Personal favorite is when Tony is ranting about Gary Cooper in the car with Sil, and Chris - who hasn't said anything the entire car ride at that point - just pipes up with a genuine "He was gay, Gary Cooper?"
@@ki2the2nd I always consider the comedy writing genius, as it's made to be naturally funny as a result of the character's bouncing off of each other, rather than there being a pre-established set up and punchline.
It's nice to remember that in the end ... Richie was buried on a little hill overlooking a river wit' pine cones scattered all around ... and he was not at all ground up into Satriale's special mystery sausages
He bullied and strong armed Tony and friends when they were younger and now that Tony and friends are in a position of authority he has trouble because Tony was a decade or two ago just some punk kid that he used to have pay for his meals. Thats why you always treat everyone with a level of respect because the ants of yesterday are the giants of tomorrow.
I feel like patsy’s hidden animosity towards Tony and the crew deserves a video because of how he had to put the fact that they killed his twin brother to the side so he could continue to stay in the life
What’s funny with the jackeeeet is Junior hints that all Richie did was beat up an old man in jail for it; a guy way past his prime and Richie keeps bragging about it.
Juniors comments was how the guy died of old age which serves to highlight how out of tune Richie is with the Tony Soprano mafia. Him bragging about the jacket shows he is living in the past
I always loved how nonchalant Richie was about Janice pointing a gun at him. "I'm in no mood" ...as if it was another discussion about wedding arrangements lol
Since Richie apparently held a gun to her head during sex and she had shortly before mentioned that she thought they could have sex, maybe he assumed that Janice just wanted to do more of that.
Nah. Tony was perfectly clear with Richie that the one thing he demanded of him was obedience to his authority as boss. He didn't want his promises or his gifts, and to give him a gift of anything other than obedience was a form of manipulation, trying to "change the conversation" instead of simply accepting what he'd already been told. Tony: Just stop being a jerk and do what I tell you. Richie: No, I don't have to. Tony: YES YOU DO. F'ING STOP IT NOW. Richie: .....our relationship is tense. Here's a used leather jacket. Isn't it nice? Tony: .....how effing insane are you, exactly?
@Rutherford_Inchworm_III I wouldn't say that's how it was. Richie is an old school mobster, in his eyes, if someone like beansie tries to snake him by talking to Tony and not coming to his party, he had the right to beat him up. Tony infact didn't even order Richie to back off beansie, he asked him for a favor. The real problem was two things. 1. Richie aprile is just not very good at socializing and 2. Tony doesn't know how to lead very well without using intimidation or by doing his guys some favors. Richie was technically right in most of what he did(from a mob perspective, not from a civilians) but Tony constantly was overly aggressive and tried to intimidate Richie into doing his bidding, something that doesn't work on a guy like Rich. Tldr, the main reason Richie had to go was because him and Tony just didn't jive personality wise. If he was under someone like Johnny Sack, he would have done much bett
Ritchie was the first of many characters we'd see throughout the series who couldn't understand that times had changed after a long stint in prison and ultimately dug their own graves by refusing to accept any more compromise. For example, in prison Ritchie wanted to fuck a woman, but he compromised. He JAAACKED IIIITT.
Nah...Richie got everything in there...all he needed was the lights to be off. He mentioned cutting the lights off in one scene where he was gonna get some service from a female...like he wants to reminisce on prison pleasure 😅😅
Excellent analysis. Richie was one of , if not the best, of the short term characters for the entire series. David Proval's portrayal of Richie was suburb. Ultimately, he got what he deserved, but it would have been interesting to see him carried over to another season or two.
I thought he and another guy in this season, Furio, were the scariest characters in the show. Either of those guys would have killed Tony if they staid around. Furio was probably the smartest; he knew he had to leave town asap.
He was a great villain. You understood where his bitterness and entitlement comes from and Janice puts him over the edge. Ralphie always seemed like he acted the way he did because Tony needed a nemesis for the show but you understood Richie's motivations. An the actor played him perfectly with his stiff body language.
To be fair to Rich he really did love Janice and was by no means trying to get closer to Tony like Ralph by dating her. If anything Janice was trying to use Rich to kill Tony.
Richie was a lesson in the nature of the mafia: it doesn't matter how strong you are but rather how well connected you are because at the end of the day the whole is stronger then the sum of it's parts.
Oooh, I didn't think of that. Ralph and Richie....that would've been great! Would've also loved to see how Richie interacted with other heavy hitters i.e. Feech, Phil, Johnny Sac.
Richie was honestly one of my favorite character in the show. Unique feel every time he was in a scene that no other character could replicate. Was annoying but added a awesome dynamic in season 2
Richie Aprile has to be one of my favorite TV villains ever, and David Proval is fantastic in the role... it would have been nice if they could have found a way to keep him around longer, but I'm glad they didn't as his death is one of the craziest twists in the whole series
Something to also note about the jacket. It belonged to someone Richie himself took down that was the biggest baddest top dog during his time. To give it to Tony who is the current top dog of the family and expect him to wear it is indirectly sending the message "I took down the last guy that fit this jacket, I can take down you". Tony wearing it around the crew would also send that reminder to the rest of the crew and their associates since Richie would most likely not shut up about the story of the jacket, so it could strengthen Richie's position and weaken Tony's. Though this fact might have flow right over the head of Richie since he seemed genuinely hurt and angry that Tony didn't wear the jacket. For him the jacket might have just been one of his most treasured trophies to remind him of his glory days when he was at his peak.
Damn dude. That’s a very interesting theory. I hadn’t put that together myself when I’ve watched the series. I never had the makings of a varsity television critic.
