Could Jackie Jr have lived? Could he have been a varsity wiseguy?

In this episode we will be evaluating if there is anyway Jackie Jr could have lived. We will start by determining the differences between his robbery and Tony's, before examining whether things such as his father still being alive, him handling the robbery differently, or better circumstances prior to the robbery could have saved him...and end by discussing whether or not he could have been a varsity wiseguy had things gone differently.

[@bullywhispers9544]

So, could he have lived? Could he have been a varsity wiseguy?

[@mortykatz2236]

No to stupid

[@Ashas.Garden]

No. No.

[@BaronSaturday66]

Jackie never had the makings.... you know, the thing!

[@faisalkamal4319]

@@BaronSaturday66 this thing of ours

[@faisalkamal4319]

@@pistolschlapper good mobster

[@mattpope1746]

Jackie Jr. never understood the rules of power or mafia politics. He was doomed because he failed to grasp that the moment his father died, Jackie Jr. had nothing to offer anyone. We see this when he goes to talk to Christopher on behalf of the ecstasy dealer Matush. Jackie asks Chris to do him a “personal favor” and let Matush sell E at Adriana’s club. Christopher doesn’t even consider it because there is no value in having Jackie Jr. owing him a favor. There is nothing Jackie can do for Chris other than get him in trouble with Tony and the DEA. Jackie Jr phrasing the request as a “personal favor” shows how clueless he is to the fact that he has no juice at all and any consideration he received from the other mobsters ended with his father’s passing.

[@Oddbisket]

Meadow said something to the effect of "uncle Pauly being a warm affectionate..." And "never seeing anything but kindness and respect" from her father associates /uncle's. So the same rose coloured glasses is how Jackie would have grown up. His father wanted him to stay out of it so he never would have been educated on the malicious devious aspects of mob life

[@limitedhangoutlive]

Plus he was a literal crackhead.

[@InsaneCopePosse]

​@Oddbisket and he trusted Tony to take care of him and guide him. And just like AJ and Chris, he failed him like his father and uncle junior failed Tony and so on.

[@gandalftheghetto1172]

​@@InsaneCopePosse Jackie Jr was over 18 and in college when his father died. Tony tried multiple times to steer him away from the life but since Jackie wasn't talented at anything he felt entitled to fall back into his father's profession thinking that he was owed a prominent position.

[@mrrodriguezHLP]

My theory is that if we had gotten a Many Saints of Newark sequel, we would have seen the reality of Tony and Jackie Sr.'s robbery without the rose colored nostalgia glasses. I bet Johnny Boy almost went to war to make sure no one hurt his son. For sure Tony and Jackie Sr. had more in common with AJ and JJ than they will ever admit in later adulthood.

[@bigcartoonyIIV]

right

[@faisalkamal4319]

Yep

[@th3highwayman]

I get the impression during the show that the robbery was sanctioned prior or the issue was dropped just to knock Feech down a peg or two by other mobsters. I don't think that it would've ever escalated to war.

[@faisalkamal4319]

@@th3highwayman yep

[@mrrodriguezHLP]

@@th3highwayman Something happened to make Feech take it on the chin with no repercussions to Tony and Jackie Sr. And Feech isn't the type of person to take anything lying down. The details on what was decided at the sit-down are the missing link.

[@jbeast3385]

Great video! I personally think Jackie Jr. never had a chance, as he was basically a conglomerate of every short-sighted flaw you could see in the show. He used hard drugs that impacted his decisions, he flunked out of a good college and destroyed his chance for a civilian life, he indiscreetly got side action in front of his superior/possible father-in-law, he was dumber than a sack of bricks and thought he consistently was the smartest guy in the room. These were flaws of all the main characters, packed into one fuckup upstart. And that’s with his advantages considered, he still blew them all in the course of a season. Jackie Jr. was a walking example of a failed hero. Somebody with something to prove or a legacy to consider, and he thinks that’s all he needs. He lasted all of three months.

[@T-roc57]

Tbf he was in the competitions strip club where he didn't expect Tony to be.

[@flightofthebumblebee9529]

The answer is on the Scrabble board. That sums him up perfectly

[@babyshaq05235]

His problem was trying to use his fathers name to get in… he had entitlement issues. He felt like he could do whatever without putting in the same work as others. He was spoiled and didn’t try to learn the game. That was his downfall

[@jbeast3385]

@@babyshaq05235 He’s basically Michael Corleone with none of the talent.

[@ryancarroll3957]

He threw away so much. He was goodlookin, jacked, could pull hot girls, was on track for medicine and could have had the mob connections to still be cool and mysterious to his friends and women but without risk, and that connection plus his dad's friends loyalty = total financial security. He should have accepted he didn't belong in that life and enjoyed himself.

[@MrKingNidge]

Jackie Jr had no allies, his father was dead so he had nobody to speak up for him, when Tony did the heist he had his father who had lots of friends and respect...Jackie was all alone, also nobody died or got hurt when Tony ripped off feech's card game, Jackie was involved in wounding Furio, a made man, and killing sunshine...there was no coming back from that.

[@maratonlegendelenemirei3352]

Jackie JR should have offered Furio $1,000 and his signed CD copy of "2nd II None - Up 'N Da Club ft. AMG, DJ Quik???"

[@Allavil_]

Jackie Jr is the perfect example of why you never trust the children of rich people.

[@DrJ-hx7wv]

From Jimmy Hoffa!

