The Sopranos: Can Tony Soprano Be Cured? | Video Essay

David Chase's The Sopranos sets up a key question: can Tony Soprano be cured?
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[@my2spence784]

ScreenPrism can you do one on Dr Melfi? Why can't she look away?

[@jenndowden8131]

My 2 Spence IMO - she cares about Tony, the relationship they have built over time, the intimate nature of their discussions, the professional duty to her patient... she’s invested in trying to help him if possible, insofar as it is not causing harm &/or transgressing her own personal ethics or boundaries... but ultimately, she was led to believe - right or wrong - that he was beyond her ability to help at the human level - that she was merely facilitating & ultimately complicit in the harm he was doing... which was in violation of her moral code. She did finally abandon him as a therapist due to that conclusion... I suppose I am to some extent judging her for it, but it’s hard to say if it was truly a righteous choice or not... scientific opinion evolves... I have mixed feelings on her moral quandary & subsequent decision. To be fair, I am both biased & lacking in professional training on the matter... but I have way more life experience with personality disordered types than I feel anyone should have had to endure... and find myself in a similar but far more personal moral dilemma weighing the pros, cons, & possibilities of continuing engagement.

[@harrymurray9702]

No, and you're analyzing something that does not need to be. A mobster knows only one thing, Greed. And to obtain they will commit any crime or heinous act. There is no cure, only if he was going to prison, he might rat to save himself, and that in itself is no cure but merely self preservation.

[@Colmenero444]

Amazing..Iv wondered all along why tony is tony. Kinda the same thing why beacher from HBO'S OZ what he is.

[@mattthal8037]

ScreenPrism Hun

[@VideoGameAutopsy]

Tony’s last session with Melfi is a perfect reflection of their entire relationship. While waiting to be called in, Tony rips a steak recipe right out of Melfi’s magazine. The recipe, much like Melfi’s advice, might get used, might not, but it’s his to take. When Melfi not so formally ends her relationship with Tony, he puts the recipe, and seven years of advice, back where he found it, with Melfi.

[@pleaseenteraname8211]

Very well put, gave a whole other layer to the scene

[@someone2746]

Tony having a female therapist was beneficial towards getting him to open up but doomed him to failure with his long-standing abandonment/rejection issues with his mother.

[@veritasinvicta8128]

She left him hanging over a study. A study that made claims that sociopaths use therapy to sharpen their skills and apparently she allowed that study to enable her to quit on her client just prior to his death.

[@Gigibaby88]

Excellent analysis, thanks for sharing that 👍

[@VideoGameAutopsy]

@@veritasinvicta8128 I don't know how to feel about that. Much of Melfi's decision to leave Tony came from an interaction that David Chase had with a psychiatrist. He asked the doctor to diagnose Tony, and the doctor put him onto the same study that Melfi ends up reading. It's possible that it could be true. But there's also plenty of other psychiatrists out there who don't believe it. Mental health is a difficult field. It's not a one size fits all kind of science.

[@derekjohnson3731]

I would actually argue Tony got exactly what he wanted out of therapy. He never went to be a better person. He never went for self-fulfillment or enlightenment. He never went for insight into his own soul. He went to deal with his panic attacks. He wanted to deal with his daily stresses. He carried a lot of baggage not only from Livia’s abuse, but also from his criminal activities. Not necessarily “guilt,” but definitely baggage. He goes to make his life easier. To deal with the weight of his position and the internal struggle it creates. And at the end, it works. Tony fully embraces his role. Ruthless Tony wins because that’s what he wanted to be from the very beginning. By the end, he no longer has the hang ups he once did, and is every bit the gangster his father was, actually even more so. Tony is no longer confused or conflicted. He’s cured. But that doesn’t mean he’s a better person.

[@wargesparge]

excellent, that explains a lot for me

[@mrkevinhaughey]

Well said, my friend, well said.

[@donmiller2908]

The mans a friggin psychopath, at the very least, a sociopath. These conditions are incurable.

[@barbarawebb7185]

I’m surprised he can even love his kids.

[@tobeornottobe5611]

@@donmiller2908 Derek never said he was cured of his sociopathy, more that he was cured of his humanity.

[@Life4Metalcore]

The times in Melfi’s office were one of the most creative ways of giving internal dialogue and exposition in film

[@Life4Metalcore]

Jonizzio _ obviously he’s not going to say anything to her about that but we get to see his face he has to hide from his family and the guys

[@Stoney-Jacksman]

Indeed. And also the dreams. The dreams were so insightfully written and filmed.

[@ghostaccountlmao]

No, he mentions the tree branch to try to incite rage against Chrissie from the others. He asks Carmela "I heard a hint of relief?" when speaking about the revelation Chris had died. He wanted others to bad mouth Chrissie so he could have an empathetic ear. That's why in the dream, with Melfi who is the ultimate empathetic ear, he says out right he's glad he did it. That's why his "luck had changed" and he exclaims "I did it!" at the end of the episode. He had no regrets.

