Why Did Tony Kill Chris? | The Sopranos Analysis

Why exactly did Tony kill Christopher in The Sopranos? The reasons are pretty obvious, and I’ll get to them, but in this video I wanted to analysis things a bit further, to go a bit deeper into the relationship between Christopher and Tony and come to a comprehensive conclusion as to why killing Christopher was an essential part of Tony’s grown, one that sealed his transformation into the man he became, a transformation which you could argue started with his killing of his close friend in season 2.
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[@CineRanter]

*Was Vito's Death His Own Fault? | The Sopranos Explained:* kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZ6ucmR7h7yMp68

[@RIUWithDrAndy106]

Will you make a review on #TheEmperorNewGroove ? 😎

[@SaunKrystian]

Naw, it was the medication...he could probably get a note from his doctor.

[@thepistolguy859]

Yes he should of not been gay 😂

[@mikec42]

He should have known better. Had he not joined the CIA, he wouldn't have needed medication to deal with the stress from working deep cover in gay bars.

[@kenshiroFNS]

He should have stayed in the woods

[@Buford_T_Justice1]

I was impressed that Tony was able to cover Chrissy’s natural canopy with such small hands.

[@blksheep176]

Lol two for one good job 👍

[@TooLooze]

...especially considering he never had the hands of a varsity athlete.

[@josephballard3641]

Dont get me wrong, hes my homie but you cant make that shit up 😅

[@WellGuessThatWasAThing]

His girl cousins told me he never had the makings of a varsity athlete. Small hands they said.

[@TooLooze]

@@josephballard3641 Your WHAT??!!??

[@LARRYLONGSTRETH]

If you watch the final Christopher episodes, they keep cutting back between AJ and Christopher's stories. Both are struggling with demons they've inherited (depression/substance abuse). One has given everything for Tony's approval and gets treated like shit. The other (AJ) throws everything in his dad's face but has his support forever because they're blood. Tony resents both for being weak but he's there for AJ. In the end, AJ's demons land him in a near-death situation in the pool just as Christopher's demons land him in a near-death situation in the car wreck. Tony pulls AJ from the pool, crying "my baby, my baby" but not only does he not pull Christopher from his own "pool", he holds his head under the water until he stops breathing.

[@Dalt1n999]

I did notice that and kept thinking about it in the final episodes, I think Chris represents what AJ would be if he actually got into his father's business, I think AJ even at one point in season 5 or 6 goes to a nightclub that Chris goes to in the first season He's not the only character though, Jackie Jr for example also represents this very well

[@rouskeycarpel1436]

Someone can have a genetic predisposition to substance abuse but they still have to choose to take that initial hit.Plus Chris never did his part in getting better;how many times was he in rehab again?

[@johnmartin795]

@@rouskeycarpel1436tbf too chris the mob was a bunch of enablers, he woukd make a real effort and all of his “family” would make fun of him and pressure him into drinking again and he couldn’t exactly distance himself for the sake of sobriety as we saw he tried doing that and they took it as him hating them

[@nicteha13]

Chris was more of a liability than AJ would ever be. Probably another reason Tony refused to let him follow the lifestyle.

[@henrik3291]

AJ tries to drown himself in water and gets saved, while Christopher drowns in his own blood and dies. Blood is thicker than water is a saying. The only true affection Tony holds is to those he tries to keep out of the mob world. Which is his family, his blood, and AJ in particular. In the end Christopher is only a tool. Tony himself says that the end for a made man is either getting murdered or put in prison. If he truly loved Christopher he would never have let him become a mobster at all.

[@zhubotang927]

The desire to kill Paulie towards the end was another extension of this theme. Tony truly became a monster.

[@dbcooper4917]

If Tony was the monster y’all say he is Pauli would be sleeping w the sharks

[@xGAMER_chimpX]

No paulie was slippery and deserved sleeping with fishes … And i think sold out tony in the end and became boss of north jersey 🤷‍♂️

[@bigg4874]

@@dbcooper4917 he came close that’s the point

[@dtraversodt]

@@dbcooper4917 Tony came pretty close cause Paulie did some underhanded stuff

[@MoonsideResident]

Funny to think that in real life, James Gandolfini (Tony) was far from a mobster type, while Paulie had pretty much lived the life before getting into acting (even possibly killing a man by throwing him off a bridge).

[@BubblegumCrash332]

Christopher's intervention is the funniest scene in the whole show. "He is a interior decorator" is #2

[@willnailer2118]

He slipped of the kitchen counter spraying for ants !!!!

[@dylanschofield8067]

Interior decorator? His house looked like shit

[@jeffreydillingham7630]

Or "turds in the Aorta...a medical first!" - Christopher

[@jsharps1000]

I think Ralph’s prank call was number 1.

[@CHURCHISAWESUM]

How long did it take for the guy to come?

[@fad2679]

I think the main reasons Tony killed Christopher is twofold: 1. He's had enough of Chris and all his bullshit. 2. Christopher is a perfect candidate for the feds to get him to flip. He's back on drugs and seemingly hates Tony, and hasn't got much to live for after Adriana got taken out. Tony recognised all that, so Chris has to go. CHRIS TO FUH

[@anthonylewis3095]

Christopher was eventually going to kill Tony due to Adriana! He never got over that!

[@tinytim9134]

Also he noticed the crushed up baby seat in the back of the car and figured it was only a matter of time before Christopher screws up again. The destroyed baby seat represents family (actual family and crime family).

[@vixxxenfoxxx3660]

Tony looked back and saw the branch in the car seat, had the baby been in it the poor thing would've been impaled. Even after Chris has a wife & child he still was using drugs. I think that also had something to do with his decision to kill him.