[@tony020480]

@@DrJ-hx7wv “They’re never gonna let me forget!!”

[@jonrobbin170]

They killed him!!

[@Allavil_]

@@jonrobbin170 Kid was always a dumb fuck though, wasn't he? Didn't he almost drown in three inches of water?

[@Allavil_]

@@jonrobbin170 Kid was always a dumb f*ck though, wasn't he? Didn't he almost drown in three inches of water?

[@reviewheroes2376]

Sunshine's murder was the major issue. Made Guy or not, he was murdered during a Mafia Sponsored Card Game. A big portion of the racket is protection for those outside of the law. Why would another good card dealer want to work for the mob if they weren't guaranteed protection? Jackie Jr slides, someone else will think they can knock over the games.

[@magmat0585]

Agreed. I think he's downplaying Sunshine too. If nothing else, Sunshine probably paid up to someone, and any murder would have endangered everyone present due to forensics.

[@zekun4741]

Sunshine never had the makings of a varsity diplomat

[@kingcrustytut7544]

@@magmat0585you can also assume sunshine was good friends with the guys for YEARS, he’s old and running the games etc. it’s not a minor killing at all

[@erickleefeld4883]

And why would players want to show up at a game, if word got out that you can get murdered by some punks and nothing happens? That would cut off the supply of money coming in.

[@Ashw1115]

Sunshine should’ve kept his mouth shut 😂 he kept on talking

[@rockyaoki8929]

Sunshine was a made guy and Jackie Jr wasn't and there was nothing we could do. We had to sit still and take it.

[@johnsequoia7962]

It was among the Italians, it was real greaseball shit

[@wafflcoptr]

We had a problem, and there's nothing anybody can do. He's gone.

[@fascinatinglist9654]

Imagine the shame for his fawtha

[@molasorrosalom4846]

Whatdoyamean, Whatdoyamean?

[@peterblood50]

Jackie Jr. makes Little Carmine look like a criminal genius. Actually, he made everybody in the Sopranos look like a genius..

[@flightofthebumblebee9529]

Little Carmine won. He got all the spoils and none of the headaches and lives happily with his sexy wife and his kids.

[@portugal5698]

Are you on meth? The impliction of the series is that Little Carmine played them all while pulling a “Corleone” and playing weak to allow his enemies a lot.

[@peterblood50]

@@portugal5698 That is your opinion but mine is that Little Carmine didn't want anything to do with any of it. He liked cooling his heels and being a rich sugar daddy. He was smart enough to see that "the life" was way more hassle than he wanted to put up with, but he was no genius who played everybody. He saw that the grass was greener on the side of the street he was already on and there was no reason to look any farther. As I said IMHO

[@Kyle-sr6jm]

However you view it, Little Carmine made sure he was not viewed as a threat or a target.

[@mappingshaman5280]

@@peterblood50 I mean in the final sitdown between tony and butchie, butchie looks to carmine for approval before he agrees to anything, implying carmine is the boss once Phil is dead.

[@Tvillian]

Had the robbery gone off without a hitch I think Jackie Jr may have been okay. He'd have to make amends and then some. But it would prove he had the balls to make a major move and that he could be an earner. Things went sideways, the robbery was messy and that kills any faith that he's worth the hassle he created killing Sunshine

[@flightofthebumblebee9529]

You give him way too much credit because look at the Scrabble board.

[@JGD714]

Agreed. It wasn't just killing Sunshine, it was shooting at Chris and Furio getting hit. Maybe Jackie could've been given a pass with Sunshine's death, but there was no saving him with everything else. If the robbery had gone well and Jackie made restitutions, he would've been in a higher standing. Though of course that was an almost all made guys or connected guys game so he probably would've had to make restitutions to everyone.

[@molasorrosalom4846]

Him and his friends were idiots though.

[@JKPrimetime]

@@JGD714 wasn't sunshine made? And from Chris' reaction from hearing Jackie speak, it seemed he might of recognized his voice and put two and two together so he would of had to shot no one and then maybe get lucky.

[@JGD714]

@@JKPrimetime no Sunshine wasn't made. And yeah Chris recognized his voice but the worst part of the robbery was Furio getting hit and shooting at Chris, and Eugene who is also made was there. Like I said if it had only been Sunshine, and no other shots fired, Jackie could've been given a pass. He wasn't liked but he was loved for being the son of Jackie Sr., and the card game and the dealer were with Ralphie who was already reluctant to hit Jackie even when it went down like it actually did. The others not so much, maybe Dino by extension for being the next most connected, but the others, Matush and the other guy, they would pay the pill for Sunshine.

[@scottvincent184]

I do appreciate how Vito legitimately felt bad about what he had to do, those unspoken moments really were the best

[@flightofthebumblebee9529]

His vocab playing Scrabble encapsulated him as a person completely

[@TheKingTywinLannister]

Why. Ass is a Word. 😅

[@stevekaczynski3793]

Also just before he gets shot he loses a chess game to a kid and then knocks the pieces over.

[@flightofthebumblebee9529]

@@stevekaczynski3793 he sucks

[@jamesmaxwell1940]

Great, thorough analysis! You did an excellent job exploring the different narrative possibilities. If he stayed in his lane, maybe at best he could have been a Benny, getting by on small scams while getting his ass handed to him in every single beef, but still maintaining enough of a Mafia "career" to have a wife and kid. But in the wise words of Junior, he was so far behind he really thought he was in the lead.

