why did eugene kill himself sopranos

And the scenes he got to do for Eugenes death helped. Or maybe nothing happened in that scene, but Tony went on being Tony and maybe died of heart disease or Alzheimers, which, given all that weve seen him go through, is a sadder outcome. Why the ambiguity at all? Phil Leotardo, now the acting boss of the Lupertazzi crime family, is taking care of business for the imprisoned Johnny Sack. With a despondent wife, a drug-addicted son, a dangerous and stressful job he hates and can't leave, the specter of the FBI looming over him, and no hope of the new life that seemed so close, Eugene hangs himself in the basement. This is an artist sorting through contradictory impulses, in hopes of reaching audiences in a deep way. To combat leaked storylines, the writers and Chase used to devise fake scenes to confuse the set. Did he just want out ? The episode marks the first appearances of: "7 Surprises From The Sopranos 20th Anniversary Celebration", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Members_Only_(The_Sopranos)&oldid=1134519036. I knew where I was going. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Then right before the final scene he's looking at the family album. Because nothing in that scene says, Somebody just killed him and thats what the cut to black is about. The only objectively true statement that can be made about that ending is that its ambiguous. Alan: Okay, so a hypothetical: Either way you lean, what happens after that cut to black? Why would he have Tony killed? The Sopranos Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. Both Dr. Melfi and Janice suggest a retirement home or assisted living for him, but Tony forcefully refuses. Murders committed by Pontecorvo Teddy Spirodakis: Killed at a diner by Eugene on orders from Christopher Moltisanti for failing to pay his debts. In a single close-up, we can see that the man strongly physically resembles Eugene. Maybe he left a note warning the wife about what he did, I hope so. That matters much more to me, ultimately, than a definitive answer. ", Vito responds with "What? Matt: Yeah, hes checking out the scene in there for self-protection, but he does that everywhere he goes. The Sopranos was so deliciously bold, fresh, funny, complex and authentic that, for me, it rendered most other dramas on television unwatchable. He whacked the viewer. Deep down, he recognizes that Carmela is a good mother. But did he end up doing it to free his family? As writer Terence Winter told Entertainment Weekly , "At the beginning of season 5, we realized it would happen at the end of the season. Death is what happens, end of story, right? what does flight departure mean shein; how much is paramount network; how to make maizena vanilla; how many black millionaires in africa. Sometimes, a cat is just a cat, but its hard not to consider this one within the context of what happens, or doesnt, a few scenes later at Holstens. A live-action TV series based on Robert Kirkman's zombie apocalyptic water cartoon The Walking Dead. He and his wife plan to take the money and retire to Florida, but Tony turns down his request because he's a made man and there's no retiring from that. I just did a bunch of googling and I'm shocked that it's not a more common theory. Of course, these questions occurred to Tony after Junior shot him, and thathis response was to absorb rather shallow lessons like, make better choices in the moment, and try being a better listener while ignoring bigger ones like, Maybe youre depressed all the time because youre a gangster. Melfi steers him toward this realization throughout the series, even in the pilot. Getting killed off on the hit mob show meant losing a well-paying job with unbeatable exposure. As the boss, Tony also ordered the deaths of 11 other people during the events of the series. The 76-year-old, who co-wrote, with Lawrence Konner, new film The Many Saints of Newark, a Sopranos prequel, which we had just screened for the students, continued, "See, I didn't think that . While Junior cowers in a closet upstairs, Tony manages to dial 911 before passing out. Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut joins us for this bonus episode this week! Cuz I hear a lot of people blaming Tony which sort of makes sense, but as it turns out he wasn't gonna be able to go to Florida and get out of the mafia anyways if they didn't let him. Alan: Let me ask you this, then: If, during one of our many conversations with Chase, he had invited us to lean in close, and whispered, Guys, Tonys dead, how would that change your feelings about the ending? Eugene Pontecorvo was introduced on the show as an associate in the Soprano crime family in the episode "Proshai, Livushka". Professionally, he has just survived a war with New York has, in fact, enough juice that he was able to . David Chase, in an interview with . Thats one more reason why this scene feels dreamlike, along with all those incidental characters, like Members Only Guy and the uniformed Boy Scouts, who feel like people youd meet in an 80s music video. I know now, and I dont have to worry about this anymore.. Funaro, who has worked more in theater than on the screen, really saw on opportunity with his big episode, Members Only. While hed felt more satisfied with theater work to that point, the chance to complete his characters arc appealed to him. Eugene is reluctant, but has to follow Christopher's order due to his rank of capo. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us. He was never interested in the Russian, the rapist, the stable fire, or any of the other characters and threads that he left dangling over the life of the series, except as forces that test the main characters and reveal their essence. Alan: Theres no way around that, and even David Chase says as much in the sixth interview later in this book. I thought I saw a couple of blacks running that way." Death is the only absolute truth for everyone, and if you read that ending simply as he died, you can wash your hands and walk away from it and not have to think about anything else that might be raised in that scene. 15 35 Related Topics Patsy himself almost took out Tony in the season 3 premiere, so you know his resentment ran deep. In the episode Eugene commits suicide after Tony will not let him "retire" from mob life and move him and his family to Florida after he receives a two million dollar inheritance. Does Paulie freaking Walnuts somehow become boss of the Family, or does Butchie throw up his hands at this point and decide to put his own guy in charge of the gang that couldnt shoot straight? Matt: Yes, but why does a preponderance of imagery related to death and decay mean that Tony had to be shot dead at that diner at that exact moment? Reddit community dedicated to the HBO hit TV series, The Sopranos, and movie, The Many Saints of Newark. He was pretty crazy. A man in Tonys business will always have enemies Eric Scatino probably still nurses a massive grudge so its not outside the realm of plot logic that some rando or long-forgotten character could have hired Members Only Guy to do the deed. (For that matter, Members Only Guy could be the loved one of a Soprano victim himself.) He states to his friends that, "The only thing I ever found in the street was my first wife," showing that he hasn't had much good luck in his life (and at least one failed marriage). And, flipping that, what if hed whispered, Guys, Tonys alive? Matt: Well, this isnt how I thought this would go. Kind of like SAMCRO. Flash forward to the end of the season. I think you and I are in agreement on the larger point of the scene, right, Matt? The controversial ending has led to over a decade of theories and speculation as to whether Tony was killed by a hitman - but now we finally know what happened to the mob boss. Meadow runs to the door, the bell rings, Tony looks up, and nothin. This is just a guy they found specifically because he looks like Robert Funaro, who plays Eugene. The cat turns up at the safe house and gets brought back to Satriales, much to Paulies horror You cant even put them near a baby; they suck the breath right out! particularly once it starts fixating on a photo of Christopher from the set of Cleaver. Richard "Richie" Aprile is played by David Proval.Richie is the older brother of acting DiMeo crime family boss Jackie Aprile Sr., and was a capo in the DiMeo crime family before being sent to prison for ten years. So when he walks into the restaurant, judgment has already been passed, or maybe suspended. So it felt better to go with Tony died. It was An Answer, in a way that Tony lives never entirely felt like one to me, and when Chase wrote that article about the scene for DGA Quarterly, and talked about the fragility of our mortal existence, I was able to smile and say, Aha! Where am I going?" The Sopranos: How Mikey Palmice Became a Little Bit Joe Pesci and a Little Bit James Caan. Prior to landing the part of Eugene, Funaro didnt have any screen credits to his name. Does he sweat and strain rebuilding the Family after the damage Phil inflicted upon it? She tells Eugene that he should kill Tony in "Members Only." By 2000, he is made captain of the Aprile Crew. What I dont like is any kind of conversation that seems to be leading toward, Hes dead, end of discussion. Because that should not be the end of the discussion when youre talking about a show like this one, a show about psychology, development, morality, and all these other deep and tangled subjects. Despite the episode's focus on his character. He loved his family, the only way they could get the inheritance money and go to Florida is if he was dead, he ended his life for their benefit. Dont stop believin you know exactly what happened at the end of, This password will be used to sign into all, when Chase wrote that article about the scene, a journalist reported that Chase told her Tony lived, Roy Wood Jr.s Best Jokes at the 2023 White House Correspondents Dinner, Julia Fox Is the Only Celeb Taking White House Correspondents Fashion Seriously, The 11 Best Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Weekend, The Rivalry