The Fate Of The Russian REVEALED! | The Sopranos

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In one of the highest rated episodes of The Sopranos - Pine Barrens - Paulie and Christopher try to kill a Russian named Valery, who disappears into the woods never to be seen again.
It's one of the greatest mysteries of the show, and we now know what happened to the Russian.
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[@CineRanter]

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[@cpt191021]

i really thought it was the NEw Jersey DEvil dude lol. That woould be my fav answer the Jersey Devil grabbed him and few off. How else did the tracks vanish. Is it some interior decorator secret?

[@deehunter5290]

His house look like shit

[@Aaron-ej9ql]

His house looked like shit

[@TLovetoDance012]

😂😂😂

[@lusmas99]

If the last explanation is true, it proves ONE THING...David Chase is a dick.

[@LeonidsStrapOn]

Paulie: "He was an interior decorator" Christopher: " ....? His house looked like shit"

[@ThievesInTheTreasureRoom]

Wasn't even that funny.

[@AK907LSD25]

@@ThievesInTheTreasureRoom how funny is "that" funny?

[@ThievesInTheTreasureRoom]

@@AK907LSD25 Your mom is that funny

[@AK907LSD25]

@@ThievesInTheTreasureRoom wicked burn

[@The_Candyman86]

He meant a killer

[@emilthompson7813]

Well, he killed 16 Czechoslovakians. Guy was an interior decorator

[@topg7778]

His house looked like shit

[@wilmetteentwistle9242]

I heard the same thing!

[@bbcr11]

The quote was he lulled 16 people in the Chech interior ministry. At least get the quote correct for relevance to how Pauls remarks was so funny

[@richardfilanderer]

One of the greatest punchlines in the history of comedy and it came from probably the most morbid show in existence lmaooooo Sopranos is goat.

[@letsgetit2029]

@@bbcr11 oh! You’re talking to the boss of this family! The fucks the matter with you?

[@c.a8837]

Valery survived. Used his special Russian elite commandos skills, to track back Paulies car and went the hell out of that woods. He knew Paulie and Chris were Tony's crew. And he knew Tony was friends of Slava. He got paranoid thinking Slava may have asked the hit to Tony for some misdoing of him Valery. He was constantly drunk and causing Slava trouble. Valert gets devastate with the possibility of his long friend Slava betraying him. And then he just ran away, disappeared from the world with money he had hiding.

[@diskettejockey7829]

This is a good one

[@mikeconroe3328]

I.mean valerie used to lived in these kind of place

[@danielsmith5023]

Never thought of that . I think you are right

[@FlipFlibbo]

Niiiice! I like it

[@atgimm2090]

This gives me so much closure

[@The_Wizard_Zoo]

In later years He exicuted a Mafia Boss in a New Jersey Diner.

[@blackdynamite5016]

I was thinking that. I'll say Slava did it. That was his boy

[@bhnjus]

That's what I always thought.

[@FF18Cloud]

Is Holstens a diner or a place for fuckin good chocolate? Can’t stand their “diner” food But amazing ice cream and chocolate Would grab some of that after some weekend tennis practice :P

[@Britton_Thompson]

Oh please..... everyone knows it was Georgie who got his long sought-after revenge on Tony that night at Holston's, not Valery. But because he's Georgie, on his way out the door, he felt the urge to make a speech to everyone in attendance that he never once believed that ice grew on trees, and that everyone there should just stop spreading those rumors now! Unfortunately for Georgie, this gave police all the time they'd need to arrest him since his deaf left ear prevented him from hearing the sirens that were closing in on him. All patrons inside the restaurant that night unanimously reported that he was captured whilst repeating himself in a rambling speech instead of making his getaway. One of the employees who worked at the now infamous New Jersey diner was later quoted as saying, "If the cops didn't come in when they did, I was about to take that gun right out of his hand and shoot my own self in the head with it just so I wouldn't have to hear this guy talk anymore!"

[@jorgemcconnelli4361]

No way

[@TheIgnoredGender]

Was always on Valery's side. They got their money, but Paulie unnecessarily fucks with the guy.

[@KrommKONG]

Yeah and he even offered them some vodka lol

[@DrJ-hx7wv]

Correct

[@acidmack1041]

I love Paulie but yeah, i wanted the Russian to come out on top

[@frankdascoli709]

F#%^ that you don’t tell Paulie to “put remote on docking station” and not expect violence

[@TheIgnoredGender]

@@frankdascoli709 I'll tell Paulie to get his shinebox.

[@amercadodf]

No other mystery in real life or in tv/cinema has ever started because of a Universal Remote...