[@brendanburgess2071]

It was basically an excuse to give the equivalent of a Shakespearean soliloquy

[@Natalie-ox7xm]

I like that you used the word "film". This was not a tv show or a tv series. It's one of the greatest movies ever made . The character of Tony is so complex and so well written. They deserved the 111 Emmy nominations they got. I'm not even exaggerating , they got *111* emmy nominations. The 21 that they won was phenomenal and well deserved .

[@JennaLeigh]

One thing is certain- James Gandolfini was an absolute monster of an actor. He made Tony Soprano real, beatiful, hideous, conflicted- complete. Lesser actors would have made Tony Soprano a joke, a spoof, a pastiche. Gandolfini brought him to life in a million little ways. May he rest well.

[@brianwalsh1401]

That was his role and you can't imagine anybody else doing it. He was also relatively unknown actor at that point in time so I couldn't associate him with other roles. It's very sad he died so young. I wonder if that role affected him and his health.

[@Gigibaby88]

Amen to that 🙏

[@Gigibaby88]

He used to come into my old job often and was good friends with my former boss who I was in a relationship with at the time. He'd tell me all the time what an amazing guy he was and how different he was from Tony. I hadn't ever watched The Sopranos at that point, actually I just watched it for the first time now. I wish so much now that I'd asked my former boss to introduce me to him, it would've been such an honor to meet him. We had all kinds of celebrities come into our job and my boss hobnobbed with all of them but I never heard him speak about any of them like he did Mr. Gandolfini, he called him a friend & had true respect for him as a person.

[@JennaLeigh]

@@Gigibaby88 oh my gosh that's incredible! I'm a makeup artist and a friend of mine worked on the Sopranos as an assistant to the main artists in season 3.... Much of what she's said aligns totally with what your friend said. The entire cast was kind and courteous.... But Mr. Gandolfini was just-- different. Incredibly warm, thoughtful, gracious. Sounds like he made a huge impact on those lucky enough to meet him❤️❤️

[@coreygolphenee9633]

And that comes from having this script

[@samfilmkid]

Video: It’s been twenty years since the show first premiered. Phil Leotardo: *starts typing*

[@ish5100]

I really wish the show explained how many years Phil spent in the can

[@GerryBolger]

Can Tony Soprano be cured? Well he didn't have what it takes to be a varsity athlete so there's that...

[@Gothamcitylive_]

De Beauvoir Leibniz V. He never play college ball...lol

[@Gothamcitylive_]

De Beauvoir Leibniz V. Ha! Small hands that was his problem...

[@capuletrose4819]

Oh well done lol I was literally just going to write this 😊

[@MrMendoda]

omg best comment that any soprano fan will get!

[@animock3051]

De Beauvoir Leibniz V. You don't like what I say? Get out of my house!

[@markcochrane5229]

Sil isn't "bumbling and wreckless". He might be the most level headed one on the show

[@karabomasibi2331]

For a while I was like "Sil is the most reasonable and best person here", then he strangles someone with a wire 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@bumfricker2487]

Columbus

[@tedwojtasik8781]

@@karabomasibi2331 and cold bloodedly kills Adrianna without batting an eye

[@chickenman7801]

@@karabomasibi2331 He coldly and cooly calculated and executed the plan to the best of his ability. Murder is messy. Don't believe me? Sil waited til Burt's wife was at church to take him out and Burt was none the wiser until it was too late.

[@diddles3383]

I think they got Sil confused with Paulie lol

[@yacinechikh8932]

My psychologist friend said that Tony never changed this environment, and that is important part of changing one self.

[@goose33]

Changing the environment? No way. That goes for addiciton as well..doesnt solve core problem

[@Jaguadarte__]

@@goose33 It does. I'm a psychology student, but just don't take my word for it... You could read about the concept of nudging and environmental psychology. We're a combination of our genes and environments and we express who we are by the relations we form between those two things. For instance, you don't have the genes to see like an eagle no matter what you do... But you have the genetic information to develop language, but if you're not stimulated in an environment that allows you to learn a language you'll never learn it. The same goes for people who want to start a diet... If your family keeps buying junk food and processed goods it will be definitely harder for you to lose weight. Or take Vietnam veterans that while in service became addicted to heroin and opioids, but when going back home didn't feel the need anymore to use such substances. It's the same with Tony, sure maybe he never actually wanted to change... But his environment also always reinforced him to keep ''being Tony''.

[@goose33]

@@Jaguadarte__ i guess in a way. I mean it helps but like i said i dont think it fixes the core. I have criminal justice degree so we did a lot of psych not as much as you obv and im also a recovering addict so i know when i changed my environment it helped short term but didnt fix long term. See what im saying?