If you were able to draw all those metaphors from “The Jacket” - how were you able to miss the BIGGEST? That the gesture was not actually to show Tony he’s a team player, it was to exude his dominance to Tony. He was reminding Tony that he can take HIM down too, as he once took Rocky Dimaio down.
I watched the sopranos four years after the show and I kept seeing Richie as the guy who was always exited to see Raymond on Everyone Loves Raymond and I never could get past it.
Inst thought of something. At the start of sopranos we hear Tony complaining that the old ways of yesteryear are over yet every time someone from the past life and counts as him he finds resentment and contempt for them and puts them down
One of the interesting things about his situation too is that despite their tension Tony couldn't really do much about Richie but tax and berate em cause he wasn't really breaking any serious rules much of the time. It was Richie that screwed himself trying to make a move against Tony that sealed his fate. Janice cut em off early but the hit was coming. So he screwed himself with Tony and Janice and both got em killed lol
Cool video, but I think Richie's downfall is because he *fails* to be old school. He tells Christopher that he can only hit Adriana after marrying her, but Richie strikes Janice before their wedding. Richie also tells Janice that he's "old school," which means he's "loyal," but he later moves against Tony. Richie fails to be old school specifically because of Janice's sexual manipulation. Janice plays on Richie's fears about his sexuality and homosexuality in particular to pit him against Tony. She calls Richie "boss" during sex and tells him, "It should be you." In a scene in which "Little Ricky" is present, Janice gets Richie worked up about Tony to the point where he throws a beer bottle against the wall by saying, "[Tony] don't want you around his kids." (That hints at a dark stereotype about gay men.) When it becomes clear Richie can't adequately provide for her, Janice enrages him to violate his "old school" rule about domestic abuse by prolonging a conversation in which she tells Richie he won't be having heterosexual sex and emphasizes that his namesake might be gay. He punches her; she shoots him. Ironically, in one of Little Ricky's few appearances, he tells Richie that he'll finish with the gutters later. When Jackie, Jr., whom Richie wanted as a son, seemed like a good guy, it was in part because he helped around Tony's house. When AJ is shown as lazy, the writers have him not know where gutters are located. Richie is likely badly mistaken about the worth of his son.
When he first came on the scene, I already knew his days were numbered! Richie was stuck in a time warp stepping out of jail cause he wanted to take over the family from the get go!!!!
Yup he was similar to Jackie in that simply by blood he should ascend to the throne. Jackie feeling entitled to be made, Richie entitled to take over. Which in the world he came into that type of leader wasn't going to last long even had he pulled it off.
Well then, what you're saying is Richie Aprile's downfall was as soon as he was introduced to the story. When he beats and cripples Beansie, it's the first episode that we see him & he just got out of the can. A downfall implies an arc. Paulie never had one either, the Army, a few years in the joint, and then half a wiseguy. But hey, it's a good summation of the character, just not a downfall.
Your vids are great, but I'm not sure if a lot of this commentary was tongue-in-cheek. For one, there are a lot of indications that he gave Tony that Jacket as a passive aggressive way of communicating that he was the toughest guy on the block, he had proof and he wanted Tony to wear that proof as a reminder. "Tony, you're still the little brother." It wasn't a fault Richie needed to get over. To the contrary, Richie wanted very much for he and Tony to fall back in to that Big/Little brother power dynamic. With regard to Janice, Richie brought up Janice to Tony when they met at the mall in an effort to passive-aggressively let Tony know he could get intimate with Tony's family, and in a sense become more of an untouchable. When he followed through and Tony found Richie at Janice's house that morning, Richie was not going to help Tony understand easily. His attitude was more akin to, "Hey, I'm schtucking your sister, I'm making her think I care about her and YOU, Tony, just gotta deal with it." Richie was not just a violent sociopath who got lost in time and prison, he was back to his old sociopathic ways and wanted Tony out of the way. I would've been interesting to see, in another timeline, if Richie wacked Tony, took over and then had a mutiny on his hands. NO ONE would've wanted to work under him, and I think Silvio and Paulie would've arranged a hit on their own.
Can someone logically explain how Richie and Janice use to date in High School?! Richie was born in 1945 Tony was born in 1957 Janice is said to be 2/3 years older than Tony…so let's say she was born 1954…That's still a 9 year age gap between her and Richie
The fact that Ritchie told Christopher he couldn't hit Adriana until he gave her his last name in marriage is absolutely priceless 🤣. He should've took his own advice when it came to Janice
Sadly that's mob rules for you. Though I could sympathize with Ritchie over the card game, degenerate gambler owes you 10 grand and you see him at an executive card game, I'd be pissed too, remember Tony's dad chopped off Satriales finger for gambling debt.
I dont think he was jealous of Tony. He just rightfully didn't respect him as a boss. Tony Soprano was insecure, often indecisive, until he let his emotions take full control, and blatantly hypocritical when it came to loyalty and money. This wasn't an old vs new mafioso dilemma because if the boss were someone with integrity and character towards his crew and the way of life, Richie would have had no problem falling in line and picking up where he left off.
Rocco Dimeo had the toughest reputation in Essex County; not Essex County Jail, lol. I don't think they'd allow a leather jacket of such magnitude to be worn by inmates.
Tony could have had Richie taken out several times. Tony took it very easy on him all things considered. Tony told him specifically to leave Beansie alone since he was a good earner for Tony, then Richie goes out and cripples him. Then when told to help Beansie out with building a ramp at his house as sort of an apology for what happened, he had his guy's trash Beansie's house and leave the work not completed. Then busting up Tony's card game in front of high- end clientele. Also, Tony repeatedly told Richie not to deal drugs on association garbage routes and Richie simply ignored him. All in all, Richie was lucky to survive as long as he did. He blatantly ignored orders from the boss repeatedly.
