The Sopranos 4x13 Reaction
might just be the best episode of the show so far
Comments (49)
Edie Falco's acting is SUPERB
Johnny Sacks stare at Tony at the end is pretty unnerving. Real hate in those eyes. Vincent Curatola is fantastic in the role and an easy favourite of the vast number of supporting characters this show has.
It’s amazing that this was Vincent Curatola’s first major role in acting. Imo he’s up there with James Gandolfini and Edie Falco in terms of acting ability and talent.
Hilarious bit of symbolism in this when Svetlana tells Tony that his beating of Zellman caused him to be impotent — and then she drops her cigarette on the ground and uses the huge solid metal crutch to obliterate the tiny withered little cigarette — a large strong phallic object destroying a tiny, weak phallic object. I had a semester and a half of college, so I understand Freud.
An interesting character in this episode is Alan Sapinsky, the attorney Tony is butting heads with. At first glance, he may not look like much, but they shared the same initials (A.S. - Alan Sapinsky and Anthony Soprano), and many have theorized that he is the writers' way of showing what Tony would look like without the mob. His alter ego, a potential alternate life path for Tony, a legitimate businessman who still exhibits the same ruthlessness we see in Tony. The football statue behind Alan when he strong-arms Tony reminds me of Tony's hangups about football, and even his wife is a blonde woman who somewhat resembles Carmela.
They both also have pictures of Rocky Marciano in their offices
Everyone commenting about the fights, the acting etc... Nobody talking about the amazing body-swerve this episode does by building up the tensions with NY all season, blaming them for killing Ralph, Esplanade construction shutting down, planning to whack the boss, and then... it just gets resolved. It's a vital part of why the Tony/Carmela stuff can blow up so much, because all the tension of where you think the mob stuff is going to go disappears, and then you realise that all the drama of the season finale isn't a mob war but actually a domestic argument. David Chase often said that in The Sopranos things that you expect will happen, just not in the way you expect (eg Janice killing Richie). A nice Sopranos style touch in this is that in the end, the feds *did* get Tony, in a very indirect way. His downfall was due to the knock-on effects of "FICA and Federal Withholding". Back in 4x07 when they are doing the HUD scam, Tony, Ralph, and Sil drink a toast "to the federal government", Sil jokes "depends which department" and they all have a good laugh. Well in the end, this one federal department that Tony never saw coming threw a spanner in the works and ruined his life.
seasons 5 & 6 are my favorite seasons of television.. can’t wait!
One of the peak TV episodes with the most realistic domestic argument scenes I've seen on TV. One of the most authentic parts, aside from the acting, is how much the discomfort lingers throughout and the arguments kept coming. A number of shows/films will generally build up to a main fight and then it starts to dissipate. I think most children of divorce will appreciate how authentic it felt. Also something this show has done exceedingly well, even compared to other dramas in it's weight class, is making each argument between them (even back in season 1) have a large sense of history behind them and how much they just grew apart despite coming from the same world. Episode also deliberately showed us them at one of their happiness moments on the beach (and of course them at their worst) as well as Carmela saying how Tony was able to make her laugh before, to avoid the easy "she's mainly a gold digger" dimension and suggest their relationship was more pure at some point even if she can't actually dispute the gold digger part. And of course her wonderfully throwing his hypocrisy back at him and calling him out on his shit.
Christopher gets out of rehab looking, sounding, and feeling good. Tony immediately tasks him with planning essentially three murders. And Tony wonders why Christopher can’t get better.
Certainly the best acted hour in TV history.
It's a small role, but the neighbor, Alan, is the same guy who played Terry Colby in Mr Robot
It's interesting how AJ, even after all the harsh treatment from Tony, still wants to be close with him.