[@Jaguadarte__]

@@goose33 oh haha that's the beauty of the world!! Different opinions on the same topics or sometimes with different words :-)

[@goose33]

@@Jaguadarte__ im finding it harder and harder to have convos with people w.o them blowing up. So thank you for having a civil convo lol

[@canturgan]

Nothing will ever come close to the Sopranos. I miss it, it was so funny too, amazing actors and scripts and direction and everything.

[@larrymcjones]

It's so cliché but I really don't know if I'll ever enjoy a show more than the sopranos or the wire

[@rawtaa8591]

I just recently watched episode 1 to the finale in about 5 or 6 weeks. While it was groundbreaking its not perfect and it definitely has some problems. The writing when it was on the money it was perfect, but some of the writing had major flaws. Also the pacing was on and off and the first seasons took a while to find their footing and groove

[@horror7927]

Imo I think oz was a little better than Sopranos and sopranos was a little bit just a little better than the wire. And sinse were on this subject I want to add that I have never been into dragons and fantasy shit like Lord of the rings but I have to admit I have really gotten into Got and I put that show up with any of them

[@canturgan]

Ric Dweld oz?

[@canturgan]

Kevin Gately is Dead No.

[@Abylaikhan90]

More Sopranos analyses! These series have so much meaning and materials for analysis.

[@erinbeepbeep5238]

Yes, please! I want to hear analyses of some of the best shows ever made (The Sopranos, The Wire, and Mr. Robot)

[@highdeafhd8673]

L

[@limitedhangoutlive]

I don’t buy the whole “he was a better criminal” synopses. In fact, I don’t think “ruthless Tony took over”, I think the final act was Tony trying to repent for what he feels he created or harbored and Melfi turning her back on him just showed the hypocrisy of the other characters who aren’t so much different from Tony outside of the killing. He, unfortunately, went that direction because of his upbringing and his fear of turning into his mother. Tony killed Ralphie because Ralphie was the devil. He killed Christopher because he pictured what he might do to his baby and his family. The dream was his fear that he did it selfishly. But, as the show goes on, he recognizes those around him are terrible people who don’t even care the way he does. His face when he’s interrupted after explaining how they closed his gunshot wound was a great reflection. Or the slow motion laughing that is repeated with Christopher except he has a different response because they’re laughing at him and not with him.

[@Gigibaby88]

@@limitedhangoutlive i really hated that he killed Christopher though, no matter what the reason & didn't even really seem to care. It would be like Walt killing Jesse to me. Christopher was like Tony's spiritual son.

[@WiseAilbhean]

I've always loved James Gandolfini's face. That smile he got, like when he's smiling he just look super happy. Makes you smile too. They almost cast Ray Liotta for the Tony Soprano role. Yeah he would have done a superb job, but I am still glad we had Jimmy G!

[@donmiller2908]

I don't agree with you. I don't know if it was his teeth or cheeks or whatever, I can't place why I feel this way, but when Gandolfini smiled in the show I thought his I.Q. dropped 60 points.

[@kingfadal4711]

Don Miller oh u dumb fuck

[@veritasinvicta8128]

Ray made it into "Many Saints" at least.

[@marcellinodadon1103]

_...yes, James was beautiful..._ ❤...

[@animock3051]

You guys need to answer the biggest question of the show: How many years was Phil in the can?

[@bobbestofbobs]

Animock He never mentioned it no?

[@animock3051]

Chris J It's a mystery that will probably never be solved.

[@gigicestone4902]

Problem is, we don't actually have any information that serves as evidence nor hints.

[@bryanmartinez4521]

20 fucking years he did

[@seanyourhero1765]

20 years

[@jakubwrona2040]

To answer title question: "If Tony turned himself in, read Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, reflected on his crimes every day for seven years in his self then he might be redeemed".

[@milk_cow_blues]

For me, that character is the only light in the entire dark of The Sopranos universe. If you see him and put attention to every word he said to Carmela in that chspter, you can actually understand the entire show.

[@Danickas0]

@@milk_cow_blues That character was literally the show creator talking to the audience. David Chase was really angry that audience was rooting for Tony and his band of crooks so he set the record straight.

[@stairwaytoheaven8]

No he still wouldn't lmao, that therapist was spewing some moralist BS like every hypocritical character in the show

[@Onezy05]

Tony kind of did that through his seven years of therapy and reflection on his actions. But it still didn't change anything. Remember, he said it *might* help

[@jakubwrona2040]

@@Onezy05 Well... kind of, but the important factor is to seperate yourself from extremely bad environment.

[@schmeltingaccident]

This show had the best dream sequences in any show or film.

[@milk_cow_blues]

Even better than David Lynch. And that's much.

[@schmeltingaccident]

@@milk_cow_blues haven’t seen any Lynch films other than Mullhulan, Eraserhead, and Straight Story but knowing what the guy puts out that is saying a lot.