Janice killing Richie was a stroke of genius. Everyone thought they knew where it was going to end for Richie, the way it usually ends for unliked mobsters on Sopranos, and it was just a matter of time until Tony dealt with him. Then boom, Janice shoots him in their kitchen while he’s eating dinner!
I wonder if Chase having Janice shoot Richie was a nod towards the fact that Richie had pissed off so mamy people his end could come anytime from anywhere?
the jacket wasnt unstylish. what it was was the armor of a conquered foe. like hay i could fuck you up like i fucked up the previous owner of the jacket.
I don’t get this comment about Ritchie disowning his son, little Ricky. Ritchie had seen him literally the day Janice killed him. Little Ricky hit him up for 5 grand to go to Europe. They said it in the show that he disowned him, but there was no indication Ritchie disowned him, just that he was disappointed that he wasn’t gangster and potentially gay.
Random theory: I think the Demeo story was bullshit and didn’t happen. Richie was desperately trying to sell his reputation to others. The look on everyone’s face kinda said it all. They looked awkward and they were so unimpressed but tried to be polite and pretend it was interesting. It just was so corny the way he told it and seemed kinda fake…. Truth is Demeo probably just gave it to him. Richie was only big in his head but was actually a joke, he just had a temper. Mostly because he wasn’t respected.
@@gutter339 Yep... Complete fabrication. The Richie character is so interesting, because I think so many people don't understand him properly. By the way, David Proval does an awesome job. A lot of people think he's this big, powerful, tough guy. But he really isn't. He's a very insecure person, suffering from a Napolean complex, that loves to bully those inferior to him, but actually is not that tough. Don't get me wrong, the average person would not want to cross him (like Beansie). And I'm not suggesting I wouldn't piss myself if I made him mad. He's psychotic, sure... And capable of inflicting violence. But in a room full of mobsters, he's not that impressive. But even the Beansie situation, showed kinda how pathetic he is. What can Beansie do? Richie is made, he's not, he understands he's in a lose-lose situation. In a room full of other killers, no one is impressed with him. He lacks complete respect. Junior didn't respect him, he was using him. Nothing more. Tony didn't. Tony was annoyed having to deal with him. We can see it, instantly. Tony had no respect for him. His little brother Jackie was more powerful, what does that say? He was completely passed over for a reason. No one liked him, no one respected him. And he probably would have been killed if he wasn't related to Jackie Aprile a long time ago. Richie was always just incredible stupid, too. His ignorance was baffling. The guy was really DUMB. People often compare him to Ralphie. Now Ralphie was dangerous, smart, and a psychopath. He was way ahead of Richie. Richie was a nobody. A loser, like Junior put it. That's the real Richie.
Richie was the realest. He talked to Tony like a man. I wouldn’t have expected any different from him. Beensie had it coming. So did David, the bust out guy, 1000%. I don’t remember everything, but Jr. had a problem with tony, and Jr was actually the real boss. No way would anybody expect Richie to side with Tony against Jr..
richie was in the can for 10 years and thought he could pick things up from where they were when he went in prison. time might have stopped for him but it sure didnt to anybody else outside. hes utter refusal to adapt was his downfall.
Always thought David Chase allowed Ritchie's murder/disappearance go away too easily. There would have been a police investigation, ironically at the request of his gay son. Janice might have cracked after an interrogation.
Maybe. But when mobsters go missing sometimes the cops just chalk it up to what it is and don’t try too hard. Plus no body no case, there was no blood on the carpet either and the gay son might believe he really is in witness protection
Richie was a problem for the NJ mafia, but I feel like a lot of it stemmed from a lack of support from Tony, and also his associates, in the mob. Tony was too aloof when it came to Richie. After Richie ran over Beansie, Tony should've had a close eye on him, and maybe even taken an interest in Richie, but he didn't. Tony didn't do anything to keep Richie content, or feeling secure. Tony was also very passive aggressive, physically aggressive, and rigidly cold with Richie, to a fault. He gave no leeway, offered no guidance, and lacked empathy completely with regards to Richie. Granted Richie deserved the smack down a few times where he stepped out of line, but short of straight up ordering him to be different, Tony didn't do anything to influence, or inspire good behavior from Richie, as it was just the opposite. 50% of what happened to Richie, was Richie's fault, the other 50% though was Tony, and Janice's fault + Junior's meddling.
I hated Richie which meant that he played that character very well. Among other things, he is a hypocrite: He threatened Christopher for hitting his niece (Adriana) before marriage and later on hot Janice before they were married.
I always loved it that Richie basically told us how he was going to die in that first scene at Satriale's. He says to Christopher "If you want to put your hands on her, you give her your name" about Aidriana - then he started seeing Janice. As much as we know Tony was irritated by Janice, did anyone really think he'd put up with Richie knocking Janice around? Or that Janice would stand still for it? The old school might say that a man hitting his wife was his business, but that's not as clearly how it was for some of his associates in the family. Tony constantly laments the loss of the past gloria of La Cosa Nostra, but that IS Richie Aprile, and Tony *despised* Richie - which just goes to show that all that nostalgia is just a fantasy. Tony's ideas of the perfect mob life are a fantasy. Janice's murder of Richie is one of the few times I was on her side.
Could you imagine Richie as the boss? The family wouldn't gone down, Richie was a out of touch psychopath. He didn't have enough respect from the capos for his coup to succeed.
Honesty what i noticed was that every member that came out of jail after a long stint died soon after. Richie, phil, animal blundetto, angelo, feech who didnt die but its implied he will in prison. I think i got everyone but the consensus is the same
Finally got around watching The Sopranos after many years. I always heard it was good and cast performances were tremendous The guy playing Richie always had me on the edge of my seat. His demeanour and delivery struck me as menacing as James Gandolfini but in a more sinister way
Was hoping to see Richie or Feech before "what happened to that man in the can" in saints but it wasn't too be. A shame would have been interesting to see what was only hinted at the old timers had been like back when throughout the series.