[@seanbaggentheimperialdrago1704]

Don’t be too sure of that , remotes can and have caused great disharmony .

[@negativeindustrial]

Put remote on docking station.

[@iangodwin478]

Whoops.

[@scotttracy9333]

@@iangodwin478 Paulie !!

[@AnAbsurdExistence]

@@negativeindustrial listen to this prick giving orders

[@prestonmcilvaine3188]

“His place looked liked shit” best dialogue and episode of the Sopranos

[@ThievesInTheTreasureRoom]

Wasn't that funny.

[@vid6945]

@@ThievesInTheTreasureRoom find some new dialogue hater

[@ThievesInTheTreasureRoom]

@@vid6945 You find some new dialogue dummy

[@AngelCrack13]

Ofcourse this is one of the best episodes but for me "The test dream" is the best episode! Tony always got these bizarre dreams but in this episode its all about those dreams! For me the best! Season 5 Episode 11

[@Jeff-uq7iu]

Best episode

[@lpn8585]

The Russian mystery is part of what makes this episode the best. It drove me nuts that they didn’t find him and their car was missing. I thought it would be revealed in the next episode but it wasn’t. This decision making foreshadows the end of the series. Ambiguity.

[@Jollyswagman7]

They just couldn’t be bothered to conclude the story and thought fans wouldn’t notice😅

[@twotablesnmic]

None of these possible scenarios explain why Paulie's car was missing. I like to imagine the Russian makes his way back to the car and goes to Roy Rodgers.

[@jimraynor9897]

Or to Mortons for a nice steak.

[@penskepc2374]

Im pretty sure it wasnt gone, they just came out to a diffrent spot that happened to have that van.

[@seth5143]

Didn't they just get lost & forget where they parked it?

[@CNYKnifeNerd]

@@genegeneish That goddamn little chip!

[@fenixchief7]

@@genegeneish so it was disabled. Sounds good.

[@sandorclegane3658]

"Put universal remote in docking station!"

[@SteadyRoosevelt]

"You probably wiped your ass bare handed till ya came to this country! Heh heh."

[@youveryniceman]

Uuniversaal remot, poot eet downnn on docking stayshon

[@Therion0184]

Listen to dis prick givin orders

[@bradentoncane8830]

@@Therion0184 oooppsss...

[@dehumanizedtormentor6465]

Paulie...

[@R.R.R.465]

Here's my theory, David Chase wrote it in with no follow up, because he had no plans for him what so ever and then forgot about the plot line, until fans of the show complained and then in his hubris, DC refused to address it for years.

[@rickmainecali]

Fans are the only reason he had a successful show maybe he should consider that….

[@Dr.TJ_Eckleburg]

@@rickmainecali No. Fan service is bullshit. And I say that as one of the biggest Sopranos fans on the planet. The show was legendary because it treated the audience with respect, and in turn the audience respected the show. Pandering is the opposite of respect. Pandering is what you do when you either run out of ideas, or are insecure in your own ability to tell a story. Neither the show nor David Chase owes the fans anything. The show was presented without apology, and it was executed more flawlessly than any other in history. Cheap fan service would have diminished it, and Chase understood that.

[@craven4bmore709]

Jesus christ, it's not the best show in history, execution, story, acting or otherwise. great show, one of the best. The best...c'mon.

[@Dr.TJ_Eckleburg]

@@craven4bmore709 You just reveal your own ignorance.

[@craven4bmore709]

@@Dr.TJ_Eckleburg Yes, I am ignorant because I don't concur with your subjective view of what is the best show. What exactly would my ignorance center around? Doesn't matter, you don't know. I just said something you dislike hearing and delivered the first passive-aggressive insults you could muster. How about reinforce your opinion, or give some reasons why mine is erroneous.

[@cars654]

Valery's footprints disappeared in the snow and then the shot from up above. Also in the beginning of the scene before Valery starts to dig his own grave he is looking up at the trees planning his next move. He may have also been checking the direction of the sun and how to get back to the Caddy and the money left in the car.

[@ke9988]

I think the same. It seemed clear to me how the Russian escaped.

[@BUFFALO_NY]

Lmao,it's not real guys

[@almightycripple9607]

“You’re not going to believe this, guy killed 16 Czechoslovakians…he was an interior decorator.” - Paulie Walnuts

[@mikepowell1015]

His apartment looked like shit.