[@nayanjnath3875]

Nah dreams in Twin peaks is better but overall Sopranos>>>

[@Dale_Blackburn]

Usually Lynch doesn't have much dream scenes, his whole movies feel like a dream ... Its a different style

[@TheSchemer1]

4:24 well apart from Silvio's goofy moments he's arguably one of the most sensible mobsters on the show.

[@SuperBrictson]

I love when in Season 2 he yells a poor rookie in poker night with the mobters. Sil yells "Ohhhhh what are you doing? Stop sweeping on me, I love cheese in my feet, I put provolone on my socks!!!"

[@tommymacmillan8392]

Exactly, Paulies crazy though really got on Tony’s nerves

[@AlphaQHard]

He went to a columbus protest to start shit, which bring unnecessary heat on the family. Not exactly sensible

[@loiracitr]

@@AlphaQHard I was told the actor who played Paulie was injuried and couldn't film some episodes so I suspect that episode was originally written for him instead of Silvio. I have no proof of that but it just makes more sense

[@clawzx1195]

@@loiracitr sil always had the attitude to be really level headed in terms of business but any sort of game hes passionate about is when you dont fuck about with him

[@darkhawk918]

The greatest character in media history. The word "genius" is thrown around a lot - James Gandolfini's acting skills were exactly that, almost as if it couldn't be possible to be that good. If I ever live so long as to see a show this powerful, well thought out, beautifully written, superbly directed and with a cast full of out-of-this-world talent then I would be amazed. The Sopranos showed the world that television is the greatest story telling medium there is and the legacy this show left behind means it will absolutely be discussed and studied for years to come. In the future when they talk about "television" and the impact of entertainment media this is the show they will talk about.

[@k19sparks]

No one will forget Tony Soprano "You'll only live as long as the last person who remembers you."

[@WiseAilbhean]

I always felt that episode in season 1, "College" was like in itself a short film. Because you can watch that 1 episode and by itself and not have a need to see the other episode. You get the idea of all other characters seen there without having to see all the other episodes before it.

[@chuckiechee]

Hahahaha this quote was ripped DIRECTLY from David Chase, word for word lol

[@Martyjowa]

Part of what I love about this show is that it abandons almost all realism. The whole series is like a dream; there is no such thing as realism in fiction, just suspension of disbelief. It's an exploration of human nature and Tony represents a part of all of us. Anyone is capable of going down that path.

[@blondeboi22]

What a series and what a channel

[@PabloTheOne]

I wanted to write the same comment XD

[@c.c.244]

Gothic "123 melt carved",go(d ego it won Murdoc! Avril and Andrew Jr. reads.

[@naturalallnaturalwhitepist1789]

blondeboi22 let me just tell you about

[@3Jane_TA]

You should have added on the same episode when Chris dies, the meaning of Tony's "I get it" at the end of the episode meant that Tony himself realizes that he's never gonna change. Also there's an analysis called "Tony's Vicarious Patricide" that I highly recommend reading, it's explores Tony's psychological relationship of his father.

[@chandlerdouglas98]

I like the comment about how Tony, by the end of the series, only gains the vocabulary to explain himself. That's the challenging thing for self-aware people who aren't able to change their life despite knowing the cause of the problem. What a deep sentiment!

[@dend1]

Sopranos vids are such a pleasant surprise.

[@GerryBolger]

Another fantastic video. A lot of channels are obsessed with Rick and Morty and Game of Thrones which, while they are great shows, have been analysed to death. We've had The Wire and The Sopranos from ScreenPrism which really are both responsible for the golden age of tv we're in now. Keep up the good work, old school HBO (Deadwood, Oz, etc) is a gold mine of influence and scene changing tv.

[@JennaLeigh]

I think Six Feet Under gets somehow forgotten nowadays- perhaps because Dwight Schrute is such a huge character. But the cast of that show and all that it covered would be awesome for a deep dive.

[@Gigibaby88]

@@JennaLeigh could not agree more, that is absolutely one of the best shows of all time IMO. My 2nd favorite personally after Twin Peaks.

[@rustykuntz94]

Gandolfini’s acting in that last episode of S1 when he finally confronts his Mother is on another level of great.

[@iSaraSeantae]

I never believed that Tony was a sociopath. We see him experience genuine emotion and emotional conflict when he is entirely alone with absolutely no one to perform for. When he kills, we see what motivates him and we see the emotional turmoil it causes. Look at the mobster-turned-rat Tony discovers while checking out colleges with Meadow - there is rage, excitement, a desire for vengeance, then caution, trepidation, and finally conflict as he is carrying out the murder. He has every reason to kill this guy and when it comes down to it, it still hurts him. Tony kills because he thinks he has to out of a sense of duty and he kills because he thinks he needs to to protect others. Pussy was another despatched out of duty - that clearly upset Tony. Ralphie's murder was motivated by the lack of justice that Tony had witnessed in regard to the pregnant mistress and Pie O My. Christopher was killed because he was like a rabid dog who needed to be put down to protect others. Cousin Tony was a mercy killing - Tony knew what was coming for him otherwise. Tony was a flawed but very human character. He wasn't a monster, he was simply a man who thought he had to do monstrous things to move through this world.

