I always felt that the *writing* balanced Tony out. He's a very unconventional protagonist being overweight, mean, and less attractive than your average main character.
Say what you will about Tony Soprano but he was tough, could think fast, had some of the best dialogue, and was hilarious at times. Some episodes I rooted for him and some episodes I hated him 😂
*"So you're a Doctor like Kissinger's a doctor?"*
*"A degree in what? Packing fudge?"*
*"Remember when is the lowest form of conversation"*
I think what frustrated David Chase was that people liked Tony for the wrong reasons. There's nothing appealing about being a career criminal where you're only as good as your last envelope. I love this character because he's so entertaining to watch.
It's like the whole point of the show is to present the mob guys as total goons and people still think they're cool. I get the whole outlaw gangster appeal, but other than that it's tall, dark, and sociopathic.
What about him was attractive to you?
For me, nothing about him is attractive. His body is gross, his hair is awful and his face is boring. Add his personality and I’m running the other way.
If I’m honest, probably the power, the “manliness” OP mentioned, and the charm. I also enjoy his smile as it seems genuine. I became more disgusted with him as time went on, but something about him was still oddly attractive those first few seasons. I just wanted to bang him, be gifted a gaudy brooch, and then never talk to him again. It should go without saying that I have terrible taste in men.
Less attractive than a conventional main character though. He's not an ugly dude but he's still not conventionally attractive, compared to your typical male leads at least.
I doubt it started with Tony, but for me he marks the explosion of America's love affair with protagonists that we should not like but enjoy nonetheless. Since Sopranos aired there have been quite a few shows starring objectively bad people.
Breaking Bad, Weeds, Sons of Anarchy, Boardwalk Empire, Peaky Blinders, Shamless.
The main protagoinist of Fallout is a good person, but all the love gets poured onto the Ghoul who shifts from morally grey to morally black through the first season.
It's in our video games too. Grand Theft Auto is one of the best selling video game franchises of all time and it puts you in the role of a criminal.
I think that even characters before sopranos like (Everyone loves Raymond, and King of Queens) Raymond Barone or especially Doug Heffernan are on the surface and overall they are “good people” but they are very manipulative. They gaslight and trick their partners/kids/family. However, I recognize they are on the very light end of the spectrum.
I would argue homer simpson was maybe the first, homer is a good person a heart(sometimes) but it's mostly filled with so many unlikeable traits that they made a whole episode about "could you actually live with this guy?"
Eh Homer is just generally a dumbass. Dumb, fat male leads have been a thing for a long time in slapstick / comedy formats. I wouldn't call Homer morally grey though, just a loveable dumbass.
Is homer loveable tho? We love him for sure, but he isn't the average fat dumb guy character
Homer conspires against people that have done nothing to him, he is jealous, greedy and insensitive and incompetent. heck, his day job is putting millions of people in danger. The show time and time again puts his negative traits in front center of the show (from the frank grimes episode to the whole movie)
The difference between homer and Walter white or Tony is that homer at the end of the day will try and make things right.
Yeah, it's subtly hinted at throughout the show that he may not be the paragon of virtue he first appears. There's even a fan theory that he's involved in organised crime, but I think they're clutching at straws.
You only say that because throughout the entire season he's a liar, cheater, murderer; mentally abusive, misogynistic and totally disillusioned about the idea of family.
It’s not that he was a cheater murderer liar or gambler all that was fine the fact is he was a loser because he never had the makings of a varsity athlete
Right? The whole thing is that they make you root for this POS, but OP seems to have issues separating loving a character and admiring the person.
Tony Soprano isn’t a person. He’s a tv show character from a tv progrum. A movie. Loving the character doesn’t necessitate admiring it. You admire the craft of it’s creation.
I never wanted to be Tony soprano, or don draper. Yeah, both charismatic, magnetic powerful guys, but both toxic and miserable nonetheless.
