Season 6--Ep 6: "Live Free or Die" **SPOILERS**

Tony debates whether to give a top earner a second chance, and looks abroad to settle a local dispute. Don't miss the all new episode of The Sopranos, "Live Free or Die", Sunday, April 16th at 9PM.
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I think Vito might be spared if he's the top earner. I recall a story about a openly gay man in the Gambino crime family who escaped murder by being a great earner.

Half way through the season already.

I personally don't think Tony would really care if he found out Vito is gay. Tony strikes me as the kind of guy who understands homosexuality isn't a choice.

The rest of the family, ehhh...

Part one, anyway. Part two comes in January.

Believe it or not, I was kind of hoping it wasn't on this Sunday. Yea, only because I'll have a houseful for Easter and probably won't be able to see it at 6:00. I'll try to catch it at 9:00 or later in the week, only I don't know what other days it's on. Does anyone else?


TIS

Bump

Good episode I thought. Looks like Tony has a very difficult decision in the coming week.

As for Vito, well, he was visiting an antique shop and visiting a waterfall...

Just saw the preview for next week, looks to be exceptional, Tony gets punched.

Quite frankly, I dont think Vito Spatafore is important enough to dedicate an entire eppisode to, and then not even resolve the issue. He doesnt deserve this much attention. This is exactly how I felt about the season opener and Eugene, but atleast they only needed one eppisode to resolve that shit.

yea i agree. if they were gonan dedicate an entire episode to vito they shude have finished it. too much air time for him.

The words I said after completing my first viewing of this episode were verbatim: "No, no, he has to die, they have to kill him! Why isn't he dead" But that's Chase for you, evil genius that he is. Anywho, some observations about this episode: my favourite lines from the episode: Tony, "One bad idea after another." Chris, "Human frailty, sometimes it sickens me." It sickens me most of the time, something I need to work on I guess. A.J. is proving himself to be more and more of a bastard with every passing episode I think. Meadow, well she's just an angel. Carm's father is a jokester and I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks so. That Baseball analogy about "catching, not pitching" or however it went, very funny." Oh yeah, Carm's father's best line, "I've had a lifetime of her (idiot) bullshit." Sil's line about woman, priceless, I thought. Overall, a very solid episode better than last week's I thought.

Hmmm...when you're top earner is outed as a homo, that's definitley food for thought.

I agree. This episode sucked. It was too soap operaish for my liking. For lands sake, this is supposed to be a mob show. I understand that they can't have mob hits and such week after week, but c'mon already, how much time do we have to watch about this gay mobster?

Last week had almost an entire episode dedicated to a wedding, but at least it seemed to lay some groundwork for some mob action. Now this week we have to see an entire episode devoted to a homosexual storyline.

I've enjoyed the season up until tonights episode. They make you wait all week and then give us this? Time to get back down to some in your face cosa nostra stories again.


Don Cardi

I thought building up the issue (with Vito) is well worthy of some air time, and I thought this a good episode. It gave some insight into Tony's feelings and Silvio's "advice" is also worthy of mention. This is gonna present some fodder for a future episode(s) and I find it entertaining.

I hope the majority of tme next week isn't spent on Artie Bucco.

.....And WTF happened to Rusty?

I don't think this was a bad episode at all. I especially love the attention to detail like Vito at the diner. I also liked the scene where he retreats into the park and waterfall. I also don't think it's too much attention. A Capo being spotted as gay seems pretty big for a mafia.

On a lighter note, I loved some of the dialogue.

Gun Runner: Maybe it's a mid-life crisis.
Chris: Suckin' a guy's dick?

Personally, I loved this episode. There was a TON of hilarious moments and lines in it. Probably my second favorite episode of this season, only behind Mayham (ep. 3).

