Originally Posted By DDMAN26 ^^^ Paulie's one of my favorites too. My favorite moment was earlier this season when Meadow told him to be positive when he saw Tony at hospital. Then Paulie walks in and goes "Marone he looks terrible." Funniest moment all season.
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder "NOT PAULIE!!! PLEASE!!! I think he is so cool on the show!" I like his character too, but if Tony runs his family like real wiseguys do, Paulie much more of a liability than an asset at this point. And real wiseguys never just get fired, they get whacked. It kind of makes you wonder though about how the show is going to end. On one hand, you can see Tony Soprano really start to question the Life. It came out this last week when he was yelling at A.J. about how "wrong" it was to try and kill Uncle Jun. Maybe they all join Vito in New Hampshire. On the other hand, the FBI has been noticeable absent from the recent shows, and Johnny Sack has yet to go to trial. Soprano killed Rusty, Frankie Valli's character, for him with contract guys from Italy. Little has been made of that hit so far since it happened.
Originally Posted By ilvdland Okay this is kinda OT but..... My boss just opened up another restaurant yesterday and I was there helping out. I tried to ring up an American Express card, and the machine wouldn't accept it. So I started calling my boss Artie Buoco, since remember when Artie got in AmEx account cutoff when that russian girl was stealing money? Yeah, good times.......
Originally Posted By Big Thunder I'm with ya'll... I don't want to see Paulie go, he's one of my favorite characters, he always has been because he's old school and he's funny and he doesn't even know it. My favorite Paulism was when him and Christopher got lost out in the forest chasing down the Russian guy, Tony told Paulie over the phone "this guy is smart and dangerous, he has connections with the department of the interior"... Paulie then tells Chrissy, yeah this guy is important, he's an interior decorator" [Paulie and Christopher always coming with fumbling bumbling lines, exposing their true level of education] Anyway, as much as I dont like to think it, I'm afraid that Paulie is definitely on his way out. I thought it was going to be over a fued with Vito, but maybe not? I look at the following people and in my opinion, Paulie is high on the list to sleep with the fishes... Paulie: high probability to go, has crossed Tony's orders, is loose and risky. Has built up lots of character and the shock value of him being killed will keep fans watching. Vito: High to Medium probability to be killed, I don't think he'll be next though.... why? basically, because right now everyone expects it, plus his storyline is building. *However* overall I don't think he'll be allowed to live in New Hampshire with Mr Johnny Cakes riding Harleys and living free. I teeter on this one .. because that is the theme of this season "Live and let live" so who knows. Christopher: Medium to high probability, Chrissy is loyal and related to Tony, Tony has always treated Chrissy almost with special treatment, he's brought him up the ranks. However Chrissy is blowing it, his stupid Hollywood aspirations seems to be leading him down a dangerous path. Plus he's using again, I don't think Tony will give him another chance to clean up. Also, his 12 step sponsor gives me the willys, something is not right with that guy. Bobby: medium probability, he is married to a Soprano [which didn't help Ritchie any] and his character hasn't built up enough wow factor for a killing just yet, so I think he'll stay alive. Phil Leotardo: Medium probability, Phil is old school [I luv that] I think he may be the one killing one of the other main characters, but overall has a fair chance of living. Johnny Sac, I think Johnny Sac is setting Tony up, I smell rat in his cell.
Originally Posted By Big Thunder oh I forgot Benny, I actually started liking Benny, but I was glad Artie beat him up last week. [I bet that was the only fight Artie ever won] Benny seems insignificant, he'll probably be killed along with one of the others later on. Or... maybe after that beating... HBO busted him down and made him go back to network TV working with Doogie Howser again? [JK]
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 Kind of a weird episode. I'm not sure where this is all going to tie in.
