So, as I've recently been on binge fest of the crime drama series, The Sopranos, I thought I would try something a bit different with a list of sorts and I got the idea of doing one based on some of the stupidest decisions made by characters in the show.
So, these characters could be anyone within the show and not just Tony and any business or personal decisions he himself may have made. And I think this will be quite a tricky list to come up with given there have been so many DUMB decisions made on the show with various characters that have often have dire consequences.
So, with that said let's take a look at my pick for the dumbest decisions on The Sopranos...
10. Tony giving David Scatino's son's jeep to Meadow -
Episode: The Happy Wanderer
At No.10 is the decision of Tony giving a jeep belonging to David Scatino's son, Eric to his daughter, Meadow as a gift, which happened in the 2nd season episode "The Happy Wanderer". David Scatino of course handed over his son's jeep to Tony as partial payment for the debt he owed Tony after losing $45,000 in a high stakes card game.
The reason however I think this was a dumb decision is because Tony doesn't even consider Meadow's friendship with Eric and how it might affect them and of course this decision really pisses off Meadow no end. Tony however angrily refuses to give it back as Scatino did the "right thing" offering it up as partial payment for his debts. Its a great scene however when Tony shouts back at Meadow and how Scatino made a wager and lost and Meadow can take her moral high ground and sleep in a bus shelter.
However, in retrospect, Tony would have been better just selling the jeep onto someone else and keeping things quiet to Meadow rather that rub it in her face and cause some unnecessary tension. However this wouldn't stop Eric being angry at Meadow anyway as he rightfully feels wronged by his father's decision.
So, for me it is a pretty dumb decision on Tony's part even if he just wanted to do something nice for Meadow.
9. Christopher opening his mouth at the wrong time to Johnny Sack.
Episode: Where's Johnny?
At No.9 we see Christopher Moltisanti take his turn into the spotlight (and maybe not his last either!) in this scene from the 5th season episode "Where's Johnny?" where Christopher opens his mouth at the wrong time to Johnny Sack, the New York family under-boss during a particularly tense time in the New York family feud after Carmine Lupertazzi's death, as Johnny and Carmine Jr struggle for power of the family. And Christopher basically opens his mouth here at just the wrong time after Tony expressly told Christopher "clam up" and say nothing.
So, in the scene as Tony, Christopher and Vito Spatafore meet with Johnny in New York, Johnny expresses his initial love and respect for Carmine Jr but Christopher then stupidly tries to intervene and make a solution as he suggests that Johnny take a bigger piece of Carmine Jr's business in Miami. However, this really pisses off Johnny who says to Christopher "You know it wasn't long ago that you used to wait in the car and as far as I am concerned YOU SHOULD STILL BE THERE!!". Vito then tries to calm Johnny down and says "Johnny he was just..." but Johnny yells "Fuck he was just! Everybody suddenly has a goddamn opinion???!!!" and he storms out.
This then leads to Tony furiously berating Christopher as they drive back to New Jersey and Tony yells at Christopher "WHAT THE FUCK DID I SAY???" and Christopher awkwardly says "Tony, I'm sorry!". And Tony angrily says "Now I gotta un-fuck what you just fucked up!". Tony then calms down and tells Chrissie "You gotta understand this shit between Johnny and Little Carmine is bad but it could work to our advantage. If they fight we pick up any crumbs from the fallout. Chances are Johnny might come out on top but who knows? So, keep your ears open and your mouth SHUT!!" with Christopher looking away and nodding his head in shame.
In the grand scheme of things this isn't the dumbest decision in the series but it certainly shows that Christopher isn't always the sharpest tool in the box and does make some stupid mistakes as his speaking out of turn did temporarily ramp up tensions between Tony and Johnny, which Tony later appeased by having a New Jersey gardener, Sal Vitro cut Johnny's garden for free.
So, yeah its the dumbest ever moment but I still think its worth putting on here all the same.
8. Little Carmine says the wrong thing in front of Phil Leotardo during a sit down with Tony.
Episode "Kaisha".
So, at No.8 is a very dumb decision made by the ever so bright Little Carmine, in this finale of the first part of Season 6 "Kaisha" as he puts his foot in it royally by mentioning the wrong thing to Phil Leotardo as he tries to ease tensions between the New Jersey and New York families. This all being the result of Phil killing Vito Spatafore after he learns of Vito's homosexuality and as a sort or retaliation, Sil and Carlo kill one of Phil's crew, Fat Dom. However here in the sit-down, they appear to be making headway until...Little Carmine mentions Phil's dead brother, Billy.
So, in the scene Little Carmine tells Tony and Phil "Now what I'd like to see a truce, wipe the slate clean. The no-shows, the wire room, Vito, put it all behind us..." and Tony and Phil nod in agreement. However, Little Carmine then REALLY puts his foot in it and mentions Phil's dead brother, Billy "Your brother, Billy. Whatever happened there...". Phil however then turns angry and asks "Whatever happened there???" and Little Carmine stupidly continues "The shooting" and Phil with increasing anger shouts "WHATEVER HAPPENED THERE??!!". Phil then yells at Little Carmine "I'll tell you what happened there!" and points to Tony "This piece of shit's cousin put six bullets in the kid without any provocation whatsoever!". Little Carmine looking flustered then tries to plead with Phil "Phil, we were making headway there, I didn't mean to..." but Phil shouts "FUCK WHAT YOU MEANT, COCKSUCKER!" and he storms out.
