The Sopranos is highly regarded as the show that changed cable television. It changed the formula of shows by expanding characters and writing unique storylines wrapped around a mafia family. Tony Soprano led the DiMeo crime family but struggled with the existentialism of life while being the boss of a major crime organization.
As great as The Sopranos is, it wasn’t perfect. Numerous plot holes, abandoned character arcs, and appearances went unexplained. Some things seemed to be added to a season of The Sopranos just to expand it. While The Sopranos is nearly flawless, it is packed with a handful of details that just don’t make sense with the rest of the show’s story.
Dons Don’t Wear Shorts, but Tony Soprano Did at a BBQ
Whenever Tony Soprano had a BBQ at his home or was on his infamous boat, he wore swimming trunks or shorts. It made total sense that Tony would be wearing shorts when near water or his pool because that is what everyone else would do. However, in the rules of the mafia, a mob boss or “Don” never wears shorts.
Tony Spares Junior Soprano but Had No Problem Killing Other Family
Corrado “Junior” Soprano was Tony Soprano’s uncle who constantly butted heads with him at the start of the show. After Tony took over, becoming the boss of the DiMeo crime family, Junior Soprano continually pushed a wedge between the two of them. Tony’s mother, Livia, even implied that maybe Junior should have him killed, which Junior attempted to do. The assassination attempt failed, but it didn’t go unnoticed by Tony.
Ralph Cifaretto Shows up Out of Nowhere in Season 3
In The Sopranos Season 3, Ralph Cifaretto shows up and is easily one of Tony’s top earners in the DiMeo crime family. While he provided great business and monetary gains for Tony, he led to numerous problems with the rival crime family in New York. Ralph made a joke at a dinner about Johnny Sack’s wife which started a dangerous feud between the DiMeo crime family and the Lupertazzi crime family.
Tony Suddenly Becomes a Gambling Addict
Tony Soprano was a character who had the world in the palm of his hand. Anything that he wanted access to, he could easily acquire. He also had many vices, but they fit hand in hand with a complicated man who could do and get anything. In Season 6 of The Sopranos, Tony develops a gambling addiction that leads to some massive monetary losses.
The Series Finale Provides Ambiguity and Little to No Resolve
In “Made In America,” The Sopranos series is drawn to a close. Fear, tension, and murder run rampant throughout the final episode of the show. However, the war occurring between the New Jersey and New York crime families drew to a close after a sit-down occurred to negotiate the end of their war. At the end of the episode, Tony meets up with his family at a diner, but he stares at the door every time it opens. The final moment of the episode is a hard cut to black, without any information or conclusion.
Dr. Melfi Willfully Aids a Morally Corrupt Mobster for Years and Then Abruptly Stops
Since the pilot of The Sopranos, Dr. Melfi played a significant role in Tony Soprano’s mental well-being. She helped him get Prozac after his anxiety attacks and provided numerous insights into his past. She even guided him in matters that she was unaware of, which likely made him sharper in his craft as a murderous mobster. However, it wasn’t until the final season that Dr. Melfi finally reflected on these notions and decided that in good conscience she could no longer be his psychiatrist.
AJ’s Girlfriend, Devin, Leaves the Show With Little to No Impact
Tony Soprano’s son, AJ, had numerous girlfriends throughout The Sopranos. Most of the break-ups that AJ went through caused AJ to get very depressed afterward. His girlfriend Devin was featured twice in seasons four and five. Their relationship seemed more expansive and intricate than the other relationships that AJ had. But then she just disappeared.
Artie Pulls a Rifle on Tony Soprano and Lives to Tell the Tale
Artie Bucco was established early on as one of Tony Soprano’s oldest friends. Artie had many opportunities to become involved with the mob, but Tony always prevented it as a way of looking out for Artie. However, one event in the first season brought Artie into major conflict with Tony. Tony has Silvio firebomb Artie’s restaurant so that Artie can rebuild it with the insurance money.
Many of the Fight Scenes Were Unrealistic
One thing that The Sopranos didn’t shy away from was violence at the hands of the mafia. The mafia crime families were ruthless in their methods and would beat up just about anyone who crossed them. When a character named Feech La Manna gets out of prison, he starts butting heads with Paulie Gualtieri. Feech beats up Paulie’s gardener, Sal Vitro, after telling Sal that his gardener crew will be taking over. However, for a character at Feech’s age, the fight scene just didn’t make sense.
Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero Disappears and Returns With Minimal Questions Raised
At the start of The Sopranos, Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero is one of Tony Soprano’s closest allies. He was even considered an uncle to Tony’s children. As suspicions grew of an informant among the DiMeo crime family, the audience learns that it was Big Pussy. Even Tony is informed of this by a corrupt police officer, but Tony refuses to believe it. Big Pussy disappears at the end of season one, leading to further suspicions that he was working with the FBI.
Even with suspicions overflowing towards Big Pussy, he returns to Tony randomly in season two. Tony is suspicious, but still willfully lets him back into the DiMeo Crime family. It isn’t until the episode “Funhouse” that Tony confirms his suspicions are correct and has his men shoot Big Pussy to death. It was clear as day that Big Pussy was an informant to the FBI by the end of season one, and that should’ve impacted Tony’s decisions towards Big Pussy sooner. Perhaps Tony was in denial and needed definitive evidence, but the Big Pussy plot ran for too long.