Originally Posted By Big Thunder yeah DDMAN, I'm not sure where it will all tie either. I think it may be a key pivotal episode, lots building up, and some purposely left untouched last night [no mention of Vito whatsoever last night] Frankly, IMO this season has been weird, the storyline keeps jumping around, and last night's episode was all over the place. Most key points came from nowhere, no planning, no build up, just BAM surprize here it is. ad nothing from past episodes that tied in Except Christopher, I have been concerned about him and unfortunately my predictions are proving to be correct [sigh] Overall I loved last nights episode. I was disappointed last week when Chrissy was drinking and snorting cocaine. I was kinda hoping that his sponsor "Mermur" was going to intervene, but instead they mug Lauren Bacall together. I knew as soon as I saw Chrissy paying his junkie crew member with dope that he was walking on very thin ice, just having a junkie on his crew is bad enough, but Chrissy especially knows better. Tony has made reference to condoning Christopher drinking before, so it did not surprize me that he poured a glass of wine for Chris last night. I had a bad feeling that was the opening of the flood gates, and a THEN he lets the junkie fix in his car while he watches... I knew it was only a matter of time. [sigh] I was surprised Chris got married [where did that come from?] and now his life is going to go spiraling down. A new house, a new wife with child coming, and he's back on dope [sigh] BTW the scenes of Christopher in his car, at the park, and with the stray dog at the feast was good work. Ah the feast [where did that come from?] One of the things I like about Sopranos is the Catholic references [I am Catholic] So the associate pastor works Paulie over for a big increa$e [maybe that will teach Paulie not to ignore the altar and genuflect like the other Capo did] A big Saint feast, and during typical church fiesta season, food vendors, cannoli eating contest, carnival rides, I love it. Poor Booby Jr having Janis for a step mom, I felt bad for him, and he had to go on the kiddie ride to wave at his lil sister. True to her character, 2 days after the ride broke down, Janis decides she has whip lash. OK back to Paulie, now he might have cancer! [where that come from?] I wanted to smack Paulie upside the head when he ran into Ma at the feast, what a jerk. Then at the end I felt bad for him, poor dumb lug, he's afraid. I was glad he went to visit her. The previews always tend to trick us, but surely well be back to Vito next week. I'm now thinking that maybe Vito meets his demise in some nontraditional way, something not even connected to the family.
Originally Posted By BlazesOfFire <<The previews always tend to trick us>> Thats for sure! I thought either Paulie or Bobby got hurt for sure! There were also quite a few things I thought came out of nowhere...Chris' marraige & baby especially. Whoa! Hope Paulie fares well. He is still my fave.
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder So my wife says after last night's episode, "we're no further ahead now than we were at the start of the season." Hate to say it, but she's right.
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 I'm getting that same feeling too. And I'm going to say it even though I'll get some flack for it. But enough with Vito and Johnny Cakes.
Originally Posted By Big Thunder yes I think we all feel like things are moving a bit slow and not much action or pizazz. When Vito shot that guy on the side of the road, I said "sheesh finally a shooting, been 6 weeks since someone's been shot in this show" The dang previews are ticking me off, every week I think "an OK episode, but next week looks like it will be the week we'll get into the meat of this thing" However the next rolls around and not much happens. But I say it again... "NEXT week looks like it'll be good" no... seriously it looks like things will pick up. Here's my take where we're at in this season. Since we all know this is the final season, and we've been lead to believe that there will be some sort of climax or closure at the end, it seems to me that currently they are setting up main characters to be possibly dead in the next few weeks. Paulie: who we all seem to agree is way cool, now has cancer, I dont *think* he'll get wacked next, but if he does, it lessens the blow to us fans because we're already accepting that he could die. Christopher: Chrisy is blowin it big time. His Hollywood deal, his drug problem is active again, he's getting sloppy. Could be set up for an offing. Bobby Bacala: I dont think there is any malicious feeling towards Bobby, but Tony is admitting that he tends to pick on Bobby and he's not sure why. Melphi brought out some issues about Janice and their relationship. Frankly I was shocked that Tony gave her the Sacramoni house. Would he then condone killing off Bobby after that? Will he allow Bobby to move up? Frankly I dont think Bobby has what it takes, namely... "respect" Vito: we all know what trouble he is in, it looks like his end is coming soon. Phil Leotardo: has been doing a few things on the sly behind Johnny Sac, and now Johnny Sac is doing a few things and keeping Phil out of the loop. Phil may get into trouble with either boss, and be killed as a result. Also, my newest prediction is that Phil is the one to take out Vito. I doubt that Paulie will have anything to do with Vito. Phil wants to kill Vito, and I think it will happen soon. Silvio: I have never seem Sil do much to cross his superiors other than a lil skimming. Overall he's a loyal soldier who knows his place, However, he could be the shocker and do something out of line, and the previews indicated that he is doing something on his own behind the door keeping Tony out. My guess, is that he is in on Phil's scheme to get Vito. I think Vito is in there with Phil and his people, and they are doing a number on him. I think they dont want Tony to know, because I believe Tony would give Vito a pass at this point. So, I *hope* my prediction for next week is good, I predict that next week will be a great episode with some bang to it. Again, I think Phil and his crew catch Vito before Vito gets a chance to meet with Tony [who IMO would have saved him] and that it will be the end of Vito.