[@Lilyanna298]

@@tinytim9134 He used concern for the baby to justify his actions to himself. If it didn’t suit Tony to have him dead, he wouldn’t be no matter how much of a risk Chris was to his daughter. Just like Tony claims to love animals but his company dumps waste in duck ponds

[@jluchette]

@@vixxxenfoxxx3660 makes sense but I disagree. Tony had decided to whack Chrissy long before that night. Chris just gave him the PERFECT opportunity.

[@Braunschweider]

Actually, when the guys are around Tony's bed, Sil picks up on what really happened, even though he doesn't comment it. You can see how he starts over-dramatizing after hearing "It appears that was the cause of death". Never forget that the series portrays people that have known each other for over 30-40 years and they know their behaviors like the backs of their hands.

[@cclass354]

If you watched the Sopranos since season 1, Christopher really grew on you and made the show really entertaining. Even though Christopher was a screw-up, I was sad to see Tony kill Christopher. Also, Adrianna was smoking hot 🔥

[@BostonsF1nest]

Ever since that episode where she got diarrhea all I can think of whenever I see her is her almost shitting her pants in every scene

[@SometimesAbel]

I was sadder about Adrianna tbh. Chrissy's constant whining, mess-ups, and woman abuser status just grated on me.

[@winojoe6788]

Christopher was doomed from the beginning. Now when I hear the song "Woke up this morning" it come across to me as a theme song for Christopher. Poor guy was born under abad sign and "mama always told me I'd be the chosen one" would have never been heard by Tony.

[@coreyhamby2989]

@@BostonsF1nest Haha that's hilarious me too. Everytime I see her I think about the same episode. Where she finds out she has Irritable Bowel syndrome and has to blow up the bathroom. It honestly ruined her hotness for me.

[@mikimiyazaki]

Not me lol. I couldnt stand fredo.

[@thechroniccinephile]

Say what you will about Chrissy he had the best aim out of anyone in the crew and performed under pressure like in the card game robbery.

[@mbryson2899]

Shooting Richie Aprile's mook through the head with his ankle piece from the ground after getting shot was damned good, too.

[@lars9925]

Yes, he was a good soldier. He maybe could have even stayed on drugs with a more predictable job routine. However, he was unsuitable for the important role Tony wanted to give him.

[@sgbinladenBTAZ6]

Word bruh i use to watch this show with my dad and when chris die i was mad sl i ask my father why tony was holding his nose he said cuz chris kept fuccin up he wouldnt lay off the dope

[@mintint4965]

That nose of his is like a natural iron sight really helps with aiming 😅

[@anthonydunkley7844]

I think the killing had very little to do with the drug use or Chris being a screw up, the main issue was the Adriana thing and the Cleaver movie showing Chris' "disgusting thoughts". The drug use, the baby seat and the so called fear of being "dimed out to the FEDs" were just rationalizations to kill someone who he felt no longer revered him but resented him, this all comes back to Tony's narcissism

[@simplymincy]

Exactly. It became more clear when he went and had sex with his girl in Vegas and did some drugs. Tony was jealous of his life in a way and resented him.

[@raulduke6105]

Sort of agree but Tony thought he was weak and a possible flipper

[@goodwinter6017]

It's the drugs, and it was getting worse. Not only him and Tony was nearly killed, but Tony realised that Christopher was eventually gonna end up killing his family likewise in some accident.

[@FU05241960]

Taking out Chrissy was just a business decision, everyone knows the stakes.

[@outlawjoe5447]

@@goodwinter6017 this is exactly the reason- he didn’t want to kill Chris, but he had tk

[@Oonagh72]

You know what struck me as I watch this, Tony was living in a fantasy. As much as when it came to the money and business he was pretty forward thinking. However Tony always wanted to return to those glorified romanticized days. He wanted Dickie back and was literally trying to turn Christopher into him. I think that car accident fully woke him up. Also when Chris mentioned the license, Tony simply knew he would talk to lighten a sentence. It was so clear.

[@Oonagh72]

@Nero Wynn I didn’t even think about that!

[@ejayman]

I think this is demonstrated best when Patsy and someone else go to extort money from the new coffee shop (which looks like a big chain brand) and they get rebuked, with the manager simply saying he'll just get replaced if he gives them any money. I seem to remember Patsy walking outside and opining something to the effect of 'what's happening to this place?' Socially, it appeared things were changing faster than Tony's mob could handle

[@mikimiyazaki]

@@ejayman he says "its over for thw little guy" and the other guy was Burt, the guy that was "playing both sides of the fence with new York" who silvio strangles in season 6.

[@flightofthebumblebee9529]

It wasn't the backlash from that accident that Tony was worried about Chrissy flipping over, because that was at worst a DUI (likely not even that) but it was the Feds. If they got Chrissy on a bad day, especially if he was using again, he likely would flip on Tony. There was nepotism shown by Tony with Chrissy, however Chrissy was well liked by most and after his death we can see that Sil, Paulie, Bobby and the guys genuinely liked him and were sad he died. Tony knew the truth and was stuck all alone with it.

[@DeadSezSo]

He was trying to turn Chris into what he remembered dickie as. Tony was young and looked up to dickie, but dickie was literally Chris from a previous generation

[@jockoadams3377]

Tony "loves him" and is grooming him to be number two... but only to insulate himself from law enforcement. Meaning if push came to shove, Christopher would take the legal hits just like Junior did.

[@acefire6422]

Yes, but a bad move by Tony to consider putting a junkie in the line of fire with the law.