Riche Aprile never had the gangster business sense to first realise the idea of going after Davey's business for his lousy 8K, instead leaving it to Tony Soprano to bust out Davey's sports store. He just couldn't sell it.
Need to do a Most Edgy Creepy Murderers top 10 for all the series. My picks would be.... Ritchie Aprile: Cripples a man and laughs in face. Ralph Cifaretto: Beats a pregnant woman to death and shrugs it off "she was hooo-ah". Chris Partlow: Kind and gentle, tells his victims to relax, he'll take good care of them. Snoop Pearson: makes your skin crawl just by showing up. Lalo Salamanca: Like Chris above, easy going, puts everyone at ease before he murders them and never loses that smile. Many more, but all the above are original characters that break the cliche mold of wild savages, these killers just make murder a casual way of everyday life.
The reason Richie was so good was how good David proval is as an actor. You can always tell how good an actor is by either how much you like them or how much you hate them.
“It’s the jacket!”
What are your thoughts about the legendary character of Richie Aprile? Let me know down below! 👇🏻
He's from the old school ! But he will not get soft drinks of choice the jackeeeeet was a made guy and there was nothing we can do about it
One of the besf characters of the show
Richie reminds me of my uncle (by marriage) in both looks and behaviour so I really hated Richie lmao
Great character
The Jacket wasn’t a “nice gesture”. It was to show Tony he can take him out also. Just like he did Rocky Dimaio. The gesture was a complete farce
Richie is too reckless and brainless,who living in delusion😊
"Ten years, you thought about Janice? There are men in the can better looking than my sister." One of the best lines in the series.
"The guy killed 16 czecoslavakians, he's a interior decorator" "really, his house looked liked shit" from the pine barrens episode always gets me
Personal favorite is when Tony is ranting about Gary Cooper in the car with Sil, and Chris - who hasn't said anything the entire car ride at that point - just pipes up with a genuine "He was gay, Gary Cooper?"
I busted out laughing first time I heard Tony say this 😂
For such a dark show, they always managed to come up with hilarious lines.
@@ki2the2nd I always consider the comedy writing genius, as it's made to be naturally funny as a result of the character's bouncing off of each other, rather than there being a pre-established set up and punchline.
It's nice to remember that in the end ... Richie was buried on a little hill overlooking a river wit' pine cones scattered all around ... and he was not at all ground up into Satriale's special mystery sausages
Those sausages taste amazing, but they’re always a hit or miss
THE SAAAUUUUSAGE!
😂😂😂
He bullied and strong armed Tony and friends when they were younger and now that Tony and friends are in a position of authority he has trouble because Tony was a decade or two ago just some punk kid that he used to have pay for his meals. Thats why you always treat everyone with a level of respect because the ants of yesterday are the giants of tomorrow.
Well said
Dang that was real.
It's a shame that he died because he really wasn't in the mood for it. Sad.
Thanks for the laugh! I needed it! Best comment I'VE read so far.
LOL!
What, is he gonna cry now? 🙄
Funny guy 😁😁
When Richie sees the jacket on Tony’s maid’s husband 😂 that was when his downfall began
A true villain origin story.
Yea very insulting
Yeah, that j-a-a-a-c-k-e-t went from a "made" guy to a "maid's" guy.
😂😂😂😂
I feel like patsy’s hidden animosity towards Tony and the crew deserves a video because of how he had to put the fact that they killed his twin brother to the side so he could continue to stay in the life
Patsys' brother was what? 50? He was just a kid.
That motherfuckin animal Gigi
@@thealleys couldn't even say his last words
@@Furko08 “there ya go kid”
Why did they kill Patsy's twin? I never understood the reason
What’s funny with the jackeeeet is Junior hints that all Richie did was beat up an old man in jail for it; a guy way past his prime and Richie keeps bragging about it.
Damn, I never got that from Junior’s line. The writing of this show is something else.
nah nah nah its a jacket that he got before going to jail cause he said something about how tony and is brother realy like it and always love it
Juniors comments was how the guy died of old age which serves to highlight how out of tune Richie is with the Tony Soprano mafia. Him bragging about the jacket shows he is living in the past
Rocco Dimeo was one of the toughest guys in Essex County until Richie came along.
@@LetHimRead I took it as Junior saying he had Alzheimer's so there was no way to confirm if the story was true or not, cuz he wouldn't remember
I always loved how nonchalant Richie was about Janice pointing a gun at him. "I'm in no mood" ...as if it was another discussion about wedding arrangements lol
Underrated comment
Janice didn't do it it was those two black guys
Makes you wonder just how many times someone has pointed a gun at Ritchie…
Since Richie apparently held a gun to her head during sex and she had shortly before mentioned that she thought they could have sex, maybe he assumed that Janice just wanted to do more of that.
When Richie saw the jacket on the maid’s husband, I remember dying laughing. It was such a savage moment
SLOW MOTION 4 ME 🫨😂
That jacket looked so cheap and non Tony ish
@samanthalake5011 Yeah That 3/4 Trench U Dont Wanna Be Seen Dead in Wearing. But it Wasn't So Much The Style Than it was Who it Used 2 Belong To.
Be honest we all felt little bad Tony just gave “The Jacket” away lol
It was definitely unwise and thoughtless.
Nah. Tony was perfectly clear with Richie that the one thing he demanded of him was obedience to his authority as boss. He didn't want his promises or his gifts, and to give him a gift of anything other than obedience was a form of manipulation, trying to "change the conversation" instead of simply accepting what he'd already been told.
