nd episode was very good. lots of dialogue. And, we saw some things we didn't know about the characters- ex., Ralphie and Janice getting freaky in bed. I thought it was a nice break from the usual format. but, this is only my opinion. I read the E weekly review on this episode. The writer had few good things to say- but that is why he is a critic and not writing his own stuff. maybe, he's jealous. People should give Imperioli a break. he's practicing- let him develop his writing. But, I really thought it was good.
email me your thoughts at TheSopranosFV@yahoo.com
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