The Rise and Fall of David Scatino - Soprano Theories

#TheSopranos #TheManySaintsofNewark #Sopranos
Become a Soprano Theories Patreon member: / sopranotheories
Follow Soprano Theories on Twitter: / sopranotheories
Follow Soprano Theories on Instagram: / sopranotheories
Hello and welcome to back to another episode of Soprano Theories!
David Scatino's downfall was going to come sooner rather than later. As viewers, we could see his demise coming quickly. Was there even a rise? Or was it all a downfall?
I do not own any of these clips, all clips are owned by HBO.
This video contains footage from The Sopranos (HBO). All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners and I or this channel does not claim any right over them.
Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

[@diocletiandondarrion7102]

*I wanna buy a boat wit ttree pruhpellas*

[@DrJ-hx7wv]

Taken from the Honeymooners, the episode where Ralph finds all that cash on the bus, in a briefcase (ie his lunchbox)

[@tuckercarlsonsmicropenis1283]

@@supersatan1796 “If it floats, flies or fucks, it’s gonna cost you”

[@derickwashington3181]

@@DrJ-hx7wv 3

[@tuckercarlsonsmicropenis1283]

How ‘bout a “String of PoLOPonies”?!?

[@DonDaddaDanoDaDaneCalledDanno]

Ho madonn' ouchea in Joizey we talk te Toneh

[@mst3KGf]

This is one of my favorite subplots from the series, not just because Robert Patrick does such a fantastic job as a pathetic loser, but because it explores the kind of person that makes the Mafia possible. Guys like Davey are, as Tony puts it, their bread and butter.

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

And the ironic thing, hestill had a family and a business.

[@ryancarroll3957]

Yep. I said to a friend "I'd never let anyone treat me like that" and he said "which is why they'd never bother with u in the first place..they want sure thing doormats they can control and they know how to spot um. Usually they find a weakness or vice and use it as leverage"

[@clootscalhoun9481]

Hahaha. Laughed out loud at “pathetic loser.”

[@hisholiness4537]

Lol are you debt free rn?

[@brettmajors69karaoke]

Patrick is a damn good actor

[@DemocracyManifest]

If a ruthless gangster says something isn't for you...heed that advice as a warning. The writing on this show was phenomenal.

[@cennon]

Tony wanted him in the card game and just acted like he was concerned. Later he can say he gave him fair warning.

[@WestIndianAK]

@@cennon That’s probably true. He did admit to Scatino later on that he let him play in the game because he knew David had the sporting goods store that Tony could bust out if he couldn’t pay him back.

[@edydon]

@@cennon Blowing people off is one of the most clever ways to reel them in. Bernie Madoff was notorious for telling potential investors that his business was too risky or edgy for them - baiting their egos and getting them to invest even more.

[@mst3KGf]

@@cennon I'd say it's more like Tony tried to warn him off at first, but after Dave kept insisting on it, he went, "Fuck it, he wants to go to hell, let him go to hell. Might as well be me profiting from it than someone else."

[@zippymufo9765]

@@WestIndianAK True, but he also didn't initiate the idea. He wasn't trying to talk Davey into the game. More like "This degenerate gambler wants to bottom out, I might as well benefit instead of someone else".

[@cornerofthemoon]

I read an article once where Robert Patrick said he was at first reluctant to play the part of David Scantio because he didn't find the character credible. But after attending Gambler's Anonymous meetings to research the role, he met people who were actually worse off than Davy. After that he really got into the role and really enjoyed playing him.

[@smellsuperb1]

As a recovering gambling addict, your assessment is spot on. I know people who almost went to jail for embezzlement, one person in my group literally lost millions gambling on behalf of made guys. I myself lost a huge amount over 4.5 years. Scatino's character as a gambling addict is highly realistic.

[@Hudsonfalcon]

@@smellsuperb1 same here. Through my recovery I’ve met people who gambled away their homes, families and even went to prison. I stopped short of all these fortunately. It’s a life long battle from now on.

[@smellsuperb1]

@alan partridge Me moving to an area where the closest casino is an hour and a half away, and becoming reinvigorated in running my businesses, has done a lot to quell the urges. I was in Vegas airport 3 weeks ago, and I was able to successfully avoid the slot machines in the terminals LOL.

[@joskeyo4877]

Got a brother doing 20 years in the CAN due to spiraling problems from Gambling. It’s a BIG issue with some people.

[@JesusPerez-iw3ey]

@@joskeyo4877 What do you get 20 years for because of gambling? Even killers, m0lesters, and grapist get let out by liberals in few years? Not being an ah0le, im just curious, and i like hearing hard stories so i never start gambling...which is very tempting to be honest, i often think of taking 10k i saved to the casino and turning it into 50k, but i know most gamblers lose, and when they do manage to win they often give it back anyways.

[@nicholasflanders9814]

You know what's really crazy about all this? Robert Patrick was only actually in 3 episodes. That includes the season finale where he's only at the coffee pot and very briefly in the closing montage. So everything with David Scatino basically was all in 2 episodes.

[@jonathannagel7427]

Whoa, that’s astonishing, since his story arc seems so much longer! Wonder if he required a lot of $$$, hence the short run.

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

Well it's really impressive how memorable his character is.

[@tomace4898]

He did a good job!

[@illegalewahrheiten2911]

He feels like a full season character.

[@ANTHONY0808able]

Very good point and yet he may be the most memorable character in the series.

[@Rizzle2323]

Davy "our kids go to school together" Scatino

[@MrSkarbek36]

You think I’m still that kid on the school bus?

[@jimmyrocco52]

Davey tellng Tony that their kids go to the same school together was all the motivation Tony needed to smack him around.

