Top 5 Most Underrated Sopranos Episodes
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ค. 2024
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For me it's Season one episode 9 "Boca". Tony coming home drunk, falling all over the place, then telling Carmela "I didn't hurt nobody" is one of my favorite endings to a Sopranos episode!
Christopher's intervention. Nothing beats Paulie in that moment:
"I'll make this short and sweet. You're weak, outta control, and you've become an embarrassment to yourself and everyone around you."
"We said non-judgmental."
"Fuck that. Let him take his medicine."
Absolute gold.
“What was it barking?”
I feel like everything Pauli says or does is a masterpiece 🤔 😂
When Tony shows up at the farm, you just feel Christopher’s heart sink. And when Tony sits there, on his own, sighing happily with the peace and quiet of it all, that is like the embodiment of all evil. He can’t even let them have some peace from HIM! He’s gotta take everything. He’s gotta corrupt everything. These scenes at the farm, and the restaurant, with the three of them, are some of the best for me.
Yes! Excellent acting there, because he pretended to be happy to see Tony but was livid!
Just finished the show the other night and boy does it live up to all the hype! One of the best of the best
The Fleshy Part of the Thigh would be my top choice for underrated. It feels like a lot of people were sick of the hospital at this point and just wanted the show to move on, but I love how it calmy and quietly deals with the aftermath of the whole coma saga and Tony's recovery. It's one of the most introspective episodes of the show too, Tony musing about the insignificance of humanity, the famous Ojibwe saying, Paulie discovering the truth about his mother, and especially that scene where the physicist guy talks about how "everthing is connected". It's oddly comforting and something I didn't know I needed when I was watching it.
I think people get hung up on the weird VFX in Provai Livushka, but I love the Janice’s role in the story and the speech near the end by Carmela’s dad of all people is one of my favorite moments in the series.
Legend of Tennessee Moltasanti always manudges to be my favorite Where’s my arc?
Whaaaat ... This is basically what I was asking you for your 30k QnA. Nice one!
So far on my rewatch one of my favourites has been The Test Dream. I remember bits of the dream, like Tony on the horse talking to Carmela, but had forgotten that it was part of a longer marathon-length dream sequence. The whole thing is masterful. Love it.
I'm loving how surreal and experimental it can be; at times it's more Twin Peaks than Twin Peaks.
The problem with the Sopranos is that Tony never had the makings of a varsity athlete
A bigger problem is that Phil had to compromise and eat grilled cheese off the radiator.
Cunnilingus and psychiatry brought us to this
@@rong2912 ...and had to compromise with a tissue.
@@deepfocuslens LOL yes, poor Phil.
One of my favorite lines from the show was when Junior was digging into Tony with that line (varsity athlete) at the dinner… Tony gets pissed off and gets up from the table… he says to A.J. “Get your coat, we’re leaving!”, to which A.J. replies “Uh, I don’t have a coat.”, then Tony says “Well then get movin’ goddammit!”…
such an A.J. response.
S3 really is one of the best seasons, LOVE that opening episode. Great list, saw Many Saints today and while it doesn't come close to the show's greatness or complexity, it's a really enjoyable time if you're a fan of the show and I hope you like it.
(Also, I've never gotten the hate for the show's lowest rated episode "Christopher" in season 4)
For me its Stage 5 in the last season that really stood out. The ending to that episode, where Phil gives that little speech to Butch and they use the song Evidently Chickentown, that gave me goosebumps like nothing else, the sense of doom was unreal and I found it incredibly eerie. Such a bizarre song, but used in the perfect context. It’s that scene in particular, rather than the whole episode.
I just found your channel because of the Many Saints Of Newark video and I'm loving it!
A suggestion: it would be nice if you put some excerpts from the mentioned episodes, in short videos or just in images. It would add a lot!
I'm a big fan of Sopranos here in Brazil and your channel is excellent, congratulations!
For some reason, I really like the episodes where Vito is living in that small town. Romancing that Johnny Cakes guy.
Lol the montage of him getting bored after doing real work for like five minutes 😂
I liked it a lot as well.