[@KotaWebb]

I disagree, the show never hints towards that being the reason why, he looks at his main guys and knows Paulie and sil aren’t gonna be the boss after, so who would it be? Bobby? No it had to be Chris because he was tough and a good fit until he started going off the deep end

[@andyptv1996]

Na there are more reliable fall guys. Tony was sociopathic but had a weakness for some of his relationships. Look at Artie. A random guy who was able to put a gun to Tony and threaten to kill him, insult him and his made guy associates, assault him and other things. Tony would have beat someone else within an inch of their life if they were LUCKY. Artie always got away with a big of a mouthful as consequences. He gave Chrissy way more chances than he'd even give one of the older guys in his crew who had more bones and rep. He had a soft spot for some people. The moment he killed Chrissy was an epithany. He felt like he had no choices left and if he didn't do that, Chrissy might turncoat and has no more use.

[@asellandrofacchio7263]

Bullcap

[@bigboyblue7181]

I quit drinking 5 years ago and the truth of the matter is people Respect you for it. Especially those who recognise their own addiction and wished they could get it under control. I hear it all the time from my Army buddy's who drink to much.

[@TooLooze]

Congrats, bro.

[@inyourwifesas1033]

Sounds Great for you hope this isn't for likes lol

[@mwilliamshs]

Army buddies*

[@furbabydaddy5604]

I wonder how long Christopher would have lasted if Tony had found out that he had given Meth to Meadow?

[@cloudsombrero]

I forgot all about that

[@namemcnamerton4249]

A good 5 minutes

[@faisalkamal4319]

The mock excution would be real

[@6aming6uardian]

Ecstasy but i get your point 💯

[@t3h51d3w1nd3r]

Tony always viewed himself as the victim, if somebody failed or wronged him whether they did or not or used it as an excuse to lash out, beating his driver, the times he beat the barman in bada bing, they did trivial things and he'd blow up. Even when something serious happened he'd instantly be joking about it, if Chris was 100% sober and they had still crashed Tony would have used it as an excuse. He had become a monster, he probably felt nothing and probably did it to see if it would even effect him. He expected everyone to follow the rules and be onboard but it was fine for him to do whatever he wanted.

[@lazyraceace9503]

Okay forgive my obnoxious reply, I'm caffeine silly ok...2:39 Furio was @ that intervention as well & i bet you anything he would report back to Sicily about the key moments going on in NJ/NY. Prob sounds like a telenovela to Furio's uncle that he trusted, I can just see Analisa rolling her eyes too lol 😆

[@mikimiyazaki]

As was explained in season 6, sociopaths use talk therapy to justify there own heinous acts.

[@theportugueselegend]

Up to season 4, Tony would have never killed Chris. But after that he started losing all the rationality, falling into his own pit of greediness and sociopathic features.

[@richardnash6111]

Letting chris live for so long was the irrational behavior. Fondness and emotion are irrational in that line of work. Tony just course corrected all too quickly and it was outta character since he was terrible at the whole Boss Mobster thing for so long. If not getting sold out was any kind of priority eventually chris had to go and it should have been sooner.

[@justinamenta7241]

No, I disagree with almost every point you tried to make.

[@Adamortega_]

The first scene with Chris he has lines of coke on a cleaver and kills someone on top of it does anyone think that was foreshadowing the cleaver movie/ his addiction being the death of him?

[@Garbageman28]

that and the use of meat throughout the show as a symbol of the industrialised violence perpetuated by the mob

[@Little_Italy768]

Damn, good point!

[@littlekingtrashmouth9219]

If they planned it, good for them. But I’m not sure they were THAT clever. You never know. Maybe a peruse or old episodes for new ideas engendered this

[@notsocrates9529]

fOrEsHaDoWiNg

[@SiccDeville]

you knew he was a loose cannon when he called that polish guy Email after he told him on a number of occasions that his name was Emil Kolar.

[@TerryHesticles]

This is why I’m subbed to this channel, your deep dive videos in to the Sopranos are top notch. Definitely a cut above the rest 👍🏽

[@CineRanter]

Thank you

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

The lack of screentime towards Christopher's wife is likely meant to convey his lack of engagement with the mafia lifestyle during that timeframe - she's used the same way as Tony's other sister Barbara, whose screentime relative her siblings conveys a lack of engagement in the family business and associated drama, demonstrating that there always WAS another path for both Janice and Tony. Chrissy's new wife and kid demonstrate a path away from the life, they are conspicuous by their absence which conveys the point better than dialogue.

[@mwilliamshs]

Chris had a romantic partner who was involved in his mob life and became an informant. His new partner is kept away by everyone for many reasons but primarily his track record.

[@kayak0]

I felt the fact we barely ever saw Kelli is because she absolutely was a rebound after Adriana. I don't think Christopher ever got over her. When Kelli announces she's pregnant, he immediately mentions Adriana. Kelli was a rebound and Christopher's attempt to be a grown family man, but there was no passion.

[@NJGhost34]

Great video. Still find it weird that Dickie barely drank and was mislabeled an addict because of the pills he had on him at the time of his death, which were actually for Tony to give to his mother for her depression. Christopher might have been an alcoholic anyway from his mother.

[@tarantulagirl]

It always surprised me how easily Christofur gave up Adriana to Tony, but he was prepared to kill Tony when he thought Adriana had blown him. Tony bullied Christofur into the mob life, the moment he gave the ‘I’m going to look up in ten minutes’ speech. He basically said to Christopher you are either in the mob or they’ll have no relationship whatsoever. Paulie never respected Christopher and when Paulie went too far, Tony never had Christopher’s back, and when Christopher called Tony out on his inconsistent leadership style, Tony was just a brat about it. Christopher was right what he said ‘you preach all this wise-guy shit, but we are the only ones who have to play by the rules.’ Tony should have been gotten rid of, when he endangered his whole crew over Tony B, he risked everyone protecting that twat. Tony is oblivious to the fact that he pushed Christofur into his downward spiral including his drug addiction.