[@SopranoTheories]

Love it lol! Davey "I'm just having some bad luck" Scatino

[@Rizzle2323]

@@SopranoTheories he's such a degenerate Tony even tells him not to sit in on the game...yet allows him because they're friends...loses and grabs more zitti, loses again and then expects Tony to be understanding 🤣

[@EpsiIonEagle]

Lmao

[@rickyandreou]

David's character arc was pure "Fall". Winning a few hands isn't a "Rise" especially considering that he had already gotten himself in heavy debt with Ritchie. To paraphrase Sick Boy from the movie Trainspotting, it was barely a blip on an otherwise uninterrupted downward trajectory for David.

[@ryanwatts9830]

I kinda think that it was more of a faux rise but overall I think you’re right

[@Grayto]

His rise was everything we saw before his arrival in the show. Getting married, having kids, building and owning a outdoor goods store etc.

[@thatfunkyduck]

@Grayto That's what I assumed the maker of this video was going to say as well

[@SopranoTheories]

@@Grayto Great point!

[@SopranoTheories]

Great point! I think winning that lone hand was a small rise for David. Just like any degenerate gambler feels when they win a hand or two or a scratch ticket. They often get this adrenaline and rush much like a drug. David even says "I had a good run there"

[@grinchoi1]

Tony didnt backstab Scatino by letting him in the game. It was not at all a backstab. He indulged him after giving the man enough warnings

[@jeffhreid]

Exactly. Tony did him a favor letting him in the game. Not Tony’s fault he wasn’t a stand up guy. He had every chance to make good.

[@subboid]

He might have been warning him off to entice him though. Make it seem exclusive and for high rollers to make him more desperate to get in and win some money

[@brennanc4321]

Tony had his players slow roll him.

[@bartonez123]

It was 100% a backstab. He got his crew to tip the odds to make sure he lost and was in debt. He was one step short of just mugging him.

[@histguy101]

Tony's job is to take advantage of guys like David. He screwed a foolish man, and David's family paid for it.

[@DirtyJokesFan]

All credit to Robert Patrick for such a great portrayal of a meek degenerate. Especially after playing the cold, ruthless T-1000 so well.

[@chasjohn57]

Also X-Files right?

[@johnallen3033]

@@chasjohn57 Its a shame those last two seasons of the original X Files run were such a mess, RP was excellent as Doggett and he probably would have gotten the credit he deserved for it if the writers hadn't dropped the ball and failed to give him better main storylines, although he did get some great standalone episodes. Was so disappointed he was too busy to come back for the revival, but then again those sucked even worse than seasons 8 and 9.

[@yannick245]

@@johnallen3033 What I liked about Agent Doggett is that when he's finally seen the paranormal with his own eyes, he doesn't remain in a state of denial, like Scully. I know that it was an important part of the plot that Scully remained skeptical and played the role of Mulder's counterpart. But as late as the end of season one or into season two, she would've had to accept that the paranormal is a real thing in the universe of the show. But she still acts if Mulder is a nutjob and that none of his theories could hold some truth. She still often comes to late to see the absolute proof. That happens all through the show. But it's not that she hasn't seen anything. If you binge-watch the show, she even comes of as silly. While Doggett accepts the paranormal as soon as he's really seen it with his own eyes. What I like about his character is that he's loyal, without necessity. It's been a long time since I've watched the show and I was high on heroin _(or another drug, I don't know during which episode of my life it was)_ for the most time, I still have Agent Doggett in good memory, while I don't remember much of Agent Reyes at all. What I remember is that I really disliked Mulder's end to search for his sister. I really loved the Moby song but he just had this _"vision"_ with all these kids and then it was all good for him. Although he/we find out more about her whereabouts later in the show... I should watch the show again with a halfway clean brain. I think with many episodes, it would be like watching it first time.

[@GamblerOfFate777]

As well as the creepy coach in the movie The Faculty

[@brettmajors69karaoke]

Darn right

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

Life lesson: Gambling is the doorway into all kinds of trouble.

[@elperrodelautumo7511]

And this sopranos arc is a true life lesson. Never have a gambling 🎰 addiction. This event happens.

[@pannagkamath8950]

Unless you're dana white 😆

[@Mff21]

Johnny Boy, "Always honor your debts."

[@billylee7398]

But Phil did 20 years. In dah can!

[@FoulWeatherFriend385]

The only real winners in gambling are the ones who control the games. They take a percentage of the winnings no matter what. Everybody else is on a rollercoaster ride.

[@DrJ-hx7wv]

Davey is one of the most tragic aspects of the show. It's tough to watch

[@stain4128]

Ūñłïķē ýøū

[@SopranoTheories]

It really is! Right up there with A.J., Eugene, and Gloria.

[@voicification]

Seriously! This is was the most painful to watch.

[@desnicar]

Did it to himself.

[@joeashbubemma]

It is, especially when you see it happen to people you know. I live in Vegas, if you don't have self-control, the casinos will eat you alive.

[@visidenvisidane1155]

His rise happened off screen and outside the story. He was a fairly well to do man with a nice house, a decent family, and a steady job. If you have those then you’ve risen quite a bit in the world.

[@jonny-b4954]

Yeah, but all based on debt. Or he gambled away every bit of profit. Because how does a successful person with a decently successful business, in a nice house, new car for the kid, a funded tuition etc. not have $7-8k in the bank for his first debt to Richie? Degenerate gambler for sure.

[@michaeltrainum5471]

A girl in the show Archer said the phrase," I owe $5,000 to people you don't want to owe 5 cents too!" That pretty much sums up David's whole story.

[@skylarmccloud4080]

Pam Talking about the Yakuza.

[@michaeltrainum5471]

@@skylarmccloud4080 yep

[@Nunyabizness123]

This video was worth 10 boxes of ziti.

[@BoxcarJay123]

He grabbed another 25 while you were away.

