This is one of the ultimate Sopranos episodes. And its also probably the most emotional of all the episodes, which says a lot. The emotions are different, raging from first humor then tragedy and grief and finally revenge. Tony puts an end to Ralph's miserable and villainous existence in a highly emotional and exhilarating scene. The fight was well choreographed and must have taken a toll on the actors, but it paid off because it looks so realistic.
Rarely any other TV character deserved to die like Ralph Cifaretto. He got away with a murder so foul and brutal and continued living like nothing happened. This was in a way payback for everything that happened in episodes "University" and "He is risen". Ralph murdered an innocent young girl and then got promoted as a better man died, a man he despised. And to top it all off, he killed another beautiful innocent creature for his own gain. This was in a way God's own judgment over Ralph. First he took his son away, then his own life.
That last scene with Tony wandering around the Bing and then seeing Tracee's picture on the wall was poignant beyond words. Some viewers wondered previous to this whether Ralph deserved such a violent end, after what happened to his son and his "repentance" and desire to mend his ways.This scene made it all clear to them. Tony with all his flaws was the avenging angel who rid the world of another evil being.
Superb work from the writers Green and Burgess and a great performance by Pantoliano and also Gandolfini. One plus also is the absence of Bracco and her at times pointless character dr. Melfi. This is as good as TV shows can get.
Rarely any other TV character deserved to die like Ralph Cifaretto. He got away with a murder so foul and brutal and continued living like nothing happened. This was in a way payback for everything that happened in episodes "University" and "He is risen". Ralph murdered an innocent young girl and then got promoted as a better man died, a man he despised. And to top it all off, he killed another beautiful innocent creature for his own gain. This was in a way God's own judgment over Ralph. First he took his son away, then his own life.
That last scene with Tony wandering around the Bing and then seeing Tracee's picture on the wall was poignant beyond words. Some viewers wondered previous to this whether Ralph deserved such a violent end, after what happened to his son and his "repentance" and desire to mend his ways.This scene made it all clear to them. Tony with all his flaws was the avenging angel who rid the world of another evil being.
Superb work from the writers Green and Burgess and a great performance by Pantoliano and also Gandolfini. One plus also is the absence of Bracco and her at times pointless character dr. Melfi. This is as good as TV shows can get.