Tony: Just stop being a jerk and do what I tell you.
Richie: No, I don't have to.
Tony: YES YOU DO. F'ING STOP IT NOW.
Richie: .....our relationship is tense. Here's a used leather jacket. Isn't it nice?
Tony: .....how effing insane are you, exactly?
@Rutherford_Inchworm_III I wouldn't say that's how it was. Richie is an old school mobster, in his eyes, if someone like beansie tries to snake him by talking to Tony and not coming to his party, he had the right to beat him up. Tony infact didn't even order Richie to back off beansie, he asked him for a favor. The real problem was two things. 1. Richie aprile is just not very good at socializing and 2. Tony doesn't know how to lead very well without using intimidation or by doing his guys some favors. Richie was technically right in most of what he did(from a mob perspective, not from a civilians) but Tony constantly was overly aggressive and tried to intimidate Richie into doing his bidding, something that doesn't work on a guy like Rich. Tldr, the main reason Richie had to go was because him and Tony just didn't jive personality wise. If he was under someone like Johnny Sack, he would have done much bett
Ritchie was the first of many characters we'd see throughout the series who couldn't understand that times had changed after a long stint in prison and ultimately dug their own graves by refusing to accept any more compromise.
For example, in prison Ritchie wanted to fuck a woman, but he compromised. He JAAACKED IIIITT.
He was FLEXIIIIIN’ it instead
Nah...Richie got everything in there...all he needed was the lights to be off. He mentioned cutting the lights off in one scene where he was gonna get some service from a female...like he wants to reminisce on prison pleasure 😅😅
well his hand was prettier than Janice.
Richie had the makings of a varsity athlete and he threw it all away
Even Junior almost cracked up when he saw the jacket.
"well aint that blast from the past, we used to wear jackets like that when I was 20 year old kid. where did you even find that old piece of shit."
Excellent analysis. Richie was one of , if not the best, of the short term characters for the entire series. David Proval's portrayal of Richie was suburb. Ultimately, he got what he deserved, but it would have been interesting to see him carried over to another season or two.
I thought he and another guy in this season, Furio, were the scariest characters in the show. Either of those guys would have killed Tony if they staid around. Furio was probably the smartest; he knew he had to leave town asap.
Superb, a suburb is a partially urbanized residential district
Richie was one of my favorite characters on the show. It’s a shame he was killed off in less than one season.
He had tremendous moxie for his size
Agree.
James Gandolfini was upset cause he loved working with David Proval
@@josephcoluccio604 he's a fighter!
@@jamesmorant1406 omg that's so heartwarmingly wholesome...
He was a great villain. You understood where his bitterness and entitlement comes from and Janice puts him over the edge. Ralphie always seemed like he acted the way he did because Tony needed a nemesis for the show but you understood Richie's motivations. An the actor played him perfectly with his stiff body language.
To be fair to Rich he really did love Janice and was by no means trying to get closer to Tony like Ralph by dating her. If anything Janice was trying to use Rich to kill Tony.
Honestly They never made it clear if Ritchie Jr was gay. The only reason why they said he was gay was because of the dancing
I thought Richie was the most ruthless of all the villians on The Sopranos. One really scary man. He got what was coming to him.
Agree. Wish they kept him on longer.
good actor.....
Quite possibly, one of the scariest characters ever on TV. David Proval sure did an excellent job with this!!
Richie was a lesson in the nature of the mafia: it doesn't matter how strong you are but rather how well connected you are because at the end of the day the whole is stronger then the sum of it's parts.
super scary guy..would not want to owe him a penny
Definitely one of the best characters on the show I wish they kept him around longer to see him and Ralph interact would have been amazing
Oooh, I didn't think of that. Ralph and Richie....that would've been great! Would've also loved to see how Richie interacted with other heavy hitters i.e. Feech, Phil, Johnny Sac.
@bwaikel imagine Ralph Phil and Richie working together to take down Tony
Richie was honestly one of my favorite character in the show. Unique feel every time he was in a scene that no other character could replicate. Was annoying but added a awesome dynamic in season 2
Richie never disowned little Ricky, he just thought he was a disgraziata
David Proval was terrifying as Richie Aprile.
_"Don't give me your f^^king Manson lamps."_ ~ Tony Soprano to Richie Aprile.
Classic.
He was such a nice guy in prison. He never showed these tendencies with Andy and the Boys.
I always thought it was nice of Tony to have him buried overlooking a river with pinecones all around...
Bahahahaha love it
Ever since Richie came into my life, I greet all my closest friends with "you sack of shit!"
How about wrapping a glass coffee jug around their heads, just for a laugh between friends?
Tony actually did approve a hit on Riche. He and Silvio talk about it. Janet just gets Riche first
Easily one of the best antagonists in TV history
Richie Aprile has to be one of my favorite TV villains ever, and David Proval is fantastic in the role... it would have been nice if they could have found a way to keep him around longer, but I'm glad they didn't as his death is one of the craziest twists in the whole series
Something to also note about the jacket.
It belonged to someone Richie himself took down that was the biggest baddest top dog during his time.
To give it to Tony who is the current top dog of the family and expect him to wear it is indirectly sending the message "I took down the last guy that fit this jacket, I can take down you". Tony wearing it around the crew would also send that reminder to the rest of the crew and their associates since Richie would most likely not shut up about the story of the jacket, so it could strengthen Richie's position and weaken Tony's.
Though this fact might have flow right over the head of Richie since he seemed genuinely hurt and angry that Tony didn't wear the jacket. For him the jacket might have just been one of his most treasured trophies to remind him of his glory days when he was at his peak.