[@AQUAPHREESH193]

Doodle Doodle Nope truth i don’t recall him ever killing anyone 100% truly innocent

[@basballer182]

That's what a sociopath does. He can care for others but only a sociopath could do the things he did, regardless of motive. Sociopaths have emotions and can do positive things, but only a sociopath can be a leader in his line of work.

[@timothyrosko9394]

Calvin Whittington I disagree. A sociopath by definition doesn't experience emotion, He's definitely more of a psychopath

[@rocksoliddude1]

Tony has his Mother's traits of BPD and malignant NPD. He's not actually a sociopath.

[@adamantiiispencespence4012]

Doodle Doodle Nope honestly I think the show is Tony descending further and further into psycopathy(and it truly starts in college when after killing the informant he sees that Hawthorne quote about how a man cannot show one face to the world and another to himself without becoming bewildered as to which one is true) It is possible to become a psychopath there have been studies on inmates developing psychopathic traits in prison. It's like she says Tony finally chooses which face is the real one and it's the one we spent the series hoping he'd move away from.

[@robheatalive4751]

More Sopranos videos please and thanks

[@timpower4922]

The Sopranos literally creates the template for the the following 10+ years of some of the greatest TV ever made. I go back and watch The Sopranos once every several years. It ages beautifully.

[@subasurf]

"that's my gift to my son" His delivery was always perfect.

[@olivierkepo]

At the end of the day, Tony is a mobster. When I read about this show before I watched it, I was given the impression that his family caused him more stress and grief than his Family. This just isn't true at all. The mob involvement created the majority of his stress and panic. The only way to cure him is for him to leave his life of crime, which is impossible. When Chris went to JT to open up about his problems and his struggle to stay sober, JT tells him "you're in the Mafia !". In other words, there is no way for you to get better or stay sober. This is the life you chose.

[@loiracitr]

JT also meant "please don't tell me stuff I will be killed for knowing them!" And then of course Christopher solves that problem lol

[@Gigibaby88]

@@loiracitr I hated that he killed that poor guy. Dude didn't do anything but try and help him. I have very mixed feelings about Chris 😕

[@stairwaytoheaven8]

Tony didn't choose that life though, it was all thrust upon him, and he had no choice but to join it. Frankly when both of your parents are narcissistic psychopaths who are fine with you being a murdering thief, what POSSIBLE chance do you have of changing for the better?

[@ElliotHughesC]

I just watched the last episode of the Sopranos a few days ago... Serendipity! Easily one of the greatest shows ever made.

[@futurestoryteller]

There are so many top comments on here lying about Tony, saying he doesn't want to be a better person, but they showed it: he says "I'm not a husband to my wife, I'm not a father to my kids, I'm not a friend to my friends: I'm nothing." Tony shows remorse about the kind of man he is, and the knowledge that it's his life that makes him this way. Just because he didn't have the *goal* of self improvement when he entered therapy does not mean there's no desire for it. In fact his anxiety is tied to this inner turmoil. When he has the breakthrough in therapy, where he realizes the panic attack that led him to therapy was brought on by the fear of losing his family, that fear is brought about by the natural consequences of his profession. "Depression is rage turned inward" remember? You should, it's in this video that's less than fifteen minutes long. Tony's negative self-assessment is the fuel for his depression. He knows that being better is the only way he can be happy with himself, he's not an idiot, but he doesn't know how to be better. When he almost dies at the hospital he spends the day that he's being discharged essentially reflecting on himself and doing good deeds, but it's not long before he's beating somebody, who's being paid to help him while he's recovering, for "no reason" but really to prove he's still strong to people who wouldn't hesitate to demolish him for any perceived weakness. For him change is as desirable as it is both questionable and fatal. He could be happy? Yeah, who's happy? Someone selling lawn furniture? Kevin Finnerty? Who can honestly say they're happy anyway? Retire? Who exactly will let him do that? Talk to the feds? That always ends well, and like he's going to live with that either. Being a turncoat against his friends. He doesn't go anywhere because he's going in circles. Not because he doesn't *want* to go anywhere. "Who am I, where am I going?" Stop the reductive interpretations of this character. "Tony Soprano never wanted to be a better person" is just a way to take one of the most complex characters in the history of television and dumb him down to a worthless villain.

[@Futureen]

Thank you. Opinions here really lack nuance, much obliged for a more insightful look into the character.

[@polyseed12]

Though Tony is one of the most complex and captivating characters ever to grace a screen. It doesn't change the fact he is a villain. Us being privy to his justification of his actions gives us a false sense of comfort with his otherwise atrocious ,violent actions.