[@wuffos]

He worked for the Directorate of the Interior and killed 16 Chechens ( from Chechnya) with his bare hands. Paulie relayed this to Chris as "he's an interior decorator and kills chickens with his bare hands".☺

[@zachschendt7201]

Anyone who hunts or tracks animals knew exactly where Valery was. Footprints don't just magically disappear in deep snow

[@johnnyjerseyshardest]

Where???

[@Brunzy1970]

So where did he go? Up a tree? Those weren't pine tree, so no cover at all. Anyway where did he disappear to?

[@cikosphysicaltherapist6017]

Up a tree

[@cikosphysicaltherapist6017]

Look at the camera angle. Only time in history they did an aerial

[@zachschendt7201]

@@Brunzy1970 it's a first person shot from his pov. Pretty obvious if ya watch the scene. Not to mention, they never look up.

[@GarethNIreland]

He’s probably still out there, stalking us right now...

[@mojohal879]

With what hes cock?

[@pauliewalnuts7088]

@@mojohal879 🤣🤣

[@johnsun3854]

@@mojohal879 Quasimodo predicted this you know.

[@captaincaveman2040]

He's still out in pine barrens. Washing his balls with ice water and drinking vodka with the Jersey Devil. 👿

[@adofficialchannel4831]

Best line in the whole episode! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@JohnMoyerHypnosis]

Steve Buscemi just said on Talking Sopranos that the shot from the tree, lookin down on them wasn't meant to seem like the Russian was looking at them. He said he needed a wide shot, they were up against time and it seemed like the best thing to do. He did say Chase questioned him about it and he explained why he did it. And ultimately, Chase said it was a good camera shot so he left it.

[@PRiMO585]

Yea I ALWAYS saw that as at least alluding to the fact he could be up in the tree. Possibly.

[@deathwishdan2557]

So why did the blood trail end right there below the tree?

[@kendennison8186]

I always assumed he was up in the tree from that camera shot. Figured that head shot took him out but idk. One of the best episodes ever

[@topshelfstuff]

@@deathwishdan2557 and the footprints ended at the tree also, seems like the only "logical" reason they couldn't find him is he used his strength to get up and back down from the tree and then take Paulie's car

[@ericeast7860]

Sometimes things happen that arent meant to happen and they end up being even better than what was intended. These things happen for a reason. Just because Buscemi did not intend for the wide shot to be a POV from the Russian.... it works perfect because where the hell did he go? The blood on the ground is right there. Being up a tree is the perfect explanation to where he went and the boy scouts still could have found him, which is a lame and lazy way to explain things. Didn't Chase even end up using a troop of boy scouts to find another body by the beach a couple seasons later? The FBI needs to hire boy scouts to find missing persons presumed dead, because they be finding them.

[@MobKnowledge]

The boy scouts are the same ones Paulie was caught with in Lafayette Park.

[@starwarsroo2448]

Mike Hunt, Beaver Falls PD🤣

[@Carmine_Lupertazzi]

Ooh Madone! Now I have nervous bowel syndrome. Good job I have Blue Cross Blue Shield.

[@JohnnyDogs1978]

The real question is did the gerbil survive the surgery?

[@driplerthadripper]

@@Carmine_Lupertazzi its marone

[@Carmine_Lupertazzi]

@@driplerthadripper Actually it's not. It's after Madonna, the Virgin Mary. Dunce.

[@billnolastname5078]

He went back to Russia to get his shineboxski.

[@illwitness]

Lol nice one.

[@victorroman7868]

Fr good one 😂

[@bhud1972]

@Peter Lemonjello a lot of people bitch about the shinebox references, but I think they’re classic! This one was great! 😂

[@khoroshoorange]

Hey Tone did you hear what i said? I said he went back to russia to get his shineboxski! Heh heh

[@pavelthedog6939]

Not to be "that guy" , but the man was Russian...it would be a shineboxsky..."sky" is Russian ,"ski" is Polish

[@sazonsongs]

The fact that David Chase’s approach is to not spoon feed simplistic conclusions to his audience and allow room for our imaginations to actively participate in the story tells me he respects his audience and makes me an even bigger fan. It also adds a 3rd dimensional authenticity to the stories. 👏

[@defaultusername123]

Personally, the public have been given so many “what if” or “you figure it out” endings over the last 20 years, and I’m kind of over it. The way David Chase sets up these woven and head-scratching endings, because as you said, “he respects his audience”, is what makes these kind of explanations and elaborations from Chase so nice

[@pagodebregaeforro2803]

I dont like those "make your own final for the event" movies/series/books at all. The story is not mine.

[@sabrinashelton1997]

@@pagodebregaeforro2803 I totally agree.

[@JuanChavez-kl3px]

Out here here in it’s 😢😢ooh

[@MCB741]

Except it wouldn’t be fan service at all.