[@courtneyshannon2621]

Christopher gave up Adriana to Tony because he didn't want to lose his nice things. There's a scene at the gas station where he sees a poor family and Chris put his hand on his own car (a Hummer, if I'm remembering correctly). He gave up Adriana because he didn't want to be poor, not out of loyalty to Tony.

[@Alexa2z]

Christopher was my favorite character. He’s the best written character besides Tony, and I related to him more than I’d like to admit.

[@reptilesarecool6739]

My good sir that is deeply concerning

[@Alexa2z]

@@reptilesarecool6739 you’ve never wanted something more out of life?

[@reptilesarecool6739]

@@Alexa2z idk I feel like if that was the reason you related to the domestic abuser drug addicted sociopath it should’ve been specified in the original comment

[@reptilesarecool6739]

I must be loyle to my capo

[@CausticSpace]

"I related to him more than I like" this is such an embarassing and pathetic thing to say

[@jackeaston8700]

He loves him like a brother in law 😂😂

[@Deryan-tv2tt]

I just finished this show yesterday after binging for a month for the first time. Tony killing Chris shocked the hell out of me honestly, like one of biggest shocks I’ve personally had while watching a show. It didn’t click to me why Tony was looking at the baby seat till he looked at it mid act.

[@lowcursedmg]

when i first watched this show, i was half paying attention to it because it was background noise while i practiced guitar. but yeah seeing that scene knocked the wind out of me too. made me realize it was worth going back and actually paying attention to

[@A.GonzalezTO]

Michael Imperioli is incredible as Christopha'.

[@keithharper1470]

The cracks in the relationship really started with Jackie Jr. Christopher resented the fact that Tony bent over backwards to not want Jackie Jr not in the life but not him. The aftermath of the poker game Christopher had a point. Rules are rules a dealer is dead a made guy is shot what is their to think about what needs to be done. The Tony B thing was just a callback to childhood trauma the Tony's put him through that he told Adriana about.

[@malika5076]

What childhood trauma pls remind me?

[@Flexgang_g_rail]

@@malika5076 when they tied Chris to a tree as kids and left him there till 3 am and all the teasing they did to him

[@vincentcrowley5196]

Remember at Uncle Pat's farm , when Tony S and Tony B start treating him like they did as kids. Chris has tears in his eyes when driving home

[@Semiam1]

The only reason why Tony endured with Chris was his love for Dickie.

[@grovestreetpartner4144]

Wow. We have the new Sherlock Holmes right here

[@lukewild3859]

I bet you was top of your fuckin class

[@FragLord]

Yes but you could also argue Tony is responsible for Chrissy. Chris looked at Tony as a father. But Tony acted too much as a boss to him and not as his father figure. And it shows alot in Chris. Personally the moment Tony started kicking and beating Chris in the same episode 3 minutes after Adriana is killed, there Tony drops the ball big time. The sacrifice Christopher made there and then was immense and he should've gotten appreciation for it. Also just like Janice bettering herself, he also couldn't help himself with taunting Chris with alchohol when he was seriously quitting. Chris needed the confirmation of Tony that he was on the right track, instead he got ridiculed. He should've been hailed a hero and an example to the family for giving up his own girlfriend to protect everyone of the family. But instead Tony beat him up. Yes he just snorted some H after Adriana died, but hey. Give the kid some leeway. Just like Hesh and often his most loyal soldiers, he bites the hands that feeds him too often.

[@foolycooly3763]

The baby seat was a red herring. Tony’s internal justification for doing something so unjustifiable. He wasn’t apologetic, he was quite happy with himself. That’s shown in the dream where he told Melfi exactly how he felt.

[@erikescher8499]

Tony's nepotism causing dysentery in the ranks must've been a mess. I'd imagine everyone getting bloody diarrhea might cause some dissension.

[@paulgc8290]

🤣👍

[@winojoe6788]

The more I learn about the Sopranos, the more I can see that the "Woke up this morning" theme song was for Chris, not Tony. That poor kid was just born under a bad sign.

[@bluecollarlit]

I love that song, it's so good.

[@brendanmuller7301]

Love the video. The one thing I disagree with is tony not passing on a lot of his nature to his biological kids. He did, specifically in aj, he lacks the outright sociopathy but aj is pretty much just a spoiled coddled version of tony.

[@lukejones7164]

Yeah, AJ is a millennial omega male version of Tony 😆.

[@jakealter5504]

@@lukejones7164 and tony did want aj to do good

[@pippywondergirl]

Aj is more introspective and conscious of people around him

[@DJFATCalvin]

Kennedy and Heidi is my favorite episode, when I want watch something that I love and intrigues me I watch this episode or the Shining. And it's incredible the new details I still find it. For example, when he's choking Chrissy, if you turn up the brightness of your TV, so that you can see the darkened half of Tony's face, you can see a smirk in the left corner of his mouth, ever so subtle. But once you see it, you can not unsee it, and it totally terrifies me. God bless Mr. Gandolfini for his portrail and the nuances I still find after all these years.

[@judywright4241]

Oooooh, this intrigues me so much I have to pull out that episode to see that!

[@kevinouellette5316]

Dickie Moltisanti wasn't an alcoholic or drug addict. That's made clear in the movie

[@AnjunaMane]

That felt like an inaccuracy.

[@mr.chocolatehazelnutspread8317]

the movie sucked lol

[@101acidrider]

@@mr.chocolatehazelnutspread8317 It did suck especially when they made Silvio a parody of himself.

[@whitejacket9725]

We've been over this! There's 6 seasons of this thing of ours and then that fucking pygmy thing with the movie.