[@bullywhispers9544]

Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!

[@dondajulah4168]

If he "stayed in his lane" then he would have had a completely different personality making him a different person with different capabilities. His character was developed in the way that it was to demonstrate a point about that life. Changing this fatal flaw in his character would have contradicted precisely the point that Chase was trying to make.

[@jamesmaxwell1940]

@@dondajulah4168 That's true, it's kind of like saying "if only Tony Soprano had been a civilian, he wouldn't have died at the end"

[@molasorrosalom4846]

I'm sure Benny became a captain and ran Christopher's crew after he "suffocated to death."

[@jonevans870]

Furio being shot wasn’t a big deal just because of Italy. He was in the Soprano family’s inner circle and arguably Tony’s only reliable, effective muscle. Everyone else in Tony’s crew had major flaws, e.g Chris and his drug use, Paulie and his big mouth. Silvio is reliable but not a tough guy like Furio. Bottom line, you don’t shoot someone like Furio and just get away with it. Also Sunshine was not a made member but clearly a pretty important associate for the crew.

[@craigkeegans2714]

No1 would ever rank him as an associate

[@blest5132]

@@craigkeegans2714 "hanger on" is his title

[@disciple4577]

Furio had the biggest flaw of them all. Falling in love with the bosses wife.

[@TheCallofduty4man]

The biggest problem for Jackie is the fact that even if this got clean, I don't think Tony would be the kinda guy to lose face like that. His reputation would be hit quite a bit after the Richie executive game incident + literally getting robbed a few years later. Even if Sunshine was a nobody ( but he was still a spender / maker given how he was in the executive game since at least 1999 and probably before that ), but at the same time - the modern mob is mostly about earning. Now the blackjack is probably not their biggest moneymaker, but they had players like the prick doctor and Frank Sinatra Jr. Sir who probably didn't come around to squabble pennies, and these are the kinda people who'd expect safety. A little fight or verbal argument here and there is normal, but being sticked up by a gang of ruffians with weapons is probably not something those people would nod along to. Jackie would cost Tony his executive game and reputation among his non-mafia friends that he can't protect his high rollers. ( This was why Richie and Feech became instant enemies to him, even if their crimes were lesser than armed robbery. ) Jackie was doomed the moment he dropped outta Rutgers and fucked up his chance with Meadow. Even if he was shit for brains, his future father in law could probably pull some strings in the university business and get brainless the third a pass and a somewhat reputable job.

[@Rrr_558]

I get it, Silvio wasn’t muscle, but he’s killed people and put all types of work in

[@GallyG]

Poor sunshine....he was just a kid

[@serotoninsyndrome]

He had his whole life ahead of him...

[@faisalkamal4319]

Died giving good advice

[@MatthewHollins-ys3lm]

I hate it when they go young!

[@syedmohammadbaqirrizvi5577]

When they go!!!!!

[@zefferss]

Does anybody notice how similar characters get repeated with themes across the show? So for example, you have Jackie Jr. and Matt Bevilaqua. Both of them are young guys, get connected with Chrissy, then are too dumb to make good decisions and try to make a move seemingly by ideas planted in both of their heads, Ralph talking about the heist to Jackie, and Richie making fun of Chrissy and talking about him hitting his niece. Then you have Ralphie and Richie, both disgruntled by Tony, and not happy with the leader. They both more or less want to make a move against Tony, did not respect Tony, and in the end both get clipped by a Soprano, in a kitchen with a meal being made, or done. And again the parallel is they both had ties to the young guns, Ralphie and Jackie Jr., Richie and Matt Bevilaqua. Then you have Matt Bevilaqua get clipped by Tony and Pussy. Vito clips Jackie Jr. Jackie Jr and Matt Bevilaqua also make a move both against Chrissy, one is more direct with Matt Bevilaqua trying to literally clip him. The other is the move at the card game which is a bit more indirect, but still a move against Chrissy being present. Jackie and Matt both plead to Tony, one on the phone, one in person. Both also seemingly get clipped in cold weather, as evidenced by the sweater Matt Bevilaqua is wearing. Albeit it could be late fall or something. Let's also not forget Brendan who is an associate of Chrissy early on, he seems more on a level playing field early on with Chrissy, but he's just an associate really. But he has a big mouth, is pretty stupid, and gets clipped by Mikey Palmice, who in turns gets clipped by Chrissy and Paulie. Both times Chrissy shows up gung ho ready to take revenge, first he visits Tony in the hospital wanting to go clip Mikey. Then with Jackie Jr, he shows up to a, (doctor's office) where Furio is getting treated and wants to go clip Jackie Jr right away. Tony of course shuts him down both times. Then you have Pussy and Vito. Both heavy set made guys, both have a dark secret. One is an FBI informant, one is gay. Both death sentences in the world of the mafia. Tony has allegations brought against both of them. He is reluctant to clip both of them, (for different reasons) but he has to think about it, come to terms about it, and mull it over. Tony wrestles with the idea, but at the end of the day the choice almost seemingly is brought out of his hands with both of them. If he doesn't clip Pussy, he leaves himself and the entire organization at risk. He would likely get clipped and then Pussy would get clipped anyways. If he doesn't clip Vito, he would lose respect, and likely get clipped, and Vito again, would likely get clipped anyways. I am sure I am missing other examples, but those stand out to me.

