Why Did Christopher Stare At The Family? The Sopranos Explained

In The Sopranos - the episode Long Term Parking - Christopher Moltisanti makes the decision to betray Adriana, and give her up after she admits she has been talking to the feds. Tony Soprano has Silvo whack Adriana.
In this episode, Chris stars at a family at a gas station, which is clearly supposed to be an important scene - What was Christopher thinking in this scene? What did Chris think of the family at the gas station?

[@mason_breen]

Chris knew sacrificing the mob life meant sacrificing soft drinks of choice. He couldn’t do it.

[@jimh6254]

Spot on, initially could be seen as a complex decision initially, but selfish and vacuous in reality

[@skier46101]

Couldn’t leave the life knowing the pizza parlor would get disrespected without him.

[@howlinblues420]

😂

[@Professor__S]

Chris definitely preferred soda with sugar in it. None of that diet shit😂

[@cicolasnage5684]

@@Professor__Sbecause that sugarless muthaphuka was the last fuckin drink he had….. up in tha club.

[@johng1634]

"The working class man struggling to take care of his family is more of a man than Christopher or any of the other mobsters". True.

[@rastaman39]

Facts

[@JoaoVictor-rg5ix]

Halleluya brother!

[@user-tp7gy4dj4l]

That was a man. Chris was a boy. So were the others.

[@LiverussGaming]

sounds like cope to be honest

[@crabbyj]

Nailed it! 👏👏👏👍

[@paulfrantizek102]

Chris knew without being a made guy in the Soprano Family with Tony's patronage, that's exactly what he'd be. That's why he decided to sellout Adriana.

[@jlane1645]

I had the same thought exactly.

[@jrwilliams4029]

Chris was unable to reconcile his life as a regular “schmuck” like Ray Liota described in “Goodfellas.”

[@frankmurphy7234]

Yup

[@BookshelfQBattler]

Not such a terrible thing. That wife and kids will be there for that guy more than Tony will. Chris just saw him at a sad moment and didn’t see all the happy ones.

[@T-roc57]

Yes that's correct, but i wouldn't say he sold her out. She knew who she was with & who Chris was workin with so snitching wasn't a good idea.

[@PodyTheCirate]

The show emphasizes pretty heavily, especially in the last season, that these guys can never truly leave “the life” Vito basically chose to die, Christopher knew he was going to hell, Bobby Sr wanting to do one last hit, Tony justifying their actions because “they’re soldiers” etc Edit* LOL’d so hard at “after a quick friendly strangulation attempt”

[@kev3d]

Just think of Vito. A crook living like a schnook fanook to bunk with a cook in Colebrook while pretending to write a book.

[@jamesw7072]

Even Tony B gave up his promising massuese career to return to mob life.

[@jamesw7072]

And some of them have sweet lives already set up and don't even have to get in the mob like Matt and Sean with stockbroker licenses and Jackie Jr going to Ruckers

[@surj1023]

"Live Free or Die"... Vito's choices were freedom from the mob life or death, and he chose death.

[@arhandemirok2189]

"a little bit of trolling"

[@bentencho]

When I was a young guy seeing the scene for the first time, I saw the family as some homeless nomads. Their entire lives tied to the top of that beat-up station wagon, eating the most unhealthiest of junk food, living off whatever funds they get from random gigs. The father looked like he has checked-out. Now older with a wife and kids.... the scene now looks like a father with very modest means, kids appears very happy and well-dressed (compared to the other), the whole father sacrificing everything for his family. As far as we know, they could have just came back from camping, moving somewhere for a new job/life, and/or they just being happy together regardless of their situation. The father can actually be described as looking stoic.... a man just doing what he has to do... the strong and silent type, like Gary Cooper. One theory I have... many Chris really wanted to have kids and he believes Adriana is the one preventing that. Him giving her up was the only option for him to get what he wanted.

[@TooLooze]

Chris really didn't have an arc. You analyzed the scene differently as you matured; Chris didn't mature.

[@soda989]

interesting interpretation; thank you for sharing

[@goldcandy6496]

That’s a really good theory actually, besides the really good observation I genuinely hadn’t thought of that, having a kid is one of the first things Christopher does with his new wife.

[@Disconnect350]

Your interpretation looks very biased and glamourized, might as well say that the father was 5 minutes away from winning a million dollar lottery. What Chris saw was a poor family, kids happy and ignorant while parents, especially the father, looking miserable. Nothing rewarding from his perspective. That's basically how him and Adrianna could have ended up, Chris chose rich mafia life instead.

[@hithere4719]

@@TooLoozeI have always been confused about who actually identifies with Chrissssssy. It’s people who have no arc. Makes sense.

[@enigma-wv7oc]

Image the betrayel Paulie must have felt after Adriana talked to the FBI

[@gahctep]

How much more betrayal could he take?

[@_zigger_]

His coach turned into a pumpkin

[@zeugenberg]

A real stab in the heart.