Damn dude. That’s a very interesting theory. I hadn’t put that together myself when I’ve watched the series. I never had the makings of a varsity television critic.
@@davesmith3023 ur gay
If you were able to draw all those metaphors from “The Jacket” - how were you able to miss the BIGGEST? That the gesture was not actually to show Tony he’s a team player, it was to exude his dominance to Tony. He was reminding Tony that he can take HIM down too, as he once took Rocky Dimaio down.
I watched the sopranos four years after the show and I kept seeing Richie as the guy who was always exited to see Raymond on Everyone
Loves Raymond and I never could get past it.
I wish Raplhie and Richie had scenes together those two characters on the same screen would’ve been great
Inst thought of something. At the start of sopranos we hear Tony complaining that the old ways of yesteryear are over yet every time someone from the past life and counts as him he finds resentment and contempt for them and puts them down
the most menacing character in the show. amazed they didn't keep him for season 3
Would have loved to see him and Ralph togrther. Richie was his Capo right?
A crew with Ralph, Richie, Junior and Feech would spend more time fighting about percentages than doing crimes.
@@williamshakespeare9815 it would have been a powerful alliance, but their respective egos would've been an issue.
Manson Lamps
👁️👁️
One of the interesting things about his situation too is that despite their tension Tony couldn't really do much about Richie but tax and berate em cause he wasn't really breaking any serious rules much of the time. It was Richie that screwed himself trying to make a move against Tony that sealed his fate. Janice cut em off early but the hit was coming. So he screwed himself with Tony and Janice and both got em killed lol
she should have got paid fo the job..
Cool video, but I think Richie's downfall is because he *fails* to be old school. He tells Christopher that he can only hit Adriana after marrying her, but Richie strikes Janice before their wedding. Richie also tells Janice that he's "old school," which means he's "loyal," but he later moves against Tony. Richie fails to be old school specifically because of Janice's sexual manipulation.
Janice plays on Richie's fears about his sexuality and homosexuality in particular to pit him against Tony. She calls Richie "boss" during sex and tells him, "It should be you." In a scene in which "Little Ricky" is present, Janice gets Richie worked up about Tony to the point where he throws a beer bottle against the wall by saying, "[Tony] don't want you around his kids." (That hints at a dark stereotype about gay men.) When it becomes clear Richie can't adequately provide for her, Janice enrages him to violate his "old school" rule about domestic abuse by prolonging a conversation in which she tells Richie he won't be having heterosexual sex and emphasizes that his namesake might be gay. He punches her; she shoots him.
Ironically, in one of Little Ricky's few appearances, he tells Richie that he'll finish with the gutters later. When Jackie, Jr., whom Richie wanted as a son, seemed like a good guy, it was in part because he helped around Tony's house. When AJ is shown as lazy, the writers have him not know where gutters are located. Richie is likely badly mistaken about the worth of his son.
Never got around to watching the Sopranos but do like Mob shows and movies lol. These videos are fantastic!
When he first came on the scene, I already knew his days were numbered! Richie was stuck in a time warp stepping out of jail cause he wanted to take over the family from the get go!!!!
Yup he was similar to Jackie in that simply by blood he should ascend to the throne. Jackie feeling entitled to be made, Richie entitled to take over. Which in the world he came into that type of leader wasn't going to last long even had he pulled it off.
Richie's son is never confirmed to be homosexual right? Just his stigma regrading ballroom dancing
True
varsity ballroom dancer.
Well then, what you're saying is Richie Aprile's downfall was as soon as he was introduced to the story. When he beats and cripples Beansie, it's the first episode that we see him & he just got out of the can. A downfall implies an arc. Paulie never had one either, the Army, a few years in the joint, and then half a wiseguy. But hey, it's a good summation of the character, just not a downfall.
Richie was awfully cavalier for a guy who literally just got out of federal prison
Yeah, he commits a felony 10 minutes after his release
Your vids are great, but I'm not sure if a lot of this commentary was tongue-in-cheek. For one, there are a lot of indications that he gave Tony that Jacket as a passive aggressive way of communicating that he was the toughest guy on the block, he had proof and he wanted Tony to wear that proof as a reminder. "Tony, you're still the little brother." It wasn't a fault Richie needed to get over. To the contrary, Richie wanted very much for he and Tony to fall back in to that Big/Little brother power dynamic. With regard to Janice, Richie brought up Janice to Tony when they met at the mall in an effort to passive-aggressively let Tony know he could get intimate with Tony's family, and in a sense become more of an untouchable. When he followed through and Tony found Richie at Janice's house that morning, Richie was not going to help Tony understand easily. His attitude was more akin to, "Hey, I'm schtucking your sister, I'm making her think I care about her and YOU, Tony, just gotta deal with it." Richie was not just a violent sociopath who got lost in time and prison, he was back to his old sociopathic ways and wanted Tony out of the way. I would've been interesting to see, in another timeline, if Richie wacked Tony, took over and then had a mutiny on his hands. NO ONE would've wanted to work under him, and I think Silvio and Paulie would've arranged a hit on their own.
I wouldn't say that Richie didn't have respect, but that respect was very very fickled
Can someone logically explain how Richie and Janice use to date in High School?!
Richie was born in 1945
Tony was born in 1957
Janice is said to be 2/3 years older than Tony…so let's say she was born 1954…That's still a 9 year age gap between her and Richie
Maybe he failed/was held back multiple times throughout his school career lol
He was just a kid 😂
Richie was stealing bl0wjobs off Mama Sopranos couch.
Perhaps he was dating Janice while she was in high school? In a show full of skeevy dudes, that wouldn't be too out of place.
Carmela says tony was 3 years old when tony was assassinated so wouldn’t that mean he was born in 1959/60?
