There are various occasions where Tony is shown watching World War 2 documentaries on TV. We even get the documentary full screen for some moments (e.g. in Season 2 Episode 10). The narrator is talking about what a military leader has done/plans to do etc. Is it intended we draw a parallel across to Tony?
The narrative on the TV in these scenes is clearly audible and forefront, not just background noise, so the specific quotes presumably were chosen for a reason. And in Season 2 Episode 10 for example, when two characters are talking the documentary narrative pauses and reverts to background noise then resumes after they finish.
In Season 1 Episode 7 there is a scene just of Tony in the basement exercising, with no character dialogue. The TV is on and the narrator says "To oppose this massive force bearing down on Midway, Admiral Nimitz had no battleships in shape for the fight. However, he had the the carriers Yorktown, Enterprise and Hornet. This might prove to be the trump card". Then Tony turns the TV off and walks upstairs.
In Season 2 Episode 10 the narrative says "The more Germans we kill, the fewer of of our own men will be killed, he said. Patten's hatred for the enemy is matched only by his fierce concern for his men". All the time during this quote the camera shot is a close up on Tony's face. This is the episode after the one where he killed Matt Bevilaqua for trying to clip Chris.
In Season 2 Episode 9 Tony tells Melfi "We're soldiers". Possibly this is a link to these scenes.
Return to “Sopranos Symbolism and Subtext”
- Featured Discussions
- - The Many Saints of Newark
- - James Gandolfini Remembered
- - Sopranos Symbolism and Subtext
- - Sopranos in the News
- - Sopranos Individual Episode Forums
- - - Season 1
- - - - Episode 1.01: The Sopranos
- - - - Episode 1.02: 46 Long
- - - - Episode 1.03: Denial, Anger, Acceptance
- - - - Episode 1.04: Meadowlands
- - - - Episode 1.05: College
- - - - Episode 1.06: Pax Soprana
- - - - Episode 1.07: Down Neck
- - - - Episode 1.08: The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti
- - - - Episode 1.09: Boca
- - - - Episode 1.10: A Hit Is a Hit
- - - - Episode 1.11: Nobody Knows Anything
- - - - Episode 1.12: Isabella
- - - - Episode 1.13: I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano
- - - Season 2
- - - - Episode 2.01: Guy Walks Into a Psychiatrist's Office
- - - - Episode 2.02: Do Not Resuscitate
- - - - Episode 2.03: Toodle-Fucking-Oo
- - - - Episode 2.04: Commendatori
- - - - Episode 2.05: Big Girls Don't Cry
- - - - Episode 2.06: The Happy Wanderer
- - - - Episode 2.07: D-Girl
- - - - Episode 2.08: Full Leather Jacket
- - - - Episode 2.09: From Where to Eternity
- - - - Episode 2.10: Bust Out
- - - - Episode 2.11: House Arrest
- - - - Episode 2.12: The Knight in White Satin Armor
- - - - Episode 2.13: Funhouse
- - - Season 3
- - - - Episode 3.01: Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood
- - - - Episode 3.02: Proshai, Livushka
- - - - Episode 3.03: Fortunate Son
- - - - Episode 3.04: Employee of the Month
- - - - Episode 3.05: Another Toothpick
- - - - Episode 3.06: University
- - - - Episode 3.07: Second Opinion
- - - - Episode 3.08: He Is Risen
- - - - Episode 3.09: The Telltale Moozadell
- - - - Episode 3.10: To Save Us All from Satan's Power
- - - - Episode 3.11: Pine Barrens
- - - - Episode 3.12: Amour Fou
- - - - Episode 3.13: Army of One
- - - Season 4
- - - - Episode 4.01: For All Debts Public and Private
- - - - Episode 4.02: No Show
- - - - Episode 4.03: Christopher
- - - - Episode 4.04: The Weight
- - - - Episode 4.05: Pie-O-My
- - - - Episode 4.06: Everbody Hurts
- - - - Episode 4.07: Watching Too Much Television
- - - - Episode 4.08: Mergers and Acquisitions
- - - - Episode 4.09: Whoever Did This
- - - - Episode 4.10: The Strong, Silent Type
- - - - Episode 4.11: Calling All Cars
- - - - Episode 4.12: Eloise
- - - - Episode 4.13: Whitecaps
- - - Season 5
- - - - Episode 5.01: Two Tonys
- - - - Episode 5.02: Rat Pack
- - - - Episode 5.03: Where's Johnny?
- - - - Episode 5.04: All Happy Families
- - - - Episode 5.05: Irregular Around the Margins
- - - - Episode 5.06: Sentimental Education
- - - - Episode 5.07: In Camelot
- - - - Episode 5.08: Marco Polo
- - - - Episode 5.09: Unidentified Black Males
- - - - Episode 5.10: Cold Cuts
- - - - Episode 5.11: The Test Dream
- - - - Episode 5.12: Long Term Parking
- - - - Episode 5.13: All Due Respect
- - - Season 6, Part 1
- - - - Episode 6.01: Members Only
- - - - Episode 6.02: Join the Club
- - - - Episode 6.03: Mayham
- - - - Episode 6.04: The Fleshy Part of the Thigh
- - - - Episode 6.05: Mr. and Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request
- - - - Episode 6.06: Live Free or Die
- - - - Episode 6.07: Luxury Lounge
- - - - Episode 6.08: Johnny Cakes
- - - - Episode 6.09: The Ride
- - - - Episode 6.10: Moe N' Joe
- - - - Episode 6.11: Cold Stones
- - - - Episode 6.12: Kaisha
- - - Season 6, Part 2
- - - - Episode 6.13: Soprano Home Movies
- - - - Episode 6.14: Stage 5
- - - - Episode 6.15: Remember When
- - - - Episode 6.16: Chasing It
- - - - Episode 6.17: Walk Like a Man
- - - - Episode 6.18: Kennedy and Heidi
- - - - Episode 6.19: The Second Coming
- - - - Episode 6.20: The Blue Comet
- - - - Episode 6.21: Made in America
- Other Sopranos Discussions
- - Sopranos Voting Booth
- - Music on The Sopranos
- - The Kitchen Sink
- - - Sopranos FAQ
- - The Movie Never Ends
- - Chase Lounge Archives
- - - Thank You, FlyOnMelfisWall
- - - "Proshai, Sopranos: A Final Toast from The Chase Lounge"
- - - Season 6, Parts 1 and 2, Spoilers/Spoiler-Based Speculation
- - - Season 6, Part 2, Non Spoiler-Based Speculation/Discussion
- - - Request a Sitdown (Pre-2016)
- Other Forums
- - David Chase B.S. ('Besides Sopranos' of Course!)
- - Literature and Film
- - Television
- - - Mad Men
- - - Boardwalk Empire
- - Satriale's Meet Market
- This Thing of Ours: Matters Relating to The Chase Lounge and Its Members
- - Posting Policies
- - Request a Sitdown