Sons with dads often do be like that unfortunately
This episode is so good at drawing you into their argument, you feel exhausted. Everything gets thrown on the table. As much as you can criticize Carmella for only caring about the cheating, you feel for her just wanting a husband who cares for her. And the moment she admits to even thinking about another man, Tony nearly hits her. It's not so easy to look the other way. I think Tony decides to leave because he sees how AJ is trying to take his side. He knows he's done wrong and basically hopes he can weather the storm and come back in the future, and doesn't want AJ acting like he does, which is very typical of him, do as I say not as I do. Really looking forward to season 5, it's maybe my favourite season, difficult to pick. The last two seasons, or three depending how you want to categorize it, are all really good.
I think it's all but outright stated that AJ asking to move in with him is a huge factor in his decision, with it even being brought up as he's announcing that he's moving out and just the look on his face at the end of the scene when AJ first asked him, as well as not being able to continue eating despite his gluttony. While people can always spin everything he does into being selfishly motivated (and there is argument for how binary it is), there's a difference in Gandolfini's acting when he delivers certain lines and his facial expressions, like the scene when he's announcing he's moving out and back in season 3 when he saw Carmela was depressed after seeing that therapist that he ultimately acquiesced to her demand, that betrays more tenderness and some level of thinking of others compared his usual line deliveries when he's giving lip-service and self-serving rationalizations.
An underrated moment when Tony says, "Oh poor you" the same way his mother did. As much as Tony hated her, he's become more and more like her.
He wasn't willing to hit her so he uses the next best weapon he knows.
Easily one of the best episodes of the show, and then by default one of the best episodes of TV period. First time watching this show, Season 4 was harder to recall from memory than the other seasons for me. Of course certain moments and episodes stand out: Johnny vs Ralphie, Gloria’s suicide, Ralphie death, Chris’s drug use and intervention, and of course, Whitecaps. As the girls say, this season is more slow than what we have had so far, with episodes often focusing on a particular event or topic and wrapping it up by the end of the episode. I think this, along with being in the middle of the shows run, made it feel less… distinct I guess? But I have really appreciated rewatching it and seeing the building of these various plot lines across 13 episodes. There really isn’t a consensus on a favourite season between the majority of fans as far as I can tell. Overall the opinion is the show gets better as it goes, but there is no massive jump in quality, the show just gets more comfortable in its own skin as all shows do (or should do). I think season 1 is probably the weakest because of certain aspects where the show was still finding its feet, and has the worst episode in my opinion too (A Hit Is A Hit), but one could list any season in any order and it would be a valid take. It’s hard to remember to breathe during Tony and Carmelas exchanges this episode, it’s really some of the best acting put to screen. This episode earned Emmys for James Gandolfini, Edie Falco (both for acting) and David Chase, Robin Green, and Mitchell Burgess (all for writing).
Season 4 is personally my favourite
"ohh poor you" - Livia Soprano's son
Just as I can't imagine anyone else but James Gandolfini as Tony, I can't imagine anyone else but Edie Falco as Carmela. A well deserved Golden Globe for her. Their arguments in this episode brings me back to season 1 when Carmela tells Father Phil that she views Tony's women-on-the-side as a form of masturbation for him. With Svetlana it's different. Carmela knows her and knows that she's actually a person with some depth, and she probably viewed it as the first time Tony actually cheated on her. Some more evidence of Tony turning into Livia as well in this episode, from yelling out "Poor you" in his second fight with Carmela, and with his "Al Dente" remark to Artie. This episode get its well deserved praise for its writing, but it has some of my favourite cinematography as well. That shot of Tony and Carmela at the beach is genuinely beautiful, and the final shot of AJ in the doorway is pretty well lit as well.