I watched that on episode on TV, after it finished I purchased all the series on dvd and started from the beginning
Instead of killing Vito off, they could have shown some gay mobsters and their schemes. Vito could have joined them.
Lots of missed opportunities
In regards to Calling All Cars, the attention to detail in the way that Tony wakes from the eerie and penetrating 'woman in black on the stairs' dream is really admirable and, most importantly, realistic. The sweat dripping from Tony's body, perspiration suffused bed linen. The dribble from his mouth, the disorientation, confusion and dreaded realization imbued in his eyes and, by extension, his psyche from the moment of waking, the dream still alive and burning in him having engulfed every fibre of his subconscious being. That weird limbo transition from dream land to reality upon waking ... All these things are depicted so well and make it so, so credible and relatable yet - disturbing. Great writing, acting and direction. A different favourite episode, though I'm not sure how underrated it may be, is Unidentified Black Males.
Excellent episode DFL, thank you 👌😊
(By the way, I LOVE In Camelot too! I'm glad Tippy the dog had a happy life though. Great end credits music as well).
Great list
I also have such an appreciation for s3 as well, which includes the first and last episode of it, especially the fall aesthetic in some of the episodes.
Aj being schooled by the General played by Tobin Bell and the blending of every breath you take and Peter Gunn's theme are standout moments for me, and I often forget about the scene you brought up about how Tony almost got killed. Even the season finale alone I really love too
Oh Tobin Bell as the General was excellent!
I really agree with these choices! Always feel free to talk some more about the Sopranos. You review it incredibly well.
Found this channel looking for Many Saints opinions and now I'm subbing. I love this kinda talk about THE greatest show ever made.
I could write for hours but will spare everyone. I'll just give one episode that always strikes me along with a few points of your choices:
Ok, so probably my most underrated episode is also not disliked or unseen in any way. It's generally highly rated but it's not always up there in the talks of the greats. I propose the opener for S6, 'Members Only'.
We see a lot of characters claim to want to get out of the life but Eugene is given both the means and incentive not afforded to others. The money helps but his wife is all but bailing on him from indecision and his son is slowly succumbing to heroin use/addiction.
He wants out but he's a caged rat (all but literally). Eugene's character is made into a direct example of how inescapable the life is in every way. Turn to the government/law enforcement and they use you because there is always more to be done, more juice ro squeeze from you. Turn to your boss, the man that can set you free, and he uses you. Always more to be done. Try to buy the boss off and he uses you. Murder a man to get in the good graces of the boss and he uses you. Always more to be done.
He now has more money than he'll probably ever make in "this life" and he still can't escape. It's basically a Twilight Zone episode as he has to stay in Jersey to watch his son become a drug addict, his wife resent him, the government use him all while putting his life at risk and then work a job with it's own occupational hazards as is.
Many talk of wanting to change, Eugene may be the only case of truly making an effort to totally let go. No Sopranos-style innuendo, allegory or metaphor. None of the deep psychology we fans love. Plain as day, he wants out and can't get out. He has the means and is still trapped. The demise of Eugene is heartbreaking to me. In the end he gains the only victory he can by killing himself and thereby releasing his family. It runs me.
As for your picks, I agree with all of it. Specifically the scene where Johnny's old side-piece sings to Tony in the JFK hat. It literally makes me sick to my stomach in a way and for reasons I cannot fully articulate. It's so unnerving, lmao. It's a mix of shame, embarrassment and horror that only this show can present.
I think "Unidentified Black Males" (S5E9) is a masterpiece, but almost never see it on lists.
Great list! I'm making my way through the series again and I definitely agree with Marco Polo and In Camelot. Cold Cuts is great but so emotionally brutal.
The one that made the biggest impact on me this time around is The Weight (S4, E4). Seeing the machinations put in place by a simple insult results in a lot of memorable scenes. Sil and Chrissy going to see the old assassins group is creepy and hilarious. The way Johnny Sack both defends his wife from slight and also backs that up by supporting her in private was truly emotional, for me anyway. And there are great moments on top of that, including Furio/Carmella and a great college scene between Tony and Meadow. One of my favorites.
University is hella underrated imo. I love the contrast between meadows college life and Tracey’s job at the bing.