[@futurestoryteller]

@@polyseed12 Pay special attention to what you're saying means though. It essentially boils down to: he is complicated and complex, but he is simply a bad person. The latter point disregards the former. You're not talking about real nuance, what you're implying is the existence of a facade.

[@polyseed12]

@@futurestoryteller Are we debating whether Tony is the Bad guy or what qualifies as Bad?

[@futurestoryteller]

@@polyseed12 Neither, but you do know that you have to define one to render judgment on the other, right?

[@knoelle1357]

Yaaaay please do more on The Sopranos. It’s such an amazing, iconic show. Hearing it’s been 20 years since the Sopranos first aired made me feel old as fuck. Oh my god.

[@dunkleybwoy1]

"20 fucking years"

[@leegsy]

"I compromised. I ate grilled cheese off the radiator".

[@grimrenaissance]

Finally a Sopranos video, I can finally die with a major nerdgasm

[@preahko]

RIP James Gandolfini, one of the greatest actors of his generation.

[@vikramkrishnan6414]

Actually a real life mob boss did visit a shrink: Frank Costello. Vito Genovese would use it against him in the ensuing power struggle

[@largol33t1]

That's why former mob boss Michael Franzese on his KZbin channel said it would dangerous for a mob boss or capo to be caught visiting a psychiatrist. If they wanted to make the show extra realistic, they would have had Tony hiding his medication in a box and taking them only when the wife and kids were asleep. How is he going to explain the presence of the medication if someone sees them sitting on the kitchen counter...

[@lukeconnor4733]

Excellent analysis. I don't think there is a video like this about The Sopranos that asks as many questions about Tony's psyche and moral compass anywhere else. Tony was never going to be cured because he would never turn informant; he would therefore always be surrounded by fellow sociopaths, fellow manipulatiors, fellow thugs and fellow murderers. The environment he was in daily was not exactly conducive to help change his ways. Tony knew the world was a bleak and messed up place and consciously or otherwise he used that acceptance to live the life his way and feed his family. His character - played excellently by the always missed James Gandolfini - is a self-serving, narcissistic killer who will step on anyone's toes to get what he wants. The character is dark, funny, deeply complex and also very smart and manipulative. His nepotism is his only blind spot, but even then he rectifies that weakess as time goes on. Tony Soprano might be loved by you, hated by you or even both simultaneously. But it is fair to say that the acting, the creators and writers brought to life a character that stands alone at the top when it comes to the greatest TV characters of all time.

[@lochofmceo]

I need to get my life together........

[@WiseAilbhean]

1:45 Frankenstein. Actually dressed and positioned like him. Love the directing!

[@ximenaibarrabenitez4804]

The best male tv character of all time

[@bothi00]

Ximena Ibarra Benítez my personal favourite character in all of literature

[@gangsquad967]

Ximena Ibarra Benítez AL bundy

[@mrstifmeister9347]

He’ s the alpha male

[@zlodrim9284]

Is Jimmy McNulty.

[@Mostopinionatedmanofalltime]

Nah, Barney Fife was the best.

[@Silly81]

I wish there could’ve been a video about Carmela, the frustrated conflicted housewife to a Mob Boss.

[@ginger0215]

I am so excited to watch this! I love The Sopranos and, despite all the depth, there is little analysis on Tony (or Carmela, who is arguably more interesting) on KZbin. Thank you for the effort your channel puts in on a regular basis.

[@josueamericanistarv]

I totally agree with you. Carmela went from a bored housewife to the only character who found peace and catharsis.

[@cumswag1222]

@@josueamericanistarv When did that happen?

[@kristinalfc5846]

@@josueamericanistarv she found what now?

[@chrisoehl4094]

Some of the most well done videos about tv on KZbin. Amazing!

[@briansalsarria4996]

Excellent video, for one of the best shows ever made, if not the best, thank you for the quality content!

[@spiderhunt4]

You girls are seriously so great! I can't wait for the next one!

[@md-8866]

This was an outstanding analysis. Well done

[@DaMazzaf97]

The real question: how would Tony have turned out it he was a varsity athlete

[@namedoesmatter]

Probably like an Italian OJ Simpson

[@yuufeternal5837]

I think we see Tony's true emotions towards his family when AJ tried to kill himself. What he did gain from therapy is coaching him how to be a human around them at least. Also, he has some deep seated resentment towards the NYC crew after they wacked Vito. That was the main reason he declined to pay them 25% (or whatever), when Chris even brought up how easy of a solution it was to just agree with their deal. Also, Tony had reservations about killing or letting his cousin get killed. He has true feelings, and even some compassion, as he knew they were going to torture his cousin like they did to Vito. Also another thing that bothered Tony was the way Vito went: torture. It was kind of fucked up he contradicts these traits by trying to justify his murder of Chris though. But he is a sociopath who seems to care more about babies and animals than humans, and Chris (in Tony's mind) was a potential hazard to his own kid.

