Shark Bytes

Loved this show the first 3 - 4 seasons, but found it not quite as good thereafter, but still faithfully tuned in.

About the last episode's final scene, I thought Tony must have been shot dead because when he and Bobby were at the cabin, they were talking about what happens when you die. I think it was Tony who said it would be black and there would be no sound - nothing. So that's why I figured Tony was dead.

Never jumped. Though I was furious at first, the ending was genius in retrospect. It still sparks conversations to this day. In this way, the show remains relevant. This show is probably the greatest ever. Granted, being on HBO gave them an edge over being on network television. However, the fact that it was on HBO helped only marginally. Take a look at all the other shows that have been on HBO and you'll see that most of the sucked. The gay fantasy of Sex in the City, the over-hyped puff of Entourage, the pedestrian borefest of Tell Me You Love Me, the juvenile jerk-off of Dream On, the utter cheese that was John from Cincinnati, the steaming pile of dung that is In Treatment, the unwatchable Flight of the Concords, the derivative Curb Your Enthusiasm, etc.

Season 4 was pretty stank with way too much talk! Good drama comes from good talking but it helps when you have a little more going on. Season 4 was bogged down with talk scenes. Season 5 picked up things a little with Tony B and Adriana, but it was a little late to patch things up. Season 6 had some solid stuff but the Vito homosexual angle threw a wrench into things. An episode or two was nice as to not rush the issue to much but why even have the issue at all? It just kept going. Who knows. Three great seasons, a lousy one, and two okay ones.

What a great show. I continue to watch it over and over on HBO On Demand. The most recent episode I watched was when Janice went into soccer mom rage against another mom, and Bobby made her go to anger management class. Tony showed further examples of his own uncontrolled rage in that episode, and couldn't live with the fact that Janice was making progress. So he instigated a fight with her at Sunday dinner over her estranged son, Harpo, and what a horrible mother she was just to make her snap. It was truly evil, and showed how loathsome Tony could be.

This show was awesome, but the writers got too full of themselves, and got sloppy. When Phil went out to the cabin to kill Tony B. but found him dead already? Tony B. was in the middle of nowhere -- he would have seen and heard Phil coming from miles away, and would have easily gotten the drop on Phil when he came, alone, in THE FRONT DOOR! Uncharacteristically careless for such an amazing show.

Onion rings?

I could have forgiven all, if only the Russian had re-surfaced.

Answer me this: did the guys on this show sleep with or without shirts on? Without is more realistic

Gandolfini is a fat slob. Edie Falco is a whining hen. Lorraine Bracco need to go bacin into the witness protection program with Ray Liotta. Too many people read reviews that said the show was great then they nonned their heads and sais "Yeah. It must be." LMAO! Not.

Michael Imperioli is lucky he chocked on his blood and was smothered by that oaf Gandolfini. All because he was afaid he wouldn't pass a drug test. That makes a lot of sense.

The most over rated show in TV history. Glad it’s over. Creators, cast, and crew took their money and ran, just like the mob does. Smart move. Stay gone. Good riddance.

No wise guy is gonna be called 'Big Pussy'. Period! He was one of the most realistic actors though.

No wise guy is gonna name his kid Meadow. Period. Where'd they come up with that?

Furio was a credible character until he fell in 'love' with Carmella. Are they crazy? Why is a hit man gonna fall in love? with the big man's ol' lady? C'mon!
A sensitive button man?

The minute anybody finds out 'Tony' is spilling his guts to some female shrink, he visits Paul Castellano! BadaBing.

If you watch the Columbus Day Parade episode a few times, you will realize what a great one it was. Especially if you are Italian-American, there is a gut wrenching feeling of how awry political correctness can go!

I think a lot of people really missed the point of Season 6a. What's important is that vito's plotline followed Tony's recovery. He told Melfi that he was trying to treat every day as a gift but reality picks away at that outlook. Here he had his own problems with Johnny Sac ordering him around, from behind bars no less, and Phil Leotardo directly affronting him and his business, but he has to get involved and make decisions regarding problems that aren't as critical to him, such as Vito's dilemma and Benny Fazio's stand-off with Artie. When viewed successively in retrospect, I feel like the idea became clearer that Tony's positivity was ruined by reality. Of course, he affects his own suffering too, as seen in the episode where he and Chris stole the booze and then were laughing about it in the basement later. They had nothing else going on and craved the short-term drama that often later undermines their long-term health. It's pretty much Chris' drug addiction played out on a greater scale.

"Native Americans protest of the Columbus Day parade" Ummm.. When they hell did this happen in the show?

I agree with the comment about going back and watching the entire series start to finish -- it makes you appreciate what an amazing show it was.
In terms of jumping the shark, the Vito storyline of Season Six seems like a poor idea in retrospect, although it explored some great issues about other peoples perceptions and what it means to be a "real man" in the mafia. Also, I thought another low was when Paulie strangled the old lady in Season 4 for her money.
Love the scene from the end of the episode in Season 5 when Uncle Jun is starting to show signs of dementia - Tony looks and Junior and asks him, "Don't you love me?", while Junior silently weeps. Really brings home the whole point of Tony always looking for approval from Junior, no matter what.

I think what fans can;t understand is that

1. The Sopranos was not a mob show, it was for all intents and purposes a family drama positioned around Tony Soprano who happened to have an occupation that was in the mob.

2. There is more David Lynch in David Chase, than Scorsesee

3. People need to re-watch the entire series from start to finish. The quality of the show IMHO was pretty consistent.