Named by the Writers Guild of America as the best-written TV show of all time,The Sopranosis as good as it gets on the small screen. Every character makes you care, while the stories, though far removed from the life of an ordinary person, are all intriguing. Much credit goes to series creator David Chase, and a strong team of writers that included Terence Winter, Mitchell Burgess, and Matthew Weiner.
The Sopranos
Even though all the show’s episodes are incredible, some add little to the larger arcs, so those without much time on their hands can easily skip them during a rewatch. After all, the crime series has 86 episodes, so covering them all can take some time. Press play on the following 10 chapters, but don’t feel compelled to do so. Ignoring them is unlikely to erase your love for the show. In fact, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the affairs of the DiMeo and Lupertazzi crime families.
Here are 10Sopranosepisodes that don’t move the story forward and can be skipped on a rewatch.
10"In Camelot"
Season 5, Episode 5
During Aunt Concetta’s funeral, Tony bumps into Fran Felstein, his father Johnny Boy’s longtimecomàre. He chooses to spend some time with her, soshe opens up and tells him numerous stories about the man, including the fact that he gave her a dog that Livia once rejected and that Junior had a crush on her.
Daddy’s True Love
“In Camelot” provides some backstory for Johnny Boy Soprano, buthe isn’t an essential character in the HBO drama, so it hardly matters. Additionally, Livia has been dead for a long time at this point, so there is little value in introducing the woman who competed with her for Johnny Boy’s love. Beyond that, it hardly touches on the season’s main arcs (Tony Blundetto’s return from jail and the rising tensions between the DiMeo and Lupertazzi crime families.”
9"Commendatori"
Season 2, Episode 4
Early in Season 2, Tony heads to Naples with Christopher and Paulie Gualtieri to meet a Camorra family. There, henegotiates the smuggling of stolen luxury cars from America to Italy. As a natural chauvinist, he finds it hard to believe that his new business partners are led by a woman: Annalisa Zucca. Still, his lust kicks in, and he flirts with her.
More of a Vacation
Apart from a change of scenery and a reminder that our favorite mobsters have an Italian background, there is little else of value.The car deal that’s secured here is never revisited later in the show. Tony and Zucca don’tget to have an affaireither. The only other significant thing from “Commendatori” is that Tony takes the Italian gangster, Furio, back to America with him. However, information on how Tony got Furio can still be found in the following episodes.
8"A Hit Is a Hit"
Season 1, Episode 10
“A Hit is a Hit” is primarily about music.DiMeo crime family associate Hesh Rabkin feuds with rapper Massive Genius over royalties and sampling. The latter claims the former benefited from the work of a dead black singer. The former accuses the latter of using beats that didn’t belong to him. Additionally,Adriana expresses interest in pursuing a music career, figuring Genius can help.
Fading Music
Nothing ever comes out of the feud between Hesh and Genius. There is the promise of a lawsuit, butfans are never informed of the outcome. The rapper mogul is never seen again either, which is a shame, considering that he is portrayed by the talented Bokeem Woodbine.The episode is also unrealistic since Genius has gang ties, yet he decides to go the court routerather than do things the street way. Besides that, Adriana never seriously pursues a music career either.
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7"Join the Club"
Season 6, Episode 2
Tony Sopranoexperiences several weird dreamsinThe Sopranos, but the one that plays out in “Join the Club” is the most insignificant. In the episode, everyone crosses their fingers, hoping for the mobster’s recovery after he gets shot by Junior. While in a coma,Tony dreams of a life where he is an optics salesman. The dream plays out for most of the running time and features bizarre sequences such as Tony fighting with monks and strangers inviting him for dinner.
Weird Dreams
This isnothing more than an alternate reality episode. While it’s fun watching Tony doing things that aren’t gang-related, it’s also a little bit weird. At this point in the season, all anyone is worried about is whether Tony will recover. Will this be one of those instances where the central figure dies before the show ends? The answer isn’t provided, so don’t feel guilty about not joining this club.
6"Mr. Ruggerio’s Neighborhood"
Season 3, Episode 1
After listening to phone calls for years without hearing anything incriminating,the FBI decides to plant a listening device on a lamp in Tony’s basement. They single this out as the ideal locationsince the mobster usually goes there to talk with his associates, believing the conversations will be masked by the noise coming from the air conditioning units.
