Season 6 - Ep. 9: "The Ride" **SPOILERS**

Christopher makes a surprise announcement; Paulie pays a price for cutting costs at an Italian Street Fair; Tony embraces the "old school."

Looks like the Chris-gets-married rumors might finally come true. Although it's somewhat strange we haven't even been introduced to a girlfriend character or anything yet.

The previews for this one looked great. At least Paulie is back. Looks like there is trouble brewing with Bobby Baccala. I have been watching other mob flicks and these guys make them worth while. Gotti featured a number of Soprano's actors as well as Goodfellas.

I've heard a lot of speculation that in tonight's episode........(POSSIBLE HUGE SPOILER RIGHT BELOW)....


Paulie dies. I don't believe it at all, but who knows. A lot of people seem to be thinking this may be what happens tonight. Again, I'm definitely not counting on it. Not to mention that would suck, Paulie is my favorite character on the show-always has been!

Do you think that's Chris' surprise announcement? I would be surprised since we know of no new love interest. Unlessof course he gets married in a drug stuper.
I was thinking more along the lines of his movie writing career, but that ended up pretty much nowhere too.


TIS

I wouldn't be surprised if Chris goes to Hollywood, especially after seeing the free gifts. It's been an ambition he's had since the pilot.

Does anyone know if Ben Kingsley will be reappearing in the show, or was it a one-time thing?? I'm guessing Christopher calls him again.

I am looking forward to tonight's show though. I read (probably on the Soprano site) that part of it is in Little Italy, which is I assume the street fair in which Paulie tries to "cut costs." He's very comical to me. I can only imagine what happens.

TIS

Ok, who is this girl Chris just proposed to??? Have they shown her before???


TIS

it was a good episode. i like WE ARE THE VIPERS thing i was laugghing so hard. but i didnt like that chris relasped.

The most hilarious part of the episode was when the Doctor asked Paulie if his father had a history of Prostate Cancer, and he said "I don't know!"

Good episode. The preview for next week looks really good.

Its nothing I can put my finger on but I found this to be a very dark episode.... Chris with the drugs is top on the list.

Anyone else?

A great, but down episode. I was really hoping Chris wouldn't fall back into drugs. I loved the flashback though, showing Chris tell Tony about Adriana.

Next week looks good, but my assumptions seem to reach disappointment every week. I thought Bobby or someone was gonna be hurt this week due to a fight, not a ride malfunction, though I see Vito might blow his cover.

I thought it was slow, and last week was a little better..

Just seemed like alot of today had nothing to do with the season, they keep adding storylines, I hope Vito death isn't the big hit this season. Up until this season he was a nobody.

I will say this, Chris moves in to my slot to kill Tony. He keeps thinking of A or he kills himself. Carm is starting to step away of Tomy in my eyes.

Anyone know if Steven Van Zandt was filming a movie when they were taping ths show, he has hardly been seen outside of the third episode.

I liked this one too! Yea SC, I guess it was kind of dark. I am disappointed, although not too surprised at Chris' relapse. I'm surprised Tony more or less encouraged him.

Paulie's cancer scare with him feeling the need to go back to whom he knows as his mother; the broken carnival ride. Adriana's mother in the picture again, and Chris' flashback with Tony. I wonder if Adrian's murder will be pursued.

Some really humourous scenes too, stealing the wine. Yea the Vipers remark, "what's that the girl scouts troop name" (or something of the sort). Although Tony and Chris were really bonding, Carm's suspicious of Chris.

Oh,, and cheapskate Paulie with the festival!!

On a sidenote, I like the music tonight. Especially when Tony is lifting Janice's baby as they play "Red River Valley" in the background. I remember that particular version from way back. Also, for the older group, as they were rolling the credits at the end, did you catch the different version of "Pipeline."

I've like this whole season so far. I'll be sorry for the series to end if it continues to be this good.

TIS

Between Johnny Sack, Vito, and maybe even Junior the Soprano family has a lot of powerful guys with an interest to rat out the family. Two bosses and a captain....damn

I think next week things may begin to really collapse

they cant get the boss os a NEW YORK FAMILY to rat out a small new jersy boss. that isnt realistic

I'm wondering if that scene was filmed two years ago when they were shooting Season 5. It looks as though it may have been (judging by Tony's hairline).

Not gonna touch that line.

Oh, and how about Tony's "You're doing a heck of a job Brownie" remark to Paulie?


TIS

That flash of the statue as Paulie was alone in the BadaBing scared the hell out of me. Also, if it turns out Paulie does have cancer and he, god forbid, loses his hair...loses his WINGS, this show is over. Not even joking. That's the downfall of the Sopranos rigt there. Paulie with no wings.