[@RogueBoyScout]

I'll trade you 10 boxes of smoke

[@SopranoTheories]

You need 5 boxes just to watch this video.

[@dobson.]

"They say those are all for Tony Jr."

[@Srinidhi00726]

Go home and get 10 boxes of Shoeshine

[@EmperorMingg]

Out of all of the times I watched the series in its entirety, I never once realized the fact that the water Artie offered the two ladies was from the bust out. Like stealing someone’s phone and then selling it back to them as preowned at a discount because you’re friends.

[@pradyumn2692]

I don't think Artie was aware of this. It's just irony playing out.

[@petecapravos3044]

I recall seeing one of the characters later on with a red cooler, also.

[@zacharysmith4787]

Yeah, I doubt Tony was telling Artie where he got the stuff he was selling him. And even if he did, it would be a lie.

[@yute7184]

Extortion 101

[@cpt191021]

@@petecapravos3044 "they gotta be red"

[@MrTCHOSS]

When a TV show wants to show a character down on their luck, just loosen the tie, unbutton the top button and mess the hair up a little. It's as subtle as the difference between Clark Kent and Superman.

[@Galvatronover]

Yep

[@eyestoenvy]

... and Columbo

[@sieteocho]

Then why the fuck does the prime minister of the UK look like that?

[@bucksdiaryfan]

Right?!! Or drunk... you ever notice on Mad Men whenever Don Draper is portrayed as drunk, his hair is mussed... how often does that actually happen in life?

[@MrTCHOSS]

@@bucksdiaryfan Ha yep! Like what event occurred where his hair went from immaculately slicked back hair to just finished running a marathon hair?

[@maggieb369]

I felt so badly for David’s son.

[@RetroHabit82]

Not me, he got mud on the door.

[@joed9849]

This was that crappy beta version of the T-1000 that Skynet sent back in time.

[@develynseether4426]

T-999½

[@Cerebro515]

This is a personal favorite episode of mine. I had a friend that gambled his life and marriage away. He got a loan from a shark and couldn’t pay. Some time later. The loan shark was mentioned in the local newspaper with my friends picture. Ten years later. That friend is still missing.

[@CaptainTrips560]

Did the shark get caught?

[@K37-h1z]

Jesus that'd insane. They ever pick up the loan shark for anything?

[@deepism]

That's fucking terrifying. Gambling addiction is an absolute fucking nightmare. You get involved with these sharks and mob people, and everything goes to hell. No chance in heaven nor hell that friend is anywhere but an unmarked grave. We could all learn from his mistakes.

[@robj362]

Honestly, I don't put that on Tony. Yes, he knew he could get paid back from David store, BUT he did try several times to not let him play. Also Davy borrowed most of the money when Tony was sleeping

[@robertdesi6368]

Yea I agree, that part of this vid was wrong. If you watched entire series it’s pretty obvious how it all occurs and how everything comes to be, seems like he took that scene where David tells tony he saw all this coming from 20 steps ahead or something like that and assumed that was the truth. Like you mentioned the only thing that was accurate is that tony did know worst case David’s store had value if he was to ever not pay etc etc.

[@joefelice5062]

Yep, he had already gone broke before Tony - bailed out by the brother in law. He would have lost everything to Richie or to a casino or a bookie anyway...

[@arturotroncoso3484]

Davy basically steals from Tony. The fact he didn't kill him or break his legs was as nice as you can get.

[@michaelmcgee2026]

So true. I would never hold a murdering lying stealing unfaithful cheating criminal responsible for the lifestyle surrounding him. Tony=innocent. 💯

[@Tony-fq5bn]

@@stairwaytoheaven8 Ya, if not Tony it def woulda been Richie or vegas or something

[@jamesmorant1406]

Great video Tony warned Davey so many times not to get into the game he wouldn't listen he bought all this on himself

[@bucksdiaryfan]

exactly... it surprises me that on first watch I felt bad for him. I guess that's a tribute to the actor playing Davey. He was pure scumbag

[@jamesmorant1406]

​@bucksdiaryfan yes he was owed 8K to richie, then 45K to Tony and blow his son's college fund and gave Tony his son's car

[@user-wb8rq2ve6l]

Tony did warn him. Should've taken heed for real

[@jamesmorant1406]

@@user-wb8rq2ve6l yup he never took Tony threats seriously

[@zacharyb2723]

Gambling addiction is biochemically similar to drug addiction. Gambling is often legal and if you're susceptible, it can get you fast. Getting away means reprogramming your nervous system basically.

[@Da_Benski]

That mention of the Bottled Water was totally slick. I'd watched the episode a dozen times and completely missed those crates leaving the store.

[@johngarry1238]

I caught the water, but I didn't catch that the fishing pole was from the bust out.

[@pk1645]

He was a gambling junkie who'd already been to GA and his assets were in his wife's name. He was in a hole and decided to dig himself in further. Robert Patrick has said he met with real gamblers for research and they all told him that gambling made them feel invincible.

[@jeffmead2935]

a "degenerate gambler" is I think, the correct term

[@JoeDirtisawsome]

Tony was literally baiting him from the start. He was the one who mentioned the game to him, and he instructed his crew to play to so they could tip the odds to make sure that he went into debt. And he knew that Davey didn't have the money to actually handle losing those games, and tony admitted that he knew that Davey had a gambling addiction. He literally said that he knew his addiction would lead to a bust out. You're not supposed to defend Tony's actions, the show is illustrating that these people are evil.

[@Hammerhead547]

The moral of this storyline is that sometimes its best to just let irresponsible people hang themselves with their own choices because protecting them from themselves is often a useless waste of time.

[@remisan7214]

And if your a psycho, use it to your advantage

[@ptsigas]

@@remisan7214 my bread and butter-

[@kkrmzn]

@@remisan7214 not a psycho but an opportunist.