[@billmcginley]

I loved how Paulie's day starts with selecting the "satin finish" and ends with "This is no fuckin joke here... I could lose a foot!"

[@Atarikid67]

He Never Had The Makings Of A Varsity Interior Decorator...

[@katepicard8674]

Haaaaaaaa

[@swa7169]

"We shoulda stopped at Roy Rogers!" "And I shoulda f---ed Dale Evans!"

[@Carmine_Lupertazzi]

Gale Evans...

[@GothamKnight84661]

Gale!!! Paulie don't swing that way to a dude name Dale.

[@paulsimpson8255]

Whos gale or dale evens

[@paulsimpson8255]

The russian stole the money syoped at roy rogers orderef a steak but collapsed in the seat of the restaurant amblance was called he got his nut sown up an used the four grand to play black jack at AC he won 500 grand went back to russa and stated his interior decirating buisness an apparently hes foing really well

[@russellallaman489]

Dale (not Gale) Evans was Roy Rogers wife.

[@dlawlis]

"He (Chase) wanted the audience to suffer." That sums it up pretty nicely if you ask me.

[@winterblossom4446]

I like it. I think he's brilliant.

[@ACNC1]

1K comments off a youtube video on the subject... reason enough to make it a 'mystery'

[@ultraloyalservant2felineov41]

We suffered. Suffered from watching Many Saints of New Newark

[@vincentcrowley5196]

We compromised

[@joeylawn36111]

@@ultraloyalservant2felineov41 Which former Mafiosi Michael Franzese dismissed as Nonsense.

[@HelloImKowaBunga]

One thing I always find interesting is tonys first meeting with slava...the drunk is at the bar minding his own business and seemingly from nowhere, he walks right up to tony and slava without making a sound and catches tony totally off guard....from 3 o'clock no less

[@OrdnanceTV]

Great observation but I think you're just much more analytical than the average viewer and looking too far into it. Then again wtf do I know, I wasnt "at the top of [my] fuckin class".

[@Jesse615]

Also the location is interesting. It is not just a forest, it is the Pine Barrens, which are locally famous for being eerie or haunted; and there are many stories of people becoming disoriented and lost in them (scary campfire stories -- I don't know that visitors to the Pines really get lost there). The New Jersey Devil, for instance, lives in the Pine Barrens. And the quip that Paulie makes in response to Chris‘ statement about being lost in their home state -- “South Jersey” is brilliant. I grew up in North Jersey. And though it is a small state, to someone from North Jersey, South Jersey might as well be Kathmandu!

[@briankennedy1192]

ALSO IT WAS 3 O'CLOCK

[@captaincaveman2040]

Me and my cousin got lost in pine barrens once in the summer. Not a fun time.

[@terrideutsch6820]

@Hammerforged1978 Harriman State Park, Westchester County.

[@MK-yv7jn]

Pine Barrens seems like a flat, low forested area. No hills or mountains to climb to see over it. Just trees forever in every direction.

[@Jesse615]

@@MK-yv7jn Yes. True. Good point. The Pines are in a coastal plane -- flat and swampy. Harriman is just over the NJ border in NY and (like we see in the episode), hilly (and not very swampy). There's also a weird uniformity to the trees in the Pines -- of course, they're predominantly pines, but spaced kind of evenly, as if planted -- makes the place all the spookier. Harriman is spooky in the way that any dense, Northeastern forest is spooky, not like the Pines.

[@chipsthedog1]

Never realised Nucky Thomson directed this episode, no end to that man's talent

[@SlipknotMachinehead]

You mean that animal blundetto?

[@LouieOcean2]

Jon 0098 I can’t even say his name...

[@one7decimal2eight]

Breadstick in a bow tie

[@nicholaslu4069]

Why would you bring him up?

[@Chaos8282]

was NYFD too.

[@jdm1066]

The Russian assumes Slava was having him killed. He gets back to the car and escapes. He goes on the run to avoid being killed. Where is the mystery?

[@Crazycraig-ek1ii]

@@NickHill668 isn't that what youd tell someone when your gonna kill them

[@Crazycraig-ek1ii]

@@NickHill668 exactly youd obviously make it seem like you weren't going to kill them and then kill them

[@allthingsharbor]

That is similar to my guess - knowing the Mob IS out to get him now, the Russian just goes on the run and keeps running. Maybe he even thinks he is saving Slava's life, again, by his disappearance.

[@T-roc57]

@@Crazycraig-ek1ii-Obviously not in a situation like that, no reason to lie.