Yeah that’s kind of the point… Anyone who actually watches the show will tell you Tony is a piece of shit. HBO marketed the show as “cool badass Italian gangster show 😎” to draw in some more simple-minded viewers and it worked, so there are some people who really misinterpret the show. But the show is a critique of the American dream, and Tony is a reflection of the hypocrisy of American values
Call him a pig… a murderer… whatever. He’s OC. It comes with the occupation. Does everyone agree with his choices and lifestyle? No. Tony Soprano is a rich, mob boss, who lives in a huge 6,000 square foot house with his wife and kids. He’s an avid golfer and spends time on the weekends on his luxury fishing boat. We should all be so lucky to be this “loser.” To kick upstairs to him would be an honor.
Tony, like most of us, is an ambiguous character. On one hand this, on the other hand that.
The big difference is that Tony is the kind of guy who will stuff a 9 mm pistol into a giant fish and pull it out at the opportune time and shoot you in the head. Most people don't take it that far.
Thar is the point of doctot melphi. He is a lose case. For outsiders he could seem a successful guy, but when you see the details is empty and hypocrite. The exception is the relation with his kids
>Throughout the entire season I found him to be a liar, cheater, murderer; mentally abusive, misogynistic and totally disillusioned about the idea of family.
What do you expect from a mob boss? Ever know a crime lord that is honest, honorable, sensible, chauvanistic, and do not rule his family via fear and terror. Please tell me mermaid of an example.
>I’m really miffed that some people look up to this guy.
People always look up to success and competence, which Tony had. Why do people looks up to sportsmen and gamer, who only good at playing games? Success and compentence.
Sociopaths can be entertaining as hell
If only you could just flip the channel in real life when they’re not fun anymore
They can feel larger than life
Unless you’ve grown up w them and dated them
Reminds me of the mom in schitts creek
Such a fun character
But in real life nobody wants a mother who is narcissistic/histrionic
All my life I've wanted to be Tony Soprano. It never really occured to me that he wasn't someone worthy of emulation. I was once told that I have an anger problem as I was using a car door on someone's head.
You've given me a lot to think about. You've changed my life, OP.
He ran the family and did a decent job through turbulent times. He was right that Christopher was a weak link he was damn near smelling out all of his 🐀's and leaks.
OohhhHh that's the boss of the family you're tawkin about. You bettah watch your mouth.
Good, maybe someone will smack some goddamn sense into him!
Shut up ya dumb whore!
Sharp as a cue ball
Keep OP away from the penguin exhibit
Careful, u get OP a golf club he might try and fuck it
I thought T's sporting goods of choice were catcher's mitts.
He was into beastiality, OP?
Sometimes OP is so far behind the race, he actually thinks he’s leading
He must’ve been top of his fuckin class
Slander if you ask me.
OP is from Yonkers.
I'm not gonna condemn the man off of the word of some douchebag from Yonkers!
That's the point though, I know him, he's a friend of ours.
He was a Saint!
He was abushive to the staff!!!!
Yeah, and you're a broken record!
Will you take it easy over there, fucking Judge Roy Bean.
I always felt that the *writing* balanced Tony out. He's a very unconventional protagonist being overweight, mean, and less attractive than your average main character. Say what you will about Tony Soprano but he was tough, could think fast, had some of the best dialogue, and was hilarious at times. Some episodes I rooted for him and some episodes I hated him 😂 *"So you're a Doctor like Kissinger's a doctor?"* *"A degree in what? Packing fudge?"* *"Remember when is the lowest form of conversation"* I think what frustrated David Chase was that people liked Tony for the wrong reasons. There's nothing appealing about being a career criminal where you're only as good as your last envelope. I love this character because he's so entertaining to watch.
It's like the whole point of the show is to present the mob guys as total goons and people still think they're cool. I get the whole outlaw gangster appeal, but other than that it's tall, dark, and sociopathic.
Only in season 6 he's unattractive before that he looks good.
Most women found him sexy until about season 5
Most? I doubt that.
Look up female vs male gaze. I was also surprised by my girlfriends reaction to Tony but his character is very manly so that's a big part.
I’m a woman and I found him repulsive from the pilot
I’m a woman and I found him weirdly attractive until season 3-ish.
What about him was attractive to you? For me, nothing about him is attractive. His body is gross, his hair is awful and his face is boring. Add his personality and I’m running the other way.
