The Sopranos: The Top Ten Episodes
Published June 07, 2007
We not only get this, we also get some of the most emotional scenes in the series, as Pussy is forced to restore AJ’s faith in his father even as he’s betraying him to the FBI. The best scene is Pussy upstairs in the bathroom, crying, aware that he will either have to leave this world or eventually die. On top of this, we get some really funny stuff with Jon Favreau, one of the few celebrity playing themselves cameos that doesn’t feel self indulgent or too inside.
Funhouse (2x13) — There’s a lot of good stuff in Season Two, with the fantastic Robert Patrick arc and Christopher’s acting class, but this episode’s surreal journey to inevitability is the moment when the series established its rich dream mythology that would infuriate some fans and enrapture others, like me. I love that they spend so much time with the weird dreams as a device to get Tony to face what he already knows, that Pussy is working for the feds. It’s crazy, exciting stuff with some of the series best visual moments.
And then we get the sad resolution of Pussy’s story as he’s gunned down and dumped in the ocean. This is a major turning point for Tony, and the series as a whole. We’d seen Tony kill before, but to kill a friend? It’s cast a shadow over the entire series, echoed in this season’s “Remember When.”
Pine Barrens (3x11) — If this episode wasn’t so good, I’d be mad it even existed because it’s led to five years of people asking when the Russian’s coming back. To that, I can only say you’re an idiot. People who consider the Russian a loose end completely miss the point, it’s like saying Pulp Fiction sucked because we never found out what was in the briefcase. The entire point of the character was the uncertainty of whether he was dead or alive, a menace out in the forest. To resolve that would strip the episode of a lot of its power, and particularly three seasons later, it’s not going to happen. Reading some online postings, you’d think it was satire, but people apparently really are furious he hasn’t come back and even spinning elaborate theories that involve the Russian coming back for the final episode. Let it go.
That aside, this is a brilliant episode. It’s the show’s funniest, as we witness Chris and Paulie go through all kinds of indignities in the woods, eating ketchup packets and making shoes out of rubber. Visually, it’s one of the show’s best, with the gorgeous snowscapes and seemingly endless woods. If nothing else, this episode is testament to the fact that the show can be incredibly funny when it wants to be.
- The Sopranos: The Top Ten Episodes
- Published: June 07, 2007
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Video
- Writer: Patrick
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Patrick, I tip my hat to you. Nicely done all the way, except that "The Blue Comet" was definitely one of the best episodes ever. I know you thought about that one and even mentioned it, but it should be there.
Oh, and Kevin Finnerty is more important that I think any of us realized at the time. I think we will all find that out tomorrow night.
AJ's arc is actually quite well developed over the course of the series. One of the toughest moments to watch in the entire series is when AJ is forced to wear the military school uniform in the third season finale and just breaks down crying. There, Tony says something like "What are we going to do to save this kid?" That's the core of season 6B, what will happen to him? So, that collapse is critical to setting up the theme of Tony's genes as a curse he's passed on to his son.
I think there's a lot of good stuff with Melfi, but she's mostly only interesting in relation to Tony. I was contemplating putting "Employee of the Month" on the list becuase it is an incredibly powerful episode, but it didn't quite make it.
The Italy episode was up there for me too, it's a really fun episode. Carmela's infatuation with Furio in season four was a great arc, and a great way to show the differing attittudes this world has when it comes to male and female infidelity. The moment where Furio almost pushes Tony into the helicopter blades was one of the tensest in the series.
Yes, that scene with Furio was powerful. Great reaction from Tony too, like "What the...?" and almsot knowing. LAter when Carmela tells him about Furio, it all comes together.
One thing you didn't mention (and I didn't mention in my piece either) is the power of Livia Soprano. Nancy MArchand still haunts this series and rightly so.
When Tony/Kevin doesn't go into the "reunion" I thought it was because he didn't want to see all his victims (Ralph, Pussy, Jackie Jr., etc.) but then I realized it's Livia he is afraid of (has always been too).
Very nicely done Patrick, however, I have to disagree with you on Season I - it is perhaps the single greatest season of any series in television history, IMO.
I am also one of those people who once believed the "dream sequences" greatly detracted from the series. For example, I recall feeling very strongly that season II would have been much better served had it ended one episode earlier. I now realize how wrong I was.
Your insight and comments help bring further meaning to some of the dream episodes I once despised. Thanks for the list.
I like the dream sequences on one level simply because they let the series do really interesting visual stuff. While I've got some issues with "The Test Dream," visually, it's amazing. But, dreams also work together with the Melfi scenes to give us insight into Tony's subjective mental space. Everything in those dream sequences is indicative of the way Tony views the world, and we can understand better what he thinks of other characters by how they're portrayed there. I love that kind of stuff, and I think it's a large part of what makes the show more than just a typical mafia story.
"People who consider the Russian a loose end completely miss the point, it's like saying Pulp Fiction sucked because we never found out what was in the briefcase."
The Russian being alive isn't a loose end. Obviously he never made it back because he would have told Slava what happened. Part of the problem is that Tony made it such a big deal because the Russian mob would have come at them. Was the reason Tony stopped laundering money through them ever dealt with? If they had made that clear, it would have straightened things out.
"While I'm obviously not happy that Nancy Marchand died"
Neither is she.
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Awesome job! I'd like to know your take on the episode when AJ collapses. Now, we, the audience suddenly realize, that this affliction T's been dealing with has a "face" ie it is passed along to his son and its another cross Tony has to bear. Also you barely mention Melfi? There were some extraordinarily cutting edge scenes with her. I thought the whole rape arc was something never before seen on episodic TV. And finally would enjoy your feedback on the a) Furio character and b) the episode when they all went to Italy. Thanks and great job.