The Sopranos captivated audiences with its countless memorable scenes over its six-season run. While many plot twists were skillfully foreshadowed and ultimately culminated in tragedy, creator David Chase infused the series with humor and surrealism, ensuring its enduring appeal. This delicate balance between dark themes and comedic moments made this show so unique.
As is often the case in mafia-centered crime dramas, characters’ lives are constantly at risk, and many storylines appear inevitable. However, The Sopranos also delivered unexpected storylines, keeping viewers on their toes, and underscoring the unpredictable nature of life in the mob. Here are the best unexpected plot lines in The Sopranos.
When Duty Is the Death of Love
Season 5, Episode 12: “Long Term Parking”
In Episode 12, Adriana’s situation with the Feds has gotten worse. After they find out about a dead body and her involvement, they call her in and pressure her to wear a wire otherwise they will charge her for being an accessory to a murder. Adriana refuses but offers to talk to Christopher to convince him to cooperate.
Adriana confesses and Christopher almost chokes her to death before he breaks down in tears, but then he agrees to flee with her. When he is at a gas station and witnesses a poor family, his demeanor changes, and he seems to regret his choice. A while later, Tony calls Adriana and tells her that Christopher tried to commit suicide. Sal arrives and pretends to drive her to the hospital but ends up killing her off-screen. Later on, Tony returns to the Bada Bing and finds Christopher high on H. Christopher knew about Tony’s plan to kill his fiancé, but seems to have a hard time coping with the outcome.
Vanity in the Mob Circle
Season 4, Episode 9: “Whoever Did This”
When a fire breaks out in the stables, Tony’s horse, Pie-O-My, is so severely injured that they have to euthanize him. Tony suspects that Ralphie burned down the stable to collect the insurance money to pay for his son’s medical bills. Ralphie denies the accusation, but the argument escalates, and Tony strangles him to death.
Tony calls Christopher, and they dismember Ralphie with a meat cleaver in a bathtub. They bury his severed head and hands on a farm and – to everyone’s surprise – his toupee that no one knew about.
The Crushing Weight of a Drug Addict
Season 4, Episode 10: ” The Strong, Silent Type”
Christopher has fallen off the ladder and is high on heroin. He is in his apartment, shooting up. Adriana’s dog, Cosette, lies on the couch, but Christopher is too high to notice. He collapses onto the couch and breaks Cosette’s neck. Later, Adriana returns from work, looking for her dog to take her for a walk. As she glances at Christopher, she spots her lifeless dog. Adriana is distraught, but Christopher refuses to believe that he broke her neck and suggests she crawled under him.
Later on, he beats Adriana because she wants him to go to rehab. She flees to Carmela. Tony is furious, and the family gets together for an intervention. When Tony finds out about the dog, he is even more enraged. The situation escalates and Chris, who feels cornered, lashes out at his mother. After a short argument, Paulie and Silvio beat up Chris, and he lands in the hospital with a fractured hairline. Tony sends him to a rehab facility in Pennsylvania.
Dr. Melfi’s Trauma – A Temptation to Cross Over to the Dark Side
Season 3, Episode 4: “Employee of the Month”
Dr. Melfi, reunited with her husband, is grappling with her complex feelings about treating Tony Soprano. One evening after work, she is violently attacked and brutally raped in a parking garage. The police quickly catch her assailant but release him due to mishandling of evidence, igniting fury in her family. Melfi’s desire for revenge intensifies when she learns more about her attacker and considers leveraging Tony’s power for justice.
In a vivid dream, a Rottweiler – symbolizing Tony – attacks her rapist, suggesting her deep connection to his violent world. She tells Tony she was in a car accident, hiding her trauma. Though Tony expresses concern and indicates he is ready for therapy, she rejects him. In an attempt to rid herself of Tony, she asks him to see a behavior modification therapist, but Tony dislikes the idea.
A Ghost Named Isabella
Season 1, Episode 12: “Isabella”
Tony is deeply depressed after the disappearance of his best friend Pussy. Suddenly, he spots a beautiful woman in the garden of his next-door neighbor. She introduces herself as Isabella and claims to be an exchange student watching the Cusamano residence while they are out of town.
Tony is fascinated by Isabella and invites her out for lunch. She tells him about Avellino, Tony’s grandparents’ hometown. Tony has a daydream about Isabella in a rocking chair in a village house, nursing a baby named Antonio. One day, his neighbors return, and when Tony questions them about Isabella, he learns she isn’t real. When Tony is in his therapy session with Dr. Melfi, she advises him to stop the Lithium. She believes Isabella was an idealized maternal figure Tony used to deal with his bad relationship with his mother.