I think tony is not thinking in terms of black & white but rather the "green" -- he could care less about vito's sexuality, he only cares about the money, which is why he replaced vito with that new construction guy... i think tony is a smart business man and following the road of logic... watch tony help develop vito's role as capo of his own family in a gay community like the one he is in self-exile now... i can just see him running that antique shop and starting gay porn rings, male prostitutes, etc etc etc... just makes more sense than having him whacked because of his sexuality... ask yourself, if someone on your sales team made you a million dollars a year, would you fire him because he was gay? I realize there is a "code of honor" here, and that is what throws a wrench into the works...

Peace out from Caldwell...

I must admit, I had a houseful of company and was somewhat distracted, so wasn't able to give it my usual full attention. Thus far, the least favorite of the episodes, but still pretty good. Some comical moments. I always feel so sorry for poor Finn. He seems to get drawn in and always seems so terrified.

Tony, I think, is a little more compassionate toward Vito. I don't know that it's only because Vito is a top earner and/or moneymaker. I really think he's hesitating as to whether keep him or not. However, was it Paulie that said no one else would want to work with him? Naturally this would be a big minus for the business. I look for Vito to be the next whacking and/or he'll kill himself.

TIS

Is it ironic that these mobsters, who steal and stab ya in the back with the drop of a nickel, want to ice Vito because it offends their "beliefs" and "sins"?

Better yet, remember when Finn really goes after Meadow after she railed about letting "White Collar" criminals(despite....well, you all know!)...quite interesting.

But really, each episode so far this season has been about some character having one shitty week. Let's see, there was Paulie, Sil, Vito, Johnny Sac, Tony, and who else?

Decent episode, glad to see Nick Anunziato the bodyguard returning after his time in the ring with Tony.

Looks like we're in for something interesting next week and, correct me if I'm wrong, but was that young Benny Fazio punching Tony in the face and asking him if he wants more in next week's previews? I at first thought it was Vito, which would explain his mangled eye in that leaked photo, but when I watched it again it looked like it could have been Tony. Enjoy, and buona pasqua

I'm surprised there was a negative reaction towards this episode. I throughly enjoyed it. I think it really just comes down to the direction in some cases. I don't know if this is just me, but I felt this episode was well paced and well organized and I feel thats largely due to Tim Van Patten's direction. Certain episodes this year I felt were largely flawed in their direction and it can really just make the difference sometimes.

As far as Vito's unresolved storyline, I was somewhat annoyed at first but ultimately I appreciate it. I was actually not a fan of Eugene's storyline being raced through in one episode, and I feel as though Vito is an important enough character and his outing is important enough to the storyline that he deserves to be in the forefront for more than one episode.

We almost deserve it for the classic Chase move of outing him to the viewers but then letting the storyline lay silent for the rest of the season.

My updated Season 6 episode rankings ....

1. Members Only (6.1)
2. Live Free or Die (6.6)
3. Join the Club (6.2)
4. Mr. and Mrs. Sacrimoni Request (6.5)
5. Mayham (6.3)
6. The Fleshy Part of the Thigh (6.4)

It was a so so episode IMHO. I have a feeling now that Vito has been found out, Finn and Meadow will break up. Finn was only going to marry Mead because he feared Vito. I doubt that was Tony getting hit in the face, more than likely Vito since Phil wants to beat the crap out of Vito for what he did to his cousin. This episode was a slower paced one but had its good moments. Paulie having egg on his face for sticking up for Vito then finding out it was true was priceless. “How much betrayal can one take?” If one remembers Johnny Sac betrayed Paulie by telling him Carmine liked him when in fact Carmine had no clue to who he was. As far as Vito being a top earner, Ralphie was also a top earner and Tony killed him after finding out about Ralphie’s weird sex quirks from Janice. True the horse dying was the trigger but it was never established if Ralphie did set the fire.

just another tv show that has to finish politically correct

i'm tired of the way MTV, Hollywood, movies and the media are tryin to make ******ry socially acceptable

now the writer's of the sopranos gotta do it

the thing i think is great about the sopranos is that over the seasons it shows how dealing with real life situations create certain emotions, but each character deals with them in a different way. The consequences are sometimes positive and sometimes negative.

Also, the inner workings of mob shit that goes on.

