Man.... we sure have different takes on this show!!

The only one being put out of misery (when Tony killed Chris) is TONY!! (FWIW - I thought, at first, that Tony was doing that as an act of mercy.... but after thinking about it I realized that Tony killed Chris only to save his own neck).

As far as AJ... his "Rodney King" takeoff ("Why can't we all get along") was a cry of frustration and confusion over why we're so incompassionate to others.... its not a sign he's flipping. If anything, I think he'll go the opposite way and become a decent person because of his sensitivity to others.

Well AJ was never a terrible person to begin with. He was just a major fuck up during his teen years. I think he realized that he can do something with his life by going back to college and see's what could happen if he joins the mafia (the two Jason's).

I agree SC. If AJ doesn't completely meltdown and end up in the nuthouse, I'm starting to think that he'll be the only Soprano to be redeemed.

Is that why Tony bagan to dial 911 and then stopped? To take Chris out of his misery? Or was it because he realized that if Chris lived and was found to have drugs in his system that he would have been busted and could have turned state's witness against Tony to make his own deal?

My friend, I think that you need to re-watch that episode.

Tony murdered Christopher. The episodes before this set the stage, and the conversatiosn with Melfi after he killed him confirmed it.

This morning on WFAN radio Lorraine Bracco was interviewed (bad interviewee BTW). The host, David Gregory claimed to be a big Sopraon fan. He asked her why she thought Tony killed Christopher. Her answer: he was a liability and a disappointment. He was suppose to be Tony's successor.

As DC observed above, Tony stops in the middle of the 911 dial. I don't think he was reviewing Christopher's body of work or lack of....he was thinking short term. Drugs in his system, cops, testimony, he'll flip.

Was Christopher saving Tony by telling him about the drugs in his system.....did Chris think Tony would kill him? Maybe. Under the circumstances, maybe Chris wanted out...permanently.

Back to Bracco - Gregory asked her what was going to happen with Melfi. She said, you'll be surprised.

I've seen Bracco interviewed several times and I agree, she seems to be a bit aloof.

I chaired the marketing committee of our local United Way and she was the Honorary Chairperson (either of their board, or of their Day of Caring, can't remember). She showed up at events and was very charming, and even volunteered to host things at her home.

It's strange to see her in character as Dr. Melfi, then has the cocaine snorting mafia wife in Goodfellas.

Yeah, that's quite a contrast. That's why she turned down the role of Carmela (although we've never seen Carmela do drugs) she didn't want to play another mob wife.

Tony murdered Christopher because he was a liability, because Tony was damn tired of trying to straighten him out, because Christopher was a danger to his kid: all those reasons. Yes, Tony didn't call 911 because he realized those things and this was an opportunity to get rid of him. He was relieved.

As far as AJ goes, didn't he throw the guy's bicycle across the street? I think he's hugely conflicted, but his actions are taking him down the wrong path.

Well, at the very least he's conflicted about it. His meltdown in the shrink's office showed us that much. I kind of feel for him now. I'd love it if he was saved, spared from his father's lifestyle and depression.

Did anyone catch Michael Imperioli on Letterman last night? I intended to watch, but I feel asleep.

Oh crap, I didn't even know.

hey, i'm really glad to see that there is alot of discussion on this great episode. the last five episodes didn't get past the second page i don't think. anyways there is this video on youtube where the director put together a "six feet under" style ending for the sopranos. check it out, great song...and i think he used good clips for everyone. especially for tony's "death". here's the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9xoM7KZU3g

The scene reminded me a lot of "A Bronx Tale" (when Calogero was drawn into the fight against the bike riding blacks)... AJ, much like "C" was somewhat compelled to back his friends even though he was in disagreement with their reasons.

I think AJ felt genuine conflicting pain by his actions (much like "C" did).

That aside, its somewhat ironic that the pine barrens in southern Jersey are now experiencing a terrible fire... it was just announced that five miles of the Garden State Pkwy are closed due to smoke conditions. That is, the supposed area in which Chris and Paulie were lost while trying to kill the Russian "interior decorator" ( ) a few seasons back. (That episode WAS my favorite "Sopranos" one before seeing this past week's).

I hope MaryCas' property will be OK (dunno how close he is to the fire).

Sounds like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Yeah.... and one of them is a rotten apple.

Seeing AJ these last few episodes, involved in violent activities, partying, going to the shrink one week and saying how good he feels and then going the next week and showing how conflicted he was within himself, has really reminded me of how Tony started out in the begining of this series with his actions and his conflicting Melfi sessions.

That's why I'm quietly hoping he redeems himself, that he breaks the chain to that life and thought process.

Well we really dont see it all that different... I did put a wink there... I know what was going on there...

We have seen Tony get soft like AJ.. and then go Looney.... so AJ is infancy stage IMO.

I didn't want to start a separate topic on this, so here goes. Why is Tony's sister Barbara in the series? Is Chase saving her?

Also, after watching reruns, when Pussy didn't come back from looking at the boat with Tony, Sil, and Paulie, didn't Pussy's wife report that or become suspicious?

I saw him. It was a very short interview, and they did a little skit, as if he were giving up spoilers. I was sorry I waited up to see it.

Dude, why do you care? its over, let it gooo

E niente a te!

Hey Rocco, if you don't like his question or don't care to answer it, then just move on. This IS a Sopranos thread and his question is about the Sopranos.

Olivant, I happened to watch the re-run on A&E last night when they killed Big Pussy. I believe that his wife initially thinks that he has run off and eventually Tony puts the word out that Pussy probably went into the witness protection program.

Good points. If Chris lived he might have done a henry Hill. Hill was locked up for narcotics and realized his out was to testify against his friends. On the subject of big Pussy's death, Tony decided to add insult to injury by stating that Pussy was a rat. Remember when Tony went off on Carmela when Carmela stated that she met Pussy's wife in a store, "I don't want to hear about him or his $%&8 wife, he was a rat so let his wife worry who is going to take care of her." Tony also pulled the same senario with Jackie Aprile Jr by stating that Ritchie was a rat when in fact he wasn't.

I LOVE the "Pine Barrens" episode. Having Paulie and Christopher trapped in an impossible situation together lead to some fantastic exchanges between the two. Quite possibly the most hilarious episode of the series!

O yea the "Pine Barrens" is the second best episode in my opinion.

Only Steve Buscemi could have directed that epsiode!

Paulie: He was an interior decorator
Chris: Really? His house looked like shit...

True enough, but my question is a temporal one. Pussy leaves with three of his companions all well known to his wife. His wife sees him leave with them, she knows where they're going, and she can figure it might take a few hours. He never returns and there's nothing from his wife such as "Tony, where's Pussy? He was with you guys. Where'd he go?" Also, his wife was close to Carmela. Don't you think she would have told Carmela that they all left together to look at a boat?