[@sertu1462]

@@kkrmzn these two things aren't mutually exclusive.

[@sean5558]

Tony could have shut Davey down completely and just told him no this is exclusive game you don’t even have money to enter the game, but he was an opportunist, has shown to have sociopathic tendencies and easily knew subconsciously he could benefit, jsut like when he loaned Artie the money down the road he even acknowledged he knew what he was doing in some subconscious level.

[@johnlewisbrooks]

It just amazes me the guy can play one of the scariest villains in the history of movies and also play this broken down pug who's lucky he didn't wind up in Satriale's getting a haircut, the permanent kind!

[@mrknowitalllt1]

well, that's because his and tony's kids went to the same school together

[@robertbiondo9381]

I just realized that , you're right

[@johnlewisbrooks]

@@robertbiondo9381 He played the evil robot in Terminator 2, and scared the absolute HELL out of the audience!

[@zubileegluckgluck]

Edie Falco always responds to statements like this, about her own ability to become such vastly different characters with: "Yeah, it's called "acting "... Lol I've seen her say it more than once

[@sweeneytodd011]

Robert Patrick played the role of Davey brilliantly.

[@alibazzi6431]

I think it’s interesting to mention that when david tells tony that he’s moving to some ranch or whatever in Nevada. Tony questions it and realizes it’s basically it’s not real and David’s just going to live as a degenerate in Vegas. Tony probably uses this to justify it all and that the guy was degenerate no matter what. If tony didn’t get that guys money, someone else would have

[@JoJoJoker]

He went to rehab as mentioned later.

[@reprintranch]

Of the many, many Sopranos spin-off projects that could be developed in the years to come, one of the first I'd like to see would be something focused on Davey's life after leaving New Jersey.

[@davidsuggs3025]

Give Tony credit because he tried to keep David out of the game. Must see tv for problem gamblers.

[@sundizzlebhambizzle-bazzle3492]

No he didn’t, at first he was just being nice maybe playing him but in the end when Tony’s talking to Davey he says to tony you knew this was gonna happen and tony says something along the lines of this is what I do.

[@mrbowtiejellyfish]

I'm not sure if you mention it in the video, but in a later episode Meadow asks for a new car to which Tony responds that she was ungrateful for Eric's car. Then, Meadow reveals that David is in a mental health facility in Nevada. I think it's an interesting detail to remind people that David had a serious illness.

[@finsfan90]

@Jay lol I laugh every time Tony says that to him.

[@anonymous3174]

No he had a nervous breakdown after

[@willpowr416]

@Jay that line was hilarious...right after he told him to go back in his hole 😂😂😂

[@drscarecraft8840]

It’s also mentioned by meadow that his son began experimenting with drugs to cope

[@sophiawilson8696]

What happened to wife and brother law?

[@genekelly8467]

A "Bust Out" is classic Mafia-the mark is taken to the cleaners! Tony had no friendship with Davey-once Tony found out that he had credit from the business. That $45,000 probably netted >$1 million.

[@christopher.saint.christopher]

In the movie Two for the Money, Al Pacino gives a great monologue about how gambling addicts are chasing the pure adrenaline panic of failure and personal ruin.

[@TheDudecof]

Great video...Daves story is probably the best depiction of how swiftly gambling can take a regular man and completely destroy them and hurt anyone in their radius. I don't buy the "gambling is a mental illness" because gambling uses the flaws of our nature against us in the sickest way... Horrifying to think of the impact online casinos must be having on countless families today

[@edd8914]

Addictions really do cause a lot of societal problems. I'm curious why you say gambling is not a mental illness. I would consider all addictions, including gambling, as a form of mental illness. Mental illness is defined as aberrations that affect thinking, mood, and behavior. I think addiction falls under this definition. I'm curious what you think.

[@TheDudecof]

@@edd8914 so I ended up realizing that you’re right. But I still wouldn’t say “addiction” is the mental illness. Addiction is our brains sending an intense dopamine rush caused by some external stimulus. I’d consider the real mental illness to be “dopamine sensitivity” (aka addictive personality). That is where the real danger lies. Everyone has addictions at some point, the mental illness comes in when at some point, you simply cannot control it at all. I’ve been addicted to phone games before (which are developed by psychologists to maximize your attention to the game and can really get you hooked without noticing). At some point however, I realize “I’ve completely neglected my responsibilities by playing this. Maybe it’s time to delete it”. Now a person with a dopamine sensitivity will literally allow their child to starve to death because level 16 in Candy crush is just around the corner A similar situation we can use is depression. Sometimes we all get depressed, we lose a loved one, someone breaks up with us or we get fired from a job. It’s horrible, we feel “depressed” but that’s a very different issue than “suffering from depression” (the real depression that persists longterm, completely independent of the external variables) and those two issues should not be treated the same way. In the end, I think I’ve changed my outlook and I think David falls under the addictive personality category considering he lost everything and still saw the lure in moving to Vegas...the one place a sane person in his position would avoid at all cost

[@Grayto]

@@TheDudecof So you're saying characterizing it as a mental illness frames it as an invidual's abberation, whereas it perhaps should be considered more of common aspect of society's tendency to exploit and predate on fairly universal human weaknesses.

[@hehmda]

Addiction is in ICD and DMS it's officially mental illness. Science and medicine kinda don't care about your beliefs.