[@Gigibaby88]

This is a great & insightful comment, surprised no one else responded! I agree with everything you said although I have mixed feelings about whether Tony truly was a sociopath. It really bothered me how he killed Chris though and didn't even seem to care after Chris had been so loyal to him. Just made me really sad.

[@Retr74624]

There’s one scene where Tony & Carm go see his kid’s shrink and Tony uses it as an opportunity to talk about himself. Carmela glares at him. It just proves therapy gave him the verbiage and knowledge to use it to his advantage by playing victim, etc. Great analysis in your video.

[@Hypnociss]

Yay The BEST movie and tv show analysis KZbin page does a video on the BEST television show of all time!! Wooooo!! I actually just started a series rewatch earlier today. I've been a fan of the Sopranos since the initial show run and have rewatched it countless times. Tony... he never had the makings of a varsity athlete.

[@Gitfiddle]

One of the best characters ever. Not just on television. Ever.

[@stanm3803]

Best played characters*

[@unhingedskrunkly8512]

Loved this vid! Really made me re-think the series as a whole, Tony is really one of greatest fictional characters in all media! Gandolfini's preformance was masterful, the hurt, the anger made a fictional character tangible

[@ilyasasilgaly2744]

Tony Soprano is not really like George Costanza: he still had charisma and intelligence (otherwise, he wouldn't stay so long as a mob boss).

[@mfmf100]

Ilyas Asilgaly I agree I think that was one of the weaker analogies in this otherwise good video.

[@StamfordBridge]

Ilyas Asilgaly Context. She wasn’t saying Tony is like George in every way.

[@ThomasTironi]

Costanza was the real sociopath, Tony is just a asshole who murdered for money

[@Hallahanify]

Tony wasnt a mob boss, the soprano family is just a glorified crew

[@jackmclane6961]

@@ThomasTironi George can sense the slightest human suffering actually, opposite of a sociopath

[@trevmac8362]

Tony personally killed 8 people on the show (not counting the murders he ordered) and he even tried to smother his mother.. I think in the show they mentioned where a sociopath is incapable of being cured

[@agvga5510]

Yea in season one when melfi is at her families dinner table

[@sudstahgaming]

Tony as silly as it sounds isn't inherently evil he is a classic example of a product of your environment, most of his violent actions are through necessity with being a leader rather than greed though there are exceptions.

[@ChesterBowerman]

Gandolfini takes you on a journey with his eyes and teaches you a lesson with his smile. The depth of feeling is so profound that twenty after the pilot, it still seems like a live performance.

[@VentiBass]

Superb video!! Thank you!!

[@mcdouche2]

What they forgot to mention is that Tony never had the makings of a varsity athlete.

[@gabyjuen]

😂😂😂 I hate your avatar image!

[@SunriseMMA]

Amazing video, You guys cannot be compared to any other channel. Keep them coming, we will all be here to keep watching.

[@MaDiViL696]

thank you for that video. Such great work

[@kelsstizzle2]

Woah! Best one yet! I loved t. I never noticed that he used his therapist to enable his violence

[@iconicroses8515]

this was so brilliant! Do you think you could do a Scarlett O'hara or Fred and Ginger Analysis? those would be amazing! xx

[@hanklesacks]

This show was on another level, best I’ve ever watched.

[@emresaladin2164]

This was one hell of a summery, love this show so much !

[@bornjusticerule5764]

THANK YOU FOR THIS SHARE. GREAT CONTENT AS ALWAYS.

[@jimmyberry4451]

That George costanza clip killed me hahahaha

[@walangchahangyelingden8252]

Depression should not be an excuse!

[@jackieboy3968]

This video is insanely insightful! Thank you :)

[@michaela192]

Wow i love the Sopranos and this analysis just opened my eyes to a lot of things I wish I was aware of while watching this channel is amazing

[@caitnibhuinbail4400]

I watched the sopranos first when I was a teenager and thought he was a monster , and now i dont and it scares me .. it's like daniel in there will be blood , saw it as a teenager thought he was a despicable human , and now at 22 felt heartbroken for him and related to him.

[@Marcos-qv3mz]

This channel is the best

[@ods1ODS]

I think this question was answered either at the end of season1 when Tony solidified his spot as boss, or when he so joyfully lit that cigar at Meadow's graduation. He embraced the life fully and unequivocally.