You know what.. and I will expose myself a little here but as someone who was a kid of divorced I can tell you those scenes were hard to watch the first time. They are so so well acted that I might be wrong but I think or at least hope Eddie Falco got an Emmy for her performance. I know people and myself always praise James Gandolfini but Eddie definitely hold her own this episode. I’m sad that we are getting closer and closer to the end…
She AND Gandolfini got their third emmys for this episode. Shame that she doesn't get mentioned as much as all time TV greats (James Gandolfini and Bryan Cranston on the other hand are two of the most commonly cited so his legacy has persisted). She's easily on their level though, just doesn't get as much opportunity to showcase it. Carmela shouting/arguing and then crying in the next moment is something I've literally seen first hand. Incredibly authentic performance.
Damn when how did this show record my parents fighting 😭
One of my favorite parts of this episode that I feel flies under the radar. “What about the kids?” “Yeah, it’s horrible. God help them.” Tony tries one last tactic to get what he wants, and Carmela completely shuts it down. Fuck, I love this fucking episode.
Well yeah it doesn’t work. Carmela barely cares about her kids lmao.
EDIE FALCO
Those micro expressions that James did after he was done shouting, punching a wall were outstanding my favourite was when Carm was calling him a hypocrite in the pool house/movie room that look is just a mix of guilt and bitterness and also when Carmela said he doesn’t love him anymore was a masterclass, best actor and performance I’ve seen personally, I highly recommend the documentary they made about the show a few months very heartwarming Rest In Peace Gandolfini 🕊️
I haven't watched it but the actress for Ade said the doc did James Gandolfini dirty.
you don't understand how fast i clicked on this video lol. when i watched this ep i actually had to pause after the first argument and pace around the room i was in just to cool off because holy shit Edie Falco's acting is so intense. definitely my favourite episode in the first 4 seasons of the show
It’s always hard for me to choose which argument I like more from this episode. The first one is a complete masterclass from Edie Falco while the second one feels like a clash of two titans. For that reason, I would probably choose the second one, but Edie Falco is a national treasure and deserves all the flowers in the world. I was breathtaken the first time I saw this episode, and I’ve seen it at least 10 times since and that feeling has never gone away.
Gotta give some to Gandolfini aswell he didn’t have as much lines during theses yet he remained on the same level as Falco those two were acting powerhouses together best I’ve ever seen
Girls.. I haven’t watched the reaction yet but you are always saying most of the time you girls watched the show.
Much like I am with almost all the characters in this show.....I can't feel bad for Carmela Soprano in the slightest. Maybe even less so than Tony. Because growing up, she wasn't directly connected to that lifestyle like Tony was. I believe Christopher's father was Carmela's first cousin, and that was it. Even going back to the episode "College", Carmela knew how much horrible shit Tony was up to, as she borderline confesses it to Monseigneur Jughead. Almost every single character in this show had made a deal with the devil.
And why does that mean you can't feel bad for her?
People love to talk about James Gandolfini and he indeed is a generational talent but this episode implores everyone watching to give Edie Falco her flowers and acknowledge what an absolute acting powerhouse she is. EDIT: The thing is Tony and Carmela always reminded me of my divorced parents, starting with their physical builds and other details. The first time I watched this episode it triggered me soooooo much because it reminded me of the countless fights they had while I was growing up. The two actors did an amazing job
Lol "the preschool assistant.......the weight lifta".... 🤣 This show man. The little unimportant details in dialogue are what separate it above all other shows.
and she didn't even know about the Mercedes saleswoman.
Noo, I'm still catching up, will watch 4x07 and 4x08 tonight. You just made me watch to binge it even if I still work tomorrow and tuesday 😞
james and edie knock it out of the park with this episode. one of, if not the best episode of the entire show.
Going to bed right now but can’t wait to watch this tomorrow. Edie Falco is amazing.
My personal Super Bowl! When you started the sopranos this was the episode I looked forward to most. I knew it’d be worth that wait. Thanks girls.
My mom raved about this episode when it came out, said it was the most accurate depiction of a divorce fight she'd ever seen.
in case you’re wondering yes edie falco did win an emmy for her performance this episode
What a fucking episode of television.
LETS GOOOOO
The greatest episode in the history of television.
Let's gooo