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

I'm glad it's treated as a sickness just because then it's covered by health insurance. I don't know if it qualifies or not. But I imagine treatment is the best place for someone to be if they are struggling with it

[@VideoGameAutopsy]

David’s arc does a great job of showing just how terrible him and Tony truly are. David clearly had a gambling problem, one that was on edge of costing him everything he had. He had no business gambling with anyone, let alone the freaking mob. It’s hard to feel sad for his predicament when he’s the one who damn near begged Tony to let him join. It’s really no one’s fault but his own. Tony may have opened the door, but David’s the one who walked in. As for Tony, he did try to keep David away, but his cold tactical mind eventually gave way. Tony stating that he knew he could bust out David’s store, should he lose, really says a lot about Tony. It strengthens what Artie told him after his botched suicide attempt, that Tony doesn’t do anything that won’t benefit him somewhere down the road.

[@RobertsonIsland]

Except he did do something that wouldn’t benefit him, he warned Davey to stay away and he absolved Artie’s debt for $70,000 less than he owed. Tony didn’t come to either of these guys and cause these problems they came to him and begged him to let them do it

[@acat6145]

@@RobertsonIslandIn exchange for Tony not paying his tab at his restaurant I think

[@RobertsonIsland]

@@acat6145 yeah, “forget about my $3,000 tab in exchange for me erasing your $70,000 debt” That’s a pretty selfless offer

[@deepism]

Honestly? It was better that he owed Tony over anyone else and Tony probably realized that. If you're going to be in debt, it might as well be somebody who won't kill you for it. I guarantee he probably got killed sometime after moving to Vegas.

[@kylewiley2653]

Honestly, Tony shows the most compassion for Daivd than anyone in the entire series outside of family and animals.

[@skylarmccloud4080]

and Artie remember he did everything in his power to stop Uncle Junior from Whacking someone in his restaurant, cause it would've meant the end of Vesuvius. Guy gets his brains blown into the next tables manicotti you ain't gonna come back or recommend anyone you care about, at best a total stranger to eat there. Unless you happen to own a bunch of Kevlar.

[@mattydread8148]

David unknowingly saved Vic from an even worse fate. When Vic kissed Carmela and began to fall in love with her, the only thing that made him stop and think twice was when he spoke with David at the bar and is informed David owes all this money to tony soprano. It’s unfortunate but David’s gambling probably saved vic’s life.

[@SopranoTheories]

Exactly

[@MG-ol8hs]

when he explains the "bust out" and "eating through the company like termites" you can see a bit of relief on vic's face. I think he realises what it would've meant if he kept going with carmela

[@TheFailedmessiah]

Yep, I wish Furio would have banged Carmela.

[@bigiedieot]

Tony giving the Jeep to Meadow is a real bone head move

[@TheRealDarrylStrawberry]

Damn, i never realized he was only 2 bills short. Brutal!!

[@runningbreymedina1475]

I know right? It’s reasonable to assume that his wife controlled the money too.

[@SopranoTheories]

Yeah actually crazy! Was he that broke that he couldn't hit up a bank or ATM to take out $200 just to make sure it's all there for Rich?

[@tigerleoneinc.9282]

It was his debt to Tony that did him in..

[@sweeneytodd011]

Richie did the right thing cutting him off though, as he said "guy hands you a light envelope it's only the start"

[@frankanuzzi9740]

@@SopranoTheories it was 2 grand after Richie and Tony go outsude he says send him out and let him pay me my 2 gs

[@ravenkahne8484]

Tony tried to keep David away from the card table at first, but then, as usual, Tony seen a way to make some money.

[@tarantulagirl]

Tony only lent him 5g, Tony lost his shit because Davy lied to Christopher and extorted another 40gs

[@684avatar]

Tony gave him a bunch of warnings, not his fault the guy is a total moron to keep racking his tab up to 45 g’s

[@kostasmoros9534]

@@tarantulagirl Exactly. If he had just stopped himself at the $5k Tony had OK'd, the car alone would have paid off the debt. This video assumes Tony planned all this, when really Tony thought at worst Scatino would owe him just the $5k he agreed to front and no more. $5k is bad, but not life-ruining bad like $45k was. Scatino did this to himself. Was Tony brutal in going after the debt and does that make him a bad person? Probably. In Tony's position due to it being my daughter's friend alone, if it were me I'd let the debt slide (but never ever do business with Scatino again). Tony did not do so, and instead proceeded to ruin Scatino. But this was not planned. It only happened after Scatino essentially chose to steal another $40k from Tony without consent.

[@histguy101]

@@kostasmoros9534 You missed a lot of details. Tony wanted him in the card game so they could get him into debt. Tony loaned him another $30k throughout the night, and he borrowed another 10k from Tony while he was asleep. Now Tony has enough on this guy to get sweet 1k per week interest only payments, or he'll get everything out of the store. The card game itself was a cheat, as they slow played the mark(Davey) to get him in as much debt as possible. Tony admits all of this at the end. Now it's Tony's game AND money, so he never actually risked any physical dollars on Davey. He got all this essentially for free.

[@chrism6347]

@@histguy101 well the house always wins in the end. Still on David, he shouldn't have been so naive or was it desperation

[@jrcasselman]

By the looks of things, Scatino lost their house as well. I like the way you found the little details such as Artie serving the Ramlosa and David trying to get every drop of coffee from the dispenser.

[@SopranoTheories]

The Ramlosa water was crazy to discover! Feeding the ladies poison and Carmela's just as guilty.

[@sophiawilson8696]

What happened to wife and Eric? I don't understand how control David's business the business if in the wife name?.

[@jrcasselman]

@@sophiawilson8696 Christine Scantino (nee Musto) owned the business but David was the manager. As such, he could authorize lines of credit from the banks; chances are Christine had given him permission to undertake such activities. He was then forced to use the lines of credit until they were exhausted.

[@richardschaffer8740]

@@SopranoTheories I'm glad you caught that, the sacred AND the propane!

[@Firthy2002]

@@sophiawilson8696 In season 3 Hunter mentions Eric is at college but heavy into drugs.