[@theboard3476]

Chris whole character arc is that for how much he wanted one, never took any action to make it happen. He starts off as a driver for Tony and dies as Tony’s driver. Ironically, by siding with Adrianna, he could’ve achieved his goals of a legitimate successful life as a writer and family man. That was the moment he could’ve achieved his arc, but he actively chose to eliminate the possibility.

[@barbiquearea]

Except Adrianna is infertile.

[@theboard3476]

@@barbiquearea Well she said that she wasn't entirely sure but was more positive that she couldn't. Still a realm of possibility, however they could always adopt.

[@barbiquearea]

@@theboard3476"they could always adopt." I don't think so. Adoption requires there to be a background check. Chris is someone with a criminal history. I don't know if he has ever been convicted before. But even if his record is clean, going into witness protection likely makes it impossible for that to happen anyway.

[@msw8966]

​@@theboard3476 What? Adopt a kid with chinky eyes with the last name Multisanti? Yeah right!

[@NightRider4007]

Solid point

[@dsauce223]

Ray Liotta said it best in Goodfellas, "I'm a regular nobody". He was bored to death with what life had become. Chrissy was coming to the same realization, only before he flipped; and in turn, never did.

[@Ishbikes]

Yet the real Henry Hill was up to NO GOOD, even after he was in the witness protection. Same game, just doing it with ppl less dangerous

[@DaEraMonke]

He already said in season one that he can’t handle the normality of regular life

[@dsauce223]

@@DaEraMonke Yes, good point.

[@robmurrah3224]

5:39 I'm being a little nitpicky but Christopher looking at the family longingly is not an "alternative possibility." The family shows Christopher what he doesn't want *and* what he wants. He doesn't want to be a broke guy with a 'regular job' and he wants to have kids someday. Sticking with Adriana meant he would lose out twice, because he would lose his lifestyle and never have children. It's a double whammy. It explains why he betrayed her. Great writing.

[@barbiquearea]

Precisely. I think in a way he envies that man because he has children despite not living the high life. If Chris ran away with Ade, though he loves her he knows he can only put up with her for so long before wanting to leave her. And since she can't have kids, and without the extravagant lifestyle of being in the mob, their relationship would have been at a dead end.

[@stlsensimilla]

Wow that's heavy.

[@STONESGAM]

He looked at the family because he was at a crossroads about what to do with the Adriana situation and potentially leaving the life. When he stared at that family he pictured his life with Adriana without the money and perks of the mafia life. Christopher knew he and Adriana didn't really have any real world skills and would likely struggle financially in the real world without his organized crime connections and Tony's backing. They'd probably have to live on a modest stipend from the FBI. It was at this moment that he decided to side with Tony and couldn't leave the life. He didn't want to be "a zero in shoes" without Tony Soprano as was Jackie Jr's assessment of him in season 3.

[@aw2584]

I think Adrianna not being able to have children had A LOT to have with it, as only the children look happy and care free in the picture he witnesses, with supposedly miserable parents... but even that wouldn't be possible to him with her. I think it wasn't a coincidence.

[@matthoward1174]

Chrissy could have gotten a side hustle at The Penguin Exhibit.......

[@nazmul_khan_]

He was at the crossroads of an enormous precipice 😅

[@jesseporter3397]

​@aw2584 good point . Forgot about them not being able to have children together

[@cygnustsp]

​@@aw2584I've been scrolling the comments looking for this before posting it and you ruined it for me. I think he realized he could at least go to a store legit buying stuff for kids instead of worrying about Tony or anyone else hiding inside of a garbage can picking the moment to kill him.

[@shroomgod1990]

2 decades later and still breaking this show down. With a forever mystery ending

[@MaxPayneInTheAss]

Tony died. It’s all been confirmed and everything points to it.

[@mrtrolly4184]

I think he survived

[@shroomgod1990]

@@MaxPayneInTheAss that we all know. David chase confirmed it. But who made the hit???? That’s what I was referring too. Who do you think killed Tony?

[@shroomgod1990]

@@mrtrolly4184 ironically he had a heart attack.

[@MaxPayneInTheAss]

@@shroomgod1990 deez nuts.

[@automaticmattywhack1470]

You never fail to crack me up. That "both of her uteruses" joke had me rolling.

[@ducknorris233]

Was that a quote from the show? Sounds like something Chris might have said.

[@Anakinskynader]

@@ducknorris233not a quote but when Adrianna said her uterus might’ve suffered permanent damage Christopher responds, “both of them?” And then Adrianna had to clarify that he’s thinking of ovaries.

[@jaymillymills]

I thought it was a mistake

[@sambeck2510]

​@@ducknorris233Chris did ask if both of her uteruses were damaged.

[@granitesevan6243]

The killing of Adrianna is a big moral departure point in the whole of the Sopranos. Whereas at times before it was possible to feel conflicted about the humanity of the mobsters, after this devastating twist there's no more empathy or sympathy for any of their pathetic emotional trials. I think that was intentional as well, seeing as season 6 is basically a case-study of decline and the consequences of their depravity. Edit: regarding this actual scene, it's a powerful reminder of Chris' complete absence of conscience and moral courage. You can see the fear in his eyes when he sees Nic Cage and his missus at the gas station

[@Vladdy89]

Oh yeah? Before that, they were all so moral. Although there is something in this - this is the very moment where even the unclever ones should have understood who the heroes of this TV show are.

