Did Ralph Really Kill The Horse? The Sopranos Explained

[@CineRanter]

*Why You're Wrong About Ralph Cifaretto | The Sopranos* kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqKQiX2YjK56qqs

[@tad1980]

The horse is alive and well at a farm in Beaver Falls, overlooking a little river, pine cones all around

[@Ted_Sheckler]

Aww...really?

[@Silo-Ren]

get some help

[@timstradley5819]

She’s in a better place. Where the midgets are never shy with the whip

[@Cbart23]

😆

[@walmart_ar1567]

horseshit up to the rafters

[@Buford_T_Justice1]

Tony does have a thing for animals. Especially that animal Blundetto. I can’t even say his name.

[@Ar1AnX1x]

you and animal egg again?

[@Tessio_]

Hahaha

[@theramplocal]

Whoa, Phil? In the can? Source???

[@VitZ9]

Don't do it to yourself Buford.

[@benhelsloot5381]

Gold

[@bryaningle6034]

I think he did it. It was probably his plan all along. Horses, especially race horses, are very expensive to own and maintain. He probably figured he could make a few bucks racing it and then do a little insurance fraud once the horse started costing him. Sort of like a bust out. Tony's response was unexpected. Most guys in his position would just wonder where his cut was.

[@davidkeys4284]

Ralphie had it coming

[@roems6396]

There is no question that he did it. Of course he did it.

[@МаркоСинтетик]

Because Tony loved animals more than people.

[@bakashinji]

@@davidkeys4284 you're damn right he did. Personally, I feel like Tony should've done something with Ralph after he beat Tracee to death...that was seriously messed up. Didn't matter if she was a "hoore" or not, she was pregnant with his kid and he was mad she wouldn't lay down and take his abuse. Tony should've had him whacked then and there

[@sole__doubt]

If Raphie did it, he'd have admitted it. Why wouldnt he admit it? He mercilessly beat a woman and the guys did nothing. So why would he hid having a horse killed? He knows the guys arent going to do anything.

[@WarTheory]

Yes he did… Ralph was hemorrhaging money on vet bills etc on pie and when his son got hurt he really needed money… Also David Chase confirmed it

[@glenbellefonte9620]

I heard him say it on Talking Sopranos

[@seanswinton6242]

Also he hated splitting money with Tony when the horse won.

[@AtomicGT55]

I know that David Chase confirmed he did on that pygmy podcast (That animal Schirripa, I can't even say his name), but I honestly think the story would have been better if Ralphie was innocent. It would have been the perfect ironic twist - here's this guy that committed so many heinous acts, yet is brutally murdered for something that he was ultimately innocent of while also trying to turn his life around. It would further cement Tony as an emotional hypocrite , which I feel the writers were really trying to hammer on in the last half of the show especially. Tony murdering Ralphie to avenge Pie-o-my frames his acts as almost noble in a way, and it just felt a bit out of character for David Chase to give such a blunt answer.

[@True_Christian]

"yet is brutally murdered for something that he was ultimately innocent of" --- But that still wouldn't make him "innocent," because even if what you said were to be so, then he still would be guilty of disrespecting Tony and mouthing off to Tony and disparaging his horse, all of which are sufficient grounds in the mob to whack Ralphie anyway.

[@studinthemaking]

Can we get a link to this podcast?

[@AtomicGT55]

@@studinthemaking kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6nboYZvqKh2gqs&ab_channel=TalkingSopranos

[@Alexbuffalo789]

Almost like that’s what the video said

[@gregparks1785]

I met Joe Pantoliano at Terrificon a few weeks ago and asked him this very question. He said David Chase never told him one way or the other but in his mind Ralphie was too preoccupied with his son’s injuries. He said Tony went there and wanted to believe what he wanted to believe, and he compared that to Fox News and CNN viewers wanting to believe what they’re being told because it aligns with their beliefs already. It was a great conversation and he was super nice to talk to. This is a great video to show both sides of it and I love how it could absolutely go either way.

[@GolumTR]

There’s one thing not mentioned, cause it’s kind of off topic. What Ralph didn’t know is that Tony had a trigger about meat, due to his abusive mother’s obsession. Maybe Tony could have been talked down before that, but once you hit that Oedipal rage button it’s over, just like with Chrissy at the intervention.