[@SoftDrinksOfChoice]

Christopher was my favorite character.

[@MR.GetOVERiT333]

Chrissy, get that right.

[@nicholasspevak4952]

You are wrong about one thing, that is I think Silvio knew about Tony killing Christopher. When Tony was in bed explaining what happened he mentioned that Chrostopher suffocated on his own blood and when he says "It seems that was the cause of death" Silvio gives a raised eyebrow look and looks like his thinking to himself for a moment.

[@nicholasspevak4952]

If Christofuh had been more subtle and nuanced in his own writing then it wouldn't have been glaringly obvious in Cleaver that he resented Tony and sti thought he slept with his FIAAAANCEEEEE.

[@lazyraceace9503]

So this may sound strange...& I'm piggybacking 🐷 off of the supernatural sprinkles David Chase gives us in the series lol Could Sil's sensitivity about Christopher's death be a little bit heightened due to the possible transfer of energy when Silvio killed Adriana? Idk stuff like that pops into my mind every now & then lol

[@nicholasspevak4952]

@@lazyraceace9503 Maybe, but I think Silvio was just very observant and knew Tony better than anyone else, and was able to deduce what actually happened.

[@cygnustsp]

@@nicholasspevak4952 I think you're right

[@lars9925]

Silvio was the absolute best mobster in that show. He always gave good advice, never did anything stupid and was in control of himself.

[@enak413]

5:57 It's not clear if Christopher could have survived , but in the end ... he " Did ' ant ! "

[@rsun128]

I DYd DeNt

[@bradjohnson482]

Livia saved Chrissy the first time when she told Junior to just scare him after the hijacking of Junior's trucks.

[@dmartig1]

"The other one. I don't know him."

[@drfaisalkamal1275]

@@dmartig1 you got alot of brain for an old gal

[@kevinbrooks1104]

I think that the movie script was one of the largest nails in the coffin Tony was not fond of the idea of the family business being aired on the big screen and I think that the boss in the movie was actually a monster and that was a bad move on Chris

[@teamturner3933]

My thoughts too! I recently watched the cleaver movie premiere episode and the episodes following that. IMO that movie clearly didn’t sit well with Tony! Tony became aware of Chrissy’s drug problem at multiple points in the show and he could’ve killed him then. Yes drugs can make a wise guy rat and Tony knows this but never killed Chrissy for drugs. That’s why I don’t buy the drug problem as the reason for the killing. Tony was a jealous guy, which was made very clear in the show. Remember when he punched his driver all because he felt like he needed to prove himself? I feel like towards the end although he was on drugs Chrissy was starting to get more respect, Tony saw that, and didn’t like it. Tony has proven himself to be selfish and jealous time and time again. I think he killed Christopher for those reasons alone. I think the Cleaver movie amplified those feelings.

[@joshuahoover6841]

You've definitely become one of my favorite channels. Your Sopranos content is excellent.

[@joshuahoover6841]

Just don't tell Pure Kino. He's the hair apparent.

[@CineRanter]

Thank you for your kind words

[@joshuahoover6841]

@@CineRanterwelcome! 💙 from the States

[@masstv9052]

@@joshuahoover6841 He's the "hair" apparent....lol

[@maximillianweiner5293]

To me, I think Christopher was in over his head. He struggles with the throes of addiction for almost the entirety of the show. I think he wanted the responsibility, but constantly tripped over himself. It’s very telling the scene where he becomes made, and sees the crow in the window.. feel as though that detail goes unnoticed

[@aodh5966]

Can't say Chris loved Adriana. He beat the crap out of her, and got her killed

[@chipwanderlust113]

He was selfish, his addiction over rid that. He literally stole money from her purse after. I think he loved the love she gave not her necessarily.

[@dn8015]

He did not love her, he strung her along for so long

[@blackhawks81H]

Nah, he really did love her. But he was a world class fuck up and a bad guy. That was what made the situation so extremely tragic... That he DID love her. But was still willing to fuck that all up for "the life"

[@Conky88]

She shouldn't have talked back 🤷‍♂️

[@briandavey1139]

He loved her as much as someone in that life can. Tbf he did follow the oath. Criminal family over everyone.

[@chrissherri1614]

A really good analysis. The only part I disagree with is calling the killing of characters like Ralphie "unjust". When I saw that beating scene where Tony kills Ralph, Tony says, supposedly about the horse, "she didn't do anything to you" or something like that, I immediately thought of that girl from the Bing that Ralphie beat to death. It was more than the horse. Even David Chase recently alluded to that scene. Anyway, an overall great analogy.

[@jakealter5504]

It was eventually confirmed that tony killed him over the horse but also to avenge tracie

[@andyusfca]

Chris, though loyal to Tony in general, is still very self-centered when it comes to relationship with Tony as demonstrated through when Tony B showed up. Tony B prevented Tony from killing Chris, yet Chris never showed any appreciation. Moreover, Chris constantly hates Tony for treating Tony B well, but rarely appreciates he got his status in the family due to his relationship with Tony.

[@burtonversejoker195]

Christopher is my favorite character, but you are completely right.

[@robhaskins]

It's hard for me to feel sorry for Christopher. He's often a petulant child who's never grown up and feels like he's never being given the respect he deserves-never realizing that the reason he never gets respect has more to do with him than the people he constantly blames instead. Adriana loves him unconditionally even though he abuses her, and when his love for her is really tested, he caves and goes crying to Tony about her. Then not long after he marries somebody. He makes mistake after mistake and never really learns from any of them. The only time I found Christopher sympathetic was after he was shot and lying in bed at the hospital. He was genuinely convinced he had visited hell, and he was visibly upset. But eventually he went back to caring only about himself. And don't get me started about the pathetic projection he perpetrates with "Cleaver." Am I missing something redeeming in him? The measure of a great actor for me is to be able to play a character like Christopher-both a buffoon and a tragic figure.