[@CW-ke8rk]

The Russian was connected to the mafia and a trained killer. He died. If he survived then he or his comrades would’ve taken out Tony and his crew. After Tony died he would’ve killed Paulie. I think the Russian died out there but it’s all up to interpretation.

[@davidruffin9585]

The Russian was in a tree,when Paulie and Chris continued looking for him, the Russian climbed out of the tree and took the car,easy to figure out.

[@nl3064]

If you read one of the comments above, someone wrote that on The Sopranos podcast, Steve Buscemi explicitly stated that the tree shot was not meant to be a POV shot. He just needed a wide shot.

[@MrBluebirds22]

But then where did he go? How comes he never took revenge against Paulie and Chrissy? etc.

[@incognitojones9609]

That’s exactly what I was thinking.

[@solomontevis1036]

@@MrBluebirds22 he didnt take revenge cus half his damn brain was shot off and he had severe brain damage and didn’t remember shit. Plus he got sent back to Russia. All confirmed by David chase himself

[@SirDankleberry]

@@MrBluebirds22 But than why is Paulie's car gone?

[@STRAWMANburner]

The Russians sent the "Members Only" jacket guy to take Tony out in the final episode.

[@Antonio18677]

Not a bad theory but the men in the members only jacket was Italian mostly likely family of Gene the one who hung himself had to been his cousin

[@honkeykong4049]

I always thought it was Little Carmine. I suspect the dude is actually quite a bit more savvy than he let's on, as Carmine Sr. also liked to make himself seem more dopey and harmless than he really was. You don't stay living and wealthy as a mobster by being as dumb as Little Carmine portrays himself to be.

[@FunkafiedBandit]

@@Antonio18677 You're forgetting that in the Sopranos, every mob event to 1999 that happened in real life happened there. They make references to Appalachian and such numerous times. Besides the point, in real life Joe Colombo founded the Italian-American Civil Rights League sometime in the late 60's and early 70's and every italian got rings and pins and some even got jackets like the assassin.

[@rodmunchs3668]

I always thought that Slava is the one who took Tony out in the last episode. Because the guy paulie and chrisy shot obviously got away in Paulie's car. It makes sense that Slava would not lead on to Tony and, just do business as usual till time to strike. And so much had happened in the plot since Pine Barrens that barely anyone would put it together as a possibility. That's David Chase's style in my opinion.

[@MARKIEBANUNCE]

Yes

[@OdintheGermanShepherd]

Heh Heh

[@skullcollectorSKIN]

You ever got yourself checked for Tourette’s?

[@3DCommando]

Missing a heh there 😭

[@khoroshoorange]

Heh

[@pauliewalnuts7088]

Heh

[@5urg3x]

Rigatoni a la Tony!

[@bradentoncane8830]

“Ohh yea.. what’s your plan? Stay here and eat Ketchuuup packs?” 😂😂😂

[@johnzachariasrealtor7906]

Mix it with the relish 😉

[@smk8251]

I don’t wanna spell yuh piss!

[@kp-da]

You got mayonnaise on your chin.

[@coreyhamby2989]

"Chrissy, this guy killed 16 Czechoslovakians... hes an interior decorator."

[@bdr113080]

2:03 “ and let’s not forget his career as an interior decorator” lmao!!! With that line right there are you earned my subscription my friend.

[@The10mmcure]

I always imagined he climbed the tree,waited for Paulie and Chris to get out of sight,backtracked (successfully because he was a real soldier,unlike Paulie) stole Paulie's car and drove HIMSELF to the ER. While driving there it occurs to him,"those two Italian candy asses wouldn't have done that unless...Slava said it was ok..... Thinking he was betrayed by Slava (who almost comically, assumes Val to have fallen in a deep hole while obliterated on cheap vodka and doesn't even bother looking and holds a memorial service for him with the whole works complete with empty casket, Tony even attends with a broad from the Bing) Val calls someone else he served with who is higher up the food chain and in Russia "get me the fuck out of this god forsaken country" and goes back to home never to be heard of again.

[@Tom-se9ge]

There’s so many instances where Chase could’ve implemented more humour into certain scenes but just left the audience hanging. As funny as some scenes were, you could tell he didn’t want the series so be anything like a comedy but at times it could’ve been so easily done. If there was more scenes like the Pine Barrens episode, Paulie and Chrissy could’ve become comedy icons.

[@johnnymarin5035]

I don't know, it seemed to me that plenty of it was comedy whether or not he wanted it to be or not.