[@johnnyappleseed9568]

Great call out

[@calangoraivoso9921]

At one point he could've talk it out even if they got physical, but when someone hits Tony's ego show off his hypocricy or touch in one of his traumas, its over for that someone, and Ralph did two last ones so he was a dead man for sure, altough I wonder, what do you think would've happened if he managed to kill Tony, you think he would put the blame in NY?

[@GolumTR]

@@calangoraivoso9921 IMO, I think if Ralph killed Tony he has no choice but to sell out the entire DeMio crime family. If he convinces himself he needs the money then he drives to NYC and lies that Paulie did it, otherwise he breaks into Barone Sanitation to steal as many files he fan carry and turns state evidence.

[@colink7017]

You hit the nail on the head. and how would anybody know? He never really conveyed that to people. only his therapist really heard about his vulnerabilities or what he felt inside.

[@Ben-fx8lg]

I’m killing myself!?!? The way you eat you’ll be dead by the age of 50….

[@lane6216]

Ralph doubles down when he repeats, “It was a f’ing horse.” That was all the confirmation I needed.

[@ivanbeales3196]

This. The wordplay play between Ralph saying “ she was a hoo-er” (Tracy), and then Ralph saying it was a f ing horse makes it so clear.

[@ivanbeales3196]

Alongside the show drawing comparison between whores and horses, like when in tk ya dream Carmela tells to y he can’t have horses in the house. Ralph defo did it

[@darrinlewis3589]

But She Was A Hoo Was .

[@sole__doubt]

That to me proves he didnt do it. He'd have admitted it right there, since he doesnt think its a big deal.

[@DevDreCW]

He's the one who brought any potential of blame into the conversation though, Tony said the arson investigators didn't find anything.. Subconscious slip.​ He was then trying to talk Tony down, not realizing how much animals matter to him.

[@Drakkannon2034]

I know Chase has confirmed it, but I've always liked the idea that he didn't actually do it. Ralphie lands himself into hot water on numerous occasions, most notably his killing of Tracy and the joke about Ginny Sacrimoni. He conspicuously behaves much differently when confronted with his actions over those instances than with Pie-O-My. With Tracy he quickly tries to come up with lackluster excuse as to her death, and is nonchalant about the event only getting emotional after Tony attacks him. With the joke about Ginny, Ralph is feigning sympathy and outrage in an attempt to mollify Johny and make it seem like he is being falsely accused by the one who told him about the joke. Ralphie thinking it will make him seem more sympathetic foolishly apologizes, which makes it obvious to Johny that Ralph is guilty of the offense. In both instances Ralph is essentially trying to weasel out of the situation he put himself in. This is a person guilty of the crime refusing to take ownership, and either feigning sympathy or blaming the victim for his actions. Now when confronted by Tony about the horse Ralph's reaction is completely different. He is at first confused and then becomes legitimately angry when Tony continues to accuse him. This response is more consistent with a person being falsely accused than someone who's trying to demur or shift blame. Ralph may be coming off callously, but you have to think of it from his perspective. Imagine your a guy who's son is in the hospital. Every ounce of your emotions are resting on his well being and the unknown of his recovery. Then Tony comes over because, let's be honest, he wants a shoulder to cry on because of his own grief over a horse that Ralph could care less about. Ralph tries his best to say the right things about the horse, but I feel Ralph is so emotionally consumed with his son's recovery he doesn't really have it in him to show much sympathy for the horse. And Tony being the self consumed man he's always been concerned more for his own feelings than the people around him, blames Ralph for the horses death because he doesn't think Ralph is sufficiently upset about it. Wouldn't you just want to explode at the guy too? He doesn't apologize and is empathic that he had nothing to do with it. It's only when Ralph shows no sympathy for the horses death in any way that Tony convinced himself that Ralph did it. He then insults Tony's feelings for the horse and ironically is attacked after making another fat joke that results in his death. Ralph is killed not because Tony thought he did it from the beginning, but rather because Ralph wouldn't validate his feelings of sadness. Now I think most people are convinced that he did it because this is something Ralph would absolutely do. If he beats a woman to death just for insulting him, would he burn a horse alive for financial gain. Of course he would, but I just love the irony that for all the bad things he did, the one that Tony kills him over he is innocent of.