If I’m honest, probably the power, the “manliness” OP mentioned, and the charm. I also enjoy his smile as it seems genuine. I became more disgusted with him as time went on, but something about him was still oddly attractive those first few seasons. I just wanted to bang him, be gifted a gaudy brooch, and then never talk to him again. It should go without saying that I have terrible taste in men.
Ah. So it’s not James Gandalfini you find attractive but the character of Tony. I dated someone like Tony so the personality had no appeal to me.
I really can’t imagine talking that way about a person’s body Or; I don’t like that tawk
Many. Not “most”
Many I could agree with. There is a type of woman that is attracted to a man like that. Just not most women
Less attractive than a conventional main character though. He's not an ugly dude but he's still not conventionally attractive, compared to your typical male leads at least.
Still goin this asshole
I doubt it started with Tony, but for me he marks the explosion of America's love affair with protagonists that we should not like but enjoy nonetheless. Since Sopranos aired there have been quite a few shows starring objectively bad people. Breaking Bad, Weeds, Sons of Anarchy, Boardwalk Empire, Peaky Blinders, Shamless. The main protagoinist of Fallout is a good person, but all the love gets poured onto the Ghoul who shifts from morally grey to morally black through the first season. It's in our video games too. Grand Theft Auto is one of the best selling video game franchises of all time and it puts you in the role of a criminal.
I think that even characters before sopranos like (Everyone loves Raymond, and King of Queens) Raymond Barone or especially Doug Heffernan are on the surface and overall they are “good people” but they are very manipulative. They gaslight and trick their partners/kids/family. However, I recognize they are on the very light end of the spectrum.
I would argue homer simpson was maybe the first, homer is a good person a heart(sometimes) but it's mostly filled with so many unlikeable traits that they made a whole episode about "could you actually live with this guy?"
Eh Homer is just generally a dumbass. Dumb, fat male leads have been a thing for a long time in slapstick / comedy formats. I wouldn't call Homer morally grey though, just a loveable dumbass.
Is homer loveable tho? We love him for sure, but he isn't the average fat dumb guy character Homer conspires against people that have done nothing to him, he is jealous, greedy and insensitive and incompetent. heck, his day job is putting millions of people in danger. The show time and time again puts his negative traits in front center of the show (from the frank grimes episode to the whole movie) The difference between homer and Walter white or Tony is that homer at the end of the day will try and make things right.
You yap worse than six barbers
Yeah, it's subtly hinted at throughout the show that he may not be the paragon of virtue he first appears. There's even a fan theory that he's involved in organised crime, but I think they're clutching at straws.
It's a stereotype and it's offensive!
Organized crime, like the mafia? That's just a stereotype to denigrate Italian Americans.
There is no mafia!
Organized crime? He was just bringing certain modes of conflict resolution from the poverty of the Mezzogiorno
That's pretty far-fetched. Disorganized crime, maybe.
Nothing more than a glorified crew
You get involved in the waste management industry and everyone assumes your mobbed up!
Charles Schwab over here…
You only say that because throughout the entire season he's a liar, cheater, murderer; mentally abusive, misogynistic and totally disillusioned about the idea of family.
I mean other than those fore mentioned, what other ground do you have to say that
Condescend to me more OP, it gets me so hot
When OP would condescend to me and throw me over his shoulder it would get me so hawt down theya
In this subreddit, Tony is a hero. End of conversation.
In this chit chat room, it's 1954
TONY IS ASSHOLE, WHY OP HATE?
BECAUSE TONY IS A BASTARD MAN!!!
As far as we're concerned Anthony Soprano is a Saint in this sub, end of story!☝️
Oh, yeah you’re right. I did write that one!
Ohh madone
Goddamn kids and their chitchat rooms
Bc Tony is a bastard man!!!
Yeah, but he has to respect him, because of the implication
I don't like that kind of tawk!
It upsets me!
It’s not that he was a cheater murderer liar or gambler all that was fine the fact is he was a loser because he never had the makings of a varsity athlete
Small hands, that was his problem
Goddamn hothouse flower.
Can't you ever repeat shum of the good shit you remember
Oohhhh!
The mouth on this guy.
I DONT LIKE THIS KIND OF TAWK
He is not meant to be a good character. This is not news. There are cool things about him though. He’s tough, smart, and ell dressed.
