THIS. I didn't buy the whole "We were brutalized, and therefore must brutalize everyone else" theme. I totally got what they were going for, but it just didn't work for me.

I always Tony's perfect comeback to Phil's shouting at him through the third-story window would have been loudly (so Phil could hear) saying to Carmine: "Too bad Phil can't come down. He must be masturbating to pictures of Vito."

I always Tony's perfect comeback to Phil's shouting at him through the third-story window would have been loudly (so Phil could hear) saying to Carmine: "Too bad Phil can't come down. He must be masturbating to pictures of Vito."

Actually, I think Tony did the right thing for Vito Jr, because I've seen the "moving to Maine" thing done in real life (not me or anybody in my family, but with some friends of friends). The Spatafore clan would be fine for the first week or two, but then Vito Jr would deliberately seek out the goths at whatever…

Actually, I think Tony did the right thing for Vito Jr, because I've seen the "moving to Maine" thing done in real life (not me or anybody in my family, but with some friends of friends). The Spatafore clan would be fine for the first week or two, but then Vito Jr would deliberately seek out the goths at whatever…

Doubtful. Tony's crew aren't exactly a bunch of ninjas.

Doubtful. Tony's crew aren't exactly a bunch of ninjas.

This episode lays bare one of my big annoyances with this otherwise awesome season of The Sopranos: Twice, we (the audience) are asked to take the side of a character who heretofore has acted in an abominable manner. The last time we saw Eugene Pontecorvo, he almost beat Little Paulie to death in broad daylight over…

I remember reading an incident where shortly after "The Godfather" became a best-seller, Mario Puzo ran into Frank Sinatra by accident at some restaurant and Sinatra spent a good five minutes yelling at Puzo and making veiled threats because of the Johnny Fontane character (which was widely assumed to be a Sinatra…

In a show that normally did such a great job of easing characters in (witness Johnny Sack and Vito lurking around the edges for YEARS before either became a main character), there were two big instances of "Remember the New Guy:" Tony B and Ralphie. Ralphie's rushed appearance can be explained by circumstances (Nancy…

ITA about Hugh. Both before and after this episode, Tony and Hugh were always friendly, but no more than that. Suddenly for this episode only, they're BFFs? The hell?

The commentary track states that it actually IS Edie Falco. No stunt tush.

One thing that stands out to me in either this ep or the previous one (can't remember which): Lorraine, her "life partner" Jason, Angelo, Tony, and a few others are discussing Phil's beatdown of the two of them. Jason tries to get in the conversation and Lorraine shuts him down with a curt "Be quiet, Jason. Men are…

Actually, I saw Janice's dumping the chocolate milk in the sink as a rare example of good parenting from her. The kid's OBVIOUSLY at least 50 pounds overweight and the last thing he needs is a bunch of sugar syrup with his milk.

I never thought about that, BUT it would explain Matush taking off. Even if not an explicit "Fuck You" moment, Matush would definitely remember the last time he followed Jackie's instructions to the letter and the results (ending up in traction).