Nowaday's Hollywood and the media are tryin to make ******ry socially accepted and also make us feel bad for the way muslims are treated becuz of 9-11. But if they wanted to not be cliche, they woulda whacked Vito and talked bad about the camel jockeys.

Them being Politically Correct just like every other fuckin thing is CLICHE

everyone tries to be politically correct now. Bring back the archie bunker's of the world becuz they talk how the working class people REALLY feel.

Seriously, are you fucking kidding me? Meadow is as Liberal as one could get, so what do you expect? Tony still told Chris "Any chance of them being Al Quaedas?"

And yes, the Sopranos does deal with real emotions and real situations. There was nothing about the episode that wasn't. Vito isn't the only gay mobster in the history of the world. The Gambino crime family had one, and let him live because of the money he made.

Get a goddamn clue. I also love how you call it "fa*gotry," if that's what the censored word is. Shows the intellect of who I'm dealing with.

The Sopranos is far from politically correct.

No disrespect....

but i was really cheesed out in last nights episode.

not to even mention vito hanging out in the gay coffee house.

and i dont think chris would be talking about the disrespectful pics of muhammed that came out of .....?(I dont remember which country published them). HOWEVER TONY GOT CHEESED OUT AFTER THAT TOO.

TONY IS THE ONLY ONE AS CHEESED OUT AS I AM!

This was a great episode. Notice how after Tony's beating of Perry last week Chris is all of the sudden on board for the idea of outsourcing the hit on "the mayor of munchkinland." I think Tony truly thinks it is ridiculous to have a Vito (or anyone else) killed just because he is a fanuch. However, the scene with him and Sil is very telling. He knows that, even though he is 'the boss', some things are just out of his hands. Sil was being, as usual, a valuable consigliere by reminding him of this. No matter what Tony wants, this is one of those cases where his choice of a livilihood dictates the choice he has to make in this specific instance--Vito has got to go.

You obviously didn't really watch the episode. Your prejudice has blinded you.

This being the last season and all, there is a very good chance the family could be pretty f_cked once the season is over, whether that be with deaths or inditements (sp?).

the fact that Vito is still alive after that episode tells me that he could be a catalyst for this

It is definitely not Tony, that Benny punches in the face.

Tony will soon be back to his 100% normal self. Just look at what he said to Dr. Melfi about how normal life has a way of picking at the "everyday is a gift" belief.

I'd take the gay episode over a dream episode. At least something actually happens. The only dreams I like are the ones in which affect the story (foreshadowing) and the ones where Tony gets close to fucking Dr. Melfi.

The Season 6 dreams had nothing to do with the story?

I dunno. You can make a case that too much time was given to Vito. But was the guy in the shop kind of "interested" in Vito?

Don't you get the impression that the writers are creating alot of loose ends: Carmela and the house and her father; Meadow and Finn (what was that bedroom scene all about?); Vito, of course; the Arabs; whacking Rusty; Junior; Chris and his boldness with Tony; don't forget Ade?

By the way JRCX, it's "I couldn't care less".

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!

There he is!!! How did you find that JL???? That's hilarious.

I can't think of them now, but remember all the jokes about Vito last night???


TIS

I was on another message board, and someone had that as their signature picture.

I think Vito's a shadey character anyway. He seemed like he'd be first to step on Tony while he was in the hospital. There's been no resolution to that and now that they found out Vito's secret. I'm thinkin he's gonna go, because if he doesn't and he is still allowed to be in the family he'll potentially betray the Soprano Family.

I know they did, but they were too extensive, I was waiting for something to actually happen.

Instead of spending so much time focused on the dream, maybe Chase & Co. could have come up with some more actual events which happen while Tony's in the hospital. It would have been more exciting and may have made for a better story. It just depends on where you have your interests set.

wasn't Vito in the episode that chris shot that guy in the foot. He was the guy that chris told to get out of the backery.