[@Starlight893]

Yes! Hopefully we get to see more Soprano videos on here

[@jbasti227]

Yes! Thank you so much

[@ThatOneGuy7550]

Video was awesome! Can you please David Fincher in your You Know It's Directed By... series

[@preahko]

Brilliant analysis of my favorite TV show, which I re-watch start to finish twice a year! ;)

[@garyesajas]

I keep going back to this and the "ending expained" video you guys posted on the Sopranos. I genuinely believe there's more Context here left that can be discussed. How about the antihero angle on the Sopranos, or the cultural clashes shown... how a show portraits Italian Americans could also be better described as American Italian. Or something like, I just love this show so much and time seems to have forgotten about this gem. Near perfect casting and acting, combined with top notch storytelling mixed with complicated subliminal symbolism

[@BenGJerome]

Another great one as usal

[@litjay7073]

Oh! Now that's a good video! Could you do Chris and Vito next when you get around to the Sopranos next time?

[@robcalvert8830]

Just revisiting this series again (for the third time). It really is absolutely genius on every level. I love the fact that you can still pick up little things now. I enjoyed series like Breaking Bad, but I love that Sopranos never needed that cliff hanger/you have to tune in next week moments. Just outstanding TV.

[@CenturionDobrius]

your analyses are brilliant.

[@masterzombie161]

A interesting thing about the college episode is that it shows that even though you ratted, betrayed your friends and started over to a new life, it’s not a guarantee that they will find you. Tony spotted him one out of a million odds so even if he wanted out of that life, one way or another your past is gonna catch up to you.

[@tedwojtasik8781]

Oh, you mean like how it caught up to Henry Hill or Sammy "the bull" Gravano? Yeah, right. Talk about fiction!

[@doggedout]

This is very good. The mastery of the writing in the Sopranos is that it keeps showing us again and again that Tony is a sociopath...but then draws us into sympathizing with him. (Every time I try to get out..the drag me back in.) When you watch it as it airs, waiting a week between episodes, sometimes years between seasons, it is a complex character driven drama. When you binge watch it now in re-runs, it is almost a comedy. We get to see into the mind of a an incurious simpleton, who is incapable of empathy (except for ducks?) born into a world he doesn't understand and frustratingly can't control. Still the best thing ever produced for television. I re-watch the whole series every Christmas season.

[@granth81]

rob black tony wasn’t a simpleton though. He had over a 130 IQ.

[@leegsy]

Tony B not Tony S who had that IQ.

[@granth81]

leegsy Tony B had a 158 according to the show. But Tony said himself his IQ was over 130.

[@leegsy]

Tony S said a lot of things. Which episode was this? I have a vague recollection of him saying something like that to Melfi I think? I don't think he was being honest.

[@adamantiiispencespence4012]

Sociopaths don't experience emotional conflict and emotional conflict is the heart of Tony's character.

[@josecent7]

One of your best. Very emotional. You should try "Halt and Catch Fire" next.

[@shellbacksclub]

love this narrators voice. informative, yet soothing.

[@bensneb360]

Tony is kind of like Kylo Renn, he feels a pull towards the light, but keeps wanting to indulge in her darker nature.

[@1986BNick]

I really enjoy this pages' analysis of these shows. It could be nice to see your analysis of "OZ" or "Orange Is The New Black" if you fine people have the time. Oz was a groundbreaking show and there could have been no "Orange is The New Black" if HBO never greenlit such a show. Oz is kind of close to how prisons actually feel from what I was told by a few people that claimed they did time.

[@luciano12sa]

Just came from the 20 years reunion on Today, at 1:32 is the moment Edie Falco talks about. Truly amazing

[@lucygirl4926]

Great channel -- I loved your comparisons between the Sopranos and the other mafia movies. Wonderfully smart stuff...

[@murtadha96]

Now that's a damn fine video !

[@a004]

Great video

[@DarioMalandra]

Just when I thought that there was not enough Sopranos content ! Thx guys !

[@MarkMcAllister-ni9sf]

RIP James Gandolfini...what a man

[@aepr84]

Breaking Bad is nowhere near as good as The Sopranos, i miss it, every day, like a close relative who passed all i got left is the wonderful memories, the smiles, the inside jokes, The Sopranos ruined everything else for me

[@LIVEENVIRONMENT]

Dr. Melfi - "It's the circle of life" Tony: "Yeh, more like the circle JERK of life"

[@Divine1Right]

R.I.P. James Gandolfini. Tony Soprano will live on as a character in pop culture for centuries. Great video for a great TV series

[@adriankent6683]

I love all of your videos, I’d be excited to see one on any season of Fargo.

[@vanessapanico7484]

Well what ever happened to Gary Cooper??...Sils answer: "um..he died."

[@OhTotallyFTW]

More character studies please. Junior, Carmella, Christopher or any of the kids.

[@tomservo5347]

Tony needed a friend 'on the outside' that understood his sensitive side. What made Tony so compelling was he seemed to be like a 5 year old emotionally that needed guidance and a soothing but firm hand to teach him how to save himself from his self. The pressures of being a Mob boss ultimately is what shaped him and he understood that he had no control over it. Leaving that life would have been the only way for him to leave those pressures and influences behind that would have helped him develop into probably a very good, sensitive man who would have been a great friend to anyone that offered friendship to him.