[@granitesevan6243]

@@Vladdy89 Did I say "they were so moral"? Despite your cheeky tone, I'll offer further explanation. Prior to this it was possible to perceive an ethical side to Tony, such as when he hits Ralph for killing that Bing girl. It was possible to see the crew exercise some moral judgement over Coach Hauser having underage sex with a student, however extra-judicial that may have been. In short, there were moments when these sociopaths appeared to be morally conflicted and we buy into this as viewers. After Aid's murder, the emptiness of their moral code is laid bare like never before. There you go Vlad. Thanks for making me have to point all that out while I'm trying to enjoy a peaceful shit

[@PYRO-ON]

Along with the moral decline in America….look at what our politicians and billionaires are doing to us and the world….they are no better.

[@generationofswine-ge5rw]

I remember talking about the Sopranos to some guys at work and describing Chris and some of the other characters as completely awful people and how disgusting I thought they were and I noticed the guys I was speaking to looking shocked and confused as to what I was talking about. It's amazing how popular culture glamorizes certain criminals because packaging their stories sells well. It's one thing to treat someone with respect because they are dangerous and it's better to play along than challenge them, but the idea that any of them deserve respect is absurd. They want to live the high life without working for it, and they rip off hard-working people just as badly as they do faceless corporations or banks, whose money is insured so the CEOs don't lose a cent. It's amazing how bullies always attract an entourage who suck up to them ensuring their own safety rather than taking the risk of doing the right thing.

[@granitesevan6243]

@@generationofswine-ge5rw Yes, I would agree one hundred percent. I don't remember saying anything about respecting gangsters; my point referred to how the show gently manipulates our perspectives regarding their sense of right and wrong and how the incident in question definitively changes that. It's about the storytelling devices and techniques, rather than high-minded, abstract moral judgements that are aloof from the context of the show

[@qjames0077]

He was probably thinking about how dangerous it was to drive with a babyseat in your car

[@Hriskataaa]

ouch xD

[@_zigger_]

This system's got no bawls

[@JTD2001]

Never pass a drug test

[@shaunfloyd8852]

Maybe he coulda been an interior decorator

[@adamweisshaup]

I have to say, that scene where the parade float Vito seemed to pass by 5 hours at work and it wasn't even 10 was SO relatable I don't even have the words for it.

[@mariozd971]

Call him what you will but he wash one of my captainsh !

[@adamweisshaup]

@@mariozd971 Captain? Of the Good Ship Lollypop!

[@ToMaToEsGrOw]

Ha, everybody relates to that.

[@gregwallace6159]

💯

[@purplerider2362]

Dude didn’t even last a week. He didn’t miss his family. He missed the life.

[@bassbole]

I think you touched on the salient point a few times here which is that Chris ( and, by extension anyone who has a relationship with him) is probably doomed regardless. Thats not to say he never tries to get better, but most of that is because he's afraid of what happens via the other mobsters if he doesn't. Most likely, he'd still be a substance abuser and a physical one. We know that he views therapy as for the weak (or at least he did the only time we see it brought up to him), so I think the odds that he would try to be a better man as a civilian are actually quite low. When you get right down to it, the Mafia is not the ultimate source of his problems. Rather, his problems almost certainly attracted him to the life. Chris isn't entirely evil, there's a part of him that wants to be better, but it pales in comparison to the side that is overwhelmed by his desires and rage

[@dc56789]

I thought Chris changed his mind because Adriana couldn't have kids and he knew that going into WP meant he wouldn't be able to even raise a family. When he saw the guy with his kids he knew he couldn't even have that. So he chose to stay in the Mafia as it has more benefits.

[@barbiquearea]

That's exactly how I saw it as well. That man at the petrol station may not be living the high life, but at least he has kids to love and who love him. Since Adrianna cannot have kids and its unlikely they would be eligible to adopt. This means if Chris were to give up the life of the mob, he would not have the family he so desperately wants.

[@joachimwalle3760]

​@@barbiqueareaChris also didn't *want* to adopt either.

[@DefDefDef24]

THIS! I’m shocked a video exists as I don’t believe any other reason besides that she can’t have kids and that’s his final straw

[@vladislavadelkhanov7552]

Appearances were always extremely important to Chris. That scene starts with him lovingly stroking his car. And then as a sharp contrast he sees the car of the head of the travelling family. And the man himself. I think in his psychological state at that moment and his quite prejudiced disposition in general he has likely judged the man as a "loser" (happy kids or not), and automatically rejected the prospective image of his life under the witness protection program. This is how I saw this scene 19 years ago, and my opinion in this case has not changed.

[@ceasarwright7567]

I agree 100% , its what I understood too. He loves his hummer and almost caresses it....then looks at the trashy car and the trashy lifestyle of the man and its almost as if he has an awakening that hes been taking postives of the lifestyle for granted and that he could never be a regular looser like that man and his familly.