[@Okayand33]

Its like the Sopranos are possessed by some evil spirit and just can't help themselves. No matter how they feel, the Sopranos instinctually put the business first. - Janice didn't know there was a hit on richie but took care of it. - Meadow at Jackie Jrs wake - Tony B's abrupt fit of rage towards the korean and trigger happy demeanor towards New York. Tony B was the first one to see New Jersey was dying and had to take over one of the main 5 families. - AJ, sensitive to all the worlds ills, still somehow finds himself punishing someone because of a late payment - And Finally Tony S killing 1 best friend and 2 close cousins and his mother; all for the business.

[@torana6531]

“Who cares about the shit they say they don’t have the balls to say to your face” Tony’s words that sealed Jackies fate and changed Ralph’s mind to give him a pass..

[@KennyG_420]

Can you explain that a little more for me?

[@torana6531]

@@KennyG_420 watch the part where Tony talks to Ralph about giving him a pass. And you can see that Ralph wants to do it and looks for Tony’s approval.. And Tony is for it, but at the end gives that sentence to sway Ralph that if he does he will loose face in the crew. He knows Ralph is a vain selfish person who wouldn’t want to loose face, Tony came to hate Jacky after he dated Meadow.

[@KennyG_420]

@@torana6531 oh!!! Got it now, thanks for breaking it down for me

[@lawrenceterrell8471]

Jackie JR and AJ were two characters in this entire series that were never made out to be tough in that lifestyle. I do think if Jackie JR listen to Tony and stuck with school I could see Jackie JR using his smarts to Tony advantage, when it. Comes to certain rackets Jackie wanted to be a gangster which Tony tried to keep him away from that lifestyle. Jackie character had potential to be bigger if he had finished college

[@molasorrosalom4846]

Didn't he flunk out?

[@lawrenceterrell8471]

@@molasorrosalom4846 he flunked out of Rutgers but if he didn't I believe he would have been something bigger in this series.

[@littlekingtrashmouth9219]

@@lawrenceterrell8471 mob doctor. Take care of gunshot and knife wounds without being involved with a hospital

[@JShady7620]

i think Jackie had some tough moments. He beat up that guy that owed Ralph money, and he pulled that gun out on those Hispanic kids in the pizza joint.

[@qbconnect2883]

With no made man being killed I think he could've been saved by two factors; #1 A boss's pass like his dad or Tony. And #2 If a hefty enough price was met, being that everything revolves around money within that world. In the words of Carmine, "Yeah again with the money. It's settled John. So either name a price or get the fuck over it".

[@HaIsKuL]

It really hurt to see Jackie Jr. fall from grace. Great things were expected from him and he came from a well-respected family. I can definitely identify with that, especially with his pre-med studies, and with every failure when people said you're the kid that's gonna go far in life, failing to keep on the path without a good close mentor, trying to put on a smile and pretend everything's going great. He should be chastised for every dumb and scumbag decision he made, but I can't help but see myself in him, which makes his story all the more tragic to me.

[@Oddbisket]

He was in a deep state of grief the whole storyline. Poor kid never had a chance to grow through it.

[@Rrr_558]

Same, as I grow up (19) I see bits of Jackie jr and even AJ, and I stop and I hate myself because like me, these two have so much potential and find ways to mess it up (AJ wasn’t messing things up, he was just depressed)

[@Ukraineaissance2014]

Seriously, you can always retrain or go back to study, but maybe it just isnt for you. Old fashioned trades are good payers these days. The whole 'going to university' ambition for children is a very post war until 1980s thing and its all different now.

[@bigcartoonyIIV]

I think ralph sent JJ on that suicide mission. JJ mistake was when he opened his mouth . If J sr would have been alive he wouldnt have commited the robbery anyway. JJ made the same miststake tony B made. they both ran some place where people knew where he was

[@mikeh7917]

The Hair Apparent always makes me laugh 😅!

[@wraynephew6838]

If Jackie's Jr mother found out exactly what happened when Jackie Junior was hiding. She would plead Tony to spare Jackie's life. She would also let Carmella know. If all the women in the family found out like Rosalie, Carmella, and Meadow then it would be hard for Ralphie to put out the order. That is the only thing that could of saved Jackie Jr.

[@tingtong8781]

Richie?

[@wraynephew6838]

@@tingtong8781 sorry I mean't Ralphie

[@iAintSayDat]

The other thing that helped Tony live was he was respected as a up and comer before his robbery. Jackie was not respected, he was a phony, bosses kid or not. They didn’t like Jackie from the door. The robbery wasn’t a first screw up it was the last straw.

[@loganerb3952]

6:20 that Ron White cutaway was fucking perfect 😂😂😂😂😂

[@logvoid1559]

Despite Sunshine not being made he was still involved with the high roller card games so even if he was the only one injured it still would've been a problem.

[@mmarsh1972]

Actually the fact Sunshine was killed WOULD have been a big factor in this scenario. Like in Legal Casinos Mob Casinos are protected by the security that protection includes the players. We even saw this when Tony came to the Defense of Davey Scatino from Ritchie Aprile. A player getting killed in a Mob game (even a non-robbery) would have grave consequences for everyone involved, both those running the game and the triggerman. First It's Bad for business (scares off the whales) and makes the mob look weak. So Even if Jackie had taken no money, and no one else had been hurt he still would have been whacked because of this stunt.

[@thisisscorpio6024]

While at the game, Christopher gave a look like he recognized a voice under the mask. Did he know? Did he put it together at that point?