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder SPOILER ALERT- DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW. So they killed Vito, or more accurately, Phil's guys beat the life out of Vito. Just before it happened, I actually thought Phil was softening on the idea. Oh well. However, that thing that Vito told his kids about being in the CIA was just poor writing. Unless they really wow people with this "last" episode before the eight "bonus" ones next year, nothing from last night seemed to do any tightening of the plot lines. More drift, outside of killing Vito, although Sil and the other guy puncturing Phil's guy onthe table could serve as a prelude to an all out war. Now they just have to make people care about it.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!!!! Why bother with eight more episodes? You have to wonder if their hearts are still in it.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS I was really disappointed in last night's episode. Not so much that it was Christmas in June, but because it really felt like a "last episode ever" instead of a "keep you in suspense until next year's last season ever". Too much harmony. Not enough mob.
Originally Posted By BlazesOfFire I agree totally! i was left thinking "this is it?" and I half expected AJ to get into some kind of fight with the punk kids. Maybe that was shown to let the viewer see that AJ isnt so tough as he wants to be. Still, weird episode and wasnt not impressed. And I am so mad at Christopher and Tony for being idiots!
Originally Posted By ToonKirby >Why bother with eight more episodes?< I have a feeling it is because this batch is eligible for THIS year's Emmys, while the next 8 (which I believe it the minimum # of episodes needed to be eligible) will be eligible for NEXT year's Emmys. I usually have a lot of patience for this show and in general liked this season, but last night's episode (actually, any episode focusing on Christafah) was interminable ... when it ended, I didn't think "wow, can't wait until next year" but "wow, people are going to be PISSED", especially with that big tease about the NY crew whacking "somebody close to Tony" that never happened.
Originally Posted By Labuda I'm hooing next season opens with either Paulie or Chrissy getting whacked in a super brutal way. I'm SO over both of them. Then again, I'd not complain if Janice got whacked - she's annoyed me since day 1 that we saw her! LOL Last night's episode bummed me out - soooo boring.
Originally Posted By Big Thunder [yawn] I'm beginning to think Chase is burnt out. I have very similar feelings as Toon Kirby, overall I like this season, but it's been weird. Things pop up and we're expected to follow along as if we know what's going on. OK a few short days ago Christopher gets married to someone we barely know, nor heard about. This week somehow, he's hooked up with Mrs Jamba Juice real estate agent, they attend 12 step meeting together, she gets sick and asks for Valerian tea because she refuses over the counter *NON narcotic* cough syrup, then within minutes her and Chris are chasing the dragon. OK I was all set up for Phil Leotardo to possibly get whacked in a big way, or make a major move against the Soprano crew, but no... lets let him join Pauly and play the sick card. [sigh] AJ all of a sudden changes. OK, I must admit, I've been wanting to slap AJ upside his head for years and knock some sense into him, but now that it happens, it's way out of character. His single mom Latina girlfriend is hot, but just doesn't fit, even if it's just to make the point that it irritates Carm. The tease from agent Harris about someone close to Tony will get whacked was OK, but just not enough "wow" factor for me. 999 wrote... <"Too much harmony. Not enough mob."> Man you can say that again!