The fact that Ritchie told Christopher he couldn't hit Adriana until he gave her his last name in marriage is absolutely priceless 🤣. He should've took his own advice when it came to Janice
Sadly that's mob rules for you. Though I could sympathize with Ritchie over the card game, degenerate gambler owes you 10 grand and you see him at an executive card game, I'd be pissed too, remember Tony's dad chopped off Satriales finger for gambling debt.
I dont think he was jealous of Tony. He just rightfully didn't respect him as a boss. Tony Soprano was insecure, often indecisive, until he let his emotions take full control, and blatantly hypocritical when it came to loyalty and money. This wasn't an old vs new mafioso dilemma because if the boss were someone with integrity and character towards his crew and the way of life, Richie would have had no problem falling in line and picking up where he left off.
“Manson lamps”….😂😂😂
Richie should have given Janice his last name
Then it’s none of Janice’s business. But until then, she can shoot him
@@pIayingwithmahwii golden
underrated comment
Anybody wearing a "Members Only" jacket in the 1990s should have been institutionalized.
Rocco Dimeo had the toughest reputation in Essex County; not Essex County Jail, lol. I don't think they'd allow a leather jacket of such magnitude to be worn by inmates.
I'm amazed that David Proval doesn't appear with more frequency on TV and feature films.
Years ago he played a rabbi on an episode of The West Wing".
He appeared in a very early episode of the classic The Equalizer.
UHF movie.
Tony could have had Richie taken out several times. Tony took it very easy on him all things considered. Tony told him specifically to leave Beansie alone since he was a good earner for Tony, then Richie goes out and cripples him. Then when told to help Beansie out with building a ramp at his house as sort of an apology for what happened, he had his guy's trash Beansie's house and leave the work not completed. Then busting up Tony's card game in front of high- end clientele. Also, Tony repeatedly told Richie not to deal drugs on association garbage routes and Richie simply ignored him. All in all, Richie was lucky to survive as long as he did. He blatantly ignored orders from the boss repeatedly.
"Your brother Jackie was like a fucking god."
Janice killing Richie was a stroke of genius. Everyone thought they knew where it was going to end for Richie, the way it usually ends for unliked mobsters on Sopranos, and it was just a matter of time until Tony dealt with him. Then boom, Janice shoots him in their kitchen while he’s eating dinner!
I wonder if Chase having Janice shoot Richie was a nod towards the fact that Richie had pissed off so mamy people his end could come anytime from anywhere?
Legit My Favorite Vid of yours ever did 🔥🔥👏🏿👏🏿
Great video looking forward to ALL the Capos’ downfall including Tony
the jacket wasnt unstylish. what it was was the armor of a conquered foe. like hay i could fuck you up like i fucked up the previous owner of the jacket.
Did this guy seriously think Richie giving Tony the jacket was a gesture of good will? Haha
it was though. How else do you explain his reaction when he sees that random guy wearing it
Soprano Theories had the toughest reputation in Essex County before Richie got done with him.
I don’t get this comment about Ritchie disowning his son, little Ricky. Ritchie had seen him literally the day Janice killed him. Little Ricky hit him up for 5 grand to go to Europe. They said it in the show that he disowned him, but there was no indication Ritchie disowned him, just that he was disappointed that he wasn’t gangster and potentially gay.
I agree. One example. Tony and Richie could of resolved their differences if Janice hadn't been cooing in Richie's ear.
This is my opinion too. To quote Feech, Richie was willing to learn.
Richie should of gave the jacket to his son.
Riche should have given that jacket to charity for Africans. Some warlord in Somalia would have been chuffed to f*ck to get his hands on it!
His son woukd have loved it, out of respec for his fawda
*should have
Richie was the one wanting to build ramps up to peoples ass
Random theory: I think the Demeo story was bullshit and didn’t happen. Richie was desperately trying to sell his reputation to others. The look on everyone’s face kinda said it all. They looked awkward and they were so unimpressed but tried to be polite and pretend it was interesting. It just was so corny the way he told it and seemed kinda fake…. Truth is Demeo probably just gave it to him. Richie was only big in his head but was actually a joke, he just had a temper. Mostly because he wasn’t respected.
That's what I think too. Junior said the guy died of Alzheimer's which I took to mean there was no way to confirm that story
@@gutter339 Yep... Complete fabrication. The Richie character is so interesting, because I think so many people don't understand him properly.
By the way, David Proval does an awesome job.
A lot of people think he's this big, powerful, tough guy. But he really isn't.
He's a very insecure person, suffering from a Napolean complex, that loves to bully those inferior to him, but actually is not that tough.
Don't get me wrong, the average person would not want to cross him (like Beansie). And I'm not suggesting I wouldn't piss myself if I made him mad. He's psychotic, sure... And capable of inflicting violence.
But in a room full of mobsters, he's not that impressive.
But even the Beansie situation, showed kinda how pathetic he is. What can Beansie do? Richie is made, he's not, he understands he's in a lose-lose situation.
In a room full of other killers, no one is impressed with him.
He lacks complete respect. Junior didn't respect him, he was using him. Nothing more. Tony didn't. Tony was annoyed having to deal with him. We can see it, instantly. Tony had no respect for him.
His little brother Jackie was more powerful, what does that say? He was completely passed over for a reason. No one liked him, no one respected him.
And he probably would have been killed if he wasn't related to Jackie Aprile a long time ago. Richie was always just incredible stupid, too. His ignorance was baffling. The guy was really DUMB.
People often compare him to Ralphie. Now Ralphie was dangerous, smart, and a psychopath. He was way ahead of Richie.
Richie was a nobody. A loser, like Junior put it. That's the real Richie.
