I'm sure he does. He just pays for it just like all the rest of them do.

That doesn't make it right.
Why should your problem become my problem? Learn to cope...

IMO it was far from a silly plot line.

For the entire series Paulie has been one of those guys who "lives today through the glories of yesterday". His wardrobe is "frozen" in time... a time when he felt he was "at his peak". In the "months" leading up to his cancer he was starting to slow down, earn less, more responsibilities (financially caring for mom)... when he contracted cancer, the hard cold reality shattered that fantasy of living in and from the past.

Paulie may not fully realize it but he is now irreversibly a has-been. He is no longer as mentally sharp as he was "back in the day". He is regressing to a child-like naivete... trusting civilians/strangers, laughing out loud at a dated sitcom. He has no vision or hope for his future. So he clings to the only thing he DOES have... memories.

Even when he and Tony met with the Hispanic guys... Paulie recklessly jumps out of the minivan to meet them. And at the close of the meeting, pinches one of the guy's cheek and smiles. But it wasn't the old smart-ass demeaning way that Paulie did to Chris in the past... it was more like a kindly grandfather.

IMO this was a masterpiece episode. We've been with these characters for 6 seasons and now we're experiencing the bittersweet nature of reminiscing. I thought the whole episode was great.

The main reason it stood out at all is because there's so FEW Asian Americans in prime roles on TV. Thank goodness Hiro didn't use his sword this week or Jin didn't flip out on the island...otherwise we'd see more comments like the one in this thread.

Last week I slept with a blonde chick in a hotel room. It was a bad experience.

Showing Tony in bed with one this week was too soon, man.

I wholeheartedly disagree with everything you just said, but to each his own.

Never even gave it a second though until I read this thread. Some people may be reaching a bit.........

I disagree with this part. There wasn't anything kindly or grandfatherly about that pinch. It was Paulie's fuck you to them.

Don't know what the kid from Sopranos was, but the VT kid was Korean. Not that it matters, people need to stop making drama where none exists.


Doc

Loved this week's episode. I stragely enjoyed the boat scene for some reason. Very well done. Love all the discussion going on too guys. Helps clear stuff up for me at least.

That could be... I read his smile more as a dopey smile rather than a sly smile (if that makes any sense).

For a true Sopranos fan, this was a great episode, for everyone else it may have been blah.

The subtitles in the script and acting was excellent. The boat scene between Paulie and Tony was gold, awesome acting. Those hookers were da hot !

I didn't really want the whole NY boss battle to end so soon, i thought they would have built it up a bit more.

at first i was angry that they would waste any more time with junior but as it progressed, the dynamic and parallels with Junior and his apprentice were interesting. I agree that this was Junior's swansong, showing him as either a part shadow of his former tough guy self who wets himself or a medicated tranquil very old man. Talk a choice between a bag of crap and a bag of piss!

I'm looking forward to the run home. Just keep your expectations in check and you will enjoy it ! Compare the writing and performances of any episode to the other crap on TV and bath in the quality.

Who talks like this?

BTW I'm a "true" Sopranos fan and this episode was mediocre at best.

You might as well just curl up in the fetal position then.

-and die.*


*(fixed)


Doc

Does everyone really think this is the last time we'll see Junior? It doesn't seem like they have addressed the issue between him and Tony. My memory is a little hazy, but I don't think they've spoken since the shooting incident. I wonder if they plan on resolving this storyline, and if Junior will make one more appearance?

I won't be surprised if we see Junior more, but I agree with those who said it was a swansong in that it was the last time he will be a large focal point of an episode.

I loved how Paulie just walked in and talked to Pussy like it was nothing. No freaking out about a dead guy making him dinner or anything. Maybe we'll find out that he's been having visions since Pussy was killed and there's actual conversation this time.

QUOTE=Keith6601]I loved how Paulie just walked in and talked to Pussy like it was nothing. No freaking out about a dead guy making him dinner or anything. Maybe we'll find out that he's been having visions since Pussy was killed and there's actual conversation this time.[/QUOTE]
I identified with that part. 1 thing this show always had were pretty realistic dream sequences(although many of them were way too long IMO). I've lost alot of people I was close to and sometimes I dream of them and it's like they never left and sometimes in the dream I'm like "WTF are you doing here?"

I identified with that part. 1 thing this show always had were pretty realistic dream sequences(although many of them were way too long IMO). I've lost alot of people I was close to and sometimes I dream of them and it's like they never left and sometimes in the dream I'm like "WTF are you doing here?"

This whole season has been about retirement. How the mob and tony is growing old... how everybody is growing old. Tony is contemplating getting out. He sees all his friends and collegues getting old. Some dying, some retiring. Death and old age is around him and he doesn't like it. Tony has a dilema, who to replace him. Already 3 people have been eleminated. I feel they will continue concentrating on other main characters, eliminating them until one choice id left.

Excellent observation, IMO. There is definitely that sense of fatigue... of being "worn out".

I think ultimately Tony did what he needed to do with Paulie. He had to remind him who was boss and what his responsibilities were. The Pussy dream followed by the gift I think lay a framework for us to stop questioning Paulie and realize that he is with Tony all the way to the cell or grave. Tony has been a little lax lately and I think you are going to see Tony and Phil lay down the law with their own families and then maybe come after each other if the Feds don't get to them first. It looks to me like the they are sitting things up for a bloody finale. I doubt many characters will be left when the series ends, with most dead or jailed including Tony and Phil.

And as for the VT deal. It was unfortunate, but what are they going to do. Delete one of the final episodes to one of the greatest series in television history because thier is a slight similarity with a tragedy. I mean really, its not like the asian kid killed anyone. He just got pissed and beat up an old man. How does that have anything to do with the VT deal. If that kid at VT was black no one would be bitching. The only similarity was his ethnicity. Not much in common if you ask me.

Well then, by that logic who are we working down too? I mean Sil we saw last year was going to have issues as boss. Who else is left? Does Tony bring AJ or (way out there but I have seen it mentioned on the HBO board) Meadow?

I don't think Tony brings in either one of his kids. He's told Melfi many times that he doesn't want them involved, and I think that was reaffirmed when Bobby told him that his dad didn't want it for him, but he was in anyway.