[@Dajuggernaut74]

💯

[@NaZtRdAmUs]

Jackie was never cut out for the life and was always playing the role.

[@homie4327]

After the Nucky Thompson Machiavellian Monday you should make one on Jimmy Darmody!

[@docelephant]

"Maybe he just drowned in the snow" is one of the funnier Sopranos-related jokes I've heard in a long time.

[@nonofyourbuzyness2824]

Keep it up lad very good video.. you do not have our permission to stop ...you have to make more of these fire videos! Well done !

[@cosmicskates7721]

Your sense of humor coupled w these Sopranos video analysis compilations are a godsend for me 😆 Thank you so so much!

[@airmackeeee6792]

As Tony said, Jackie Jr. was "bottomed-out" ... by Vito. 😱

[@brettmajors69karaoke]

From behind

[@respawnicon]

Can you do a video about Carmellas profound reactions to art, I noticed this is a running theme through the show

[@molasorrosalom4846]

It's the baby Jesus......

[@respawnicon]

@@molasorrosalom4846 you made me laugh thank you

[@cwf081166]

Jackie Jr and crew shot a Made Man and shoot at another Made Man and Sun Shine being a long time Associate was more than likely a top earner. So Jackie Jr had to go because of the very fact that He robbed/disrespected the card game, crew shot a Made Men and disrespected all involved i e Ralphie.

[@roscoedash6673]

Jackie Jr. never had a chance at succeeding in the Mob life. What goes unspoken in the show, but hinted at by Meadow at Jackie's funeral, is that the older mobsters WANTED Jackie out of the picture. As Moltisanti says, Jackie is the "hair apparent", meaning that he represents a very credible challenge to the mobsters already in power. Put simply, Jackie is a threat to everyone in the NJ mob. So while it may seem like Tony was "keeping his word" with Jackie Sr. by pushing Jackie Jr. away from the mob life, the reality is that Tony was looking out for his own interests. That being said, once Jackie Jr. made it clear that college and normal life wasn't going to work for him, he essentially sealed his own fate right then and there. Ralph tells Jackie Jr. about the card game story on purpose. He WANTED Jackie Jr. to go and commit a robbery that would either get him killed, or give the NJ family an excuse to kill Jackie Jr., thereby eliminating Jackie as a potential threat. In the end, it wouldn't have mattered if Jackie was more skilled/smart or not. Unless he was smart enough to realize that the NJ "family" wasn't going to just let him rise up the ranks and take their power, then there's nothing Jackie could've done to be a Varsity Wise Guy.

[@drewp.weiner2473]

Nobody would of followed jackie jr, its not the same as the carmine situation, where little carmine was a middle age man and actually in the life for years when his pops died.

[@jordil6152]

Interesting theory. Although if Jackie Sr. wanted that life for Jr., he could have integrated him into that life while he was still alive. Ritchie, of all people, was the one who brought him into it--probably as some failed power play.

[@craighembree3101]

Mobster? I don’t know. But Jackie clearly had a future on the professional Scrabble circuit.

[@doublem1975x]

I think Jackie did have some talent for the life and probably would’ve gotten made had Tony sponsored him. He showed some leadership ability being able to recruit a small gang and organize scores. He had the necessary capacity for cruelty as shown when he beats up the Arab. Even Chris was impressed w/ Jackie and wanted to recruit him after the college robbery (that Jackie had come up with). Hell, even Jissmonte and Drinkwater would’ve probably gotten made eventually had they stayed loyal to Chris. If Benny criminal mastermind could get made anything is possible.

[@vlad_47]

I agree with your point about Jackie, but Benny wasnt made as far as i remember.

[@doublem1975x]

@@vlad_47It’s never confirmed but I think he was made sometime between the beating he took from Phil and the end of the show.

[@serotoninsyndrome]

"If you can keep your head while other people around you are--" /BANG/

[@faisalkamal4319]

He didn't

[@ManahManah77]

There is no way that he could have lived after killing Sunshine and wounding Furio. Plus, just drawing down on a made guy is enough to get death. It's like Joshua said in Wargames, the only way for him to live (win) would have been not to play (get involved in the life).

[@michaelgibbons1978]

Hey not bad not a bad video at all keep it up your getting better and better my dude much RESPECT !!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!! !! !

[@simondayan2737]

I absolutely love your videos I was wondering if you saw the show Animal kingdom and can do a breakdown of the female crime leader Smurf aka Janine Cody.

[@LEARSIKCIGAM]

Vito+ sneaking up behind him clearly shows he had serious peripheral vision issues, so he probably would have been hit by a car at some point anyway.

[@rsmith3126]

One avenue not explored was what would have happened if Ritchie Aprile was out and around during these events?

[@beefchops1400]

He was such a believable pillock brilliantly played by the actor!

[@marqmorris8670]

Dude was really called Sunshine?...dang I thought Chris was just being sarcastic...LOL

[@ProtomanButCallMeBlues]

Ironically a Jackie Jr that graduates from Ruckers as an MD, hell not even an MD, just a nurse is infinitely more useful to the mob than what he aspired to be.

[@Hilder78]

2:20 Tony did NOT leave it up to Ralphie. “More important than the specific decision is that it happen in a TIMELY fashion”

[@Grimpmann]

Did you not watch the show?

[@Hilder78]

@@Grimpmann “I know your gunna make the right decision, that’s why I made you captain”

[@Grimpmann]

@@Hilder78 Wouldn't that imply that the decision was Ralphie's?