[@Tusc9969]

Something to consider.. When Ralphie finally calls Johnny Sac about the joke he made about Ginny, the convo was VERY similar to the convo w/Tony about Pie-O-My. In both instances, he basically states the same thing. That he is innocent of the accusation, but even if he was guilty, so what? Either way, the alleged misdeed didnt deserve the punishment. Initially my intuition was "No." Then after a re-watch, I couldnt help but follow the logic that if he responded in virtually the same exact way both times, and we know he was guilty of the Ginny joke, then he probably is guilty of killing the horse as well. I’ve heard they filmed two versions of the confrontation between Tony and Ralphie, one where Ralphie admitted it and one where he denied it, and then cut the two together into the final product. They wanted to leave some ambiguity but apparently it was confirmed Ralphie did it. At the end of the day, whether he did or not, IMO is not important...he deserved getting beaten to death..the same way he murdered that young girl.

[@ndogg20]

Brilliant deduction! And yeah, he also just so happened to kill a pregnant young mother, but so what, eh? She was a 'who-ah' as the Soprano cast would say and the fan boys will reply with.

[@BiggityBoggity8095]

Here’s the thing. David Chase can say that Jesus came back and burned the horse. That doesn’t mean that’s what happened. The work has to speak for itself and show that a thing happened. Just like Tony’s death is debatable, Ralphie may have been innocent. Regardless of what David Chase says, the work doesn’t speak with certainty on the matter. So it’s forever unknown. Personally, I think the point has nothing to do with the horse. Tony killing Ralph creates a trend of him killing the guys he needs the most. The point is that Tony isolates himself and creates enemies. The people who can help him the most end up getting killed by him.

[@Mdog2175]

Well the actor in an interview said he felt like Ralph didn’t do it and that’s the version he likes the most. But I believe the creators said he did it. That fact we are still talking about it god 👩‍🍳 💋

[@ratikantrout1865]

Joe pantaliano said he was told to act out the scene as if he was innocent plus at the time he was changing over a new leaf feeling some real remorse and that is something Tony cannot allow to happen since he doesn't believe Ralph is a person who deserve to be redeemed plus Tony always was provoking Ralph using Sun Tzu tactic of irritating his enemy if he is of choleric temper mentioning that he is sleeping with Valentina at ralphie lowest point.the reason I always believed Tony to be the greater evil than ralphie was the hypocrisy of Tony. Tony pretends to be something he is not in reality anyone who doesn't agrees or try to break that illusion or call him out on his bullshit he cannot stand it atleast however big a degenerate ralphie was at least he never pretended to be anything else never pretended to be a moral or good person his only flaw I feel was not knowing when to stop

[@Cbart23]

Tracy the whoo-ahh

[@sethevans7587]

Bro, that subtle dig of "how long did Phil Leotardo do in the can?" was funny as ever 🤣🤣

[@sweeper1977]

The actor said no and the creator said yes. That's deep af 😂

[@mikevilla8230]

This is like Blade Runner, Ridley Scott says Deckard is a replicant and Harrison Ford says he isn’t

[@ranfan1820]

​@@mikevilla8230Ford got it right. Book Deckard also isn't a replicant

[@mortygoldmacher]

Tony's soft spot for innocents (noun) is scattered throughout the series. It's one of the ways Chase makes him relatable to viewers. Tony knew that he couldn't avenge the killing of Tracee, who was Ralphie's property, but the killing left Tony with a deep sense of disgust with Ralphie. The fire that killed Pie-O-My may or may not have been arson but it gave Tony the opportunity to vent his ire over Tracee's murder.

[@caulinwilson3620]

I agree, animals and children are soft spots for the skip. He had a speck of decency but was overall cold.

[@mikecegielski8060]

He didnt have any decency! Didnt you guys see the nd of the series and Melphi's readings? Psychopaths being gentle to babies and animals helps them rationalize their poor behavior. Tony was a piece of shit and if you idolize him you miss the entie point.

[@Delightfully_Witchy]

I felt the same way in preferring to think he didn't do it for the delicious irony. I remembered being very disappointed when the creator bluntly said "Yeah, he did it." after being quiet for years on the subject. "Death of the author" is quite justified in this case.