[@baroqueguitarist5673]

The final one with him sweeping the floor and seeing chris. Making chris panic to then reveal he's brain damaged and mute soon afterwards would have been epic. Chase is a jerk

[@whitegluestick6039]

That's just my headcanon of what happened now but a dick move by chase who loved the idea but as soon as fans come into it he shuts it down

[@JM-cf9xy]

Na it would’ve been stupid

[@MadGeorgeProductions]

@@whitegluestick6039 He's right though. It's not a good reason to do it, and we are still talking about it all these years later.

[@SBGames8]

Dude makes a stellar show but any suggestions of an ending with closure and the man says "Nah fuck that". Kinda evil

[@themightyatom1031]

Nah. A bit cringe and slightly too unrealistic. At least imho. I prefer it remain a mystery. Gets people talking

[@Mosfet510]

The look of surprise on Chris's face walking in on the guy sweeping the floor would be priceless!

[@johngarbarini8474]

The Russian's last words were, "moose and squirrel!"

[@thomasholmes7075]

That's funny af

[@jasonsabourin2275]

"Must Get Moose" B+Natasha

[@thehammer4625]

Love it, Boris!

[@goodbonezz1289]

Must get!

[@raymondfrye5017]

So he went back to Russia and became A Fearless Leader

[@chrissavage5966]

Only recently ‘discovered’ then binged on the entire Sopranos story...and yep, what happened to the Russian was way up there in the list of questions! Great answers, thank you.

[@MCristian1988]

Put remote on docking station. Paulie puts remote on docking station. Episode ends.

[@lucabalossino]

He went to Bed Bath and Beyond and worked for the interior decoration department.

[@johnslade9751]

Sometimes i get annoyed at chases interviews, seems like he doesn't wanna answer anything. He wants people to keep talking about the show,its not even about the mystery

[@LemonChecks]

i agree. but also i feel it's a bit of a power trip for Chase. Just like how he did the ending. he earns for that feeling of power given by controlling viewers emotions about the show.

[@MarsofAritia]

he wants people to think for themselves and create their own interpretations. the author is dead, after all

[@thoughtbubble3010]

I guess they simply dropped the character, didn't even care about explaining his fate. It's open to interpretation, and it's just a TV show after all. Some inconsistencies may happen, but that's why we're here watching this vid

[@GustavoCardoso95]

Bruh thats pretty common... like tarantino did that with the suitcase in pulp fiction and so on

[@justinguitarcia]

nah, Chase is a classic post modernist. The entire show is an existential drama/comedy on nothingness. The idea is for us to reflect on why we feel anything about anything that happens throughout. Its like Seinfeld but with a story and murder

[@Kintabl]

He survived. He is Russian(resistance to cold), an ex-commando(top notch survival skills) and Paulie's car was missing.

[@jamescoombs2569]

I lost my shine box,in the pine barrens,while running from the interior decorator😵😎✌️

[@domcisco6591]

You hand me a shovel and expect me to dig my own grave.

[@vanillagorilla8236]

Also written by Steve Buscemi. My favorite eppisod of all !

[@stiglagerfeld9151]

No, written by Terence Winter

[@vanillagorilla8236]

@@stiglagerfeld9151actually Timothy Van Patten and Terence !

[@thatinternetdude1392]

But Buscemi did direct.

[@SBGames8]

Idk about creators' fascination with leaving things open-ended and then feeling bothered by peoples' questions about incomplete plot lines.

[@TeeKoon]

Chris:It's like die hard shit, it could be him out there stalking us! Paulie:Whith what his coc*!?

[@TheIgnoredGender]

Kind of an ironic thing. When it's a mystery, you're just dying to know. But if and when you get your wish and you do find out, you look back in hindsight and realize that perhaps it would have been better if left up in the air.

[@RumbleFish69]

Speak for yourself!

[@sudstahgaming]

It still is a mystery its whatever you want to believe the show doesn't give the answer its left open, it's art, good art is left to interpretation

[@Kelmire1]

Yeah, like season 8 of game of thrones. In hindsight, showing me the ending of that shitshow was a mistake

[@tenparab]

Absolutely, we don't have to know everything.

[@corriblehunt4554]

This. Exactly. The boy scout explanation is terrible. Clearly bullshit. I'd be so disappointed if that was true. I like the mystery

[@pennystocklocks]

Who does David Chase think he is? Sir Walter Raleigh?

[@GothamKnight84661]

Maybe, but he's the dude!

[@TheStaggaz32]

That's enough of you and your stupid fucken remarks!

[@forgetaboutitwillya.2981]

What ever happened to Gary Cooper? The strong silent type. That was an American.