[@WiseAilbhean]

This is one of the many episodes that a newbie to The Sopranos could watch solo without seeing any other episodes. It’s like a short film or psa for gamblers beware.

[@danielgrimes8312]

The happy wanderer is in my opinion one of the most underrated episodes in television history, I mean I would put next to the law of God's and mans of game of Thrones, everthing was great, the poker game, richie's manson's lamps, the whole sad fall to a men who wasn't such a bad guy, and Tony's pissing contest with Meadow....such a sad but tense episode

[@treb760]

Agreed. It's pretty much my favorite episode of the whole series.

[@MoskHotel]

I strongly agree. The Happy Wanderer is my favourite episode out of Season 2. It teaches us not to become degenerate gambling addicts, not to gamble with people involved with the mob and teaches us to not indulge in our greed. The other half I love about this episode is Tony’s other uncle, Eckley, and we hear more about Tony’s family through Tony’s feeble-minded uncle.

[@baroqueguitarist5673]

The best part was David's last line to Tony after trying to get that last bit of coffee. David says he plans to start over out west near Las Vegas. Basically showing he's learned nothing from all of this and is destined to repeat his mistakes again

[@ScumbariSteve]

Tony loved Ramsey Sports and Outdoors like a brother-in-law

[@jorgemontefusco650]

Excellent portrayal of a tragic figure. Gambling has destroyed more men and the mob is more than willing to bankrupt these fools.

[@yourevilhalf1413]

I wouldn't really call it back stabbing for letting him play if you warn the damn guy three times he can't join your goddamn game, yet he keeps begging you.

[@DrJ-hx7wv]

Richie did the same.

[@KrisLovesMoviess]

It’s crazy that this whole event happened in basically one episode.

[@cptsponko32]

Great channel mate. Incidentally there's an off screen incident involving David which meadow mentions in a season 5 episode, as he ends up being committed to a psychiatric unit in Las Vegas. Poor guy lost his own mind in the end😪

[@homelessjesse9453]

Subplots like this is the reason The Sopranos will always be the best television show ever. Yes. Even better than either Breaking Bad or Madmen. No show ever came this great at interweaving both comedy and tragedy together. Maybe Cheers. Although it is from the 80s, so it does show its age. Also, I just realized that if Davey had cut out from the game when he was ahead, he not only would've avoided the conflict with Rich the following morning, but also used the money he won to help pay off what he owed to Rich.

[@mikehunt9884]

Stop trying to make him look like the victim, it was established in the series that Scatino already had gambled away his kid's college funds, and tony had absolutely nothing to do with that.

[@DrJ-hx7wv]

Are you still with the Beaver Falls PD?

[@chuckn4851]

I mean it was jacked up for sure but Davey was a gambling *addict* Or did you not get that lol

[@histguy101]

@@chuckn4851 You can be a gambling addict, go to Vegas, lose everything, and still not get cheated the way Davey was.

[@Whocares66672]

​@histguy101 how was he cheated? Slow playing is a poker stragedy that is used by players all the time and is not cheating at all

[@eaglesfan5750]

Davey, you’re doing a good job!

[@dondajulah4168]

Red sells!

[@beachaddict7653]

Closest I ever came to gambling was the lottery and I gave up on that a long time ago. It's designed for you to lose, that's how the gambling owners make their money.

[@kennethb375]

A little background to Robert Patrick studying David Scatino's character. Robert Patrick, prior to playing the role, attended gambling anonymous meetings to speak with the addicts. All of the addicts had the general consensus that they felt a sense of superiority and like they were elite. This is what Robert Patrick used to play his character

[@WileyGuy]

There’s also that one scene where Meadow tells Carmela that David’s in a mental clinic in Nevada which could possibly be connected to him hitting rock bottom in Vegas.

[@jeffnickels2279]

David would've been alright if he'd reminded Tony about their kids going to school together. It would've played on Tony's sense of friendship and Tony would've forgiven his debt. Big missed opportunity there.

[@southernclassik]

He hasn't been the same ever since the molten metal vat incident.

[@funkfarmer7125]

Always hated how David's kid got so pissed at Meadow and her dad for her ending up with his SUV. I'd be more mad at my degenerate gambler of a father than the guy he owed money to.

[@lotsofthisandthat9791]

If he would have kept his cool, he may have tapped Meadow too.

[@SopranoTheories]

Very sad how his dads problem affected his son and his son's friends relationship.

[@johnrojas9535]

He tapped meadow for sure

[@mards2479]

Teenagers don’t understand shit tbh, that was a pretty accurate portrayal

[@mickyzzzeee]

A 15 year old doesn’t have that level of emotional intelligence

[@jabelltulsa]

Great recap. You really get a sense of Tony's delineation between friend and business. You get to see how that mechanism in him switches. The writing in this show was so great. Everyone nailed their roles.

[@rasnac]

I believe everyone is being unfair to Tony about this situation including Tony himself. This is not a case of the scorpion and the frog. Tony did not lure him in to a scam or something. On the contrary, this video shows clearly Tony went above and beyond trying to keep David away from his business, more than anyone would in same case imho, let alone any other wiseguy. No, David did not need anybodys help to get himself into this terrible situation. He made a great job digging his own grave. David is not the innocent frog, he is a scorpion that is so stupid, he ends up stinging himself. He does not deserve pity.

[@scartee13]

A little louder for the people in the back please!!👏🏼💯 I have absolutely no sympathy for him he brought this on himself. You’re absolutely right Tony didn’t twist his arm or persuade him into it he advised him AGAINST it twice and he was stupid enough to get in debt to Tony right after he was already deep in richies pocket. He’s not a victim he ruined his life all by himself.

