WANT A DRINK? The Sopranos and The Role of Alcohol

[@reggmac6975]

They gave Christopher a hard time when he was using drugs and they gave him an even harder time when he was trying to change. He couldn't win.

[@bettyspaghetti7654]

Yup 💯❤

[@PicaPauDiablo1]

True but Crissy could have been a little less over the top about it

[@davidmajer3652]

He could only win by quitting.

[@reggmac6975]

​@@PicaPauDiablo1that's what majority of people do. I've seen it with recovering addicts and those who discover some type of religion.

[@peterjuul5997]

Now I've personally never had to go to rehab or anything of that nature, but I personally think that a lot of fiction doesn't true understand the topic of addiction (tbf that's a complex topic) and as a consequence, they miss the mark. One of the reasons why the sopranos is in a league of thier own, is because that show understands that such issues are quite multifaceted, to say the least.

[@Bigfrank88]

So glad you tackled this topic. One moment that sticks out is when Carmella asks Tony about what happened to Adriana and as Tony starts lying to Carm he suddenly needs a glass of wine.

[@SopranosBlueprint]

Yes! Great observation! Those little details really say a lot!

[@vincentkass5102]

Very observant. The sacred and the propane!

[@thewalk8979]

I’m currently suffering from alcoholism. And God’s knows I’m trying to get sober. Thank you for this video ❤.

[@SopranosBlueprint]

❤️❤️❤️ Thank you for sharing something so personal. Sending my best wishes and thoughts for what I can only imagine feels even more difficult to do over the holidays.

[@KK-fb9nz]

Me too!

[@taotaostrong]

Hang in there Sis. You’ve got this. ❤

[@SopranosBlueprint]

💓💓💓💓 AMEN to that.

[@Professor__S]

My advice... Switch to cannabis🌳

[@squallie78]

I think Homer Simpson said it best - "Alcohol... The cause of, and solution to all of life's problems."

[@SopranosBlueprint]

Damn that little double-edged sword!

[@JamesDomenicoGrabban81]

Eat, drink, and be merry.

[@SopranosBlueprint]

"Who are you? Minister of [hedonistic] propaganda?!?" 😄

[@JamesDomenicoGrabban81]

I would make Caligula blush.

[@tcwilson815]

Have a 'Dwink' Tony Voice

[@SopranosBlueprint]

I can hear it so well!

[@petersarubbi]

Celebrated in good times, demonized in bad times... Alcohol, much like the members of the mafia is a double edged sword... your best friend one minute and something that's killing you in the next minute... the only way to stay safe is never get involved or mixed up with it/them... Another great video 😃💙

[@SopranosBlueprint]

Thank you so much 😊😊and yes, it can be a double-edged sword and a slippery slope for many.

[@romacechina]

Pour you a drink with one hand, judges you with the other if you take it or don't. Either way its the normal among this thing of theirs.

[@SopranosBlueprint]

Definitely. With all of the pressure in that world, people find their own ways of coping with it, even if that means judging others at the same time.

[@AnnieBananie316]

Melfi did embarrass her son at dinner when belligerently flipping out at the lady next to them for smoking. Can’t remember if that was around the time she was drinking at work. She was also wasted in Tooda-Loo, which she ended up regretting.

[@toby099]

And that was least of her unprofessional inappropriate behaviour

[@SopranosBlueprint]

Yes, Melfi's behavior in that dinner scene was quite a cringe-worthy moment! And it's going to be in my next video on cigarettes/nicotine!

[@James_Price79]

Hello Stephanie! This is ironic as I saw this pop up while I’m drunk at a family party 😂 anyway I just want to thank you so much for every video you have made this year and I hope you and your family had a fantastic Christmas and have a happy new year! Salut ! 🥂🥂🥂🤓🥩🥂 “You know, just for the record... I realize what I did was wrong. My activities while I lived here.”