Richie was the realest. He talked to Tony like a man. I wouldn’t have expected any different from him. Beensie had it coming. So did David, the bust out guy, 1000%. I don’t remember everything, but Jr. had a problem with tony, and Jr was actually the real boss. No way would anybody expect Richie to side with Tony against Jr..
richie was in the can for 10 years and thought he could pick things up from where they were when he went in prison.
time might have stopped for him but it sure didnt to anybody else outside. hes utter refusal to adapt was his downfall.
I dont know how Richie and Janice dated in high school when the actors who played both were obviously about 20 years apart
Beansie not giving Richie drink of choice was not a good move on Beansie's part
Always thought David Chase allowed Ritchie's murder/disappearance go away too easily. There would have been a police investigation, ironically at the request of his gay son. Janice might have cracked after an interrogation.
Janice wouldn't have agreed to an interrogation. Only idiots talk to the cops. You have the right not to.
Maybe. But when mobsters go missing sometimes the cops just chalk it up to what it is and don’t try too hard. Plus no body no case, there was no blood on the carpet either and the gay son might believe he really is in witness protection
Richie’s mansion lamps were his biggest weakness
Richie couldn't grasp times had changed. The law had new ways of gathering information that Richie couldn't understand it.
I never thought much of Richie at first, but rewatching the show made me appreciate the character more
Richie was a problem for the NJ mafia, but I feel like a lot of it stemmed from a lack of support from Tony, and also his associates, in the mob. Tony was too aloof when it came to Richie. After Richie ran over Beansie, Tony should've had a close eye on him, and maybe even taken an interest in Richie, but he didn't. Tony didn't do anything to keep Richie content, or feeling secure. Tony was also very passive aggressive, physically aggressive, and rigidly cold with Richie, to a fault. He gave no leeway, offered no guidance, and lacked empathy completely with regards to Richie. Granted Richie deserved the smack down a few times where he stepped out of line, but short of straight up ordering him to be different, Tony didn't do anything to influence, or inspire good behavior from Richie, as it was just the opposite. 50% of what happened to Richie, was Richie's fault, the other 50% though was Tony, and Janice's fault + Junior's meddling.
Say what you will about Richie, but there's no denying that he's most definitely from the old school.
I hated Richie which meant that he played that character very well. Among other things, he is a hypocrite: He threatened Christopher for hitting his niece (Adriana) before marriage and later on hot Janice before they were married.
Janice extinguished the Manson lamps.
I always loved it that Richie basically told us how he was going to die in that first scene at Satriale's. He says to Christopher "If you want to put your hands on her, you give her your name" about Aidriana - then he started seeing Janice. As much as we know Tony was irritated by Janice, did anyone really think he'd put up with Richie knocking Janice around? Or that Janice would stand still for it? The old school might say that a man hitting his wife was his business, but that's not as clearly how it was for some of his associates in the family.
Tony constantly laments the loss of the past gloria of La Cosa Nostra, but that IS Richie Aprile, and Tony *despised* Richie - which just goes to show that all that nostalgia is just a fantasy. Tony's ideas of the perfect mob life are a fantasy.
Janice's murder of Richie is one of the few times I was on her side.
I don't know about you, but he was the most annoying and angering - even worse than Ralph.
No way. Ralph was more annoying. Ritchie was just straight up frightening.
Could you imagine Richie as the boss? The family wouldn't gone down, Richie was a out of touch psychopath. He didn't have enough respect from the capos for his coup to succeed.
Honesty what i noticed was that every member that came out of jail after a long stint died soon after. Richie, phil, animal blundetto, angelo, feech who didnt die but its implied he will in prison. I think i got everyone but the consensus is the same
And they all tried to get back into a business that had changed dramatically…
Any actor that can make you hate him that much is a true talent. I knew he had to die,but I was disappointed to see him go.
Finally got around watching The Sopranos after many years. I always heard it was good and cast performances were tremendous
The guy playing Richie always had me on the edge of my seat. His demeanour and delivery struck me as menacing as James Gandolfini but in a more sinister way
Very much this...I was relieved when Janice shot him.
I thought I hated Richie then I missed him ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 👏🏾👍🏾🙏🏾 very good
Now that jacket would be cool as hell nowadays. 😎
And by the late 90s old leather 1970s jackets were back in fashion.
Was hoping to see Richie or Feech before "what happened to that man in the can" in saints but it wasn't too be. A shame would have been interesting to see what was only hinted at the old timers had been like back when throughout the series.
The scariest character in The Sopranos.
spitting while walkng away from any boss is a death sentence.
Riche Aprile never had the gangster business sense to first realise the idea of going after Davey's business for his lousy 8K, instead leaving it to Tony Soprano to bust out Davey's sports store. He just couldn't sell it.
If only Richie had gotten that nice hot veal parm sandwich. This all could have been avoided...
Need to do a Most Edgy Creepy Murderers top 10 for all the series. My picks would be....
Ritchie Aprile: Cripples a man and laughs in face.
Ralph Cifaretto: Beats a pregnant woman to death and shrugs it off "she was hooo-ah".
Chris Partlow: Kind and gentle, tells his victims to relax, he'll take good care of them.
Snoop Pearson: makes your skin crawl just by showing up.
Lalo Salamanca: Like Chris above, easy going, puts everyone at ease before he murders them and never loses that smile.
Many more, but all the above are original characters that break the cliche mold of wild savages, these killers just make murder a casual way of everyday life.
The reason Richie was so good was how good David proval is as an actor. You can always tell how good an actor is by either how much you like them or how much you hate them.
Great analysis ❤
3:05 I think Richie meant Essex county NJ not jail
I’ll build a ramp up to the jacket
He looks and reminds me of Scarface Tony Montana
Don’t you be giving me those Manson Lamps!