[@LaserRanger15]

This was one of the best episodes. Paulie messing up the story was classic. Maybe, members only jacket guy was hired by the Russians

[@sjacrane]

But Paulie wasn’t killed Tony was

[@sudstahgaming]

One of my favourite episodes when they were in the woods, of all the people to be stuck in the woods together it had to be Paulie and Christopher

[@Joe33305]

“Who gives a shit.” That’s what Tony would say.

[@rickrolledtruth5834]

"YOU got mayonnaise on ya" MAYONNAISE, MAYONNAISE LOL

[@tedwojtasik8781]

I figured he doubled back, took the car, then died in the car driving back.

[@JM-cf9xy]

Then they would’ve got the car back dummy

[@davidobrien9362]

I'm so glad,so surprised your post is the only time I've seen this episode brought up,so surprised he had no come back,but you've answered it with this Nice one .

[@rickykeim2005]

I didn't mind that the Russian just disappeared but I was expecting to see some sort of fallout from it if only because it was a Collection that was botched.

[@scottchantos2388]

I don’t know, but he definitely had the making of a varsity athlete.

[@dc7370]

Thank you. It was one of the episodes I remember the most. Skills. Outstanding directoral range

[@ipainthouses3084]

I also wonder why they didnt show what happend with massive genius and hesh. Last thing we saw was that phone conversation , and that ended with him saying hes gonna sue..

[@67marlins81]

It made sense to me that the aerial view from up in the tree was Valery, having climbed it to escape. He then could have crept down and stole Paulie's car to get away.

[@brianwolf6166]

I agree. Chris and Paulie were so busy whining and talking while freezing, they never realized he could have climbed a tree and stayed quiet.

[@johnallan1134]

If look at where he's looking he's checking upwards whilst he walking effectively sizing things up. I mean he had more brains than these 2 when they had handed him a spade duh!!

[@WarTheory]

Years ago chase said a Group of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts found him.. I always found it amazing how Chase would make bad stories for throwaways like this

[@VAHOSS]

One of the writers said on talking sopranos that there was supposed to be a follow up episode where Paulie or Christopher go to visit Slavic, and the Russian was there sweeping floor, starring them directly in the eyes, but when he turns around, half his head is missing.....leaving him with no memory But chase didn't want to use that scene. He wanted to leave the Russian a mystery

[@michaelmcglynn5863]

Love the explanation. Always wondered.

[@stevenedwards4470]

This show never wasted my time. Whatever they want is fine.

[@williegaga]

"Universal Remote...Put it Down!!" Sincerely, Valeriy

[@youveryniceman]

uuniversal remot, poot eet downnn on docking stayshon

[@k3D4rsi554maq]

Tony and Paulie should count themselves lucky that they didn't stay in the woods forever.

[@emidom2004]

Great info, thanks!

[@alextrevino7304]

“Put the remote back on the docking station” - Valery

[@MrMojoman1976]

Best left as a mystery

[@TheMightymolar]

Nice: This episode drove me crazy. Well done, Chase, you cantankerous SOB.

[@valentinomiller6251]

It feels strange, because we're unaccustomed to unanswered questions in film and TV, but I like when film and TV mimic real life, in that sometimes there is no resolution.

[@tarman8557]

*Yeah but...* It still doesn't explain how the Russian's tracks and blood trail just stopped, went cold and vanished into thin air. A point actually addressed by the characters in the very episode...

[@WWBCMedia1]

You ever hear the phase "cover your tracks 👣" Millitary people are trained to lead you in one direction and double back go another direction and cover the footprints

[@tarman8557]

@@WWBCMedia1 I understand that, a Marine Vet myself but that only works when you have a good distance between you and your pursuers. In this case, the *Interior Decorator* would have had no time to back track as Paulie and Chris were just a few yards distance and judging by that shot to the head, one certainly can not back track their own blood trail in snow while losing a fair share of blood at the same time.

[@seth6691]

It’s weird to me though, because it looks like the tracks continue and go up a hill or something, they didn’t look hard enough

[@llg3pe]

He went back to Czechoslovakia to continue his career as an interior decorator

[@JeffJefferson]

Great Job with this video

[@seanthorton3054]

He did hit him and he died in the forest. Paulie was solid, he would never have missed.

[@honkeykong4049]

*For someone so seemingly venerated for this show, David Chase never comes across as anything but a prick when I hear about him. Not even joking.*

[@maxprimemalick7972]

💯

[@AtomicGT55]

poor you. He watched the show under false pretenses

[@WOSHIYEBO]

Silvio Dante : A lot of top guys have dark moods. That Winston Churchill, drank a quart of brandy before breakfast. Napoleon, he was a moody fuck, too.