It's probably the most acclaimed episode after Pine Barrens
In the dream sequences in The Test Dream there's that moment with Gloria saying ''I don't have any Children, I Died too young'' and it hit me really hard cause the whole scenery is so cold and otherworldly. The just idea of dying and having still conscious thoughts and feelings of regret, guilt whatever of your life, seems like such a weight to carry...
That's one of my all-time favorite episodes
I do appreciate that her death haunts him for the rest of the show.
You can tell her and Tony B really weigh on him.
@@jakecorenthose2901 I liked Gloria a lot… she was smart and sophisticated… just too dark though 😔
@@Wildcock23 Very sympathetic and misunderstood character.
@@deepfocuslens I dare say The Sopranos mastered the craft of dreams better than any show or movie. It’s just crazy how “realistic” they are
I liked the description that each episode is a lower quality image of the same thing so every episode can stand alone on the tone and themes of the show.
My favorite underrated episode is D-Girl. I love Christopher centric episodes. Especially episodes where he is trying to get into the movies (I also really like the episode when Christopher is in L.A. meeting with Ben Kingsley). Christopher is a gangster through and through and it's fascinating and hilarious seeing him try to be something else. His interactions with Jon Favreau are so funny. I also really like that this episodes shows why Tony is so close to Pussy.
I'm so happy you included Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood awesome episode because of how you say it it's done from the perspective of the FBI. The Ride to me is an excellent episode. Luxury Lounge because David Chase is thumbing his nose at Hollywood. The one where Artie finally gets one for himself. Where he finds out about Bennie and the hostess credit card scam. Also Down Neck about Tony when he was just a kid.
The Sopranos is my favorite tv show too. I really enjoyed your thoughts on the series. 👏🏼
I don't know how "underrated" this would be, but the one where Tony went to Las Vegas in season 6 after SPOILER died might be my favorite episode. I love how Tony's thoughts on the event are depicted. He's just crazy. It officially cements the idea that it is basically impossible for someone like Tony to become this "new man" he's been saying he was. I feel like the Sopranos is almost like a giant thesis on why crime is illegal and this episode encapsulates that concept beautifully.
But there are a lot of great episodes, it's hard to narrow it down to 1 favorite. The more I watch The Sopranos, the more I love it. Definitely a top 3 favorite show for me.
Tony going to Vegas and fucking Chris' mistress is one of the most fucked up things Tony ever did.
would love to hear you talking about amadeus!
I am so glad you mentioned In Camelot!! For me that episode - the ending in particular - was the moment I realised the show won't deliver a cliche redemption story, which I was deeply afraid of.
I never really thought about it until you talked about it but I really liked Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood for all the reasons you stated.
Marco Polo is one of my all time favorites. As you said it's very conforting, wholesome.
that dress is fantastic!! i love it.
A few months ago, I took LSD and turned on Jeanne Dielman, in which the French mother and son are very proper, calm, and sedated in their mannerisms. Right after that, I started watching clips on TH-cam from The Sopranos of Tony and Carmela fighting. It was a very surreal contrast especially since I wasn’t sober. I don’t think I had seen a tonal shift of that magnitude before.
I think dropping acid and watching Jean Dielman would render me permanently insane
I so agree with you about how comforting the Italian family scenes can be and how nice it can be to watch some of those episodes at the holidays. Also how genuinely creepy some of the ghostly images of his mother are
Great video. You are deadly.
Not sure how well liked the ep is or isn't, but The Ride from Season 6 is a favorite of mine. Haunting and moving in equal measure. A great ep for Paulie, as well. His vision in the Bada Bing is downright scary.
Tony's treatment of Christopher is deplorable. He threatens to kill him if he doesn't get clean, only to belittle and bully him when he does get clean. I can't think of many worse ways to treat an addict.
Long Term Parking into All Due Respect, and the music choice (likely "Sylvio's") and recurrence of Glad Tidings by Van Morrison. I tend to like things that we are told are off limits now in a fictional context, and to think this was on mainstream America's television sets is insane with some hindsight. I'm partial to the Wire in entirety, but it's 1A and 1B w/ the Sopranos. Love your choices as well, cheers.
Please do a video on the finale. I would love to hear your take on it.
Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood was probably the point I started to realize what kind of outstanding show I was actually watching. You really need skilled writers and a certain sense of trust in your audience if you open your new season with this singular almost self-contained change in point of view, while also not really advancing the the season's overarching plot very much. It's probably one of the funniest episodes that come to mind, the use of the Peter Gunn/The Police remix is wonderful and the brilliant resolution of the Patsy storyline is probably one of my favorite climaxes in the entire show.
Another great episode that doesn't get mentioned all too often for my taste would be Eloise. Definitely one of the great Carmela episodes (with added pitch-black Paulie comedy) and also a great lead-in to Whitecaps.
You should do a ‘favourite Sopranos characters’ Q&A!
I like tony 's dream scenes.....that one episode when he was dreaming and he was a guy in Italy, and the lady was standing at the top of the stairs, and she was just standing there, silent, and in the dark!! That was chilling to me! That SCENE was eerie...
"Mergers And Acquisitions" from Season 4. This showed Paulie's relationship with his mom. There were some interesting moments when she is put into a nursing home and finding gray haired mean girls there. At one point, someone calls it high school with wheelchairs. That is something you don't hear about with nursing homes.
Lol… I love the scene in one of the episodes after that where Paulie shows up at his mom’s retirement home…
Paulie: “What’re you watchin’?”
Nucci: “Lawrence Welk…
Paulie sits down…
Nucci: “Want Some Cookies?”
Paulie shakes his head…
…what a quaint little moment. 😊
I like the ride from season 6. Its the end of tony and Christopher’s relationship in a way. Its the last positive experience they have together. It seals christophers fate with the relapse. It makes their falling out in the later episode where christopher starts seeing the real estate agent tony had a thing for more bittersweetZ
I agree with a lot of these, especially "Cold Cuts" and "Marco Polo." At the time I was so excited for Season 3 to premiere and was a little letdown by the FBI POV in "Mr. Ruggiero's Neighborhood," but it really works in context when I binge. In Season 1, I love "Boca." In Season 3, the episode were his mother dies -- and also finds Noah in the house -- is really strong (but, I suppose, not really underrated).
Delioghted when you came out with "Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood". For me, the funniest episode.
One of my favs is the monopoly one, Bobby V Tony is hilarious. So well acted from all 4 characters in that one.
I don't know how fans can feel more for Tony than Christopher
"Unidentified Black Males" is the most underrated
An episode I overlooked for years but now love is House Arrest. It closes out the mini-arc concerning Matt Bevilacqua/Drinkwater and his braindead mate Sean and sees Tony attempting to distance himself from his crew by integrating into a civilian way of life alongside Dick Barone and the office tart at the sanitation company. Like Vic Mackey from The Shield, being confined by the four walls of an office is a hellish experience for Tony and, by extension, for the viewer, too. We both get some relief at the end though when Tony returns to Satriale's and the entire crew are there relaxing and shooting the shit. It also goes back to a point Dr Melfi made during the episode where she discusses a particular medical condition with Tony for which restlessness and an urge to always be occupied by some activity or another is a necessary coping mechanism for people who don't want to reflect on their behaviour and actions. In the spirit of Dr Melfi's observations on the possible reason for Tony's most recent panic attack we see his crew possibly doing the same sort of thing to avoid confronting their own shadows: Sil and Paulie talk about moisturiser; Pussy and Furio leer at an old porn rag; Christopher and Hesch play a hand of cards, and Tony buffs his shoes - and arm - with a polishing device. Then a reckless car driver crashes outside the pork store causing Tony to send Sil over to chastise the guy for speeding. The whole crew stands outside the store doing their thing and it's a great shot and moment for Tony and his crew.
Other great things about House Arrest:
- Richie mocking Tony at the window of the mansion as Tony pants for breath due to a new panic attack.
- Tony's seething anger towards Richie was brilliantly acted and expressed with the "I hate the way you make me fucking ride you".
- Some great music throughout the episode.
- The relationship between Junior and the elderly acquaintance he meets at the hospital was sweet and a nice moment for Junior. I like the way he was able to open up to her about parts of his life he'd normally not speak about.