Yeah, he was an extra for that scene and soon got hired for Vito Spatafore. In fact he's the man who killed Jackie jr.

he looks really different tho. not just the weight but in he looks different even when he was fatter in season 5

Another thing about the eppisode:

Its the first time "The Sopranos" got hardcore political. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

I agree about the mixed feelings on the previous "hard core political" comment. I'm not sure if I like where this is going. Part of me wants them to kill Vito because he is, and especially in the beginning of the season was, a bastard. (Not because he's gay) And part of me feels like if they kill him people will bash the Sopranos for being anti-gay. It seems to me the show has put itself in a rather awkward situation.

By the way, when Tony and Sil are talking and Tony says something along the lines of, "Besides, we all know he is not the first one." What did he mean? That he isn't the first homosexual to exist ever, which is obvious, or was he talking specifically about someone else on the show. I don't remember anyone else being a homosexual, and I've seen every episode, though not recently.

Overall though, last night's episode certainly was interesting and funny, though for the first time I await this Sunday with a confused and almost nervous feeling as opposed to the usual, "My God I love this show" anticipation.

they should whack him and let the anti-gay people cry

make a statement

stop bein politically correct

u think the real guys in jersey think ******ry is ok

hell no

be real

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!! [/b][/quote]Anyone have a problem with us and him hanging out in Chicago??

I didn't think so. :p

The best of the lot: When the guys were talking about Vito (right after Chris spilled the beans) and Tony wanted to continue the discussion in a more private area and said, "OK, lets take this in the back", and the reply was, "Thats what Vito's been doing".

Who's heard the rumors about the major event thats happening within the next two episodes? AICN reported it, but HBO has confirmed it. If you care not to read it, then look away...
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Vito rapes ________. Now I won't say, but think hard. Who would he rape? Just remembering the ominous dialogue from sunday's episode: "He won't know that I told you guys, right?"

Probably Finn. No hard thinking there. I wonder if Vito's sexual problems has do with diabeties. He did mention this to the girlfriend.

To throw another log on the fire -

Consider this: What happens if Tony gets wind of Phil Leotardo gunning for Vito? Tony will be "forced" to defend Vito.

Of course, if rrA's leak about the rape is true, all bets are off.

The plot thickens.

I have just seen sundays episode. I feel sorry for Vito. The guy is obviously living a very tortured existence...ashamed of what he is...living in a world where it isnt as freely acceptible to be homosexual.

When he was sitting on the rocks by the waterfall he looked truly devastated.

however if vito rapes finn...all bets are off indeed...no sympathy will exist there...then he should die. the same with any rapists.

when i hear the word culture...i reach for my revolver.

From the why didn't I think of this before department? -

Someone in Tony's crew is a rat.

Tony swore all the guys to silence after Finn told them about Vito's indiscetion. Yet, Phil Leotardo knew the details (that Vito was seen going down on a security guard in a car). That fact could have only come from someone in Tony's crew.

I can't picture Vito coming all the way back to rape Finn. He'll probably stay there. The episode made a point of implying Vito may be finding a new piece of mind there.

it would suicide if vito goes back to jersey. IMHO i htink vito is goin to contact someone in jersey, then they will all meet and he will get cliped

yeah i agree with vercetti.

i cant see this rape thing going on...though of course we know something has to happen to vito's eye at some point...so i dont think it will be THAT much of a quiet life for him.

as for his new peace of mind...i agree...he looked keen to be around the acceptancing society of new hampshire...he was looking around enviously to the male couple in the diner. That said, the new enevironment is obviously difficult for him to adjust to immediately. He seemed uneasy whilst walking around the park...when the old guy said good morning...i guess NJ aint like that. I can't imagine walking across the street to the pork store to be greeted by paulie with "good morning".

Possibility:

Vito rapes Finn in a "violent" scene. While fighting back, Finn does the damage to Vito's eye that we see in the leaked picture? Stabs him, cuts him, pokes him, who knows. It looks like one hell of a nasty injury though.

My question is, would Vito let Finn live to tell this tale as well? He already told about the construction site incident.

