And, no...there is no sexual overtone here.

Janice killed Ritchie, a made man. Since Richie was part of Tony's crew, I'm assuming there would be no one to retaliate against her. But is she technically considered a "made woman" since she whacked someone?

I doubt that very much. Even if she were a man, the act of murdering another made man would not necessarily guarantee that he'd eventually be made himself.

Fun question though.

No sexual overtones? What fun is that then?

I would have to say NO to your question. While Janice actually did kill someone, she did it on her own accord. She did it out of anger and vengence for his hitting her.

In the mob, when someone has to make their bones, it's usually on an order from a boss. They tell you specifically who you must kill to make your bones. It must be a cold blooded type killing. One that is not driven by your own anger, yhour seeking vengence or involving your personal feelings. They want to see if you have the cold blood in your veins to kill someone for no other reason except that you've been told to kill them.

I'm assuming that it's much easier to kill someone because you are angry with them because your emotions can take over, then to kill someone that you have absolutely nothing against.

That's why it is, or was, probably done that way

Why did Janice not face any backlash for killing a made man? Ralphie blew a gasket because Tony simply hit him. Is it because he was part of Tony's crew and Tony didn't care?

Well, if you remember, earlier in the very same episode Tony gave Silvio the okay to take Richie out anyway. It's like she unknowingly did them a favor. So none of Tony's crew were shedding any tears. In fact, they all probably thought that it was Tony who took Richie out, with the exception of Christopher, who helped him chop up and dispose of the body.

Is there even women in the mafia?

Mignon, in season two, Tony visits Italy and discovers that the boss there is a woman. As far as real life, I am not sure.

Thanks Sopranorleone I remember that I was wondering in real life.

Keep in mind that Phil killed Vito and nothing happened. Besides, Janice is Tony's sister. What could he do?

Well yes indeed. Try watch the documentary about Miami´s Drug period, called "Cocaine Cowboys"..

Anyway, i found it pretty wierd that Janice killed him. Its like, her motive was not strong enough for actully kill the guy.

That scene showed that she was really a Soprano at heart and definitely her mother's daughter.

And an ugly one at that!

As I said, her mother's daughter!

Here's another Janice question I thought of. Janice returned for her mother's funeral. If the actress hadn't died in real life, I can only assume they wouldn't have killed the character off. Would Janice had come back for any other reason if her mom hadn't died?

Good question Beth. I would think that if Nancy Marchand hadn't been sick with a fatal disease, the writers would have wrote an entirely different angle. Maybe they wouldn't have brought Janice back. Or maybe they wouldn't have even had Janice kill Richie.

A very good "what if" to contemplate.

Well, they'd had her in all of season two, so the character was well-established enough to sort of put away in a dark cupboard to bring out a later date. Dunno, though, maybe it would have been really late, much later than her re-entry in season three - and then again she might not have come back at all. But nah, I reckon she was always coming back for something else if not the funeral; she's an integral part of the show's insight into Tony's psychology... then again, she wasn't really, but is now.

It's a very interesting question, though. In fact, Livia's death is such an a coincidental and pivotal turn in the show, you could question where a lot of the characters would have been had Nancy Marchand lived.

What an awfully-written post. Blast the hangover from last night.

I think so. Especially if she "wanted" something or if she was in some kind of trouble, she'd come running to Tony. She's a conniving sneaky bitch, but I find her amusing and think her character adds to the series.

As far as her "making her bones", my first answer would be yes. DC makes sense though with his logic, and not to be "women's lib" or anything, but if it were a man would it be considered making his bones?

Now wouldn't it be interesting if the final season ended with Tony dead and/or gone or out of the family and Janice became the "Don-ess". Heaven forbid!!!

TIS

The new issue of "TV Guide" (with "The Sopranos" on the cover) mentions that Aida Turturro (sp?) was "pissed" when she "was sent packing on a bus at the end of the second season - she was worried she'd never come back".

Its POSSIBLE that if Nancy Marchand had lived the character of Janice may have had a much smaller role.

The new issue also alludes to the first upcoming episode is a somewhat hysterical show with Tony and Janice playing Monopoly after drinking too much.

FWIW - I agree totally with DC's idea that Janice didn't "make her bones" when she killed Richie Aprile simply because that killing was not an ordered hit.

I believe that Janice's attitude was eventually written in to take over where Livia left off. As Capo pointed out, Janice is an intergral part of Tony's psycology. The show started out with Livia being the intergral part of his psycology. And as I mentioned earlier, the writers of the show knew that Marchand had a fatal illness and would probably die eventually and that is why I think they inroduced the Janice character. Almost insurance as a replacement for the Livia character in Tony's life.

What do you think the purpose of Tony's other sister was? I can't even remember her name, but they only have shown her what once or twice? Do you think they intended to use her more and then sort of wrote her out?


TIS

Barbara.

Interesting question TIS.

I believe that both of Tony's sisters each represent the two sides of Tony.

Barbara is the sister that went her own way in life, having nothing really to do with the family. Driven away by her mother. Something that a part of Tony wishes that he could have done. Get away from his mother.

Janice is the sister that took off and did her own thing, driven away by her mother, but was drawn back to the family because it was security for her, in spite of her mother. Something that Tony did himself, staying secure by sticking with the family in spite of his mother.

And all three of them have the same hangups from their young days with their mother.

At least that's my take on it.

Some of Tony's and Janice's interactions are funny. After Janice does Tony a favor by killing Richie, he sends her off packing saying, "All in all I'd say it was a good visit"...haha. Then when she barks at Tony her love life is none of his business he fires back, "Your last boyfriend I had to take out of the kitchen in hefty bags". While Janice is not a major character her prescence does add a different side to Tony.

Ha ha ha!! Yea Beth, I remember that. It wes hilarious!

TIS

My favorite part of that scene was when Janice asked where they buried Richie, and he says something about a pretty field with flowers and butterflies and a view of the sunrise, and so on. When Janice asks, "Really?", Tony snaps back something to the effect, "No!! What are you stupid?"

Ha ha ha!! Yea that was great. I forgot about. The Sopranos definitely has it's humorous moments...like Carmella telling AJ, "Can't you be a good f**kin' catholic for fifteen minutes." ha ha ha


TIS

OK... who is gonna start a "Best Sopranos Lines" thread?? (there are SOOOOO many).

I think it's in one of the clips here tying up the Sopranos to introduce Season 7.....Tony's approaching (Vito??? No, not Vito)in a parking lot and says to an obviously overweight Vito, "looks like someone should be sticking to eating salads."


TIS

It's not Vito, it's Bobby. He tells him to get off his car, he's gonna turn it over. Bobby's like "What". Tony tells him he should start eating salads.

The "jokes" about Ginny Sack (Tony's crew was dissing her when Johnny Sack walked into the room) were the best....

One about her blood type being Ragu.... one about her tipping New Jersey over.

I can't remember the exact wording correctly but Uncle Junior said he wasn't gonna use a bed pan cuz he wasn't a cat and didn't use a litter box.