- Some funny scenes with Junior during the episode, like him getting his hand stuck in the garbage disposal for about six hours and him retorting "what with - my fucking toes" when Bobby asked him why he didn't call for help. Tony asking him how many Migs he'd shot down when Junior puts his CPAP mask on! Brilliant.
3/01 may be my favorite episode. I am rewatching after over 10 years now and on season 3, so that may be why... I should say for now.
I think Everybody Hurts from season 4 and A Sentimental Education from season 5 are very underrated.
Agree sopranos is more psychological than plot driven, is boardwalk empire more plot driven? Iv heard people put it on the same level and I don't remember thinking it was when I watched it, tho only seen it once.
Awesome
You should watch The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. It examines a historical event and figure in a way that other movies just don’t. Jesse James is an almost mythical, praised figure and you’d think he’d be portrayed in a way that’s charismatic and cool especially with Brad Pitt playing him but that’s just not the case. Instead it’s a story about a man who really wasn’t so great in the first place and is now boxed in by the law and alone. It’s very interesting watching him slowly become more and more paranoid as the movie goes on and you as the viewer become equally as scared of him as you feel bad for him. The soundtrack is great and so is the cinematography thanks to Roger Deakins. It’s overlooked because people really just didn’t watch it when it came out.
Though I recall thinking it was a well made show, I never saw much of the Sopranos on account of the series’s run overlapping with a time in my life when I was either working too many hours (outside broadcasting industry) or later on had almost entirely stopped watching anything on television. Nonetheless, real life intersected with the show on a few occasions:
1) One of the other (then) twenty-somethings I worked with was from the North Caldwell area. When some errand or another took us up that way he pointed out the driveway from show’s opening sequence. IIRC it’s nearby the home where one of the Unabomber’s last victims was killed.
2) My boss during my first stint in broadcasting, a crazy half-Irish half-Italian bastard, had been acquainted with the real Tony Soprano whom Gandolfini’s character was named after.
3) On one of the rare nights that I wasn’t there, Gandolfini showed up at my regular drinking hole, McCormick’s in New Brunswick, NJ. The pool table sign-up sheet from that night thereafter joined the autographed 8x10s of Ron Jeremy and Michael Berryman above the bar. I heard he tipped generously.
I know this sounds cliche, but I think my favorite episode is Blue Comet. It's just so fucking tense, you're on the edge of your seat the entire time. Such a great culmination of everything that led up to that point with Phil and New York. It's the one I re-watch the most. And that final scene with Tony laying in bed with the AR-15 staring at the door with that piano music is just so creepy and unsettling.
And I think my favorite underrated episode is the one (can't remember the name) where Tony admits to Melfi that he straight-up hates AJ, I don't think any show prior to that point would have its the main protagonist say something like that, and later on in that episode, Tony gets AJ the construction job and says "You're my son and I love you" almost like he's trying to convince himself. So brilliant.
I almost added that one one here.
@@deepfocuslens It's tough when there's so many great ones. Season 6 Part 2 is definitely my favorite season though
It’s gotta be The Ride for me. Chris and Tony’s last hurrah. So much bonding between the 2 that ultimately led to nothing and has Chris relapse towards the end in that beautiful cinematic shot when the fair is closing down for the night. Such a sad moment especially contrasted with the fleeting camaraderie between Tony and Chris at the beginning. Bobby and Paulie have great scenes in this as well with what I think is the first time Bobby loses his shit in the show. Also, we’re with the vipers!
The Ride. Season 6A. Touching scene at the end bw Pauline and Noochie.
I don’t know if I have a favorite episode per se, but my favorite moment of the show occurs at the end of the “Too Much Television” episode (mid season 4, I believe)… when The Chi-Lites “Ooh Girl” kicks in and Tony pays a visit to Councilman Zelman…
“Of all the girls in north Jersey, you had to fuck this one?… Ga ahead… cry like a bitch.”
😢
Can’t explain why, but this is my all-time favorite scene.
Other honorable mentions:
“All Due Respect” ending
anything with “Pie-o-My”
“Cold Stones”
My ep is probs not too underrated but I do love it season 2 ep 3 Toodle-F**king-Oo
Damn. Cold Cuts is one of my least favourite episodes; I find it deeply embarrassing and for the most part it seems unintentional.