Or, could Vito say Finn attacked him, did the damage to his eye, so he killed Finn. So Vito is the victim in that case. But the only problem with that is, what reason would he give as to why Finn attacked?

Just speculation.

i reckon Finn is actually an undercover FBI agent.

okay..not really.

haha.

vito wouldn't come back it would be the dumbest thing anyone could do. he may be gay but not an idiot. if you think he is really come back think about this he is going to go back to jersey to rape finn for no reason. He stilll think those guys spilled the beans and doesnt even think finn had anything to do with it.

Guys, I don't wanna break the bubble, but the spoiler I disclosed is CONFIRMED. Either this sunday or the next, its gonna happen.

My guess? The boys track down Vito in New Hampshire, and then shit hits the fan...or who knows, Vito goes back to tie up loose ends, and somehow, he gets involved in the situation with YOU KNOW WHO and does YOU KNOW WHAT.

Now imagine if Vito was able to basically restart himself there, you know what would happen? Start his own syndicate, try to peddle drugs, pornography, prostitution, you name it....

Here is what AICN exactly reported:

""A friend who works in the filming world mentioned that on the Sopranos there’s a violent rape scene between Joseph R. Gannascoli [who plays Vito Spatafore] and Will Janowitz [who plays Finn DeTrolio] will occur within the next two episodes. Cast members mentioned that it is so disgusting that many walked off set sick from it." "

Ouch!

Sounds like OZ if you ask me.

Celebrity Fit Club...

Just read the spoiler, too. Wow!

.....And AICN has never been wrong before?

.....And AICN has never been wrong before? [/b][/quote]HBO confirmed it.

Where?

Troy Anderson of http://www.andersonvision.com relayed the news that HBO sent to him yesterday....

Go ahead, be in denial.......just know when it happens that one can know that I am not wrong!

i see it happening...i definatly see it happening, especially since they seem to have set up something like that last season. Now the only thing is that it contradicts one of the episode tag lines that say vito learns something from a heroic act. food for that ya'll.

I'm not saying you're right or wrong, but it seems kind of silly that HBO is now confirming spoilers to their shows.

Do you have a direct link to the article?

Who the hell is Troy Anderson?

Could Vito and the guy in the art store hook up? Could the rape involve him? I thought I picked up on a vibe from him toward Vito. By the way, I don't think it will be Finn.

Yeah, how did Phil find out unless Carmela and the ladies told Vito's wife and she told Phil? And why is Tony giving Vito's rackets over to Carlo so quickly especially if Tony is so up in the air over whether it is true or not?

Phil was the one who told Vito's wife.

I missed that. Whe did Phil tell her?

Phil told her that it was confirmed Vito was seen in a car with a man but refused to go into deatils saying that it was too repulsive. Phil also said that the witness had no reason to lie, so he was obviously referring to Finn.

The question, again, is WHO spilled the beans? Paullie is the front-runner in my mind... he was so unhappy about the news and having to accept it (as witnessed with the meeting with Carlo, Sil and Tony).

BTW - Dunno if its been mentioned before, but the actress who plays Vito's wife is Lorraine Bracco's (Dr. Melfi) sister in real life.

SC,

I heard Bracco say her sister had a part in the series, and I saw her name in the cast, but I wasn't quite sure which one she was. I have to look again, but didn't notice a particular resemblence.

Thanks


TIS

Maybe those 2 wiseguys that saw Vito at the bar spread the news. Also, remember when Vito was outside and those wiseguys said they needed to talk to him, they knew about his condition. So I think it's a known fact in this organization.

Those wiseguys would not have known about Vito and the security guard in the car.

Its there.... albeit only a slight resemblance. You can also hear it (again, only slightly).

Those wiseguys would not have known about Vito and the security guard in the car. [/b][/quote]True.

The question is " who did'nt spill the beans"

It was pretty funny how the rumor mill went out of control.

Tony told Carm
Chris told the guy in the car
Carm told Rosalie
Rosalie knew
Finn told Meadow


I don't see this as a major leak.