[@MarkAnthony-wo9fr]

The way he said "SO WHAT" during his confrontation with Tony indicates he did. One can draw inferences from his tone.

[@earlpipe9713]

That could also be read as "who gives af about a horse when my kid could die"

[@BruteStrength99]

I just think he was sick of Tony at that point and didn't care that Tony knew. That's why he followed up by insulting him.

[@slthjawa5062gggghhjjjjjkkkk]

When Ralph first showed up Ralph had burned one of Albert's garbage trucks. Albert burned 2 of Ralph's dumpsters. These guys like to use fire. To me it was always obvious Ralph burned the horse.

[@nicholasvertucci2054]

"You talk to Corky Ianucci lately?". Tony absolutely implies "human involvement".

[@ProtomanButCallMeBlues]

Chase confirmed he did, which confuses me for why he was lying to Tony. I preferred the idea that he didn't do it, but was so fed up with Tony's bull that he stood his ground in a "it shouldn't have to matter if I did"

[@aerystargaryenii2565]

He probably figured Tony would kill him if he admitted to it

[@WhatsReallyGoingOn84]

lol your writing here is just fantastic. The hidden stuff like the Phil-can thing; I love it.

[@tomraffell1923]

'The Goats Shenanigans" is a great name for a heavy metal band! Another great video, happy New Year!

[@ian7064]

I do believe that Ralph killed the horse but I can see Joe Pantolianos perspective. Ralph doesn't come off as panicky in their interaction or trying to shift blame to someone else. The way the dialogue is delivered comes off as someone who is just frustrated from trying to explain what they believe to be a completely logical and obvious point to someone (Tony) who just can't wrap their head around it

[@Psychology]

I don't believe Ralph did it but if you notice when Ralph started yelling at Tony he went back into his "crazy Ralph" voice. He was indeed getting pissed off and frustrated at Tony.

[@gstacks814]

i wonder what would have happened if Ralph won the fight with Tony, i would've been the second time Tony assaulted him, this time in his own home

[@mattydips2887]

I didnt even think this was debatable, of course he did

[@mluso1234]

Another great analysis. Best Sopranos channel on YT.

[@hugoCastellnaos]

Paulie has been going the stables each night and giving something to the horse, and this was what making the horse sick. Paulie was doing it so that the Vet bill would be to high that it would started bring what Ralph share he would give to Tony down so that it would like that Ralph wasn't making that much money. On the day of the fire, Paulie was surprise by the goat drop a lantern and this was what started the fire.

[@earlpipe9713]

The goat was really trying to take out Paulie!

[@studinthemaking]

That would have been a great subplot.

[@youtubeman2001]

I actually disliked Tony in this scene. Ralph really isn’t much worse than the other mobsters. He was starting to become a more sympathetic character and was about to have a redemption until Tony killed him

[@plaidchuck]

Thats kind of the point of the show, there were no happy endings or redemption for anyone in the life.

[@eileenmaher2101]

I still keep missing the one line where it is mentioned how long Phil did in da can.

[@jordil6152]

I think that Tony felt he could kill Ralph because his son being in a coma broke him. He just lost that light in his eyes, that drive. Tony, who hated his guts anyway, needed a reason and since he's a sociopath, he convinced himself that Ralph killed the horse.

[@Delightfully_Witchy]

I'm more willing to believe Tony murdered Christopher for his own good than I am that he "noticed the light from Ralphie's eyes were gone".

[@TheSolidSnakeOil]

And because Ralph did it.

[@BruteStrength99]

I always thought Tony did it because Ralph didn't fear him the way the others did. I think it ate him up because others knew it. That's why Tony drug out Ralphs' apology to make himself feel more secure. It's also why he calls his nephew to clean up things. I don't think he wanted Ralph's crew to know it was him. I think he went through the same thing with Ritchie Aprile

[@XY941]

It was a fucking horse. His kid was in the hospital

[@KutWrite]

I think Ralph did it. Fun to hear you 'splain all sides.

[@CaspianNomad]

At the time I suspected Paulie, I can't remember why. I couldn't see Ralph doing that when he was on a bit of a redemption ark and had bigger things going on. I think also it he did do it, he'd have said when he started shouting at Tony. At that moment he didn't care, he had nothing to lose. I wish David Chase had kept it ambiguous instead of telling everyone it was him.