[@Hilder78]

@@Grimpmann you missed the entire point of the scene. They’re both trying to make the other one responsible for Jackie jrs death. It’s a nuanced conversation. Ralphie wants Tony to give the order. Tony wants Ralphie to give the order.

[@GothamiteYT]

@@Grimpmann Tony was inherently applying pressure

[@therebelsaiyan5559]

Idk man, if he didn’t hear Vito walking behind, probably wouldn’t get far

[@heavymetal3122]

1. Yeah, he would've let him off if he didn't cheat on Meadow. Remember when he saw Jackie at the bing? Yeah, that was a wrap. 2. The only way he would've survived is if he would've married Meadow.

[@daviddanielsson3643]

The best thing that Jackie Jr could have done would have been leaving New Jersey, changing his name and starting over somewhere else. Maybe some one would have spotted him many years later, but he probably wouldn't have ended up like Fabian Petrulio in s. 1, since he wasn't a made guy. All things considered, Jackie Jr's main problem was that he was too dumb to do anything right and even if he would have left NJ right away after the robbery he would probably have f-d up. He was his own worst enemy. He was too lazy to hold down an ordinary job, not academically gifted enough to get a proper education and not attentive enough to listen to his late father and Tony - they did not want him in the mafia. Also, Jackie Jr vastly overestimated the importance of his last name being Aprile. That exchange between Junior and Tony after the funeral sums Jackie jr up perfectly: "Kid was always a dumb fuck though, wasn't he?"

[@jonrobbin170]

If Jackie Jr kept his nose clean and did right by Meadow he would've been virtually untouchable. He just wouldn't have been the tough guy he yearned to become so quickly.

[@alanfarquharhill]

As implied, I think if he had gone on the lam he might have eventually got away with it - USA is a big place and were they really going to conduct a nationwide manhunt for Jackie? I mean if he showed up in a city with lots of connected guys then maybe, but even then the Jersey guys are a glorified crew and probably barely know anyone in most of those cities, at least away from the NE area and maybe Chicago. Thesedays you could probably have someone run regular searches for arrests, because chances of Jackie going too long without getting arrested for some foolishness feels small - but back then I don't think that would have been nearly as easy. Once Furio was out of the picture, and Ralph had been checkmated with extreme prejudice, that only left Chris and a year later he was sliding out of Tony's good books anyway.

[@molasorrosalom4846]

Where was he gonna go? He stole a car and hand nothing but the clothes on his back.

[@alanfarquharhill]

@@molasorrosalom4846 He had some cash in the bag, whatever he would have spent at the Shore, and a gun. Theoretically, could he have made some calls and scraped together a bit more - his Mother, his Sister? Probably. It's not like they were in a position to trace his atm usage. Having got somewhere quieter, could he have found some work somewhere ? Probably.

[@PeterT-i1w]

Regarding Furio getting shot, there is a scene not long after the shooting when Tony and Ralphie meet in a car in some parking lot, and while they are talking, Vito puts a bag (presumably full of money) into the trunk of Furios car. I always thought that is was a payment from Ralph to Furio to "satisfy" him. But knowing how greedy they all were, it could have been just some Esplanade money for Tony.

[@ronyventura9301]

Maybe he just drowned in the snow. You killed me with that 😆 🤣

[@johnnyboyspero5470]

Everyone forgets Albert, acting Capo, almost got head blown of coming outta bathroom. Furio, Gene,and Chrissy made but step down from Allie Boy

[@MatthewHollins-ys3lm]

Yes Allie Boy and Chrissy shot Dino to death, when he was stranded in the street

[@Buford_T_Justice1]

Jackie Jr’s hypothetical son Jackie III would do everything out of respect for his grandfawtha.

[@Setton_Exile]

1:48 the thing is Johnny Boy and Friends were Loosing in the Card Game so Tony & Co. Robbing the Card Game leveled everything out according “In the end The Right Guys Got their Money Back and Your Dad and Tony were On the Fast Track to joining a Crew and Being made” -Ralphie to Jackie Jr. Ultimately when Johnny and His friends Got their Money Back Tony and Jackie got a Pass; the only one who was pissed about it was Feech since he Took that “L” when he was on the Up

[@cletusjones9411]

If Tony had taken him under his wing from the start, instead of trying to keep his promise to Jackie Sr., he could have been a varsity wise guy.

[@Rico798]

The difference between the two card heist was that in Tony’s heist with Jackie no one got killed or shot at and was much more organized and Tony already had family in the crime family such as his dad and uncle who were already respected in the family especially his dad,who can help them out of the situation but with Jackie jr’s card heist he was disorganized as he was already high when he started it and he shot a made man and killed the card dealer of the game and didn’t have family who were respected in the crime family as his dad was already dead,so in conclusion as it’s obvious to the sopranos fans that jackie jr was a Dimwitted wanna be gangster who tried to follow in his fathers footsteps and when he tries to follow straight on being made he gives up as it doesn’t suit his need as symbolized in the chess game he played

[@wraynephew6838]

What people fail to realize. It was not the shootout at the card game that messed up the plan and left Jackie Jr marked for death. It was the fact that Matush the getaway driver just took off leaving Jackie and Dino there with no means to escape. That single action fucked everybody over except for Matush himself. Matush is the reason Jackie jr and Dino are dead. It was an act of pure cowardice. If Dino and Jackie Jr were able to escape as planned there would of been no suspicion of their involvement in the robbery.