[@cowgirlqueen2636]

I agree. I couldn’t stand Christopher. He was a constant disappointment and embarrassment to Tony

[@courtneyshannon2621]

Also his treatment of JT Dolan and killing him by shooting him in the back of his head at his own apartment. Totally done with Christopher after that.

[@arielarguello448]

I do feel bad for him In the sense he could’ve/should’ve been so much more if he wasn’t born or raised into this family ,who knows maybe his farther dickie didn’t die he would’ve steered him into a different path as that’s what he wanted for Tony .

[@cowgirlqueen2636]

@@courtneyshannon2621 I was fine with that. That guy was a twat

[@Br0seid0n]

Well said. This was my main problem with the show - having no sympathy for people whose emotional struggles are shoved in your face constantly. Maybe that's why I prefer the cold, procedural tone of The Wire.

[@BostonsF1nest]

I always think about the fight Carmella and Tony would have gotten into if she truly knew all the vile things he did in life. Killed or was responsible for killing: Big Pussy, Ralph, Jackie Jr, Tony B, Adrianna, and Christopher. And cheated on her with the woman who gave her a ride home from Globe motors- Gloria, Ralphies girlfriend Valentina, Christopher’s friend after he kills him and countless strippers and other women.

[@lukejones7164]

She knows about most of that already

[@mikimiyazaki]

@@lukejones7164 she subconsciously does, but is in complete denial. Also, she definitely knew he was off to kill Chris's gunmen. When pussy calls tonys house and Carmella brings the phone to AJs room to find tony apologizing for the "im supposed to get a vasectomy when this is my male air?" Comments. The call was urgent and soon after chris was shot. The way you could see her stomach shrink when tony went off down the stairs after her asking "whats going on?" And the question and her presence right behind tony as he hung up with pussy surprised tony enough that he "nothing" was preceded by hesitation etc.

[@johngriffiths118]

@@lukejones7164 agreed . She was throughly compromised

[@jakealter5504]

Two of those kills were somewhat justified. Ralph deserved his death for killing the horse and tracie while killing tony b was to spare him from what Phil would’ve done to him

[@RichiesHouse]

Chris went downhill after he was shot . After that he started doing heavy drugs and heavy drinking to ease the pain physical as mental. He was betrayed by his friends . Also the stress after that being made he wasn’t ready for that responsibility

[@KPC-123]

Good observations on Tony becoming just like Livia, I didn't realize it but that is spot on. Didn't Livia Soprano save him in season one when she told Junior he was like a son to her? After all he put in her storm windows one year.

[@cabooseabs6864]

I love your obscure references like tony having a giant stone in his shoe.

[@thepistolguy859]

Chrissy is my favorite character. And that's Micheal Imperiolii Best Role. He done so good playing that role.

[@Joker-do8gl]

Just when I thought I was done with the sopranos you pull me back in! 👍

[@alanbrady7116]

I can't stop watching them, their addictive

[@grandslapper]

The reason Tony didn't take Junior's advice and put down the rabid dog, was because he believed Christopher was one of the few people he could trust, being family. It was self preservation, not love. Learning that Christopher was back on the gear dispelled this illusion. That and the fact that there really aren't that many good quality, young recruits to the New Jesey mafia. If you look at most of Tony's crew, they're at least middle-aged.

[@marquesjohnson6359]

I think it was because tony couldn't trust chris at that point after the incident with adriana then he made "cleaver" a movie where a mob soldier kills his boss because he was supposed to have been messing around with his girl all the while he was getting deeper into drugs then that last scene after the accident chris admits to tony he'd never pass the drug test then he looked at the baby seat before smothering chris as to suggest he considered the danger Chris was to his daughter but I never thought it was about Chris's baby it was all about self preservation

[@nagone11]

I said just about the same thing..

[@DrJ-hx7wv]

@@nagone11 hopefully you said it in English

[@jakealter5504]

It was honestly both

[@Brandonmtlhd]

Tony gave Chris more chances than he probably should have. But he couldn't bare to see him destroy himself, so the accident was the straw that broke the camel's back. It was in a way, a mercy kill. Better his uncle kill him by suffocating than another mob guy putting a bullet in his head or putting some piano wire around his throat, making his last moments agonizing. I also agree that he did it so he wouldn't have to deal with him anymore in a selfish way but I disagree that it was the sole reason.

[@publicslum6495]

I like the mercy kill theory but getting unbreathen to death isnt better then getting shot in the head

[@inyourwifesas1033]

@@publicslum6495 It's the smoother low key way to.go tho that's why he did it

[@Iconoplastt]

To quote Casino "This guy could F up a cup of Coffee"

[@jacksonturner242]

I saw Kennedy and Heidi for the very first time just a couple of months ago and I was very disappointed at first. I had hoped so desperately that Christopher would have a moment at the end of his life where he had pride and dignity at the end, maybe a physical confrontation with tony where he actually nearly won out over him or something. But ultimately I made peace with what we got in the show- after all, like every other death, it serves the purpose of continuing the story of Tony, not the other characters. The show on a meta-contextual level focuses on the deaths impact on HIM, not on Christopher really.

[@ffejpsycho]

I think Comfortably numb, is more about who tony has become.... far less Christopher.

[@Johno731]

Always hated the fact the show put so much storyline into Chris being Tony's nephew, his blood as Tony said , when all along he was Carmella's cousin and not a drop of blood to Tony.

[@BishopNE1]

To everyone talking about "dysentery in the ranks", it's intentional. A show reference to Carmine Jr (Little Carmine) who uses the same malapropism in the show.

