pacino wrote:hardest scene ever is halfway through episode 4, season 3 when melfi was raped. so horrific

But the end of that episode, when she resists the chance to have Tony go after the rapist after he gets off...man that was the most intense moment in television history for me, just watching her hesitate before saying "No" or whatever she said. Holy crap. Watching someone struggle with a moral dilemma in real time that was impossible to judge. I wanted her to do it and I wanted her to say no just as intensely. I got into a furious argument with someone over that episode once.

I think if you were to take the best 10 episodes of the Sopranos and match them against the 10 best episodes of the Wire, it would be extremely close, and the Sopranos might have the edge. But if you take the 86 episodes of the Sopranos and put them against the 60 episodes of the Wire, I think The Wire wins. Sitting here now, I struggle to think of "throwaway" episodes of The Wire. The first season, the first few episodes move very slowly, but its setting you up for the construct of the show. With the Sopranos, I can think of a bunch of episodes that were just "meh" and a bunch of storylines that are just really poorly developed/not necessary at all. With the Wire, I never felt that.

Maybe its just personal preference, but I think cover to cover the Wire was the stronger show.

Wire was definitely tighter, but I'm not sure that's a fair comp because Chase and HBO went back and forth on the timing of the seasons, how and when to end it, etc. Even Chase considers the Vito arc unnecessary in hindsight.

I used to say Wire but have come around to Phandz's argument for Sopranos. It used more of the palette.

One season down. Hooked.

Houshphandzadeh wrote:remember that Chris sat on Adrianna'a dog and killed on it while he was high?

"head in the toilet.........disgusting."

I think the original emphasis of the Sopranos was the way in which Tony's real family caused him at least as much trouble as his crime family. But I think early on it became clear, the real family wasn't all that interesting. Meadow essentially disappears once she heads off to college. And AJ as a character was sort of a waste.

seems pretty interesting to me

TenuredVulture wrote:I think the original emphasis of the Sopranos was the way in which Tony's real family caused him at least as much trouble as his crime family. But I think early on it became clear, the real family wasn't all that interesting. Meadow essentially disappears once she heads off to college. And AJ as a character was sort of a waste.

I disagree completely on the AJ thing. A lot of Tony's issues come from him seeing AJ going down a bad path, which makes him question his childhood, his relationship with his father, etc.

SPOILERY

Barry Jive wrote:One season down. Hooked.

two down. getting pretty cray

FTN wrote:

TenuredVulture wrote:I think the original emphasis of the Sopranos was the way in which Tony's real family caused him at least as much trouble as his crime family. But I think early on it became clear, the real family wasn't all that interesting. Meadow essentially disappears once she heads off to college. And AJ as a character was sort of a waste.

I disagree completely on the AJ thing. A lot of Tony's issues come from him seeing AJ going down a bad path, which makes him question his childhood, his relationship with his father, etc.

I thought Meadow was a good character and throughout the series had an important role. Yes, she was different, and trying to find her way but there was a Soprano loyalty in her. AJ was a deeply conflicted kid and he didn't fit the classic mobster chip off the old block that Tony might have imagined, but their relationship and path together was a key element...

Meadow and Janice were just too distracting most of the time to enjoy.

i think janice being so hateable and awful as a human being was obviously intentional. you're supposed to dislike her right up until the moment you dont

Given how the show ended, I feel free to make up my own Soprano future world. And in that world, Meadow takes her law degree and becomes not just a mafia lawyer but ends up running the family. AJ gets wacked.

one of my favorite things ever



what a fucking stagmire

the sacred and the propane would be an awesome band name

TenuredVulture wrote:Given how the show ended, I feel free to make up my own Soprano future world. And in that world, Meadow takes her law degree and becomes not just a mafia lawyer but ends up running the family. AJ gets wacked.

...and she marries Turtle from Entourage...

Or a combination religious supply / heater supply store

Sopranos is my #1. from 2011 and 2012 posts have convinced me to watch the Wire. I don't know too many people that watched that show and the ones that did apparently didn't feel the need to promote it. Floppy's post on the whole of the show convinced me.