[@Gogettor]

Tony should have said HASTA LA VISTA BABY after shooting the T1000

[@turtlesploodgegaming3123]

I've been in recovery for three years now. Pain pills are the forbidden fruit. Anyways...I never took that shit out on my kid. Always made sure the bills were paid before I got my shit. Of course, I was making good money. Of course it all caught up with me. But I can honestly say that my kid never went without. I spent many days sick chasing that turd. The only time he went without his dad was when I was rehab

[@devak45167]

I’ve watched this series many times but never noticed the detail with the Ramlosa water, awesome catch. Man the layers of this show

[@oisinquinn9469]

These videos are good but they aren't theories, they are just episode recaps. I do enjoy them.

[@JJJ111JJJ]

7:39 - My morning routine before work.

[@felipeacostamunoz1249]

David Scatino's fall and road to insanity should sadden no one as he got what he deserved....word to the wise my friends : When it comes to gambling, the house eventually ALWAYS WINS!

[@clootscalhoun9481]

I read your quote “word to the wise…” and immediately thought, you guessed it, “remember Pearl Harbor! 🤘”

[@dfunkfatsack4512]

When tony slapped david my phone flew out of my hand

[@jeffreynowak8866]

Daveys beating was THE scariest tony anger moment in whole series IMO.

[@jacobgarz8970]

David should have pulled out of the game when he was on top

[@johnwade7963]

He should have listened to Tony when he told him that game wasn't for him

[@edd8914]

​@@johnwade7963 Tony should have put his foot down and forbidden David from the game. Tony let his greed get ahead of being loyal to a friend.

[@cashflodigitalsportsnetwork]

@@edd8914 it’s in his nature not to... scorpion and the frog

[@edd8914]

@@cashflodigitalsportsnetwork It's his bread and butter. It's how a guy like him makes his living.

[@DmarcusBaus]

@@edd8914 But he’s free to go, he can go wherever he wants!

[@br9377]

They should show a super cut of Davy Scatino clips at gamblers anonymous meetings.

[@rustykuntz94]

For guest characters both Robert Patrick & Joe Penny (Vic Musto) were great in this episode

[@MoskHotel]

And Frank Sinatra Jr

[@milesbrown7345]

Robert patrick is low key one of my favorite actors

[@sukottoshinobe7360]

I do not think it was a set up. Tony warned him four or five times from the beginning about staying away from the game and had no idea he would randomly show up at the hotel that night. And how pissed off Silvio was at the table when he was losing to David. Also, how upset Tony was when he woke up and found out David lost $45,000 of his money. He would have not been upset if that would have been the goal all along. But after that he figured what the hell I warned the guy, he didn’t listen and he lost $45,000 of my money. Put yourself in Tony’s shoes, what the hell would you do if you woke up tomorrow morning and found out somebody took $45,000 from you and then lost it but still wants to just be friends? You are not gonna feel bad in any way how you get that money back. Did David having a store ultimately help Tony let him into the game? Most likely and Tony does mention it but I don’t think it was the forefront of his intentions. But after losing his money, no feeling bad at all and neither would I. You took a man’s money and lost it. End of story

[@mrflynn1205]

The worst part is that Tony stole most of that money.

[@Sion67Productions]

Absolutely fantastic, how has this not got more views? Keep going!

[@SopranoTheories]

Thank you so much!

[@jordil6152]

We had a degenerate gambler who used to frequent our bar. The guy inherited a house, sold it and put every dime of it into those video slot machines. It took him the whoke summer. Then some people's money went missing and we barred him. It's both sad and infuriating.

[@BABYFACEBEASTIE]

Wow i never notice the scene with the water. Amazing little things like that is what made the Sopranos the greatest.

[@drubie67]

Davey should've recorded Tony talking about the Bevalaqua murder while they were all in his store...he could've sold that info to the FBI and testify against Tony in exchange for a new life/clean slate in witness protection...maybe he could've worked out a free college education for his son lol

[@talhadawood7969]

He would have been a dead man if they ever got a hint that he was an informant

[@dbz4586]

That would have been a cool side story.

[@pangogeeks]

This is so fucking realistic, masterpiece, dramatic, jeez...best show ever

[@sandiasurfers3174]

"A grown man made a wager...he lost...then he lost again, end of story!" Tony Soprano with the real talk. People need more of this thrown at them these days - responsibility for actions. Not handouts.

[@aaronstark5060]

I still kinda see a problem with what he did in that particular situation, though. Because by taking that jeep and giving it to Meadow, knowing that she and Eric were friends, he dragged them into it and destroyed their relationship. It was between him and David and he did not have to sabotage his daughter’s friendship.

[@sandiasurfers3174]

@@aaronstark5060 I'm not here nitpicking the episode man I was talking about a metaphor and a great line from Tony. The fact that you responded literally makes me think you missed that part.

[@sandiasurfers3174]

@Night Fights Day you can literally just reread what I wrote to the first dude. It applies to you too. Sad that these kids don't know how to read anymore. Ya know reading is one thing, comprehension is another. Go ahead and reread that. 😘

[@aaronstark5060]

@@sandiasurfers3174 In order for it to be metaphorical, there has to be a metaphor. And, you’re talking about her getting a lesson in not getting handouts by… getting handed a jeep. It’s not that I missed the point, it’s that I think your point is bullshit.

[@sandiasurfers3174]

@@aaronstark5060 That's your opinion, ma'am. Go ahead and look up Websters dictionary, you obviously are confused as to what a metaphor is to begin with. And in this case who it's applying to. You cant get your mind out of the Sopranos episode ffs!! 😂 A metaphor is when you take something conceptual from one area and can apply the same concept to other areas in society or whatever subject you're discussing. I think I know whats really going on, you're a ....Outraged lefty who gets triggered when people bring up "responsibility for actions, not handouts"... Sorry for introducing you to reality.