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

Yeah, I don't think it's all that ambiguous. There's plenty of ambiguity in The sopranos, but this is one of the most clear-cut scenes.

[@joshuahoover6841]

When this episode premiered and this scene played, my brother-in-law and I turned to each other and said well, Adriana is toast.

[@TooLooze]

Sounds like you love each other as a brother-in-law.

[@joshuahoover6841]

@@TooLooze well you know, the wine made us very allegorical.

[@serotoninsyndrome]

​@@TooLooze It's because he has an empty stomach

[@kgarba9253]

@@serotoninsyndromewaiters on sabbatical

[@m4cheteaxt109]

Same with my kid brother Billie

[@wyomingptt]

Thank you for pointing out that the working class dude, taking care of his family, who Chris would probably call a stupid schmuck, was more of a man then Chris ever was on the show.

[@NateBullock-ow6on]

💯💯

[@jjones9822]

Chris had an out with Adriana but chose the life over her. The crazy thing is that he knew he was going to hell for Tony and had a deep hatred for him not to mention he knew deep down he wasn’t respected by the others in the crew he knew he was only made Captain because he was Tony’s nephew. Then there’s the two Tony’s making fun of him to the point he started crying in the car. Chris was the only one who had aspirations outside of the mob and the only person who truly love and respected him was Adriana. Yet he chose the easy life, the easy money. I don’t feel bad for Chris one iota because the only person he ever felt sympathy for was himself. Dude literally murdered

[@jjones9822]

Dude literally murdered JT Dolan because JT didn’t want to listen to Chris vent about the mob while he was feeling sorry for himself. In the end, Chris was just another selfish lowlife POS and he paid the price for staying with Tony.

[@PsycheAi]

Imagine if that family he saw was just going through a tough couple of minutes, but actually they’re just happy.

[@frankreynolds9418]

Nah, they stink.

[@Disconnect350]

Imagine if the father just abandoned that family right after Chris saw them.

[@LaFlame297]

@@Disconnect350😂

[@john1-29_aka_LHT-LFA]

Great video. Very allegorical. The sacred and the propane.

[@hlf_coder6272]

I think it’s obvious that scene is where he changed his mind. He was speaking sincerely with Adrianna while still in the apartment, but once he got out in the world and had a few mins to really think about the implications, he changed his mind.

[@wainsworld84]

Long term parking is my favourite episode of the The Sopranos. Love the overlaps with Henry Hill in Goodfellas leaving the life and entering the witness protection program, this scene where he see the 'loser family' as he sees it is definitely where he makes his mind up that he can not bring himself to leave the life for an ordinary one as an average nobody, living the rest of his life like a shnuck. Even the scene where Adriana confesses to Chris that she has been giving up info to the FBI and Chris crying saying 'what are we going to do!' Is reminiscent of the scene from Goodfellas with Henry & Karen when she flushes thr coke down the toilet during the police raid. Chris selling out Ade and then Tony having her killed is the final nail in the coffin for any sympathy/empathy we as the audience might have had for them, and further shows just the deprivately of these characters and the lengths they will go too in preserving their lifestyle.

[@douglasmurphy3266]

They are left with no choice when it comes to the Feds. This was already shown with Pussy, they were mad at him for putting themselves in that situation, as there is no going back and no way out. What is the alternative, go into hiding from the Feds? In the words of Remo Gaggi, why take a chance?

[@incogneto2834]

Dickie Moltisanti was his father,there were expectations on him ,he was third generation mafioso.He couldnt leave the life and the family that was the only family he knew/had.His cousin was Carmela and his mother still needed that community support from the relatives and the Soprano family aka glorified crew.

[@elcochino8139]

He was picturing his future self if he went into the witness protection program. I honestly think he was weighing loyalty to Tony or to Adrianna. That was the ultimate factor in his decision. Life on the run or his current life. He sacrificed Adrianna out of self preservation, which in hindsight ended up being the wrong decision. But even that could be up to debate.

[@jollymanbigboy]

I take Chris staring at the family being a direct reference to pine barrens. Paulie stares at a man at a gas station and then immediately says we're taking him to pine barrens. In both cases, they are staring at somebody else at a gas station before making the worst decision of their life. You might also make an argument that leotardo had made his worst decision by going to the same gas stations.

[@NoThankYouReally]

The most trenchant analysis of Christopher here is the impact of the nepotism. He sees himself as a mafia prince, and that is in many respects how he's treated. It's funny, having that lineage seems to matter more than actually BEING "the guy"; witness Feech and Ritchie and their struggles to get back some piece of what they earned before going to prison- all while keeping their mouths shut and actually "proving out" their fidelity to their oaths. Both those guys are complete lunatics and bad people, but at least you could say they had been tested, multiple ways, and passed with flying colors, at least by the measure of the world they inhabit. In the end, like most bad things about the Soprano family, this dynamic can be laid at the feet of Tony, who is also a bit of a nepot, isn't he? Feech and Ritchie were threats to him; much more experienced with a ton of street cred. So of course Tony grooms the weak Christopher as his Boss in Waiting; Christopher was no threat to him in terms of seizing power. He was too weak. But of course his weakness was so great he made himself a liability in other ways, just as deadly to Tony. And so he smothers him.