[@SopranosBlueprint]

@@James_Price79 Hiii!! So nice to hear from you 😊😊😊😊 I’m glad it popped up at a good time! Did you have Bobby play Santa at the party? I hope you and your family have an equally wonderful rest of the holidays and new year, and cheers to a happy, healthy 2025 with plenty more videos to come! 🥂😊🙏🏼🥂💯❤️

[@James_Price79]

@ ha ha I love you! Only Stephanie would mention Bobby as Santa 😂😂😂 you are a beautiful genius, sorry if I’m quiet sometimes I’m an old man so not so good with technology but believe me you are the very best with The Sopranos my dear Stephanie, thank you for every reply 😅🥩🥂

[@Sutter635-jk4td]

​@@James_Price79under the boardwalk with a schlong in Jan's mouth... HEHEHEH

[@James_Price79]

Happy New Year Stephanie I hope you have a fantastic 2025 I don't care anymore. That's the problem. I don't care if I live or die. We lose that luxury when we have children. I remember my son Harpo, when my husband left us... I had both barrels of a shotgun in my mouth...🤓🥩🥂

[@Sutter635-jk4td]

​@@James_Price79monsignor Jughead... HEHEHEH

[@prophetmargin7497]

Tony was definitely goating Chris into falling off the wagon and relapsing with his own excessive use and glorification of alcohol, leading by example, if you will. Tony knew, a clean and sober Chrissie would be a problem down the road and would eventually challenge Tony's position of authority!

[@SopranosBlueprint]

Absolutely. I think it was part of a strategy (even if Tony wasn't always fully conscious/aware of it) to keep Christopher from reaching his potential - I love how the show explores power in subtle ways like that, in addition to the more in-your-face power moves.

[@hammerhead222]

Paulie knew how Tony would take that refusal. And Tony knew that Paulie knew.

[@SopranosBlueprint]

Definitely! And then immediately following that, his conversation with Johnny Sack in the parking lot about Tony...one could be forgiven for using Paulie's own words against him at that moment: "Big baby!" lol

[@wondolf]

One thing I don’t get is why Chris was in AA to begin with, he was clearly a heroin addict so why was he never in Narcotics Anonymous? He was a problem drinker as well but he was clearly using alcohol like a drug because he was ultimately an addict, and heroin was his drug of choice, alcohol was just the gateway to the harder stuff, many drug addicts abuse alcohol too as it’s just another substance for them to get tangled up in. I’m so glad I’m not drinking or doing drugs anymore, I’ll have four months in a week and I never want to go back. It’s cool to see other people commenting on here talking about their sobriety, you’re kind for leaving them supportive replies

[@SopranosBlueprint]

First, congratulations on coming up on four months. Almost 120 days - that's quite an accomplishment!!! As for attending AA or NA, to my understanding, Christopher actually went to both. In general, I think some people go to both because they're both based on the same principles of recovery (the 12 steps). That's a good question, though - I'd be curious as to how folks who've done both feel about their effectiveness/helpfulness/any practical differences.

[@Jesus_H._Tap-DancingChrist]

As someone who's quit a dependency on heroin and speed..and the occasional bit of crack. Alcoholism is far far faaar worse. Not the giving up but the day-to-day.

[@IrishYobbo07]

Wishing you all the best on your recovery ❤

[@SopranosBlueprint]

Thank you for sharing your personal experience. Your comment about the day to day makes me think of Christopher’s comment about the regularness of life being hard, which means something different for every one of us. Sending you my best wishes 🙏🏼

[@Jesus_H._Tap-DancingChrist]

@IrishYobbo07 Thank you. That really means a lot .. I hope you have a grand new year.

[@Jesus_H._Tap-DancingChrist]

@@SopranosBlueprint It was either Tom Waits or Nick Cave who said regular life is for people who can't handle drugs. Never a truer word spoken.

[@davidmajer3652]

Booze is the glue of male bonding. Being able to drink the most is the equivalent of winning a fight. It is ubiquitous among organized crime everywhere. There is no way getting away from wine. Wine is just a cinematic showman. When there is wine in a scene, the wine is going to steal the scene.

[@IrishChola7]

It won't be cinematic. 😆😆😆

[@Eff_It]

Men are so weird. Everyone uses alcohol to bond.

[@danpartridge8584]

Stumbled across your channel a few years back; got sick this past week, so I've been revisiting it and enjoying every minute. Loved your appearance on "Talking Sopranos" too: beauty and brains. All due respect 😊 keep it up

[@SopranosBlueprint]

Thanks for the kind words - I appreciate the support! I'm glad you're getting well and that you’ve been enjoying the videos 😃😃😃

[@RogueTheology]

The puritanical streak in American culture is part of the problem. I don’t think it’s actually a big deal if someone drinks everyday as long as you’re not violent. All of human history people drank beer or wine everyday. It’s only modernity that condemned it because we are suppose to be addicted to our jobs and because of the rise of hard liquor.