U should do BOARDWALK EMPIRE #trustme
Don't know if it's underrated but remember when is awesome
As someone who's watching the series for the first time, and is only on season 3 (which I would agree is the best season I've seen so far) I really think Funhouse was a great episode that not a lot of people seem to talk about. I thought it was easily the funniest episode I've seen so far, and wrapped up season 2 nicely.
I think it's a pretty famous one. It's certainly one of my favorites of the series.
@@deepfocuslens Most of the lists of best episodes I see don't mention it, but I haven't read them all, so I could be wrong.
Was totally with your right up until "Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood". For me that's the worst Sopranos episode by far. The stupid on-the-nose spy music, the huge emphasis on the FBI that never happens for any other episode, Patsy's sudden hate for Tony that goes nowhere, and let's never forget the worst line of dialog in the entire show, spoken by an FBI agent watching Adriana through binoculars: "How green was my fuckin valley." Nobody talks like that. Especially blue collar FBI agents.
I think “In Camelot” is a great, underrated episode. Tony thinks he’s got a link to the past to his late father and can pay homage by getting close with one of his past goomahs, only to realize she’s just as crazy as his own side pieces and gets sucked in and played by her, the same way his own mother psychologically used him.
Hey Maggie, as another diehard Sopranos fan I’m curious, what are your least favourite episodes on the show?
Christopher (S4E3 I think). It's by far the most fillery episode in the show
Tough one. I really don't know. But likely something like Long Term Parking, Test Dream, or The Second Coming. All of those come to mind off the top of my head.
@@sprawlz6466 That one sucked. One of the few mediocre episodes of the show.
@@deepfocuslens What!? Those are your least favorites?
HBO definitely hit the lottery with the two greatest shows of all time Sopranos and Game of Thrones.
AMC probably second with Breaking Bad and the first 4 seasons of The Walking Dead.
When Janice manipulates Bobby to eat Karen’s ziti, her wine glass quickly moves a few inches while they’re at the dinner table. It’s very subtle but it’s very obvious once you notice it. The ghost of Karen
Have you seen The Wire?
Who can save us from satans power or whatever it’s called is very underrated
The Ralph episode with the stripper gave me major cringe and none of the crew redeemable after that; It made amazing television though.
A: She was a hoo-ah
B: She hit HIM
just fax sry
but seriously, what makes you think anyone in this show is supposed to be 'redeemable'? If anything it's a show purely about people who never change and are irredeemable, the non-conclusion of Melfi's therapy sessions w/ Tony seems to be just that
@@helvete_ingres4717 Exactly. A lot of people seem to be trying to ignore the fact that these characters are literal gangsters, inherently unlikeable human beings, and people like Bobby are just the most humane, but he's still a murderer, there's no other way of spinning that.
@@helvete_ingres4717 Because there is an innocence in the family unit. (Even in some mob values I believe)
However, to see a young woman (character) struggling to survive; I figured in the parallel with Meadow in college; and at 18 the story wouldn’t go there. That character was shrouded by a false sense of protection. It just made me see a point of no return seeing what happened to her. I still finished/enjoyed the series.
@@MauriceCharles 'there is an innocence in the family unit' - have you met my friend Freud?`
Also remember what Tony says to Ralph as he's killing him, don't remember it verbatim of course - but it's ostensibly about the horse Ralphie killed (for insurance money? idk it's been many years since I watched the show), but if you listen to everything he says it sounds like he's talking about the girl Ralphie killed too. Tony seemed genuinely disturbed by that, but could only express this to Slyvio as Ralphie 'disrespected the Bing', Sylvio of course replying 'so? He's barred from the place' which is so darkly hilarious and disturbing to me, to frame the primary sin of killing someone as an act of disrespect..against a hideous strip club by the side of a highway in new jersey
@@helvete_ingres4717 It’s dark Seinfeld Humor; Elaine cries when she drops her hot dog but now that the funeral Tony in the Sopranos doesn’t care when Tracy gets killed but once vengeance for pie oh my. it’s just ridiculous
the wire