[@adonis699]

Giving Meadow her friend's car. 😂 How dumb that move is

[@marqueswilliams345]

Richie lowkey was looking out for David

[@newperve]

"You know me I like to play a little." "A little?" Tony knew he was an addict from a start.

[@skylarmccloud4080]

Yep and he used reverse psychology to entice him even more. He knew the more he said stay away the closer he would want to get.

[@akshatprakash871]

I never understood the scatino bustout though. David owed the mob 52000 dollars. He had a nice business that must be making him atleast 100k. In a country like the US, where anyone with a pulse can get a line of credit, was it that difficult to take out a $52000 loan. I mean, I live in India where you have to bribe bank officials to get loans and even I can get an equivalent amount in personal loans. The interest on that would be heavy, but nothing compared to what the mafia was charging him. Am i missing something here?

[@SirHaroldMaguire]

The issue i imagine is what is the loan for? If he takes out a loan like that and there is no paper trail of where he invested the money he would be potentially imprisoned for Fraud and also Tony wouldn't want him to take out a loan like that because it beings heat to Tony as the debtor.

[@akshatprakash871]

@@SirHaroldMaguire You don't need any collateral or business plans for personal loans. Just an income. It could not have been that hard. Worst case scenario, his wife would have had to take the loan, considering the business (and thus any income from that business) would be in her name. But no way in hell would that be impossible unless the entire family's credit has been shot to shit without the wife knowing anything about it, which is possible but unlikely. Even in that case, his brother in law could have supported him. Now I think about it, no way that store can't take 50k worth of additional credit. I mean, this was a family about to support an ivy league student. No way they were that cash strapped.

[@illegalewahrheiten2911]

@@akshatprakash871 He's already cash broke when he meets Richie and Tony. Probably maxed out his personal credit and can't take up big loans on the company without his wife knowing because it's in her name.

[@saxongreen78]

That Scatino kid had been given a brand new SUV and he thought he was fully entitled to it. My first car was a 1973 Datsun Sunny that cost $600 and I felt like I didn't even deserve that. Funny how that works. EDIT: My point is that Davey was _delusional_ and completely dishonest to everyone in his life.

[@Eddy0000zzzz]

Really good work bro, your channel gonna have lots of subscribers, and you just got one!

[@SopranoTheories]

Thank you check out my latest video!

[@CHEDDAHD]

David was such a unique character. I liked the "outsider" characters on this show. Also crazy to think that's the same actor that played the T1000 terminator!

[@DarkRhode]

Great video! Keep up the great work!

[@SopranoTheories]

Thank you check out my latest video!

[@Adarkane325xi]

This is like watching a trainwreck. Great acting all around. You throw the term “degenerate gambler” around like it doesn’t happen to Tony in Season 6, which makes it even more ironic.

[@MarkT1700]

This man is tragic, in every sense of the word.

[@mattmac1271]

I love how davey talks about poker as if it’s a game of luck

[@maratonlegendelenemirei3352]

You're doing a great job, Davey.

[@bgdojo]

I’ve always loved that line, I don’t know why, it’s probably the giving context of he was just yelling at him a second ago!

[@maratonlegendelenemirei3352]

@@bgdojo Tony remembered he was yelling to an old school friend.

[@zipppy9]

The T-1000 pissed his pants in front of Tony soprano.

[@dohboy200]

There was a follow up mention in David Scatino in a future season, can’t remember what he was up to though

[@ericbonofacio4695]

He was in a mental health facility in Nevada. lol that was his update

[@dohboy200]

@@ericbonofacio4695 lol fair enough

[@ObiWanShinobi67]

He attempted to off himself and was in a mental or rehab facility. According to Meadow.

[@dougbfresh]

man the music put against this really sells the addiction part.

[@PatrickWilliams-ts4le]

Tony giving Meadow the jeep always baffled me. Odd decision, why didn't he just sell it/trade it in for a different one.

[@JoJoJoker]

It was probably financed by David, because he could have sold the truck to pay back his original loan.

[@SirHaroldMaguire]

In the therapy session its hinted that he subconsciously did it on purpose to say to Meadow in a roundabout way "This is what I do for a living, this huge house your education everything you own all comes from this kind of thing, take it or leave it"

[@PatrickWilliams-ts4le]

@@SirHaroldMaguire excellent point. But consider the following: There was no therapy session. Dr.Melfi was a figment of Tony's imagination the whole time. A coping mechanism to quell his internal conflict of who he is as a person. (Just joking of course)

[@tomace4898]

"I didn't really expect to gamble tonight." *-David Scatino*

[@72139]

I always saw the empty coffee pot as a metaphor for what a bad luck loser Scatino was ! He just can't win even if it's free coffee !

[@shapiroshekelberg604]

“The man is a gammblah….You should nevah gamble Anthony.”

[@stevema2]

I mean David could have just turned into Liquid metal and killed Tony. He didn't have the makings of a varsity Terminator! 🤣 (PS: It's a joke. I love Robert Patrick's terminator.)

[@WordsMatter1982]

"Is that Eric's Jeep?" "Yeah, but it's yours now."

[@Stupafyinglogic]

Gets upset when his own son asks for a measly dub , yet brazenly asks Richie to spot him a mob dime (thousand dollas)… seems legit

[@tonyc7301]

My friends and I still use that line with each other if we lose a bet (Not anything like the bets Davey lost): Davey- "I'm just having some bad luck" Tony-"It just got worse", before he smacks the shit out of him.

[@highstakes1235]

There's a clip from a future episode where Meadow says that Davey ends up in a mental institution

[@cornerofthemoon]

Davey was referenced in the Season 3 episode "The Telltale Moozadell"

[@VideInfra]

Is that the last we hear about him?

[@highstakes1235]

@@VideInfra yep