[@mbryson2899]

Good catch!

[@DrJ-hx7wv]

I'm sick of explaining this

[@zacharyb2723]

no, Chrissy himself said it, not Little Carmine.

[@josephballard3641]

Would've been interesting to see the likes of chrissy, mikey, feech even that animal blundetto in the final episodes when they went head to head with new york.

[@jackwalsh6758]

with Furio, Richie, Ralf & Albert? Forget about it!

[@bradjohnson482]

They're just a glorified crew.

[@dellavonta187]

Furio and crissy would have made a big difference

[@dellavonta187]

Richie would have switched sides

[@acefire6422]

Chris is a brilliant character, and his relationship with Tony is really complex when you factor in Tony’s relationship with Chris’s father and the way Tony wants to groom Chris into the next boss but cannot get past Chris’s hot headedness, his incompetence and his drug addiction. Tony have Chris more leeway than anyone else, for years. He killled, or had killed others for far less than he let Chris get away with. But in the end he came to realise what the likes of Junior had told him long ago - that Chris was a liability, a hopeless addict who was a risk to Tony’s liberty and life. Drug addicts are notoriously easy to flip. Tony seized an opportunity to remove the risk that Chris posed, without it looking at all suspicious. It happened at a time when Tony had become more and more obsessed with self preservation and more sociopathic in his behaviour. Season 6 Tony was a monster, Season 2 Tony probably helps Chris out of the car. It’s great writing and character development, portrayed by two fantastic actors.

[@bobchipman4473]

Much like Ralph, Chrissy's death was a build up of years of problems and frankly, both of them had it coming for a very long time.

[@krombopulosmichael6280]

Excellent analysis. Lots of interesting stuff in here and your other videos, love it.

[@dfailsthemost]

His looking at the car seat and bringing it up at the service is awesome writing. Like he saw it as an excuse but in a crazy warped way.

[@waynegray675]

I mean this in the most complimentary way; hearing the way you break this stuff down is like listening to my doctor. Kudos

[@GothamKnight84661]

Chrissy like his Uncle never had the makings of a varsity athlete.

[@lazyraceace9503]

Nobody in the glorified crew is one lol only chance of that would have been if TS could corrupt Jason Barone 😂 Tony never complimented Jason's lats' from his workout rowing routine lmao

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

@@lazyraceace9503 Patsy showed some real hustle for an old dude climbing that pole on Columbus Day.

[@cristiansolares2007]

2:48 Well Christopher foreshadowed that the way tony was eating, he'd be dead by the time he reach 50 or something like that during the intervention.

[@mindysommers]

I think the reasons for killing Christofuh were layered, but I was hoping that Chris' affair with the real estate agent that Tony lusted for was also part of the resentment in Tony was mentioned. Excellent video.

[@mrmac123]

I like the way you put great thought into the subject and explore all of the avenues

[@jeffhreid]

You’re exactly correct that the opportunity presented itself and Tony took the opportunity to rid himself of a serious problem. A lot of crime is simply a morally ambiguous person taking advantage of an opportunity to improve their circumstances.

[@reupbeatz2174]

I gotta hand it to u, I’ve been watching ur vids for a while but ur in the in depth analysis of Tony and Chris relationship is fucking mad.

[@yoyoyodaboy]

I think there’s something to be said about the guilt that Tony experiences after killing Chris. Tony’s indeed a sociopathic killer, but I wonder if his guilt complicates that label slightly.

[@loungekiller]

I don't think he felt that much guilt. Idk where you picked up elements of guilt in Tony for killing Chris. He went to Las Vegas, banged one of his goomars and did peyote. Come on...

[@ncapone87]

​@@loungekiller I think he was definitely guilty after killing Big Pussy and Tony B, but by the time he killed Chris, he was more or less used to it and purely looking out for himself

[@zero1188]

he became a liability, its that simple

[@phoenixv2460]

Your channel is a hidden gem

[@CineRanter]

Cheers

[@shellmorton822]

“Dysentery amongst the ranks” 😂😂😂

[@Johnnyrocks34]

Same thing happened with me and my nephew. We had accident and i murdered him. Thankfully no one will ever know. I totally outsmarted those fools!

[@jillconner5062]

Dude. Comment sections on soprano videos of any nature. Are the funniest, wittiest ,comments . And never disappoint!

[@ElevatedLevetator]

Comfortably numb is way more than just the soundtrack to departed. One of the best guitar solos off all time. And they crash JUST before the solo starts. That is 100% on purpose. Everyone listens to that song for the solo

[@actonman7291]

Tony was wasting his time with damaged goods.

[@adamorly2971]

Great episode!! I'm going to tell you a couple of three things: 1. When Chris is shot earlier in the series, there's a nice pan of Tony's hands when Carmella is talking about Chris seeing the truth. 2. I think there's an echo of Tony's mother when he talks about the baby seat being destroyed similar to how Livia talks about baby's being killed by their parents in the news (projected guilt). So many years later we are debating and discussing the scenes. What a piece of art!

[@Larry-perkins]

Always learning new stuff about the show, watching your excellent videos

[@CineRanter]

Cheers

[@BUckENbooz]

It's funny I've read comments on people saying Tony at the end turned into a monster. My first time finishing the series I didn't notice it. Rewatching it, yeah. He truly did. He went from bad, to near death trying to improve himself. To who gives a fuck breaking bad.

[@LoveAllTrustNone]

That's his Uncle Tony, the guy he went to hell for.

[@AnAbsurdExistence]

Your references are on point, quality content.