Overall though, great episode. Chris had me talking to the television screen again, calling him an idiot for falling back into drugs. (Just like I did last week telling Tony not to cheat on Carmella with the real estate girl)

I do feel really bad for Paulie these days. Oh, and also when Chris and Tony spotted the wine crates and Chris said he saw it was a couple of bikers...I had a brief thought that it would be Vito and his new lover. Then I realized they weren't even in the right state, despite how hilarious it would have been to be caught like that lol.

Chris could not pick a worse time to start back up again on the drugs. After the bonding he and Tony had this week. Seemed strong enough to even give him the position of boss some day...maybe

Great episode for a few reasons . . .

1. The flashback, eerie, moving.
2. The music, seemed like it was finally back to the way it used to be done in the 1st season, with a lot of good music. That made me really happy.
3. Key character and story developments in Chris and Paulie.

Sometimes I feel like all this show needs to do to get me to like it is just focus on Chris. He is so clearly the best part of the show for me.

I really liked the inclusion of Paulie's split second Virgin Mary vision too. Thats one problem I've always had with the show is that they don't visually depict character's thoughts much outside of Tony's dreams. I love little literal depictions of thoughts like that.

And one other thing, did anyone notice the way Corky, Chris's druggie friend, asked about the Rusty hit? Made me think he's a rat maybe.

Can't wait for some good Sac action next week...

... and I don't mean Vito and Mr. Johnny Cakes.



1. Members Only (6.1)
2. The Ride (6.9)
3. Live Free or Die (6.6)
4. Johnny Cakes (6.8)
5. Join the Club (6.2)
6. Mr. and Mrs. Sacrimoni Request (6.5)
7. Luxury Lounge (6.7)
8. Mayham (6.3)
9. The Fleshy Part of the Thigh (6.4)

I'm really happy with this season so far. I'm just really hoping for a good conclusion. And I'm sure I'll like it all more once it's done.

I believe it was. I read before this season started that they filmed a scene with Chris telling Tony, but it was edited out.

I did, too, but silently. :p

This show is so greatly written. An example: Chris relating that he'd have diarrhea (when he was snorting coke) just from the smell of money.

Paulie has definitely been a comic relief for the show but I felt sad for him after tonight's episode. I don't think this storyline is gonna work out well for him.

I have watched this show from the very beginning and wonder why I keep tuning in. Each subsequent season makes the last look great. WTF are they doing? Chris on drugs again and married. Who is the woman? Could be an undercover Fed for all we know. Paulie always steals the show, without him it would stink. Vincent Pastore was another show stopper. Where are the great guest stars? Frank Vincent and the rest at the beginning of season five were great because it added new blood to the show. Ben Kingsley and Juliana Margulise[sp] add nothing to the show. Many of the characters that made the show are gone, Buschemi should have been kept around for this season as his contract stated. Uncle Junior is missing in action, Dominic Chianese is a great actor but his screen time is nil to none. I wonder if many of his scenes were filmed during season five figuring with the long wait for this season the poor guy might pass away.

Did anyone notice the 3:00 reference? I thought Paulie was going to die.

This obviously was a show about "Family."

Tony and Christopher bonding together, talking about how they've been solid for each other, having fun with a heist together.

Paulie reconciling with his mother.

Christopher getting married, buying a house, having a baby.

The family all together at the Bazzar.

Tony bonding with his neice.

Baccala coming to the defense of his wife and his daughter with the carnival guy.

I agree with SC here about Paulie. I think he's going to get some bad news about the postrate cancer.

I also have a feeling that Christopher just may wind up with AIDS from doing the needle with that guy. Did anyone notice how they showed the blood backing into the needle, almost in slow motion, when that guy was shooting up?

Tony and Phil doing a deal and cutting out Johnny Sac? That just may be the backbreaker that comes back to bite Tony in the ass. If anyone can bury Tony with the Feds, it's Johnny Sac. Tony's done all kinds of illegal deals with him, and this year carried out a favor in the form of a hit on behalf of Johnny. Johnny can really be the one to bury Tony now.

I love how Chase shows us that below the surface, Mob bosses or not, that these guys are nothing but petty theives who get a rise out of robbing and beating people.

Baccala has to do something about Janice. That bitch has abused his kids since the day that she walked into their lives.

Watching the scenes of the Italian Feast brought back a lot of memories of being a kid, growing up in Brooklyn and going to those church feasts/bazzars. Being able to hang out in the middle of the street because they were closed off. Eating Zeppolas and greasy sauseeege and peppas on fresh Italian bread! Those were the days.

