The Top 5 Most Shocking Deaths in ‘The Sopranos’

I recently listened to a podcast where somebody suggested that the show people need to watch right now is ‘The Sopranos.’ I agree. It’s revolutionary and has incredible insights into the human soul. It also revolutionised the TV drama. The only show that I think slightly tops it, ‘Mad Men,’ wouldn’t have been possible without it. One of ways ‘The Sopranos’ achieved this is by making the antihero it’s central character. A ruthless mob boss became someone we could identify with, which is an interesting window into human nature. And one way to explore that window, I think, is looking at the various “hits” that take place throughout the series. Despite it being a regular aspect of the protagonists’ lives, we were still regularly left shocked by what we saw. I’ve narrowed the most gut-wrenching moments to 5. Spoilers alert, obviously.

5) Fabian Petrulio

Fabian “Febby” Petrulio is not the first on-screen death, but he is the first character we see Tony Soprano kill, in a subplot of one of the very best of the show’s episodes, ‘College.’ This episode sees Tony and his daughter Meadow bond as they’re honest with each other (although not too honest) about their actions as they go and visit colleges, a very normal and relatable series of events. But then quite out of nowhere Tony spots this man, a “rat” in the witness protection programme, and before we know it he’s garrotting him to death as he begs for mercy, before the plot of the episode with Meadow continues. This is Tony Soprano, everyone. This is who he is. “The hustle never ends.”

4) Christopher Moltisanti

I think a lot of people would put this death higher up the list, but if you look at the events leading up to it, it’s really no surprise that the drug addict Christopher is choked to death by his uncle and mentor Tony Soprano, who never reveals this to anyone. And it isn’t surprising that nobody questions it. Christopher is seen as a tragic character who had potential to replace Tony one day, who’s aspirations are always marred by his self-doubt and subsequent addiction. But it is deeply ironic, drugs commentator Dr Carl Hart has pointed out, that Christopher is ostracised for addiction by people who spend their day-to-day lives committing theft and murder. Yet we identify with it. We identify with the twisted moral landscape of the mob, and it probably says something about me that I didn’t find this the number one most shocking death. Although it may also be something to do with the fact that YouTube spoiled it for me.

3) Richie Aprile

Richie Aprile was a dead man. One of my favourite lines from consigliere Silvio Dante, when Tony subtly orders the hit on his rival and soon to be brother-in-law, is “I don’t think there’s anything to gain by keeping him around.” But what nobody was expecting was the fact that their job would be done for them by Richie’s fiancée and Tony’s dysfunctional sister, Janice. Janice is a very well-played and believable character, and it’s interesting that the argument that leads her to shooting Richie in their house is contrary to mob values of homophobia, arguing with Richie about his dancer son whom he disapproves of. But, damn, we did not expect that, especially as it was Janice’s advice to Richie that led to Tony considering his removal in the first place. But I guess that just sums Janice up.

2) Tony Blundetto

Steve Buscemi was one of the greatest additions to the cast of ‘The Sopranos.’ He’s a brilliant actor and Tony B is a brilliant and tragic character. Released from a lengthy prison stretch, which his cousin Tony Soprano narrowly avoided by having a blackout before the robbery, something he can never forgive himself for, Tony B wants to go straight, and it’s admirable to see this. But like the plot of ‘The Godfather,’ there’s quite a brutal reminder throughout this show that this life is not something you can leave behind. Another character who realised this was Eugene Pontecorvo, who kills himself when he realises his mob bosses nor his FBI bosses would let him retire. But Tony B wasn’t a rat and he also was given the blessing to go straight. The man who stops Tony B from achieving this is himself. He slips back into old habits when he argues with his business partner and he eventually reacts irrationally after the death of his prison friend Angelo, at the hands of the Leonardo brothers, killing Billy and marking him for death by his brother Phil. Fearing torture due to Phil’s anger, Tony Soprano decides he must take it upon himself to kill his cousin, but nothing quite prepares you for the nature of his death scene, where, to the tune of Van Morrison’s ‘Glad tidings,’ Soprano guns him down in one go.

1) Adriana La Cerva

I think the two last episodes of the show’s fifth season were the best. The finale was ‘All Due Respect’ which featured Tony B’s demise, but the penultimate episode, ‘Long Term Parking’ featured, I think, the most brutal death of the series. You can’t help but feel sorry for Adriana; she isn’t very bright, but she clearly loves Christopher very much. She’s just blind to the nature of the mob. After her death, Christopher is astounded that she collaborated with the FBI because she couldn’t do “two f*****g years” for him. Nobody questions this logic. As far as everyone’s concerned, Christopher is the one who has suffered through all this. Ironic that he’s the one being murdered a season later. But Adriana’s death, which we quickly see coming as Silvio Dante takes her to the “hospital” on the pretence that Christopher has attempted suicide, is all the more shocking, I think, not only because it’s tragic in the same way so many of these deaths are, but because the executioner, Silvio, played by Stevie Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen’s guitarist, with his humorous outbursts and Al Pacino impressions, isn’t really a character that you take all that seriously. I just found it pretty chilling as she’s crawling away and he says “where the f**k you going … you c**t?” before shooting her. But, then, what did you expect? It’s also a brilliant performance by Drea De Matteo, for which she won an Emmy.

So there it is. I know some big moments have been left out and many will disagree, but that’s just my choices. Would be interesting to hear everyone else’s.