[@elephantseal4585]

Adriana's death was so shocking, I couldn't belive she got popped.

[@klompsauce]

Easily the hardest death to watch(I know we only hear it). Also, I really thought Chris was going to kill Ade when he choking her.

[@FreeOpenTruth]

I loved this series when it was on and had to wait week to week. After Adriana was whacked, I literally felt sick for that entire next week. Same when Tony snuffed out Christopher! Man! Very disturbing at that time.

[@MomMom4Cubs]

I couldn't believe she thought she would survive such a betrayal.

[@FreeOpenTruth]

@@MomMom4Cubs- She was clueless, naive and thought her "love" was real. Nope!

[@MomMom4Cubs]

@@FreeOpenTruth I think it's a combination of sunken cost fallacy and her (totally wrong) belief Chrissy loved her.

[@Will-tm5bj]

4:25 nothing is more gangster than taking care of your family

[@FreeOpenTruth]

Wrong! That mullet is the most gangsta! 8:37

[@Will-tm5bj]

@@FreeOpenTruth fair enough

[@MomMom4Cubs]

​@@FreeOpenTruthikr!

[@IMJipps]

I thought it signaled Adriana not being able to get pregnant and that being his deciding factor.

[@normie2716]

Sharp as a cue-ball, this one.

[@matthoward1174]

Say what you will,.. but I think it was nice of Tony to send Sil to pick up Adriana so she did-dent have to drive while she was stressed about Chrissy trying to kill himself,.. and DAMN nice of Sil to drop everything to do it !

[@markfrancis2264]

"natural canopy of a nose"😂😂😂

[@cicolasnage5684]

You can’t make that shit up!

[@gregmartin114]

Thought it was obvious that he was looking at what his life might be like without the mafia and just being a regular Joe with a wife and kids.

[@barbiquearea]

Just not with kids since Ade can't have them.

[@maniac50ae14]

Chris was "groomed" as much as AJ was raised and fathered

[@Baldmaxx]

Remember, Chris was a pretty superstitious guy. When he was being made, he saw the raven at the window and freaked out about it to Ada. The family at the gas pump was a sign to him, right at the exact time he was looking for one. The look of disgust and pitty in his expression told the whole story...this is how you will end up, poor, exhausted, on the run, and most importantly, physically dirty, like a rat! It's one of the most important ( and poignant )scenes in the entire show.

[@cletusjones9411]

Great video. I always just thought Christafah didn’t want to be poor when he saw the family. I didn’t even consider the fact that he wanted kids and Adriana couldn’t, and that seeing the kids at the gas station was more influential to him sacrificing Adriana than the beat down looking man.

[@herschelwright4663]

Chris chose materialism over a bad mullet.😂

[@BookshelfQBattler]

Irony is Chris battered Ade for being “damaged goods” for not being able to have kids but when he saw the possibility of a life with her and kids he chose to kill her. He replaced her with a random trophy wife and had a kid but they were just accessories. Ade was his true love.

[@barbiquearea]

More like Chris is thinking that guy may seem miserable and broken. But at least he has kids, which Chris really wants but can't have if he went into witness protection with Ade.

[@georgechacon2648]

Another well thought out Sopranos analysis 👍. Cheers

[@MisterQuasar]

He understood that he wanted to keep the family name going above all else and he saw that even though that family looked like shit that they looked better than he did by himself. That’s why he went through with it

[@RichiesHouse]

The song by Journey in the last episode is actually talking about Tony . “Working hard to get my “Fill “ . Which is talking about Tony looking for Phil . And this is verified by Phil getting killed why his wife’s car needed a “Fill “ at the gas station on Long Island . Then Phil while “filling “his car is killed by Sopranos member with a “Kahr 9 mm “ . So Phil was filling his car and killed by a Kahr and then run over with the car. Which is all karma for Vito and the clue again for that is being killed with a “kahr “ then run over by the mother of his children which “MA” Is short for mother . Phil was hit twice that day by kahr and run over by ma. Not sure the reason for the double meaning of Fill and Phil and Kahr and Car but it’s all there . Also the song says “some will win some will lose “ - referring to Tony winning and Phil losing . The song then says “the movie never ends it goes on and on “ . By this perhaps Tony didn’t die in the diner maybe just our time with him was whacked . And so we went to black not Tony , they let us feel what it’s like to hit like that .

[@EmRon1968]

Man, your hilarious. That cracked me up!

[@chriss7430]

Got to say I'd never call that scene "curious". It's absolutely central to Christopher's decision of what to do next. As you said, he was considering Adriana's proposal to leave and start again before he went out. As he stopped for gas, he sees this family who are obviously poor, with no status in a beat up car. He's running his hand over his Hummer contemplatively just as he sees them, already contemplating whether he can give up the life of a Captain. Seeing that family and realising that life will be his life if he flips is absolutely central to his ultimate decision to tell Tony and stay in "this life of ours", even if it means the certain death of Adriana.