[@graphitedamier3548]

That Russian gave Chrissy CTE when he slapped him wit that shovel lmao

[@1emmajones]

I’ve never forgot this episode. I laughed so hard. Loved it.

[@hamzaogab275]

That's obvious. He ran back home, picked up his universal remote and zapped his own away. As far as I know he could be everywhere

[@TheWuCepticon1981]

This episode is hilarious LOL very Cohen Brothers' esque 😭

[@bones23jones]

Yup, very Fargo-ish.

[@dadiswatching7841]

Funny way to share... got locked up in 95, went up state for 8 years, state had cable and for 10 extra got hbo. Watched the Sapranos every Sunday til got out, and two scenes are in mind when this show is brought up. This scene and Tony’s death. The show itself was written beautifully and cast couldn’t have been better. Just pure gold. Wish all well and the missing Russian will always go down as a mystery.

[@johnwhite4544]

One of the best episodes. Great show!!!

[@shawnice105]

I like the idea w/ part of his head missing back w/ his crew sweeping the floor.!

[@Gregorskorino]

If you look at the narrative closely and how it unfolds, studying camera angles, P.O.V. shots, scripting, lighting etc, then it is actually obvious that he stumbled upon a family of Jersey Devils, hung out with them for a few days, realized that he preferred their lifestyle and just never went back. Can't blame him really.

[@tessierashpoolmg7776]

I like your theory.

[@paulevans6066]

The answer was revealed by a writer on the Talking Sopranos podcast. The scene never made the final cut

[@jamessantos9861]

Yep. Glad you said it. Christopher runs into the guy sweeping the floor at a store with a piece of his head missing. He looks at Chris but can’t quite vocalize if he remembers him or not.

[@earthian3658]

When he was talking about Slava recognizing Christopher in a later episode but not being able to say anything being possible in a further episode reminds me of the episode in Breaking Bad when the old guy with the bell recognizes Jesse.

[@dillonwalshpvd]

I love your channel dude, just subbed :) keep up the good work!

[@CineRanter]

Thanks, man

[@davidgagnon3781]

OK. So why is Paulie's car missing? Some Boy Scouts stole it? Nah. The Russian got away. Where'd he go after that, who knows?

[@rickrolledtruth5834]

Exactly the RUSSIAN is the only one that slipped out from death. Took the $$$ went to the doctor and is now an interior decorator

[@brianwolf6166]

The Russian climbed a tree, stayed quiet, watched those two bickering, then backtracked to the car, while those two got lost ...

[@drdrai7479]

I’ve always thought this is the reason Tony gets hit at the end of the series. Never mess with an interior decorator*.

[@glenbellefonte9620]

He killed 16 chekoslovakians

[@GothamKnight84661]

@@glenbellefonte9620 His house looked like shit!

[@markstedman8186]

Dr Drai yes of course that's it! Why didn't I think of that

[@jaybrown1828]

My though exactly!!!!!

[@j-money2295]

@Jeff snell No...

[@DaroriDerEinzige]

He probaly gotta came back after a few days, Slava was like "Wtf, where was you?" - "Had a bad hangover ... But I gotta tell you one thing, I don't like American Winters, I wanna go back to Russia." That's my headcanon

[@lindseymccue2686]

Awesome episode 👏

[@arserobinson7118]

He escaped taking Paulie's parked car.

[@ledflaplin2001]

That’s the bigger mystery! Where the hell is Paulie’s car?

[@robertgoldstein52]

Heard it was compacted by some friends of ours out in north Jersey

[@TheIgnoredGender]

This was like the "what happened to Dr. Gordon?" from Saw. It was a mystery for years. Except they answered that one.

[@charlottesmith2891]

Great episode

[@Mesonoxia366]

I appreciate the commentary and nuance. I think it works best as a mystery. Not everything gets tied up in little bows. Sometimes you wonder about shit the rest of your life.

[@thekeeperofrecords3041]

“Where’s the Russian, is he safe, is he alright?”

[@robbiekop7]

He's living in Ukraine now....things are cool 😎

[@loungelizard3922]

I definitely prefer it to be left a mystery. The Russian is a stand in for all the people Paulie and Chrissy have to watch over their shoulder for every day of their lives. Fuck closure.

[@jonathand.terrell3419]

I agree. I like Chase's method of not pandering to the audience.

[@alfonsillo18]

Ngl I really dig the idea of Christopher walking into a braindead Valery at Slava’s place. Would have loved for it to be released as a deleted scene.