I rather liked the Steve Buscemi character. He’s trying to go straight, but isn’t going to be intimidated by Tony.
I’m guessing 4 episodes before Tony Blundetto (Buscemi) gets pulled back in.
The little bit I’ve seen of him I like, hopefully he won’t get wacked this season.
Crazy talk! It was uneven, yeah… it’s the 2nd episode and there’s too much to introduce and re-introduce before they can really start storytelling.
–spoilers follow–
But in spite of that, they introduced Buscemi and, mainly, they finalized Ade’s turn. Think about it, most of the episode was about her dilemma. She’s been conflicted because she (thinks she) loves Christopher, but she watches him flirt with that friend of hers, then she hears all the mob wives bitch about how awful marriage is, then she learns that Pussy’s wife is ostracized because he worked with the FBI, then she has a breakdown and runs away from them. The last scene shows that she’s decided that if she’s in for a penny with the FBI… she’s in for a pound and starts telling them things they aren’t even asking about.
Now, contrast that with the fate of the guy with the microphone hat… who was killed, basically, because he dared suggest that Tony had lost some weight. The scene where Tony, drunk, is looking in the mirror and feeling his stomach is when he realizes that was empty flattery… and empty flattery, I guess, equals being stuffed in a trunk. Ade could be in big trouble this season.
I fully expect one or more of the new additions–Loggia, Buscemi and Santos–to get bumped off. They’re not going to mess with the core of the cast–at least not until next season.
Peter
Now, contrast that with the fate of the guy with the microphone hat… who was killed, basically, because he dared suggest that Tony had lost some weight. The scene where Tony, drunk, is looking in the mirror and feeling his stomach is when he realizes that was empty flattery… and empty flattery, I guess, equals being stuffed in a trunk. Ade could be in big trouble this season.
Hunh, I totally got a different impression on how this all came about, though I totally forgot about the microphone hat thing. I think Tony’s debate finally centered on the fact that the guy (who I thought was a local congressman, the guy who helped them get the big job last season) was too much of a liability, and that since they knew the FBI had taped them, either way he knew too much, and would crack under FBI interrogation, if he hadn’t already.
— Alan
I love how people expect every episode of Sopranos to be like some gang war with whackings.
They gotta set up storylines people. Sopranos is like a 13-episode story.
Yeah, maybe, but I think they telegraphed it when Tony came into the Bada Bing after patting the guy down and when he was asked if he thought the guy was working for the Feds he said: “What am I? A motherfucking mind reader?” then he said “He mentioned that I lost weight… MOTHERFUCKER!” and then Christopher gave a meaninful look to that guy from the E Street Band.
Then later when drunk and mulling it over he takes off his shirt and looks at his gut. Then the guy ends up dead.
Anyway, that was the chain I followed. Open to interpretation. Tony is pretty capricious.
Bub, I think you miss the point of her snitching on unrelated stuff, she just wanted the girl out of the picture so she snitched on her, it wasn’t because she was turning to the “right” side. I think she might think she can play the FBI for her ends, but since she isn’t that bright I doubt it will end well.
Chet
Was the girl she snitched on the one who was flirting with Chris? If so, I didn’t catch that (the names sometimes sail right over my head). If so, you might be right.
I would like to see it played differently than when Pussy turned informant.
Yep, same girl.
Chet
Why do you guys say there was a microphone in the guy’s hat? Was that in the first episode, in this one, or just suposition? I totally missed that plot point.
Yup.
Cause the feds said that’s where it was hidden.
The Feds mention that they’re using the new hat microphones or something similar (about audio quality perhaps) and remember the guy is always wearing hats (he says for Rogaine).
Yeah, maybe, but I think they telegraphed it when Tony came into the Bada Bing after patting the guy down and when he was asked if he thought the guy was working for the Feds he said: “What am I? A motherfucking mind reader?” then he said “He mentioned that I lost weight… MOTHERFUCKER!” and then Christopher gave a meaninful look to that guy from the E Street Band.
I just took the last line to mean the same thing… he’s thinking verbally, mulling the idea - and deciding that the talk about weight didn’t mean anything, which goes back to his first statement about being a mind-reader - he has no idea.
They gotta set up storylines people. Sopranos is like a 13-episode story.
Except the last 13-episode story, which actually wasn’t much of anything in particular, and finally ended with something significant that was in the works since season one: Carmella and Tony splitting up. The Wire’s seasons are much more tightly compact.
I think Ade is mostly getting back at her bride’s maid for the most part - I really dunno if she is fully with the FBI or not. Hard to tell.
— Alan
I wasn’t too thrilled with the first episode, mostly because I was disappointed that Steve Buscemi wasn’t introduced in that ep. Second episode was much better, as I was in the mood for a story involving “the family business.”
I think I’m glad Tony Blundetto isn’t jumping right back into the fray. I was initially expecting a Mr Pink-like character. I have a feeling that because of the history he and Tony have, they’ll come to blows at some point later in the season – possibly surrounding the reason Tony B went to prison in the first place. From what I understood, he took the fall for Tony S., and it certainly didn’t seem like Tony S. was grateful for that. “Well, these things happen, you know?”
Interestingly enough this woman is played by the same actress that was (until recently) in the newest season of 24. In 24 she played the girlfriend of the younger Salazar brother.
She’s got quite a distinctive look to her. Apparently able to play Italian and Hispanic with equal aplomb, too.
/Eph
The hat by the way has the same logo on it, though is different color - and he wears it both time - then the one that is sitting on the FBI guy’s desk. Plus they have the recording, and the FBI agents on scene weren’t listening in on it, meaning that they knew they were going to hear it later.
— Alan
Thanks Bob, Alan. I remember the scene now but missed the detail about the hat. Who is the guy who is filling in all the unintelligable parts of the taped converstations? I watched season 4 a while back. Is this particular snitch new or have I missed another plot point?
Trying to get up to speed here. When I watch the DVD’s I can watch the little “previously on Sopranos” to figure this stuff out, but now I am a little lost.
I do remember various other plot points, like Ade getting flipped, Chris getting sober, and the russian escaping from Paulie and Chris. Some of the finer details get lost.
Ray Curto. He’s one of Tony’s captains. Always a really minor character. You’ll see him maybe once a year now (he had a bigger role in season one, when Tony was a captain and he met with all the guys of his rank all the time), in a dinner scene. They showed him briefly talking to the Feds last year (or season three?), though, now he seems to be becoming more of a significant character. Though after this past week’s episode, I imagine that won’t last long. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the first real casualty of the season.