Well, as I have recently been re-watching The Sopranos episodes, I thought I would put together another list of my pick for some of my favourite scenes from the show. Now, this list won't be in order of preference this time round as I will just list the scenes as they are without rating them.
Irregardless (a Tony Soprano word!) let's take a look at what made this list...
And I will put a warning ahead...
POSSIBLE PLOT SPOILERS AND STRONG LANGUAGE AHEAD!!
1. "Uncle Jun's in the muff!" - Season 1 - Episode "Boca"
Tony teases Uncle Junior playing golf
So, first up is this funny scene from the first season where Tony indiscreetly teases Junior over his pendant for cunnilingus with his then girlfriend at the time, while Tony plays golf with Junior.
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 hits hit shot.
So, this is a priceless scene and one of the most memorable from season 1 and it definitely deserves its place on the list.
2. "I'm the one that calls the shots!" - Season 2 - Episode "Toodle fu**ing doo"-
Tony confronts Richie Aprile at a mall.
Next up is this scene from Season 2 where Tony confronts Richie Aprile after Richie ran over a fellow mob associate, Beansie in his car, leaving Beansie a paraplegic for the rest of his life.
So, in the scene, Tony meets with Richie at a mall and Tony angrily walks up to Richie and says "I thought I told you to back the fuck off Beansie!" and Richie teases him and says "I did and then I put it in drive!". Tony however is not amused and angrily says to Richie "Oh, you think this is funny? He might never walk again! And for what? Because he didn't duke you enough? He didn't visit you in the can? When is the last time you visited anybody in the can, Richie? When's the last you gave a fuck about anyone but Richie Aprile?!".
Tony then warns Richie "You remember one thing and listen good! You wanna talk this old school bullshit! Here's a rule you might remember! I'm fuckin' motherfuckin one that calls the shots! Now you better pay me the respect that I gave your brother, or we're gonna have a problem. A bad one! Now get the fuck out of here!". Richie just looks at Tony and then says "Alright, Tony" and Tony looks angrily at him and says "Yeah, alright" and Richie walks off.
Its a short scene but its still a great one that shows off Tony's intensity and how the tension between Tony and Richie begins to build, so it definitely deserves a place on here
3. "Sucks to be you" Season 3 - Episode "Army of One"
Tony confronts A.J. over his expulsion from school.
So, at No.3 is this great scene in the season 3 finale where Tony angrily confronts his son A.J. after he is expelled from school for cheating in his exams.
So, in the scene, Carmela stands next to Tony and with a deep sense of disappointment she tells him "Permanent expulsion. I pray I would never see this!". Tony looks at A.J. with disbelief and says "Even I managed to get through school without getting expelled! Maybe its a blessing" but Carmela says "I don't see how that could be". And Tony says "The place was too loose! It was too easy!" but A.J. says "How could you say that? I got expelled" which prompts Tony to furiously shout at A.J. "YOU GOT NOTHING TO SAY UNLESS I ASK YOU A DIRECT QUESTION!!" and A.J. looks sheepishly away.
Tony then goes on an explosive rant where he yells "I work hard all day to pay for this! 6000 square foot house, big screen TVs, food on the table, video games, all kinds of scooters and bicycles, Columbia university and FOR WHAT???! TO COME HOME TO THIS???!!". A.J. then ignorantly says to Tony "Sucks to be you" and Tony slaps A.J. in the face, who runs away in shock and Tony furiously shouts "THERE'S MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM! WE'RE STARTING A NEW REGIME AROUND HERE!!".
Carmela looks shocked at Tony and shouts "My God, Tony! The school guidance counselor said this might be a cry for help" and Tony dismissive, says "Oh, come on, will ya!". Carmela then says to Tony "She recommended a school in Brunswick that's for troubled kids" but Tony refuses and says "No more schools that fuckin coddle him! He's going to military school!". Carmela looks at Tony in surprise and asks "What?" and Tony says "Yeah from Janice. She was going to send Harpo there but she didn't have the money and it was too late!". Carmela then insists "I am not sending him away!" but Tony says "We're looking at those brochures!" and storms off.
So, its a great scene that contains the most well deserved slap in the history of TV as A.J. is such an obnoxious little brat here that totally asked for it. Its also brilliantly played by James Gandolfini again as he rants and raves about A.J.'s failures to Carmela, which results in him determined to send his son to military school. And so this scene definitely deserves place here.
4. "It was a fu**ing horse!" Season 4 - Episode "Whoever did this"
Tony has it out with Ralph Cifaretto over the death of Pie-o-My
So, the next scene on the list is the confrontation between Tony and Ralph Cifaretto in Season 4 after the death of Tony's race horse, Pie-o-My as he suspects Ralph was behind it and its a great dramatic scene between two great actors in James Gandolfini and Joe Pantoliano.
And the scene starts with Tony turning up at Ralph's door and he tells Ralph "I got some bad news. There was a fire at the stall. Pie-o-My. She's dead" and Ralph looks shocked and says "Wow, Oh Jesus. Oh, Madonn". So, Ralph invites Tony in and Ralph tells him that his son, Justin, who was badly injured in an accident involving an arrow being fired in his chest while playing with another boy, is recovering. Tony, however seems more concerned about the horse and says to Ralph "Lois (who works at the horse stable) said that the horse was still alive. It was burnt so bad, they had to put it out of its misery" and Ralph says "I don't even want to think about it". Tony then says "At this point, they said it looks accidental".