As SC pointed out, a very Dark show. But I enjoyed it.


Don Cardi

He has to do something about HIMSELF.

He's been much too susceptible to comments made by others (about himself). Tony tells him he has to go out on his own and do something so he concocts the plan to shoot the rapper. Janice belittles him for not doing anything to the ride owner and only then does he go and beat up the guy.

Next week's TV Guide alludes to something about Janice.

Cardi,

Interesting prediction on Chris & aids. Wow, that'd be something wouldn't it? Janice is still annoying, and Bobby is too as far as I'm concerned. Both Bobby & Paulie seem awfully careless and impulsive.

That Fiesta scene brought back memories for me as well. In Michigan we belonged to an Italian parish and they had a "feast" every year, where they'd carry this huge crucifix for several blocks and then the chruch grounds had a bunch of booths with Italian food and some games for kids. It was like a holiday.

Btw, that was really filmed in Little Italy no??? Everytime I see a place I visited when I was in NYC I like to really check it out and am happy to say I was there. :p It looked like it was really Little Italy.


TIS

After the last three episodes, me too.

Turnbull, I am not trying to start an argument here, so I will not respond to the post you answer this with with anything but respect for your opinion -- but just out of curiosity, what didn't you like about the last 3 episodes? Specifically the last 2, as I agree the Artie episode was not the greatest. Personally, I thought the last two were pretty top quality.

Just wondering...


Oh also, as for the 3:00 reference. I remember in a previous season (was it 2?) that Paulie had a dream at 3 about Christopher dying, or something like that, I don't exactly recall as Don Lights brought it up to my attention last night. Is that what you are referring to?

I really don't see the problem with this season.

Another great episode, it had the feel of one of those first or second season episodes. Very well done. I was sad to see Chris back on drugs, but was anyone reminded of that figure of speech "going back to the dogs" when he went on that heroin binge, embracing the dog and laying on the park bench? Maybe chase tossed a little metaphor in there.

The refrence to 3:00 comes from season 2. When Chris gets shot outside the Diner he comes to and asks for Tony and Paulie and tells them he went to Hell. He tells Paulie that someone (Mikey Palmice, I think) said to tell Paulie 3:00. He stays up over the next few episodes with his Girlfirend. Very interesting to see this come up agian I think. As well as the numerous mentions of Adrianna Lecerva "one moo ya hottie"

He has to do something about HIMSELF.

He's been much too susceptible to comments made by others (about himself). Tony tells him he has to go out on his own and do something so he concocts the plan to shoot the rapper. Janice belittles him for not doing anything to the ride owner and only then does he go and beat up the guy.

Next week's TV Guide alludes to something about Janice. [/b][/quote]It's interesting to see that Janice hasn't completely thrown out her Macbeth costume. Of course, it always ends up trouble for the guy; remember Richie?... well, she had slight role in his demise but he was on his way down regardless.

In that same season, we were introduced to Bobby who was basically one of the stragglers in Junior's crew. He was very docile which everyone used to dump all over him; no respect at all. In the last couple of seasons, he's been stepping up a bit and this season he doesn't hold back. Now, with Janice's prodding/nagging, who knows where this'll end up?

Can anyone figure out what the big deal is with the wine they took from the Vipers. They keep mentioning how good it is and seem obsessed with it.
I just wonder if it is drugged and they are getting addicted to it??

Good point. I believe that Tony and Chris are riding high that they ripped off some wine from some bikers. IMHO that was stupid. Tony is a boss and Chris a captain to be pulling antics like that is asking for trouble.

Of course they aren't riding high.

1) They really like the wine.

2) They think it's hilarious because the guy said "Hey, we're with the Vipers!"

IMHO they were. Tony told Chris after the heist it was like old school.

The reason such a big deal is made about the wine is the temptation facing Chris as he struggles and ultimately fails to resist drinking it. Originally, a big fuss is made about it, which leads him to drink some and eventually get back on the drugs. Towards the end, Tony is fearful of giving Chris too much temptation and so tells him the wine isn't that good anymore.
Simple as that.

Two things: why was the conversation between Chris and Tony in the basement when Tony was puttin gup the wine so contrived? It seemed like they were both stuck for something to talk about.

Also, when Paulie walked into the club and saw the vision of Blessed Mother, that vision was also reflected in the mirror on the opposite wall. Was that intended (if so, why?) or just a mistake?

I feel like it made Tony feel like he was still capable of things like that and not just a Boss and that is why he treasures the wine so much