[@loyaltyisroyalty5616]

The incessant calling Vito a “parade float” or an “ass muncher” is my favorite part of this channel. Lmfao

[@tobin2.0]

My favorite has been "muncher of ass"

[@ndogg20]

Great catch that one scene, it had to be put in for a reason, but I never thought about it. Christopher had a nonexistent family, his father gone and his alcoholic mother ignoring him. His only true family was Tony and the mob, that's all he knew. So even if Adrianna could have kids, Chris would be in the dark, he could barely be loyal to Ade, much less children, who he most likely would consider a nuisance. Seeing the tight family at the gas station is a mystery to Chris, but he knows that life will always elude him. Adriana might have sacrificed all she had for Chris, but Chris knew she could be worth more after her death. As Chris is packing away Adriana's things to help make it look like she ran away, he finds jewelry that he rushes off to the pawn shop to hock.

[@frankreynolds9418]

He saw that guy and knew he didn't want to end up like that loser. Eating gas station snacks in a crappy car with a bunch of kids raising hell and a fat bird flapping her lips.

[@ringkunmori]

That scene really shows the gap between a civilian and a member of the mob because I thought it was sweet to see such a large family together happy, meanwhile that was a nightmare scenario for him.

[@Disconnect350]

Happy? where was the happiness? the parents were arguing and looked pretty miserable.

[@hlf_coder6272]

I’m a civilian and it looked like sheer hell to me. I’d suck on an exhaust pipe before I’d live that life

[@ericdavison8939]

​@@hlf_coder6272ha! Same here. I love the freedom of being single with no children

[@Disconnect350]

@@ericdavison8939 Same. I rather be in a wheelchair than have kids.

[@generationofswine-ge5rw]

I think the nightmare was just that they didn't have nice stuff, much as it seems to be to the majority of commenters here.

[@Romy16.]

“Both her uteruses got taken out” 😂😂😂 I always loved how she answered him in that scene

[@parttimehuman]

Oh, it's from the show. I was like, wait WHAT? haha

[@marcushillen8680]

My interpretation was that he felt a sort of ironic jealousy at the fact that this poor family had everything he wanted; a child, love, freedom, happiness, trust, support. Given that it was right as he was deciding to betray Adriana and she'd provided the love, happiness, and support part up to that point, he knew it was only going to get darker from there. If he wasn't in an obvious hell from the point of betraying her, seeing that family probably illuminated the situation for him. If Star Wars didn't have so much cinematography and plot development, I would say he has as dark or darker a story than Anakin Skywalker.

[@Ukraineaissance2014]

I saw it like this but in simpler terms, he wanted kids, adrianna said she was infertile, seeing a regular family he couldn't have with her made him sell her out.

[@user-kz3gk1tp7z]

Honestly that image of the family is terrifying even to a normal person. But that didnt justify killing Adriana

[@apierre6]

I think that's the point though. What is you that's normal to civilians is horrifying to these mobsters. These monsters have never worked and honest day in their entire lives and they constantly cheat on her spouses. Being a normal person is horrifying to them

[@mikeo2524]

Let's not make Adriana into a saint here. She grew up in the life I believe and knew what it was about. She could've chosen a normal life and gotten out like Tony's other sister did. Asking Chris to rat was probably fairly unrealistic anyway. She chose the mob life with all its tradeoffs IMO. That doesn't make Chris any less of a weak POS of course.

[@MomMom4Cubs]

Barbara didn't get out of criminal life because she never entered it, and certainly seems happier for it (especially compared to Janice and Livia).

[@mariozd971]

Well, she was from mob family too, her uncle, her mother's brothers were Jackie Sr and Richie Aprile and her cousins were Vito and Jackie Jr.

[@incogneto2834]

​@@mariozd971 how's that possible?Barbara was related to the Apriles?Janice was gonna get married to Richie.....,sooooo????

[@mariozd971]

@@incogneto2834 I speak for Adrianna

[@trollcatcomics]

Greatest TV show ever made. Period! Thank you for such amazing reviews!

[@Wally9005]

One of your best analysis videos!

[@mobiz711]

Great analysis!

[@smokeagoldleaf]

If Chris was a real G he would’ve done it himself. Poor Sil, he had to go walking thru the woods in his good shoes.

[@jackwalsh6758]

At least he didn't miss the Jets first home game!

[@joseorozco4152]

Bruno Magli ovah here

[@robgesualdi206]

I feel like sil only has good shoes. He ain't schlepping around in sketchers on the weekend. Could've been worse. Could've gotten poison ivy

[@oopsydaizi3s824]

He got it done so fast his soup was still warm when he got home.

[@_zigger_]

If you wanna talk like a fuсking mооlinуаn, we'll send you to slip and fall school

[@samsepiol05590]

I’m still convinced Chris flipped just prior to crashing the car

[@jamesmorant1406]

Simply, he knew life was gonna just like that guy he saw at the gas station, and he didn't want that he likes his money his car and nice apartment

[@deanc7476]

These analyses you do are first rate. The depth of meaning built into nearly every episode of this show is astounding. I think given that Christopher was on the road in his car already demonstrates where his head was, regardless of whether the scene happened before or after he told Tony. We didn’t even need to see the poor schlep family but it was a good symbolic depiction of the decision.