[@dustincongello5802]

You could argue that if everybody supported Christopher sobriety he might have changed for the better but he got sober and was alienated from the thing that he loves and makes his money from . So he slips back into doing drugs because he can't win either way he might as well get high

[@MaCabaret]

I was actually surprised at how long Chris stayed loyle to his capo.

[@fish9905]

Tony never had the makings of a varsity athelete

[@eromicafrancisco5477]

Yea that pissed me off they all made Chrissy a joke and when he was trying so hard to stay clean they piked fun at him I felt back for Christopher

[@goodyeoman4534]

Live by the beak, die by the beak.

[@MSJChem]

The more important question is how Tony was able to get his small hands around that natural canopy.

[@jedgarren2901]

Tony was ALWAYS afraid that a sober,ambitious,Chrissy,would whack Soprano and take over the DiMeo borgata. That's the REAL reason that Tony was intimidated by Chrissy's sobriety and tried to push Chris to relapse,eventually,Being successful. This is also the reason that Tony murdered Chrissy,rather than,Calling the EMTs for Chrissy. A sober Chris was a threat to the ONLY thing that Tony truly cared about,his power. Just my take,Tony was never going to allow Chris to threaten his hold on power,So,he murdered him

[@lars9925]

Chris wasn't remotely near his sober and properly functioning self at the time he got murdered. Tony always wanted Chris sober and employable .... and was repeatedly disappointed. Tony never "tried to push Chris to relapse" he was just unable to understand addiction at all, his total lack of empathy made it impossible for him to act caring and compassionate towards Chris' problem.

[@jedgarren2901]

@@lars9925 You're suggesting that a world class narcissist and a stone killer is capable of caring about anyone but himself. Tony wasn't Chrissy's sponsor,Tony is the Representante of the DeMeo-Soprano organized crime family. Tony and Artie grew up together,even that,Wasn't enough to save the restaurant from being torched. Chris's Dad,Dickie Moltisanti,Killed his father and his girlfriend,These ARE NOT good people,Who do right by each other. It's Cosa Nostra,Where they kill each other,regularly,and..where you're only as good,As your last envelope, altruistic they are not

[@jedgarren2901]

@@lars9925Also,Let's not forget that Tony knocked up Adriana before he has Sil clip her for snitching. My point: Tony is not a good person,I just don't buy that Tony was somehow trying to help Chrissy. When Chrissy was no longer useful to Tony,he murders him,just like Ralphie. Hell,Feech La Manna was Damn lucky he just got sent back to jail,instead of,getting clipped. I'm surprised Tony didn't murder Hesh,rather than,pay Hesh back the 250K

[@lars9925]

@@jedgarren2901 Yes, Tony is not a good person. He did held Chris to a point though (e.g. with the intervention and the fact that he didn't killed him earlier despite having reasons) but not out of the goodness of his heart but because he wanted to use Christopher. He kept him alive as a useful tool until he became too much of a liability.

[@joshuafult84]

@@lars9925 I'm assuming you didn't watch the show . It's shown throughout the whole show that Tony wants his people to do good but not too good. He likes his crew having vices and issues because it gives him leverage to manipulate them.

[@LarryLeeMoniz]

I am not sure how this videos slipped by me. It's a wonderful and detailed analysis into the life and death of Christopher. I would expect nothing less from you CineRanter!

[@TingTingalingy]

You're also not allowed to challenge the bosses power, or a member higher ranking than yourself. So tony was justified in those Acts

[@mikimiyazaki]

Bro lol! Nobody comes remotely close (and there are tons of awesome channels dedicated to sopranos observations etc) to you with your utter, ridiculously hilarious usage of, delivery and often multiple meanings that add another line of hilarity to sopranos quotes. 😂 Bro im dying through half your videos, you take the cake twice with the depth and extremely well thought out content etc.

[@shabazzed]

lol "dysentery amongst the ranks" is a great little carmine impression

[@faisalkamal4319]

But it's Christopher's

[@djfacts9770]

Tony's ways didn't just affect chrissy like you said. Remember meadow ended up seeing professional help & getting recommended prozac. Also aj started having panic attacks & passing out too

[@Deadman1000]

I still think it's so dumb that in that awful movie Many Saints of Newark, Chris's dad dies simply for laughing at June for falling on his ass.

[@duanereising3026]

Shit like this happens to a lot of people in life... Can you picture this... The closest one is probably the only one a person can trust... It's like I used to tell others about me... My mind is a terrible thing to waste but, in some instances... My mind is a terrible thing to taste!... also!...

[@cadillacdeville5828]

The hypocrisy of Tony Soprano

[@Hello_Fuckers0]

Every character is a hypocrite to one degree or another. But Tony and Carmella are the 2 biggest ones.

[@LibertyRapsher]

When Tony says to Chris I outta suffocate you you little prick was one of my hardest laughs in the series after Tony finds out that Chris accidentally suffocated the dog because he was high, so it wasn't no coincidence that Tony suffocates Chris after the accident when he finds out that Chris was high and I think it Ties in with Adriana... and Tony resenting Chris for not running away with her and there seems to be a parallel between Tony and Adrianna's accident and Tony and Chris's accident.

[@LibertyRapsher]

There was a lot of build up. Chris also got so many passes with him overstepping numerous times over the years. Also in Chris's movie clever where Tony was clearly based on the lead character was another moment. Tony's intuition to kill Chris was almost certainly correct and even his luck begins to turn around upon doing so. Tony's intuition to kill Paulie would have almost certainly been in his best interest as well, but at the last second decides not too. He was correct in that Paulie did intentionally stir up drama with the New York crew with Ginni and Johnny Sack.

[@asahmack]

1:07 well that didn’t age well

[@AN-jz3kf]

10:36 Man, Italian sausage for only $1.96 per pound. It's double that now