Between the Knicks and the Heat From the Guys Who Were There, The Knicks Vs. Heat Rivalry From the Guys Who Were There, Long Live the White House Correspondents Dinner. Feeling that there was no way out, Pontecorvo hanged himself in his basement. Because I really enjoyed acting in it because of that through-line. And I think I would have been equally disappointed if hed said, Tony is alive. And thats because I like not knowing, and to me, everything about this ending says, Youre not supposed to know, youre supposed to live in the not-knowing.. This was presented rather confusingly because of the constant flashes to Vincent going to space. *Sorry, there was a problem signing you up. and our "Members Only" is the 66th episode of the HBO series The Sopranos, and the first of the show's sixth season. Did he really leave enough money in overseas accounts to take care of Carmela after his passing, or will she soon be taking Angie Bonpensieros old job passing out supermarket samples? Adam McKay Has Sold His Next Celebrity Hangout. Since the tension with New York boiled over to a full-blown war, both Tony's family and Family have been on the lam. It's a town in Italy, but the name translates to "crow bridge." The general director was Frank Darabont, but after dropping out due to a disagreement with the production company, Glenn Mazara [7],Scott.M.Gimple was in charge, and from season 9, Angela Kang is in charge. Disputes between Tony and Phil are resolved, and it is explained that the New York associates were protecting Gerry's area and did not know Eli was associated with the Sopranos; they agree to pay Eli $50,000 compensation. So does AJ, who luckily fails to kill himself Tony happening to come home at that moment is a Tony caliber stroke of good luck and in this very episode, the kid survives a truck explosion. Paulie, long the most useless captain on the payroll, is the only major ally he has left. Chase lingers on the parking job to raise the question of what terrible thing will happen because its taking her so long. The jacket possibly signifies his affiliation to a special gang. But in the larger scheme of things, who cares about Eugene? Tony had antagonized the Lupertazzi family on several occasions in the past; hed defended the indefensible (Ralph Cifaretto) and backed another banished capo (Vito Spatafore); and, last but not least, he began working with the FBI while another member of his crew became a full-fledged informant. While he is the only son of the Tony, it becomes obvious he lacks potential for a career in his father's organization, though . Eugene is also an informant for the FBI, and has become more valuable to the Bureau since the death of Ray Curto; they, too, will not free him. Former Oregon, USC RB Travis Dye has signed as UDFA with New York Jets, per league souce. Alan: Made in America opens on Tony asleep in the safe house. 1) Carmine Lupretazzi, Sr. Carmine Lupretazzi, Sr. ( Tony Lip) is the best boss on the show by a country mile. Obviously he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He, along with Vito Spatafore and Donny K., found Gigi Cestone dead on the toilet in the Aprile Crew hangout after suffering a constipation-induced heart attack. The day James Gandolfini died in sudden, startling fashion that sadly evoked the very themes Chase was trying to convey with this scene I wrote that, as horrible a human being as Tony was, it gives me a small bit of comfort on this surprising, terrible day, to imagine Tony still alive, waddling out of his SUV and into the pork store, or calling up Dr. Melfi for one more shot at therapy.. I think were supposed to be thinking about death, or the finiteness of life, during that last scene, but not necessarily that Tony died right then and there, and thats the end of the story. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. He knew someone in his family would find him, but why would he want them to. This ending puts us in their shoes. I dont know why do you think he offed himself. He loved his family, the only way they could get the inheritance money and go to Florida is if he was dead, he ended his life for their benefit. Thats all I wanted to say.. Fury of the Gods is a 2023 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character Shazam.Produced by New Line Cinema, DC Studios, and the Safran Company, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is the sequel to Shazam! At some point, Pontecorvo became an FBI informant, and he sought to retire to Florida with the $2 million that he had inherited from his late aunt. We make up stories to reassure ourselves that we have control over life, and we really dont. With that out of the way, we can focus on a more interesting question: Who ordered the hit on Tony Soprano when his time finally came? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. This show - that had so honestly and meticulously . Anthony John "A.J." Soprano, Jr. frequently referred to as Anthony Jr. or Tony Soprano Jr. is the son of Carmela and Tony Soprano, and the younger brother of Meadow Soprano. Alan: Its hard to play dumb about what we discussed with Chase, but the great thing or the maddening thing, depending on your point of view is that even with all he ultimately told us, theres still no definitive answer to the dead/alive question. Over the course of the next few minutes, he glances twice at the family's table before standing up, walking past the table before entering the restroom . Maybe the wiseguy who has turned into a cat Schrdingers cat, to be precise isnt Christopher, but Tony? Trying to escape, Eli is knocked down by a hit-and-run driver and seriously injured. This accomplishment catapulted Aglieri s name to the top of the ranks. In the episode Unidentified Black Males, while he and Little Paulie Germani are engaging in what initially began as a harmless banter at the Esplanade construction site, Little Paulie goes too far in Eugene's mind when he conveys through an innuendo that Eugene is a homosexual. That cannot be an accident. Gene Killing himself It makes it so much harder watching that after the scene where he finds out his son his using heroin. This leads me to believe that a relative of Eugenes, The Man In The Members Only Jacket is the one who killed Tony out of an act of revenge for Eugenes suicide. Frankly, Im not even sure why were still debating this. This was Christopher's scene. On the occasion of the shows 20th anniversary, weve published a book about it, The Sopranos Sessions, combining reviews of each episode, a new interview with series creator David Chase, and selections of our Star-Ledger articles about the show. Directed by David F. Sandberg, produced by Peter Safran, and written by Henry Gayden and Chris . The bulk of the episode is devoted to Eugene Pontecorvo, previously a very minor character who appears infrequently and barely ever has any lines. Because its taking the question of whether Tony lived or died off the table. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google The cause was lung . And, other than a couple of ugly fights, he has been getting along much better with Carmela since she took him back than he ever did during the first six seasons of the show. He and his wife plan to take the money and retire to Florida, but Tony turns down his request because he's a made man and there's no retiring from that. There's now peace and Tony will be eager to work with him. The idea of presenting the ending as a thing that can be mastered and explained is philosophically the opposite of everything that led us to that point. And, as I said, it proceeds from the speakers need to have Tony die at that moment, not from any evidence in the scene itself. Good for them (and us!). I know people generally cringe at "it was all a dream/nightmare!" scenarios, but I like the idea of Tony being in a purgatory state where he's forced to see himself die every day, and worst of all: it all goes black before he can see his daughter one last time. I've also seen it suggested that Eugene's wife ordered Tony's murder. The ultimate fate of Tony Soprano, the crime boss and protagonist of the television drama the Sopranos, has perhaps finally been revealed by the show's creator. Nearly two years have passed. Alan: Right. A celebration of life will be held in Redwood City on Wednesday for Pete Liebengood, a longtime Bay Area sportscaster, anchor and author who died in Redwood City on Dec. 22. It is a zombie film that focuses on the mental collapse of survivors and the human . Since Eugenes suicide in the season 6 opener, Funaro has racked up over 40 credits (including The Irishman and American Gangster). There are no cookies for figuring things out. Thats why Members Only was really great, he said on Talking Sopranos. The time was certainly right. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It's also a reference to the episode's title, "Unidentified Black Males". To have that storyline, I jumped on it and tried to ride it as best I could.. If he didnt die that night, hes going to die very soon, Chase told USA Today in 2012. Whos Going to the Met Gala Dressed as Karl Lagerfelds Cat? With Barry on the loose, all Gene, Fuches, Hank, and Sally can do is crumble as they wait to see who hes coming for first. Whether we get to see what comes next or not, which is a more entertaining, exciting, and/or thematically fitting conclusion to the story of The Sopranos: Tonys abrupt death or his continued existence? Actually, when you really think about it, the ceremony where the crow appears is the event that seals Tony's fate -- if Eugene hadn't been made, he would have been able to retire to Florida when his aunt left him $2 million, he never would have killed himself, and Tony never would have been murdered in revenge. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! I think its also interesting if he dies, though thats a less disturbing ending to me, because its the standard gangster-story ending, and no matter how you read it, for reasons of genre history it always comes back to Dont do crime, kids.. But why wouldnt he just walk in and do it?

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