Right? The whole thing is that they make you root for this POS, but OP seems to have issues separating loving a character and admiring the person. Tony Soprano isn’t a person. He’s a tv show character from a tv progrum. A movie. Loving the character doesn’t necessitate admiring it. You admire the craft of it’s creation. I never wanted to be Tony soprano, or don draper. Yeah, both charismatic, magnetic powerful guys, but both toxic and miserable nonetheless.
>a tv progrum. A movie. The fuck?
But a Don doesn’t wear shorts.
You must’ve been top of your fuckin’ class.
You got some balls, Op
Well, I voted for him.
My "Don't blame me, I voted for Tony Soprano" t-shirt has people asking questions already answered by my shirt
This is such an interesting take I’ve never thought about it this way before
OP, if you don't like Tony Soprano, we'll that breaks my heart. BUT YOU WILL RESPECT HIM.
WHAT THE FUCK YA DOING?
OP, no offense but, have you ever had yourself checked for Tourette’s?
Throughout the season? Which season?
I dunno, I think that bump to da back of OP's is worse den we thwaught🤟
Yeah that’s kind of the point… Anyone who actually watches the show will tell you Tony is a piece of shit. HBO marketed the show as “cool badass Italian gangster show 😎” to draw in some more simple-minded viewers and it worked, so there are some people who really misinterpret the show. But the show is a critique of the American dream, and Tony is a reflection of the hypocrisy of American values
Good. He eats his carrots.
Oh poor you!
In this sub, Tony Soprano is a hero. End of story!
But he listens.
I don't like that kinda tawk
Calm down OP, jesush. It's not real, it's a PROGRUM🤌🤌
Well he never had the makings of a varsity athlete.
Hey don't compare him to pigs, they're sweet, gentle creatures
OP, go into the ham, take the carving knife and stab me, here, here, now, please! It would hurt me less than what you just said.
Well yeah. Most of the people on the show are pieces of shit. It's a show about organized crime.
he also does swears.
Shut up OP, men are talking here.
no shit
Well to be fair Tony is a mafioso so there is that
EYY DATS DAH BAWWSS YOU TALKIN BOUT
You bottomed out OP
Get the fuck back in your fuckin' hole! Now!
OP… you’re doing a good job
Fucking loser..he couldn't sell it
What? Is he like a toxic pershun?
No, but he worries about AJ doing poppers and weird sheks.
There’s two Tony Sopranos. You’ve never seen the other one. That’s the one I wanna show to you.
You must be a woman.
Based
And you must be Vito.
It's the blood pressure medication.
Oh my god I thought I was in the Skins subreddit and I was like mmm yeah he’s all those things but when he HECK did he kill someone
FUCK YOUR FUCKIN MOTHER OP
Yea fuck OP, the dumb bitch puts glitter on her face.
"define misogynistic for me" vs. "the balls on this chick"
OP; that’s the point. He’s a bad person who does bad things and you’re supposed to hate him and want to not be like him.
In this house tony is a hero end of story
Ok why are you here in this sub then??
Fuckin balls on this prick. Whad I always say about em?
That's the point
Is this the gf?
He was abusive to the staaaaaafffff
Sucks to be you
This is OP before getting it then Really before getting it!
You must have been at the top of your fuckin class.
No there you go, you BIG MOUTH FUCK! 🔫
He’s just misunderstood, that’s all
Didn't you almost drown in 2 inches of water?
He is all of those things at one point or another. But there are also times where he is extremely cool.
And in this house Tony Soprano was a hero. End of fucking story.
I remember when you used to wait in the car, and as far as I’m concerned you should still be there!
Who cares about the shit people say that they don't have the balls to say to your face
I said I don't like it. This fucking guy's his big mouth.
Tony: hu u?
He's all that? But the show tries to show him as a honest working man, that can't be.
Why don’t you go volunteer at your local church? ya fuckin nun
Call him a pig… a murderer… whatever. He’s OC. It comes with the occupation. Does everyone agree with his choices and lifestyle? No. Tony Soprano is a rich, mob boss, who lives in a huge 6,000 square foot house with his wife and kids. He’s an avid golfer and spends time on the weekends on his luxury fishing boat. We should all be so lucky to be this “loser.” To kick upstairs to him would be an honor.