[@klabkebash]

The scene towards the end of that episode when Chris was still in Tony's basement totally wasted and crying that he loved her, and Tony began to beat the crap out of him. Could it be that Tony was subconsciously disappointment that Chris didn't take off with Adriana, run away and start a new life? Sort of like, Yes you chose this thing of ours, but now we all have to live with this mess that happened. He might as well had left / flipped. Because imagine if Tony was his age and Carmella was the one who was cornered by the Feds and she ran to Tony explaining what happened?. Was he going to outsource her killing or even do it himself? I don't see him doing it. Or maybe because he saw how weak Chris really was, and if it were anyone else with his past screw ups, he'd be gone at that point.

[@vanovhs]

Let me EXPLAIN: Chris notices a pathetic kid at a gas station with his family and their shabby car: their belongings loaded onto the roof of the car and tied up with rope, it looks as if the family is on the move in search of a better life. What Christopher sees is who he thinks he will become once he leaves the Mafia. Cristopher is so caught up in the game, so blinded by Tony, there is no other option for him, as he assures himself. At that moment, I think Moltisanti views a normal midclass family, yet we see a distorted versions of them, for that is how Chris perceives the world. Christopher's biggest fear was "the freaking ordinaryness of life."

[@antonioreconquistador]

Ok but why did the cat stare at christopher

[@foolofatook1271]

Meow … meow …meow

[@_zigger_]

​@@foolofatook1271now, uh, that's a hit

[@SuperGargargar]

christopher going the henry hill route would have been an excellent spinoff show after the sopranos ended

[@JohnMoog-ug6bk]

Re: Chris having a normal life, remember also his brief career as an SEC compliance officer

[@jackpavlik563]

WEBISTIXS!!

[@roncolemanlaw]

Very well done analysis and commentary

[@High-A-Licious80]

Chris was so focused on the guy and wondering if that what was to become of his life, the kids joy and happiness was not something he noticed. Chris admiring the humvee is no different than a guy admiring his bmw or porche or any other vehicle that reminds him of his status. Right then and there he knew he was not going to go along with Adriana and the sad part was in the end she was the only person who truly supported him and loved him.

[@incrediblefunk8187]

I'd never looked at the scene with the level of detail you have. The way you analyzed this scene from different perspectives is incredible.. 😃

[@rogfusionkid]

I'm sure the show is deliberately ambiguous so the viewer can create their own storyline, one that they like. That way the viewer is invested in the whole story, and keep watching and enjoying it. It's a great series.

[@Timquan.]

Im a fan of this channel and really enjoy ur work. I hope u do more Carlito's Way content.

[@CineRanter]

Coming soon!

[@NikkiSparxxx]

I think that Chris deluded himself into thinking that having a family was more important to him than it actually was. When Kelly tells him that she’s pregnant he’s expressionless. And when she reveals this to him she’s initially afraid that he’ll react negatively to it, meaning that she probably had the impression that he didn’t even want kids. Ironic considering that he abused Ade and allegedly sold her out because of her infertility. He doesn’t appear excited or even contented and only proposes to her because it makes logical sense for the culture he’s conformed to. All the way to the scene of the baby’s christening he looks like he’s just going through the motions and isn’t particularly invested in the thing that he held against Adrianna for being able to provide. And what she actually gave him he took for granted, which is something that most people struggle to get-unconditional support for what you feel passionate about. Chris’ real ambition was to be an artist and Ade was the only one who truly believed that he could do it. That’s what makes her death all the more tragic. An essential part of Chris truly died with her that day. As self-sabotaging as he was (scaring off John Favreau, assaulting his scene partner) he made much more substantial creative progress when he had Ade in his corner. “Cleaver” wasn’t ever going to be his big break because choosing Tony pretty much put to bed any chance he had of actually making it as a real artist, and was just an unsubtle jab at the man he blamed for killing his dreams. Chris was never going to choose Adrianna because he’s inherently self-sabotaging and weak. He might’ve felt conflicted when he left the apartment but he was always going to choose Tony.

[@PolPotsPieHole]

great vid Cineranter

[@marquesjohnson6359]

I always thought christopher was genuinely considering becoming an informant then he saw that" regular" guy and saw what his life would be like i never really thought he chose tony over adriana he chose the " life"

[@jameshawk2470]

Marq. I know same here, all this tony bs dude it was about Chris and everything he already sacrificed for “this thing of ours” he had murders under his belt and the world by the balls and Adrianna messed up. It wasn’t his fault she got tangled up with the feds, she’s a big girl. She should have just lawyered up and did her time.

[@marqueswilliams345]

For Adriana to have 2 high ranking uncles and a cousin you would think that Adriana would know not to allow outsiders

[@BerserkerSloth]

I thought it was a mixture between Looking at the marriage they had (two of them poor & arguing) and then seeing the kids, something Adriana would never be able to give him is what pushed him over the edge.

