Tony’s Vicarious Patricide

[SilvioMancini]

This is my favorite thread on here in many ways Fly. And as I rewatch seasons 5-6b I see clearly much of what you describe. I was wondering if you have had the chance to hear Jr. Sopranos Commentary on "Remember When" where he talks long about this theme and how it runs through the whole show. It's one of the best commentaries ever done on the DVD's. It explains more than Chase does most of the time. Thanks again!

[FlyOnMelfisWall]

Thanks, Silvio!

I hate to admit it, but I have yet to listen completely to any of the commentaries from season 6b. I was so bummed that no writers were being featured that it kind of soured me on it in terms of enthusiasm. In the past, I have never been fond of actor commentaries. Imperioli's have been okay, largely because he commented on episodes he also wrote.

I did hear part of Schirripa's commentary on Soprano Home Movies. But I never made it all the way through that one or past it to the other episodes of 6b. Since you've recommended the Remember When commentary, I'll be sure to give it a whirl the next time I decide to watch an ep with commentary.

[bloodshot]

Thats so funny about not digging into the commentaries from 6b. I'm a big fan of commentaries from all my favaorite shows that i have on DVD. The Sopranos where no differnt , but i could not bring myself to listen to 6b's as well. I also started the Home movies one but found it hard to finish and listened to none of the others. Perhaps someday, when i've exhausted every second of the master box set, I'll remember theres still a couple of hours i haven't heard.

[FlyOnMelfisWall]

That is a strange coincidence, bloodshot. Like you, commentaries are what I most look forward to when I get a new season set, especially the ones with Chase and other writers.

As I look back, my grudge against the Soprano commentaries may have started in 6a when they decided to give the commentary for Join the Club to Falco, Sigler, and Iler. Of all episodes to have actor commentary . . . especially a group of actors where conversation frequently devolved into predictable expressions of mutual admiration and other light weight banter. These guys had no idea what was happening in that episode. How disappointing.

[SilvioMancini]

Fly, I promise it is well worth your while! Dominic Chianese has some really good insights into Tonys relationships with his father, uncle, and nephew\son. He is a very articulate man with a lot of intelligent observations. Like you described, most of 6b commentaries are lackluster and downright disappointing. This one is the only one worth your while. Its the only time Dominic ever does a commentary for any of the shows. Also, it is one of the best episodes of the season IMO.

[jtkbigk77]

I just wanted to say congratulations, salutations, well done, and thank you FOMW. I've spent the last few days reading this entire thread but specifically your initial piece was most impressive. I remember watching the things you wrote about and knowing in my heart that they were monumental and sometimes I thought I knew why, but couldn't quite wrap my head around it all. I must say that as for your initial post, "Yes!". I just thought it was perfection. Not only that but you wrote it in a way that was clear and easy to follow which also blew me away. And your hypothesis of Chase kind of starting it all in season 4 was exactly what I was thinking when I first started reading your post and then for me to read tonight basically exactly what I was thinking really made me smile. I also think this fits because in an interview on public radio (i think) Chase had mentioned something to the effect that they had initially planned on being done after the fourth season but basically found some new and different ways he could take these characters which I believe to be the inception of what you have so aptly written about. Lastly, I just want to say how enjoyable it is to follow your posts because it feels like 85% I feel in agreement with you and wish I could do it as you do.

[FlyOnMelfisWall]

Hi, jtk, and thanks so much for all the very generous comments.

There were times through the series, well before there was a Chase Lounge, when I (and many others here) were still posting at Sopranoland and when the process of analyzing and reading and writing about the series was just galvanizing and tremendously rewarding. But I think the process of putting this particular post together, utilizing so much insight from previous exchanges, was the most rewarding thing I've experienced in connection with analyzing the show. It just provided a framework that elevated and unified the last half of the series in a way that nothing else did.

It's funny. The patricidal angle to Chris' murder is very likely the most overlooked piece of symbolism in the whole show (I can't recall a single critic or blogger or high profile writer addressing Tony's repressed paternal hatred as a major, multi-seasonal theme that culminated in Christopher's murder.) But it just feels like "truth" to me, and, whether or not it's what Chase intended, it's how I see it. Nice to know that others see it the same way.