Ralph then says "What sick fuck would do something like that on purpose?" and Tony then starts to become a little suspicious says "Right, what sick fuck?" and Ralph asks "What?" and Tony says "Its funny how shit and fate like that. The horse gets better and we take out 200 grand in insurance in the race coming up. And suddenly there's fire". Ralph then looks at Tony and asks "What do you think I had something to do with this?" and Tony says "I didn't". Tony then takes off his jacket and says "You know what? I think I will have some eggs" and Ralph asks if he wants toast and Tony says "Yeah".
Tony then probes Ralph further as he mentions Corky Ianucci, who specialises in arson and if Ralph had heard from him lately. So, Ralph finally grows tired of Tony's questions and says "I don't understand you, Anthony. We got lucky. That accidental fire was a bolt from beyond. The horse was no fuckin good, with the colic all the time and the bills". Tony annoyed says "What are you talking about?! She bounced back!" but Ralph says to him "This time, but each time it takes something out of him! It was all downhill. Now, I know its tragic to think this way but you can't argue with the logic".
Tony then looks disgusted at Ralph and says "Jesus Christ, you did it! You cooked that horse alive!" but Ralph denies it and shouts "NO I DID NOT! But so what?! It was a fucking animal! A hundred grand a piece! My kid's in a fuckin hospital! I don't hear you complaining though, when I bring you a nice fat envelope, you don't give a shit where that comes from!". Tony then glares at Ralph in anger but Ralph remains defiant and says to him angrily "Don't give me that look! It was a fucking horse! What are you, a vegetarian? You eat beef and sausage by the cartload!". Tony finally snaps and punches Ralph in the face and the two of them have an intense fist fight that ends with Tony choking Ralph to death and he shouts "She was a beautiful creature! What did she ever do to you?!".
Its quite an intense scene and also a pretty good fight sequence between the two men although given Tony's size and stature you just knew he would come out on top here. And of course Ralph was not the kind of character that really would be missed by anyone. Despite that, this is a great scene from both actors and well worth a place on here.
5. "This is the second time I'm playing catch-up with you!"
Season 5 - Episode "All Happy Families" - Tony confronts Feech at the Bing.
And to round off the first part is this scene from Season 5 where Tony meets with Feech at the Bing and confronts him over an organised car robbery at a Jewish wedding where one of the cars belongs to a doctor friend of Tony's.
So, in the scene, Feech comes in with a box from his bakery and Tony tells him to have a seat and Feech says "Oh, this sounds serious" and sits down. So, Tony asks him "Did you have anything to do with that wedding takedown in Ringwood?" and Feech asks "Why? Is that a problem?". And Tony firmly tells Feech "I told you that doctor was a FRIEND of mine. I specifically used that word! Are you aware of how many things a fucking M.D. can do for us?". Feech then sarcastically says "Sorry, Godfather, he was at the game. I just thought he was another pigeon" but Tony angrily asks him "Who authorised you to do it? And don't call Godfather with that fuckin cute smirk!".
Feech then after a beat, irritated asks Tony "I know I've been away a long time. But when did it happen, you gotta ask permission to ply your trade?" and he takes out an envelope and says "Here's your end! Be happy!" and he slams it down on Tony's desk. Tony then asks Feech "When were you gonna tell me about it if I didn't call you here?" and Feech, annoyed says "I'm here now! Telling you about it now!" but Tony points angrily at him and says "That's the second time, I'm playing catch-up with you!" and Feech asks "What the fuck are you talkin about?!" and Tony says "The lawn cutting!" and Feech angrily says "So, do I have to send you a memo whenever I move my bowels too?!".
Feech then explains that Johnny Sack made a deal with to steal the cars and ship them whole but Tony asks him "Are you fuckin serious?!" but Feech stands up and says "I don't like the way I'm being talked to here!". Tony then reminds Feech "What did I tell you when you came to me, said you wanted back in. I said as long as you don't step on anybody's toes". Feech then is about to start lecturing Tony angrily "In my day..." but Tony cuts him short and says with increasing anger "And that's another thing, I don't wanna hear no more about how it was in your day! You just keep your anecdotes to local colour, like Dynaflows or the Maguire sisters, shit like that. Otherwise, SHUT THE FUCK UP!!".
Then there is an angry silence between the two men and Tony eases up a little says to him "Jesus Christ, Feech. I'm trying to ease your transition here and this is the thanks I get?". Feech then calms down and softly says to Tony "I'm sorry if I offended you. You gotta remember, Tony, I still think of you as a kid. I'll learn" and Tony looks at him for a moment and asks "Yeah?" and Feech nods and says "Yeah". Tony however then has a flashback to when he told a corny joke at a card game the night before and we see everyone laugh except Feech.
Tony finally stands up and goes over to Feech and gives him a warm hug and Feech asks him "So, are we good?" and Tony smiles and says "Just get the SL-55 back, okay?". Feech then playfully pretends to punch at Tony who does the same back at him and leaves and Tony goes back and sits down in his chair. Silvio, who was present then says "Maybe I was too hard on that guy" but Tony sadly says "Did I learn nothing from Richie Aprile. Nip it in the bud" and Silvio asks "Feech?" and Tony nods and Sil says "He's well liked, T" and Tony says sadly "That's another thing" and Sil says "Well don't be too hard on yourself" as Tony wipes away a tear from his eye.
So, this another great scene and easily one of my favourites from the show, which showcases again Gandolfini's great performance as Tony and Robert Loggia is equally great in this scene also as Feech La Manna and for me it easily deserves a place on the list.
So, that's it for Part 1 and I will be back soon with Part 2.
Till then, bye for now!
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