[@MackeyDeez]

It's like this, when you're used to people moving out of your way. Saying excuse me just to avoid bumping into someone will feel beneath you.

[@epl803]

He's more of a man than Chris could ever be - very well said

[@cripplers8]

The Sopranos did a great job with the attention to detail in small mundane moments which otherwise would just be background scenes in other shows but made an impact in the Sopranos.

[@brettmajors69karaoke]

Heard it straight from sopranos guys- Adrianna being messed up was the reason- his look was a longing look for the kids- not the lifestyle.

[@toddpick8007]

He was looking at what his future would look like without Tony Soprano, thats what he was looking at.

[@VanirTraditionalist]

I’ve always had the feeling Chrissy was blowing smoke up Adrianna’s ass and had no intention of becoming a rat. He knew from the moments she told him that he was going to throw her under the bus. Seeing the Mullet family was the icing on the cake that he had to let her go.

[@parkerwheeler68]

I always interpreted that scene like he was envious of the family and knew Adriana couldn't give that to him so she was expendable

[@Ukraineaissance2014]

Had this debate so many times

[@odeleon24]

I never even considered that the gas station scene might take place after Chris tells Tony, and that there might be some regret. Yes the family doesn’t look glamorous but they’re a family as you mention.

[@batchagaloopytv5816]

his vanity wouldnt let him leave the glitz and power that comes with being a made man and a captain -its a vry real thought process i love that scene

[@FUh_Que_-]

Chrissy was thinking about poor little Cosette

[@_zigger_]

Was it barking?

[@cicolasnage5684]

She musta crawled unda there for warmth.

[@bloodnivel70]

Ironically, the "life of a schmuck" is more desirable than one of a mobster. Sure, there is no glamour, but at least with luck and maybe hard work you can improve your situation, that isn't an option for a mobster.

[@Void7.4.14]

What is "mariana" sauce? I think its left intentionally vague and all those things are plausible. In the end he did what he was supposed to do.

[@flapjackbickle645]

One interesting thing: the last part of the episode was supposed to play out more simply, with Chris going to Tony and confessing everything, so we know that Adriana is gonna get bumped. I think it was the editor's clever idea to hold that scene back so it's more of a shock when she's killed. That confession scene was then used as a flashback in Season 6.

[@parkerwheeler68]

Great video btw

[@veldrensavoth7119]

2:36 there he is the strong silent type.

[@mopes2713]

I would happily live an ordinary life if it meant I can have the love of an beautiful women like Adriana and a family. Chris just proved to the world that he doesn’t understand the meaning life with this one clip.

[@joshpointoh]

The kids, the only happy part of that scene, wasn't possible for Adrianna. That was the clincher.

[@joeycormier7489]

Michael was an excellent actor in this show. He nailed so many personalities.

[@nadersoli815]

Such awesome videos. Intelligent and deep. So very enjoyable. Love your channel. Where are you based? I'm in NYC.

[@tedbrogan9449]

Nice work referencing the end scene in Goodfella's. Tried to get spaghetti and marinara and I got ketchup and egg noodles.

[@mitch4527]

I think Chris didn’t like what he saw in the real family.

[@johnyoyo6141]

That gas station scene is the realest scene on the show it’s the crossroad where he finally chooses being a gangster over being a civilian

[@Pete-Logos]

⊢ *WRONG!!!* Chris saw the kids!! He wanted kids! Adriana couldn't have kids! Chris thought, "EVEN THIS MULLET HEAD HAS KIDS!?" Chris was thrilled when his new wife was pregnant. He mentioned to her how Adriana could not have kids, and how badly he wanted kids: "WHAT'S THE POINT OF GETTIN' MARRIED IF WE DON'T HAVE KIDS???" is a quote from Chrissy. *KIDS! KIDS! KIDS!! KIDS!!!* I gotta say, my estimation of youse as a content creator just plummeted. "YOU KNEW YOU WERE DAMAGED GOODS AND YOU NEVER TOLD ME!!!???" But no, seriously, I'm a subscriber. I love your content. ♡ ∴ You just happen to be wrong saying that "Chris gave up Ade to choose the life" for the reasons I mentioned. Quod Erat Demonstrandum. edit: I paused the video 5 minutes in to text all this stuff above, and run my mouth. Then you mentioned the kids. (oh boy is my face red) 😬 But yeah, we agree on that. I really jumped the gun, lol. My bad, yo.

[@TooLooze]

The scene may not have anything to do with Chrissy, but made exclusively for the audience to ponder Chris was not exactly introspective. Although I do think he must have had a great sense of smell.

[@fabianking997]

Chris saw his life on the run from the mob, and in witness protection. He then chose to sell Adriana out.

[@mahmoudibnemir8704]

Always with the scenarios...

[@overcastskyline1747]

he always wanted kids and seeing that family reminded him that adriana couldnt have kids, what she did pressured him even more, just sticking around was enough for him already after all that they went through, the rumors with tony, the fighting, his love for her wasnt as strong as it once was, then she unloaded a huge burden on him, he just couldnt do it anymore and called quits altogether.