[@nordette]

Yeah he has bigger stuff going on but he had those huge hospital bills and rehabilitation therapy for the kid coming up so I thought for sure he killed the horse for the money.

[@CaspianNomad]

@@nordette yeah perhaps, I'm wouldn't be surprised either way really. I really don't get why the scenario was made so perfectly ambiguous only for David to just come out and say it. The ambiguity is one of the things that keeps people coming back to this show

[@j-rey-]

​​@@CaspianNomad I don't think it was ambiguous at all. It is like coming home to your sweets loving kid sitting on the kitchen floor with chocolate on his face and an empty cookie jar next to him, and when you ask if he ate all the cookies, he says "no." He's obviously lying, there is evidence, and he had the motive. And I definitely think he'd have something to lose by telling Tony the truth. He was already on thin ice after killing Tracee. Tony would undoubtedly kill Ralphie if he learned about the horse, too.

[@derrickbperry]

I think he did, but not knowing for certain is part of life. When it comes to people...do we really know anything for certain? I think the scene played beautifully.

[@eagleman1542]

Bruh, everybody knows that Phil did 20 years and ate grilled cheese cooked off of radiators; no more, Butchie, no more. Incidentally, congratulations on the 100,000 subscribers, it's well deserved.

[@Trixdee]

Great video! I like the way how Joey Pants actually played it leaves it more open ended even if Chase did have in mind that Ralph killed Pie O My.

[@DaveSCameron]

Absolutely love your interpretations of these episodes mate, you really do have some talent for this. 👍

[@JamesRDavenport]

There's no way that fire was an accident. Ralph was just trying to justify it and was sick of kowtowing to some guy he hates. Tony was sick of Ralphie's shit. Things were bound to come to a head, or neck as the case may be.

[@daviddanielsson3643]

Billy Leotardo wasn't 40, he was 47. Still just a kid, though. I've had this discussion a few times with people. My stance has always been "No, Ralph did not kill the horse." I realized the answer now: Whether or not he killed the horse is irrelevant, if Ralph did it he didn't do it and if he didn't do it he didn't. From the viewpoint of the made men civilian deaths are of little importance. Sunshine the dealer, Tracee, the waiter that Chris and Paulie killed. Tony was actually the one breaking mafia code by killing Ralphie for Tracee and the horse. They were civilian casualties. Silvio and Albert even had a conversation about this off the record. What we're really seeing here is another example of the viewpoint of those abiding by the mafia code of civilian vs non-civilian casualties and Tony does not when killing Ralph (and many other times). Remember how the audience views the world mainly through the eyes of the made men, cheer them on and take their sides when they are really just parasites preying on ordinary people. So the conversation can indeed be interpreted both ways without a definite answer.

[@nachokz]

I'd add that whether he did it or not is irrelevant because Tony has already made up his mind. If Ralph did it (which is absolutely likely), by whacking him he gets rid of all the issues with Tracee, Pie-Oh-My, the Goumar, Johnny Sacks, even Ralph's fetishes without having to understand why does he feel the way he feels about it (let alone what Ralph is going through). It's the easy, sociopathic way out.

[@notyourdamnbusiness8795]

i think Tony just snapped when Ralph called him out on his hypocrisy. in several regards.

[@LarryLeeMoniz]

I was so hoping you would make a video about this, as this episode is far and away one of my top five favorites! I loved it! I think Ralph did it, but I love hearing your alternate scenarios (especially the one about Ralph being the Scape-Goat!). Well done!

[@bosco_sticks]

Chase confirmed he did in a podcast. Plus I thought it was pretty obvious that Ralph did. I didn't even know this was a controversy until recently

[@HOTD108_]

I really hate how David Chase revealed the answer recently. Removing the mystery takes so much away from the episode.

[@editingbasket9728]

IMO the show walked the grey line to keep the emphasis like their lines, about Tony being nuts. caring more for a horse than Ralph and Ralph caring for his son to the point of killing Ralph for this useless cause of dead horse.

[@dmartig1]

He did it and explained to Tony the reasons why it was done.