[@squallie78]

'Cagney is modernity.' - Hasidic Homeboy

[@experimex]

i wouldn’t draw the line at violence, more at shirking responsibilities especially as a parent. imagine the worldview alcoholic parents impart on their children. moderate drinking for celebration is fine, alcoholism SUCKS though

[@RogueTheology]

@@experimex fair enough. I don’t have any illusions about this world. Being happy all the time isn’t an option. The last generation proved you don’t need alcohol to practice neglect or gross dereliction of duty

[@SopranosBlueprint]

Thanks for the comment! You make a very valid point - kind of like when Tony said, "On the other side, they consider wine food." It’s the quantity/level of consumption and how it affects someone that really matters, which I suppose is different for everyone. I think the same/similar could be said about various substances.

[@chocolaterottenheresy5229]

RIP your liver

[@TooLooze]

Chrissy may have had an issue or two, but he was always a varsity alcoholic. Happy holidays, Blue and everyone.

[@SopranosBlueprint]

Small hands...that _ wasn't_ his problem 😅...Thank you, and happy holidays to you, as well!

[@Professor__S]

Home movies episode where Tony insults Janice infront of Bobby and it ends up in a fight. And because Tony lost the fight he makes Bobby kill a man and essentially kills Bobby's innocence. All this caused from a nights worth of hard drinking😬

[@SopranosBlueprint]

YEP! A very slipper slope, indeed, that led to some harsh consequences and really made Bobby a different man from that time forward where that innocence was overshadowed by his new place in the family.

[@IrishYobbo07]

Great video as always ❤ One thing I noticed: Tony wasn't NECESSARILY a "problem" drinker.

[@SopranosBlueprint]

Thank you! And I agree with you. I don't think the central source of his problems was alcohol - I think it was more a coping mechanism for him, plus he seemed to like his liquor, which isn't necessarily a problem by itself.

[@williamramirez7559]

MERRY CHRISTMAS! You should do a holiday special on The Sopranos.

[@SopranosBlueprint]

Thank you! I hope you had a great holiday, as well! That's a great idea - I think I'm going to do a video soon that features different holidays we see celebrated/discussed on the show. :)

[@daltonstephenson7669]

Oh! Have a drink!

[@kdaltex]

I don't want one!

[@SopranosBlueprint]

Have one, anyway!

[@SopranosBlueprint]

I swear, Tony, if I find out you're lying...

[@kdaltex]

@@daltonstephenson7669 you've been warned blueprint! You kick up to Borko!

[@robertlee4172]

The guy you should be yelling at, is that man over there.

[@zotfotpiq]

I was told my family's alcoholism was a disease. From my perspective the disease was "working yourself to death" and alcohol was a symptom or coping mechanism.

[@Yolduranduran]

Good topic 👏 👍

[@SopranosBlueprint]

Thank you for watching! 😊

[@Howyouzdoin]

Just discovered your channel I just got out of the can after years and grew up on this show and lived it also. Thank you..looking for new friends

[@SopranosBlueprint]

Welcome 👋 I hope you enjoy all the videos and content! 😊

[@paulwilliams5942]

I dont know if you watched Breaking Bad yet but i can recall Walter White drinking never ends well. One time he got his son so drunk becasue he was stressed about going to war with (Gus i believe) at that time and Hank had to stop him. Another time Walter was drinking wine and he almost admitted to Hank that he was Heisenberg which would lead to his eventual downfall. We wont even talk about Jesse and his vices him and Christopher had alot in common. Another great vid Steph!!! 😎✌️

[@SecondRegimentCorporal]

I don't know if there be snow, but have a cup of cheer!

[@ComettableMabel]

1:50 Good theory, but as you can see clearly. He had more than enough chances to shoot Tony in the back of his head.

[@Okayand33]

For Tony, alcohol brings out the 2nd Tony, the happy wanderer that "never hurt anybody." Has something to do with repression or expression of the self. Before calling off the Soccer coaches murder he got lit After the Matt Drinkwater hit drank and sat in the dark trying to justify his way of life to Meadow Before handling Puss they had a drink Tony needed liquid courage before Killing Blackjack Maserone who wasn't such a bad guy

[@kingoneil4644]

If you dont like the joke you can have another steak

[@sinistar3198]

7:41 fuckin lmao

[@chriss1672]

Gandolfini liked his booze