Maybe Phil called Tony

Phil: Tony I heard that the fat guy is cheating on my cousin and his gumar with a someone called Dick.

Tony: Yeah I heard da same thing

Phil: Who is spreading these rumors

Tony: It's not a rumor, we have proof from a friend of ours that proves that the fat guy likes the little guy. Not the little gut we are fitting for a suit either.

Phil: Tony please tell me the fat guy was Whitey Ford and not Yogi Bearra.

Tony: I am sorry Phil, but he was Yogi

Phil: Oh christ, If he was in the joint, I could give him a pass, well maybe a pass for being Whitey Ford, Oh hell what am I going to do.

Tony: Phil please keep this between you and me.

Phil: You got it Tony

When Phil came to Vito's house it was to comfort Vito's wife who was also Phil's cousin. She already knew about; that was evident from the dialogue. She was ina sort of denial, so Phil told it it had been confirmed. The question still is how did Phil find out. Given the friction between Phil and Tony over Tony's cousin, etc., Phil's finding out could be significant. I guess it's reasonable that Vito's wife called Phil and told him. Afterall, they are cousins.

The thing that amazed me is the new relationship between Tony and Phil. Phil hates Tony over the handling of Tony B and mentioned this to Vito. In the previous episode Phil knocks Johnny who cries at the wedding to Tony and says something has to be done for who knows what the Feds could do to make Johnny crack.

why would he go back to jersry for anything. i heard about the spoiler but i dont see the logic in putting yourself in harms way

I think there are two possibilities.

First off, I was thinking that since Johnny Sac's crew owe Tony for taking out "the mayor of munchkin land", that they'll do a "favor for a favor" and take out Vito.

Then on the other hand, if this whole rape story angle happens, he could shut Flynn up, force him (or somebody else) to come out and say it was all false and turn things around.

i don't care how it happens. all i want to see is that scumbag vito dead. he has too much ambition and wanted tony to die while he was in the hospital.

I agree. Sounds like this story is a rumor at best.

has rusty got clipped yet?

No the "mayor of munchkin land" is still living. I suspect he will be killed in next weeks episode.

Will Rusty get clipped? That guy that Chris recruited ("You speak Ital?") to coordinate the hit looked and sounded kind of flaky to me. I think that's gonna blow up.

By the way, anyone know where the scene with Meadow and Finn took place? And why did she tell him to get his pants on since noone appeared afterward?

it was in there theatre i think. i saw the popcorn maker which was in there

I agree with Cardi's first assessment of the episode, and then SC's immediate reply. True, two opposing opinions, but I thought this episode was great, while marking some concerns in me also...

It seems this season is all about humanising these criminals, and adding new conflicts to their normal lives. So in that respect, the development of Vito is interesting not in what happens to him, but how the others react to it. I loved Silvio in this episode; the perfect consigliere, I think. Didn't you find the scenes where the crew is all around the table discussing possible paths for Vito fascinating? Very subtle way of revealing more to these characters.

I also loved how Vito's storyline wasn't concluded in this episode; I have been spotting a repetitive pattern sinking in this season and last, whereby characters who are suddenly giving more attention don't make it to next week's episode. So it's nice that this one ended a bit ambiguously.

There is an increasing emphasis put on placing the show into a wider, external context; concerns from Tony about terrorists, for instance, and now dealing with a topical issue about homosexuality. "Soap opera", as Cardi terms it, may well be right, but it's creating such fascinating dilemmas in these characters that I can't help but go along with it. Really, we've had five seasons before this, and we're really still none the wiser as to who these people really are. I think, in this respect, something as radical as Junior actually shooting Tony in the first episode, and now this, is a chance for us to really get to know these characters further.

The writing continues to be spot on, and I love Gandolfini's weight gain every week, and his convincing heavy breathing, which seems to get worse every week. It really makes you cringe at the thoughts of physical exersion from the guy. Brilliant acting. And who once made a remark about Tony being "a walking heart attack"? That's not prophetic guessing on my part, just more praise for the development of the main guy in the show.