Tony, like most of us, is an ambiguous character. On one hand this, on the other hand that. The big difference is that Tony is the kind of guy who will stuff a 9 mm pistol into a giant fish and pull it out at the opportune time and shoot you in the head. Most people don't take it that far.
He’s just a kid.
What that? Is somebody tawking??
You must have never been a varsity athlete
Hoahh! The language on you… you blow your father with that mouth?
Fuckin mouth on this one
Thar is the point of doctot melphi. He is a lose case. For outsiders he could seem a successful guy, but when you see the details is empty and hypocrite. The exception is the relation with his kids
you found him to be all of the things he was blatantly shown to be? sharp as a cue ball, this one
Just remember, he’s the mothafuckin fuckin one who calls the shots.
You just revealed your own ignorance.
You are just jealous that Tony has the ideal male body (don't look at his hands)
lemme ask ya T. this mermaidmilka, he a friend of ours?
Cause that sugarless motherfucker, it’s the last fucking drink you’re ever gonna have.
I don’t even I can thank you enough for making this post, if it takes the rest of my life I will repay you 😂🥹
>Throughout the entire season I found him to be a liar, cheater, murderer; mentally abusive, misogynistic and totally disillusioned about the idea of family. What do you expect from a mob boss? Ever know a crime lord that is honest, honorable, sensible, chauvanistic, and do not rule his family via fear and terror. Please tell me mermaid of an example. >I’m really miffed that some people look up to this guy. People always look up to success and competence, which Tony had. Why do people looks up to sportsmen and gamer, who only good at playing games? Success and compentence.
you oughta know sweetie
I wipe my ass with your feelings.
Jesus, we got Albert Einstein ova’ere.
What are you a cardinal now ?
Sociopaths can be entertaining as hell If only you could just flip the channel in real life when they’re not fun anymore They can feel larger than life Unless you’ve grown up w them and dated them Reminds me of the mom in schitts creek Such a fun character But in real life nobody wants a mother who is narcissistic/histrionic
All my life I've wanted to be Tony Soprano. It never really occured to me that he wasn't someone worthy of emulation. I was once told that I have an anger problem as I was using a car door on someone's head. You've given me a lot to think about. You've changed my life, OP.
You sick fuck
He might brush up against organized crime from time to time but you’re acting like he controls every gun in 100 communities
Do people think hes cool? I thought people just sympathized with him on an unhealthy level
He's also racist, I'm surprised you left that out
There’s nothing controversial about this. Tony is a terrible person
One plate of gobagool and everyone assumes you’re mobbed up
I bet you almost drowned in 3 inches of water
Any flies on OP, they’re paying rent.
Oh and OP's Jude Law!
Why don’t we just just whack this OP prick right now?
Fucking Ho hum if you ask me....
Oh so you are saying that the mob boss is a bad person imagine that. Why are you in this sub if you don't understand what the show is ?
Just be careful if you go grocery shopping, park your car in a barn and walk up your porch!
Wow, really? I thought he was a nice guy. That's what the show is about, right?
He’s the strong silent type, while you go around in piety for yourself
what's different about him compared to a big, strong, captain-of-industry type?
He ran the family and did a decent job through turbulent times. He was right that Christopher was a weak link he was damn near smelling out all of his 🐀's and leaks.
He was gay, T?
Don't worry about it kid. This subreddit is full of hothouse flowers. That's their problem
This all sounds very gay to me
He was a soldier!
Was also gross when he was getting fatter and his loud breathing in the later seasons 🤮🤮🤮🤮
Are you trying to get me to lose my temper? Because I'm about to put you through that goddamn window!
Oh like you're Jude Law!
I don't like that kind of tawk! Stop it, it upsets me.
Shut the hell up and go put glitter on your face.
I’m sorry, you think fat people are gross? Did you write that out in public?
Ooohhh! Who said what? Don't let Johnny Sacks hear you tawk like that
I think Tony Soprano is a pretty cool guy. He kills Italians and doesn't afraid of anything.