[@Ar1AnX1x]

I always thought they could have made it more interesting if they gave a nod that it could even be Paulie Paulie knowing Tony a lot better would mean that he knows he loves the horse and framing Ralphie for the murder of the horse would be the ultimate machiavellian scheme and it would make things more complicated and therefor more interesting, but obviously that's not the case.

[@macdofglasgow772]

I always took it that Ralph didn't kill the horse. Like the video, I kinda think there is an amusing irony if a scumbag like Ralphie getting his dues for something he didn't do. I also felt that for all Ralphie's bad qualities, he did love his kids and was genuinely broken up about the injury and wasn't thinking about mob business. That said, now I'm open to him doing it, it does kinda seem like he did.

[@quasimodo8959]

0:46 longer than that *ANIMAL* blundetto

[@anderseriksson6445]

Great analysis as always. I like the idea you put forward that it was indeed arson and not an accident, but that it was done by someone other than Ralphie, e.g. Paulie. Whoever did it would of course know that Ralphie would get the blame.

[@sliding_by8607]

He did that shit -50 Cent

[@emanuele20x]

Love your videos

[@paulcarpenter7844]

Silvio lives in Lillehammer

[@dasdeke]

I hadn't caught that mention of Raph saying "What kind of sick f*ck does that" till now. That changed my mind!

[@KittySnicker]

Oh I’m sure he did it. He had such cruel disregard for the horse

[@Cbart23]

In RDR2 I always name my horse Pie-O-My 🐴

[@mikenayers5981]

David Chase outright said he did, and Tony was projecting what Ralph did to Tracy through the horse.

[@shawnking6753]

I love your thoughts on the irony of Ralph being condemned for the horse if he had in fact NOT killed her. But I thought your throw away idea of Paulie doing the deed even more interesting... I hope you'll expand on that or Paulie himself (if you haven't already, I'm working my way through your vids lol).

[@LuminaireNoire]

I'm with you @CineRanter - with the way it's written & performed, my gut tells me Ralph is guilty, but I think Ralph being innocent is a much richer, more literary take because of the tragic irony involved, that after all the violence, murder, and abuse he's doled out during the entirety of his time in the show, his comeuppance is over something terrible he *didn't* do. The fact that it comes right in the middle of him beginning to change his ways (much like Tony started to do in his season 6B arc) after his son is hospitalized gives it even greater impact. Great video.

[@mattkyle306]

biggest sign ralphie did it: he can barely look Tony in the eye

[@janiterinadrum1627]

The Sopranos had just as much impact on America and the world as did welcome back Kotter or happy days… things said and Done on that show are Now catch phrases for Eternity

[@phil-Leotardo.171]

What about da case of Billy Leotardo you promised to make? 47 years old he was just a kid, He was robbed of a bright future, by dat animal Blundetto.

[@Steve-wo7gt]

I always took the scene as an admission of guilt. Never even realized it was meant to be ambiguous. 🔥🏇🔥

[@jollymanbigboy]

"She was a beautiful innocent creature what did she ever do to you?" is a line that I actually interpret differently. If you pay attention to the choreography of the Ralph Tony fight, it's actually shockingly similar to the Gloria fight. I think Tony had a memory flash and thought of Gloria in that moment and said it out loud. I know David Chase says differently but I don't give a damn what he says 20 years after the fact.

[@Dead_Again1313]

That scapegoat joke was hilarious to me 😂😂😂

[@Cazz8203]

I think it was simply a good scene showing how tony is who he is, the untrusting and untrustworthy monster that he was....willing to do anything to his own men without any proof. As mentioned by the dinner scene with Sylvio.....I wondered how they came to the conclusion that tony killed Ralph over the horse. "This has to be tony, right?". But as I'm typing that out I suppose that could go back to the stripper that was killed

[@dukedematteo1995]

Excellent work my man. I'm glad Southwest Asians from England love mafia movies as much as us.

[@TDOLLA]

wasn’t there a lot of imagery and connections made around tony and meat. Like his childhood memories and some of his “spells” being triggered by meat and childhood memories involving meat. I just noticed right before he attacks Ralph the last thing said was “you eat beef and sausages by the truckload” meat seems to be this weird catalyst for him

[@louishart6725]

Whether or not Ralph killed the horse is not the point. The point is “don’t stop believing” think about it “don’t stop believing” see now isn’t that much clearer now?