[@brettmajors69karaoke]

Mariah never had the makings of a varsity terrorist- or driver- did the feds even have him on their radar?

[@brettmajors69karaoke]

Matush

[@tonynomikos3702]

Chrissy recognised the voice during the robbery

[@alyssarichardson2544]

Matush had no reason to be that loyal to them, JJ was a retard for having him behind the wheel.

[@nitehawkus7385]

If He had been married to Meadow his life would have been spared, without a doubt. But it would have hastened the decline of Tony and Chris' relationship big time.

[@kurtwpg]

If no one had been harmed he probably would have gotten a pass. Then with the acknowledgement that left unchecked he was going to find stupid ways to be a wiseguy, he would have glued to Ralph and told that he'd wind up in a hole if he got out of line again. Eventually growing into a mediocre soldier from a once prominent family. And probably whacked before age 30 for doing something else stupid and entitled.

[@Rohml]

Any other scenario would have had Jackie Jr. killed except if he didn't shoot a made man. Even if Jackie Sr. were alive, all it would have brought is resentment from the person shot and possible defection to another family interested in taking out Jackie Sr. The best Jackie Sr. could do is have Jr. hidden away and then find a way to either make amends to the shot person (which can be seen as a form weakness) or finish the job and make the killing justified (the shot person turns out to be a rat or does something that a boss can give the go to have them whacked). The latter would be applicable if it's someone like Eugene or Philly Spoons or maybe even Benny, but since this is a competent ex-pat, it becomes a bit more difficult as he is respected by the other family in the states as he is in Italy. There is no way you can make someone like that disappear and no one takes notice which is crucial for Jr to survive. Even with that, it would most definitely cause internal strife in the family which may cause trouble for Jr. in his mob future. Jackie Jr. only way to survive in the mob after that was to not shoot any made man.

[@MadMetsFan]

Jackie Jr. could never be made - Tony absolutely would have blocked it - and the best he could have been was a low-level gangster - who if he stayed out of Tony's hair - would have been viewed as a disappointment, but not a problem. The impression that I got was that when they were young, no one really thought much of young Tony & Jackie Sr., but they weren't viewed as f*** ups either - just unimportant. So when they took down Feech's card game they were just highlighting the unseen potential to the made guys. The card game would not have changed anyone's ideas about Jackie Jr. and the best that would have happened is that no shots were fired, no money was taken, Jackie and the other slink out with the tails between their legs and afterwards Tony admonish him and Jackie Jr. is quietly banished from North Jersey - I think this is the best that he could have hoped for.

[@hexagonproductions2019]

I feel like the whole conversation from ‘Omar’ about chess made it clear that he could have “played it out” if he hadn’t raged and given up.

[@Zeruel3]

I think if Jackie Snr were alive he wouldn't simply give Jr a pass, not with Furios injury jeopardizing the connections with Italy. More likely he arranges for Jackie Jnr to go somewhere far away and not come back, giving him a big chunk of cash to get himself set up in a new life. If he wasn't alive Jnrs best bet would be to keep running until he gets an international border or most of the country between him and Tony, ideally go to ground somewhere like California

[@tbarnett984]

Ron White cracking up and funny as all get out at 6:25.

[@willn8664]

I feel what would have saved Jackie Jr is if he joined the military and gotten some leadership experience while in then when he gets out, he can bring that knowledge into the New Jersey crew.

[@tacitus6384]

This will sound controversial, but I don't think Jackie Jr was as dumb as people think. Yeah, his "my fawtha!" and short-sighted impulsiveness and desire to be seen as this great mafia guy were fn dumb, they were. But consider other things too: - He got into a decent college. Sure he's no med student, but the average GPA to get into Rutgers is 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. Could he have gotten people to write stuff for him? Sure, but a whole high school academic record? No, he did most of that himself. - He showed keen psychological warfare instincts when it came to strategy and playing an opponent in football. He was telling AJ about how to get into the mind of an opponent on the field. I could see this maturing into his mafia career if he ever got over himself and his "my fawtha" routine. - Chris spoke highly of him as a get-away driver. Sure, he pissed his pants, but as Chris said, "he was a real asset" no cowboy shit, did as was needed and got his job done. - He showed potential to be a stand-over man/thug when he came along with Ralph. - He showed leadership/charisma, at least within his own little mickey mouse crew. He was undoubtedly their leader. Again, remember, he was only 23 years old. Think about how dumb, immature and short-sighted you were at that age compared to where your mind is now then apply that development/maturity to Jackie Jrs profile. Again, this isn't to say the guy was a future boss or anything. But could he rise to the rank of soldier and carve out a piece of the mafia life for himself? With enough experience and getting his head out of his ass, I think he could.

[@SteppesoftheLevant]

I think omar gave up jackie when he first went to hide out. when jackie went into omar's apartment , his friend said " your guido friends will never find you here!" . so omar knew who to call for that money bag

[@sticksnstones5407]

Could you please do a video about the family of old hitmen from Long Island that were hired to kill Johnny Sack, which was cancelled. They were very interesting characters.

[@IJamesCordenLoveMyWife]

From providence you stunad

[@faisalkamal4319]

Never had the making of a varsity wise guy

[@kbraker510]

Had Jackie still been alive,I believe he would everything possible to keep Jr. Away from the life. Even though he was a wannabe punk, he wasn’t cutout for the life.