Mission Impossible
The entire episode revolves around the FBI agents spying on Tony’s house and eventually bugging it, which is all pointless since Mr. Soprano is arguably the smartest fictional mobster of all time.They never get anything on him. Worse still,Meadow unknowingly takes away the lamp later on, making their work more pointless. It’s also hard not to wonder: why did they place a listening device on a movable lamp?
5"Down Neck"
Season 1, Episode 7
Tony gets a call from school while shaking down a foreman at a construction site. It turns outA.J. is in trouble again. He and his friends stole sacramental wine and turned up drunk at gym class. The mobster thenspeaks to Dr. Melfi regarding his fears about A.J.’s future. He also has flashbacks to his troubled childhood.
TV history has proven that episodes with plenty of flashbacks tend to be more dull than inspiring. Such is the case here.Even though some insight into Tony’s childhood is provided, none of it has any impact. Tony is still a hoodlum, even after witnessing his father’s criminal activities as a child. He never vowed to do better. A.J. doesn’t change much either. He remains stubborn for the rest of the show.
Season 2, Episode 7
Christopher dreams of getting into Hollywood, so he meets up with Amy, the fiancée of his cousin, Greg. She happens to beworking with Jon Fraveau, so Chris sees this as the perfect opportunity to get his foot in. Big Pussy is also instructed to wear a wire at A.J’s confirmation.
Hollywood Dreams
Richie Aprile’s rebellion and Big Pussy’s betrayal are Season 2’s main storylines, yet “D-Girl” contributes little to them.Much of the focus is on Christopher’s Hollywood venture, which dies out soonafter when he realizes he never had the makings of a filmmaker. The only significant thing from the episode is Pussy’s wire, which Tony discovers later in the season. Still,the episode doesn’t add any weight to the discovery moment, since fans already knew Pussy is an informant.
3"Everybody Hurts"
Season 4, Episode 6
Many little things happen in “Everybody Hurts,” but they are all just that… little things. Tony feels guilty after learning about his mistress Gloria Trillo’s suicide, and AJ’s friends start becoming curious about his family life. Away from that,Artie gets into a feud with Jean Philippe, who asked for a $50,000 bridge loanfrom him to conclude a deal to distribute Armagnac in the United States, only for him to fail to repay.
Artie Trying To Act Tough
Artie’s subplot adds some humor to the show, especially during the scenes when he practices before a mirror before going to collect, and when he actually tries to collect. Still,the story is given a lot of focus, yet it’s disconnected from the season’s main plots of Tony’s failing marriage and Ralph’s recklessness. Watching Artie get beaten by the person who owes him is kinda heartbreaking, too, considering that he isn’t the one in the wrong.
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2"Irregular Around the Margins"
In “Irregular Around the Margins,” Tony and Adriana start flirting. They also decide to drive to Dover together to buy cocaine.While on the trip, they get involved in an accident. Rumors then spread that Adriana was fellating Tony when the crash happened. This causes a rift between the two mobsters.
‘Family’ Feud
Unfortunately, the entire episode is dedicated to this incident, yetthe misunderstanding only results in a short-lived feud. Tony never continues to pursue, despite telling Christopher that he doesn’t deserve a beautiful woman like her. Things would have been more interesting if Adriana had gone on to have a secret affair with Tony, only for him to learn she had been arm-twisted into becoming an FBI informant.
1"Pine Barrens"
Season 3, Episode 11
Silvio is sick, so Paulie and Christopher aretasked with collecting a debt from a Russian mobster named Valery. Unfortunately, Paulie provokes the “Man from Moscow,” resulting in a brutal fight at his apartment. Thinking they have killed him,Paulie and Chris take him to the Pine Barrens to bury him, only for him to overpower them and flee. Much of the episode thus revolves around them looking for him.
Pure Entertainment… Pure Filler
Before any lynching happens, it’s important to acknowledge that “Pine Barrens” is undoubtedlythe most entertaining episode ofThe Sopranos. The quotes and slapstick moments are all golden. However, a viewer doesn’t miss anything essential by not watching it.It’s simply a comic relief chapter. After slipping from the jaws of Christopher and Paulie, Valery disappears forever, and everyone goes about their business. But in the words of Christopher, we have to ask ourselves, “Is this f***ng necessary?”