Tony then looks to an embarrassed and flustered Little Carmine and says angrily "Jesus Christ, Carmine! What the fuck?! Why would you POSSIBLY bring that up?!" and Little Carmine doesn't know where to look as he realizes the extent of his faux pas.
So, this is definitely a really dumb decision on Little Carmine's part to mention the shooting of Phil's brother, which automatically wipes out the truce between the New York and New Jersey families, which even potentially sees Phil strike back at Tony in future. However, this is of course halted by Phil himself having a heart attack that puts him in hospital where Tony later meets with him to make peace.
So, this one certainly ranks on the dumb-o-meter and is well worth adding to the list.
7. Paulie overreacting to Valery and starting a costly fight
Episode "Pine Barrens"
So, at No.7 is of course this decision by Paulie in the acclaimed episode "Pine Barrens" from Season 3 where Paulie and Christopher make a collection from a stubborn Russian named Valery on behalf of Silvio (who is sick) but it all goes awry when Paulie overreacts to Valery making a request in his apartment to place a remote control back he picked up.
So, in the scene Paulie basically needlessly causes a fight with Valery who asks him to put his universal remote back on its docking station but Paulie doesn't like being told to and he throws away the remote and breaks it. So, this leads into Paulie wrestling with Valery and choking him into a lifeless state using a lamp shade and thereby having to drag his body out into the car where they decide to drive out to the Pine Barrens in South Jersey during the cold winter. However when they arrive, they discover Valery is still alive in the boot and as they force him to dig a hole for his body, Valery hits Christopher with the shovel and flees into the woods with Paulie managing to apparently shoot Valery in the head but they never find his body.
This soon leaves Paulie and Chrissie alone out in the barrens, far away from their car, lost, they stumble around looking for shelter and desperately call Tony for help for whom Valery's disappearance could cause serious problems with Tony's Russian business associate, Slava. Tony is then forced to leave a date with his current unstable goomah, Gloria to find both Paulie and Christopher and rescue them.
So, overall this is definitely a dumb decision made by Paulie here to try and kill Valery by simply overreacting to Valery's attitude and it could have been avoided if he just did what was asked of him to put a remote back on its docking station. Not a hard thing to do??? Ah well. Anyway its definitely a not too bright decision made by Paulie and well worth putting on here.
6. Tony riles up Junior on the golf course over his fondness for "muff"
Episode "Boca"
So, at No.6 is Tony's decision to rile up Junior while they play a game of golf as this would later have dire consequences that lead to an attempt made on Tony's life at the hands of Junior. Basically it all starts with gossip spreading over Junior's fondness for giving oral sex to his girlfriend, which enrages him when he finds out its been blabbed everywhere and Tony rubs Junior's nose in it after Junior makes a scornful comment about Tony.
So, in the scene, Tony keeps putting off Junior's right hand man, Mikey Palmice, while he tries to play to tee off. So, Junior finally snaps at Tony and says "Will you let the man tee off?! You yap worse than six barbers!". Junior then insults Tony by saying "If you'd had shut up during that Mountain lakes game you wouldn't have missed that fly ball! I was ashamed to face my friends". Tony looks offended by this but reminds quiet while Mikey hits his shot and Silvio complements Mikey and says "Good, Mikey. Better".
Junior then steps up and tees off his shot and Mikey looks impressed and says "Whoa, Junior!" and Tony looks grumpy and says "Whoa, Junior what?". Tony then begins to tease Junior and says "Uncle Jun's into the muff!" and Junior looks a bit anxious and asks "What?" and Tony smiles and says "Oh, did I say muff? I meant ruff".
Now, its Tony's turn to tee off as he steps up and lines up his shot and he teases Junior and says "What's that smell? Did you guys go to a sushi bar?" and Junior irritated asks Mikey "What is he talking about?" and Mikey says "I don't know". Tony then says to Junior "I thought you were a baccala man.What are you doing eating sushi?" and Junior annoyed says to him "You're fucking running off at the mouth". And then Tony teases Junior more by singing as he prepares to tee off "South of the Border...down Mexico way...". Junior now angry steps forward and says to Tony "Listen, my friend! At least I can deal with my problems. Unlike some I know!". Tony now annoyed asks "What is that supposed to mean?" and Junior says "Take it however you want. Don't bullshit me!". So, Tony goes back to get ready to tee off and continues to sing "South of the border, where the tuna fish play..." and he tees off.
This is then later followed by Junior's admission to his capo, Mikey, that Tony has been seeing a shrink and that he must ultimately go as he poses a threat to giving away info that can be used to make Melfi testify against them. But ultimately its Tony's riling of Junior about his fondness for "muff" that tips him over the edge and sees Junior stage an attempt on Tony's life via a carjacking that goes wrong. And as Tony himself later says to Carmela "Its psychiatry and cunnilingus that has brought us to this!".
So, without a doubt it was dumb of Tony to wind up Junior the way he did and played its part in the divide between them and its well worth a place on the list
OK, so that's it for part one and I will be back soon with part two.
See you soon!
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