[@550LMS]

Had his dad still been alive, it would be a very heavy tax he'd have to pay but he'd have lived (that said, with his dad still around I don't think he'd have done this at all anyways. His dad would've forced him to stay in college and run a little racket there if anything). Still dating Meadow, a very small chance he'd get away with it, again with a serious tax, and I still wouldn't rate his chances high. Married to meadow, his odds increase significantly. Married to Meadow + kids, even higher chances. The tax would've been enormous in all cases.

[@Goosavich]

I think Sunshine being killed is still a huge deal because these card games are good business for the mob but when word gets out that guys are being killed at these games then it lowers the credibility of the games which in turn is bad for business.

[@tinynuggins1029]

I always wondered why Junior didn't step in and save Jackie...I mean Jackie did have the makings of a varsity athlete. Lol

[@rocoa01]

very good analysis, I think as you said only if he had married Medow or if his Father was still alive. Those are the only two things that would have saved him. To be honest, had he done either of those two things he would not be robbing a card game, he would have probably been on to better things

[@tyheemdowney5204]

Wasn't really Booton that area was Paterson where Jackie was shot

[@user-if4nx2jn8r]

I agree with you on most of your analysis of this situation, but I disagree that them killing someone wasn't much of a factor. He may not have been a big deal in their circle, but a civilian getting killed at their poker game is a terrible blow to the reputation of the card games. People who are okay with losing a bunch of money to the mob would still be reluctant to play if their safety is not guaranteed.

[@steelethescene]

God he was such a DUMMY!!!

[@johnfedoruk]

What type of gun was used to shoot Jackie JR?

[@nothingtoseehere449]

if Jackie would’ve hide out till season 6 I’m sure Tony would’ve forgiven or at least not touch him him with Ralphie being dead, him hating furio because his wife fantasizes about him, and chris being in bad standing/killed since sunshine wasn’t made he would have no other reason to have him killed besides maybe meadow liking him?

[@evilkyle]

To be fair Vito looked like Danny DeVito's Penguin from Batman

[@robyeone7976]

Tony did a horrible job of cultivating the younger generation. Brendan, Georgie, Matt, Sean, Jackie Jr, Dino, Carlo Renzi… all of them could have contributed IF guided correctly.

[@peteyprimo7173]

Go over those names again and tell me the first reason you wouldn’t trust any of them. Also Georgi wasn’t young he was in their same age range he was just a big dumb muscle

[@NordicTG]

I Think that if Tony Really Gave Jackie Jr a Chance to become a Wiseguy too, I really think he would have become part of the crew & Possible go the whole way With Meadow, only thing I see him acting out & Spun at the way it happens, its all Because of our Main Guy at the Helm... Tony Soprano, how you may ask? Well Tony Promissed his old dying Friend & former boss, but I think Tony didn t care much, if he did.. he wanted to keep the Top Spot himself as I see it, but man Was Tony Pretty Reckless at times being the Boss of this Crew, Thank god Furio got away before bodies started to dropp, I liked him alot. so What JJ didn t want to go to School, live a normal life? but as I said it all comes down to What Tony Does, Dont Do, Likes or Dislikes..

[@mr.melancholy4973]

Hey Bully I don't think he would have been saved he still shot at 2 made men and injured one. Just shooting at a made man is a death sentence enough. Also regardless of Jackie Sr. or Tony giving him a pass you have to understand a boss is only a boss as long as your family is happy and likes you and I don't believe the Demeos would have stayed quiet after that in my opinion.

[@pragma2017]

In real life, father or not, he had to go……… thanks for another good video👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@Nwkcurly]

It’s funny bc tht isn’t boonton where he is that’s Paterson the north side 1st ward by the riverview towers. Ik bc I grew up there and I recognize it bc of how rundown it looks

[@saltyabcdef3202]

He could've been in Tony's actual family as an in-law. He had no business in Tony's other family, wasn't suited to it.

[@JohnnyScumbagg]

Never understood how Tony and Jackie Sr robbing a big player like Feech Lamanna’s card game got them on a fast track to being made. Just don’t make sense. In real life they would’ve been dead too.

[@godking]

IF Tony's father and uncle where not Capos and Jackie Aprile's brother was not a made man they would have been dead

[@donttrustem13]

Felt bad for Sunshine seemed like he was willing to let them go for such a dumb play if they just kept it cool

[@trent3235]

what is movie at 3:43

[@jonrobbin170]

Jackie and AJ could've been bigger assets to the family by going legit and being a clean face for certain aspects of the business.

[@timothyaldrich83]

It always bugged me when ralphie called feech a old moustache Pete unless I’m wrong is a term for off the boat Italian

[@angelhernandezrivera6195]

As far as Jackie Sr. Being alive, that changes too much. Furio wouldn't have come over since it was Junior's business and therefore would have stayed Jr's

[@totallymaortal1211]

I fell like his character is showing us what would happen to AJ if Tony died before he matured.

[@bryanl3659]

I’m a big sopranos fan and I never quite understood robbing each other’s games. It seems incestuous . Is it really more a flex than about the score ?

[@svenov3167]

If Jackie Aprile was still alive the real question would be if Furio would even be a soldier in the Soprano family. Jackie would have gone to Italy not Tony. The outcome could have been totally different and Furio would proabably stay in Italy in the first place. There would have never been the conversation between Ralphie and Jackie Jr. Jackie Jr would live a life just like AJ and never really get in touch with the mob, well... not in a criminal way of course.