In other developments, for reasons completely unclear to me, the writers decided to kill off Karen Bacala, wife of just-named-capo Bobby Bacala, in a car accident. This series is dark, and perhaps the writers are making a "cruel world" point here. Bobby of course is the most sympathetic goodfella in the Soprano family. He's dim, but compassionate, and an avowed family man. At Karen's funeral, the wives all watch with heavy hearts as Bobby weeps openly over Karen's casket. Meanwhile, Tony, Ralphie, Sil and Christopher all talk business in the corner. Sil's wife Gabriella whispers to the other wives, "I once heard Sil talking with somebody on the phone about how Bobby was the only one of them who didn't have a goomara. They were laughing at him [note: a "goomara" is a mistress]." Two observations from that quote: 1) Fucked-up mafia world observation: Odd, isn't it, that the wives of the mafiosos would nod approvingly that Bobby's a good man for not having a mistress - acknowledging without question that the implication there is that each of their own husbands has one? 2) So the writers of the show reward the series' only faithful husband by killing his wife.
Other plotines:
Ralphie then walks out on Ro, who is particularly hit by her friend Karen's death, considering that in the last two years, she's lost her husband and her son, too ("I've had big chunks of flesh ripped out of me," she says). Ralphie's leaving Ro for Janice, who has second thoughts the moment he steps in the house. In the night's most comical scene, Janice and Ralphie are in bed when Ro calls and asks him to come home. The two are - ahem - deep into a game of "bend over boyfriend," as Janice is pleasuring Ralphie with a sex toy. "You're my little slut, aren't you," she says. Ralphie nods. The scene's a pretty literal illustration of the habit Soprano family (that’s "family" with a small "f") women have of emasculating their men. Tony by his mother Livia, his daughter Meadow, and, at times, by his wife Carmela. Janice, now emasculates Ralphie - literally, with a vibrator, and figuratively, when she ditches him just as he's left his "legitimate" girlfriend for her. The scene takes on even more significance when, later, Janice concludes through her new-age therapist that she's only dating Ralphie because he reminds him of her father and of Tony - the paternal influences she feels never gave her love.
Article comments
1 - Ryan Olson
Great Lines: You missed one by Janice's Psychiatrist. I'm afraid I'll have to paraphrase now...
"You're just going to have to sit him down, and with the grace and compassion you're so famous for, tell him that it is over."
Ha!
2 - K.A. Hughes RA
A little early with this comment but I'm interested in what others might think anyway.
End of Season 5 - Does Tony "Find God" and enter Witness Protection or does he get knocked off by someone. In either case the show definitely ends with little hope of a sequel (Which is what Chase has said all along).
Any takers?
3 - Jackson Raegen
What I really thought was neat was the parallel that Chase drew between Carmella and Tony. If you watch carefully, you see how Carmella is treated by the other wives like Tony is with his crew. She gets a certain assumed status by virtue of her marriage (i.e. she is driven to and from the lunch, Silvio's wife stands up for her to the priest, she decides who will help out at the Bacala residence). It was subtle, but fun to watch.
4 - Tony Da Greek
Da whole t'ing is so racis'...I hates youse bigotistic bassads!
5 - Tony Da Greek
Da whole t'ing is so racis'...I hates youse bigotistic bassids!
6 - Tony Da Greek
Da whole t'ing is so racis'...I hates youse bigotistic bassids!
7 - Tony Da Greek
Da whole t'ing is so racis'...I hates youse bigotistic bassids!
8 - Tony Da Greek
Da whole t'ing is so racis'...I hates youse bigotistic bassids!
9 - Tony Da Greek
Da whole t'ing is so racis'...I hates youse bigotistic bassids!
10 - Tony Da Greek
Da whole t'ing is so racis'...I hates youse bigotistic bassids!
11 - Tony Da Greek
Da whole t'ing is so racis'...I hates youse bigotistic bassids!
12 - Tony
Sorry...I hit da button too many times...I never was good at mat'.
13 - ShoEZ
To the writers: thank you for this critical analysis. As a common viewer of the series, I often notice double meanings and subtleties that I cannot quite verbally define. Redaing your reviews help me to make sense of all the "extra" information and themes that seem to be cleverly hidden with most great works of art particularly, in this case, the Sopranos. Thanks and please keep up the good work.
14 - Luis E. Vargas
It would've certainly been a great twist in the story if Furio finally confessed his love to Carmella. I'm sure some excellent sub-stories could have originated from a confession like that. Moreover, it would've been great if Carmella just for a moment consented to fall on Furio's arms and for one time experience what her Tony does almost every week.
15 - John Taylor
The writer of this article is a closed-minded, opinionated, blanket-statement-throwing pinhead. Open your mind! One small example -- Janice isn't the most irritating character to EVERYONE by a long shot! Your personal issues continually creep into your writing. Why do you assume we're all waiting for her to get knocked off? You reveal more about yourself and your troubled thinking than you realize!
16 - Bobby Bracca
Who is this "Radley" person anyway? We'd ALL like to see "the act" take place between Furio and Carmela? Speak for yourself, pal! Yeeeeeeesh...
17 - joe
Hmmm. I think someone has a different take on your libertarian rant ;):