[@ppiorkowski1502]

David Chase already said in an interview that it was Ralph who had the horse stable burnt down.

[@JoJoJoker]

People miss the point of Ralphie’s death. Tony explicitly said *NO MORE FAT JOKES* . What did Ralph do, despite the fat joke feud with Johnny Sack which nearly killed him? *He made a fat joke about his boss* . His death has nothing to do with the horse! It was about Ralph’s unwillingness or inability to change his behavior.

[@joekoe97]

I think this is one of those scenes where there is no answer and it's done on purpose perfectly. Say he did, it allows for his satisfying end to the series and a a great plot point in the show as a whole. If he is innocent, then Tony murdered an innocent man yet got him back anyway for all things he had done in previous episodes. Even if we never really know, this was the perfect way to play it out for the show.

[@vaughnalston3009]

Love the video and he 1000% did it. Whenever someone says (O come on it was just a …….)Thats a sign admission

[@doublem1975x]

David Chase confirmed that Ralph killed Pie-O-My

[@aaronrowell6943]

It's been awhile since I watched the series so I didn't even think about that that the no more fires comment is ironic considering the fire at the stables which circumstantially links Ralph to it if you think that he did it I was under the impression that he did it but as is brought up it really doesn't matter if he did or did not do it necessarily for Tony to take him out but his death will have some consequences in terms of his other capos opinions on him going forward

[@laytonlast7876]

NO. HE. DID. NOT!! BUT SO WHAT! IT WAS A FUCKING ANIMAL!

[@jaybeam1466]

Tony definitely got hit at the end. People seem to think it's the guy that walked into the restroom, but the scene's structure indicates it was someone that walked through the front door. Meadow would have been right behind the gunman when it happened. The entire family could have been killed for all we know. I simultaneously love and hate that fucking ending.

[@macflod]

I think he or one of his crew did it on his orders. The only doubt i have is Ralph is clear distressed about Justin in the hospital so in some ways i think he maybe didn’t as he was not thinking about pie-o-my but he is bit unstable so i could still see him going and doing it to get his frustration out.

[@janiterinadrum1627]

Definitely one of the greatest shows to ever be on TV

[@vickjr98]

For me the greatest

[@boazbuchandler9845]

Of course he did. I don't see how you can even question that. As Tony said it: "Suddenly, there's a fire and be cash in 200K". Ralph had the means (Ruthless Connected and Creative Mob guy) and the motive (his son's medical care). To top that the way he acted 'surprised' when Tony told him. C'mon...

[@dawnguard6472]

I tend to think if David Chase weighs in then that’s that.

[@cwells7285]

i am fully satisfied with whatever david chase says since it is his story. which is why his steadfast refusal to confirm whether tony was shot in the final scene continues to frustrate.

[@paulmarks9063]

i always thought was ralph didn't kill the horse, but he called tony a hypocrite. and in typical ralph fashion, he kept talking and took it too far and said the thing about eating beef and sausage by the car load, so tony snapped and beat him to death. that's how it always seemed to me anyway

[@MelanCholy2001]

I never thought Ralph DIDN'T kill the horse 😂but for all my rewatches (several times a year; I find comfort in this sick show somehow, I guess: yes, the world is as bad as Chase makes it out to be), I'm skipping through S4 at a clip because while I love some elements of it, I cannot STAND what they did to Furio. No excuses: he went from a 10 character to worst ever in "The Weight". _Mwah, I love Carmela..._ But anyway, this is the first time I've noticed HOW MUCH happens in Mergers and Whoever Did This! Ralph loses Valentina, he's outed as a sexual masochist (can't get it up), but he has a kid, and one gets seriously hurt, AND he asks Ro to marry him, then gives Tony money he collected; the Paulie stuff with his mother (funny); and Tony tells Ralphie he's taking Valentina! (I'm not halfway through Whoever Did This and haven't mentioned Ro/Carm and the money or Junior falling). ALL THIS is crammed into a very short time frame, and OF COURSE Ralphie hit Pie O My, but not because of the money. It was because he cried to Tony, *sincerely,* and Tony tells him he's taken his ex-g/f. Tony had just asked about Ralph's mother earlier, too. Tony might as well have said, I know how you get off, you're a cuck, I own you, and Valentina and I laugh about your sick sexual needs or I wouldn't have touched her Ralphie, you slime! And Ralphie is MORE than ready to end "this thing" either way: he killed Pie O My, he's not ashamed, he even pokes the bear about Tony putting up with HIM (he's telling Tony that TONY is the punk for putting up with Ralphie for so long 😂) -I'm paused at 23:30 mid-fight, and they're GOING AT IT. I'd never noticed that Ralph basically admitted to T that he whacked the horse and he's done lots of things for T and he doesn't think Tony is much more than HIS cuck, too! OOOHhhhh, someone was gone DIE! It was a war for NJ and I never noticed it before. Ralph basically TOLD Tony that T is his bitch AND a hypocrite! (T had to "end" this thing. AND he had to win at any cost.) Now I'm going to hit un-pause.

[@BIL0471]

It turns out "Whoever Did This" was a stealth Black Phillip prequel.

[@b.a.n20O3]

Paulie doing it is actually a pretty good theory

[@USALibertarian]

I think the actual point is it doesn't matter. It was literally just the last straw. What actually made Tony Snap was that Ralph didn't care and mocked Tony for caring.

[@Silenthero66]

I never understood this. I thought it was obvious from how indignant he was over it. The moment he says "IT WAS A FUCKING HORSE!" I thought well that's it then he did it.

[@billyb6001]

It was 19 or 21 years in the can. one of those two. I can't remember.

[@MarkoAnzio]

Yes. Davis chase confirmed it on the taking sopranos podcast.

As you noted, David Chase said Ralph did set the fire and kill Pie-O-My. That settles it for me. His world, his story.

[@dougfraser77]

I agree with your conclusion: the totality of the evidence suggests Ralph did it, but I personally prefer the irony that he didn't.

[@Lebron1279]

'What sick f***?' That was the last straw either way.

[@Void7.4.14]

David Chase already said yes, he did, "obvious" is how Chase described it I believe. This isn't a mystery and arguments are kinda irrelevant when the creator says what's what. Just like the fact that Tony is dead and it was NY that did it (possibly with assists or agreements with Jersey guys like Patsy, but we don't know that much). I'm all for death of the author and all, but, regardless of how the acting portrayed it, we know Ralph. Not as well as we should had some significant scenes not been cut surrounding his mom that Joe remembers filming that never made the final, but we know him well enough to know this is exactly the kinda thing he'd do and he's nowhere near above it. I get that there's a certain narrative that works if he didn't do it, but I don't think it's relevant tbh. It's not really from the Chase playbook either, that's more GRRM. I also don't think I'd say he was on some too-soon ended redemption arch either, that seems like a stretch. I don't think Ralph could help the way he was.

[@robertprice5243]

This fan theory got squashed. The raider director themselves said that he killed the horse

[@thallus23]

Yes Ralph killed the horse! I saw an interview where the creator said Ralph did it 😂

[@fad2679]

Haven't watched the video yet but I thought David Chase already confirmed in an interview that Ralphie did kill Pie-O-My

[@A_real_Ha_So]

He did but I think the object of these is to ignore that he said so and debate

[@sole__doubt]

If Ralphie did it he'd have admitted it, its that simple.

[@dmagwaza]

It's unfortunate that David Chase gave a definitive answer to this question. I think it would have been more interesting if he had left the issue ambiguous.

[@ElleSimon-wi1cm]

Of course, Ralphie set the fire. Even if he didn't, if he hadn't been so arrogant thinking he was untouchable, he would have stopped after, "I did not!" and saved his life. Tony wasn't completely sure until Ralphie started with the "So what?" rant Anyway, we know Tony hated Ralphie and wanted to do this since Ralphie beat Tracee to death.

[@vespasian606]

That show ended too early. We never got Phils recipe for grilled cheese on a radiator.

[@prsee5969]

So weird I watched this series twice and I was sure that he admitted to killing the horse. Like the way he talked about the money they made I read between the lines he did kill the horse. I always thought how he yelled “it was only a horse” sounded like “wh*re” which he killed and she reminded Tony of his daughter, proving he doesn’t give a F.