KnockBack, Episode 14: The Sopranos

Finally watched it Its defiantly and a top 5 show but I would never put this show near number one, the way you mention it in sacred symbols makes it feel flawless and Colins criticism on Breaking Bad does not add up as this show has way more hicups. Using Melfi as a way to get into Tonys head and emotions is a cop out unlike Donald Drapers character whos emotions and feelings are always cleverly shown to the audience. Good entertainment but misses the Top 5 echelon with Mad Men Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad

Chetsnooze

Finally got around to watching the series and listening to this. I’d disagree on the writing bit Dagan talked about with the bow on bow on bow. Even you mention Colin how Mad Men does this great and I’d say that the best ever, Breaking Bad, does this to nobody’s business, so much so that they even go further in Better Call Saul. I disagree with you guys on the writing and seasons. I think if you’re going to pick the best season of Sopranos, it has to be either 1 or 2. After that, it’s not as consistent. I’d argue that the final season is easily the worst and that the ending is terrible. I don’t think Tony died, I think it was a fake-out, but either way I found that to be sloppy.

NeO JD

Fair enough. Thank you for the correction! (And thank you for supporting our show.)

Colin Moriarty

I didn't see this, but I'll need to watch. Thank you!

Colin Moriarty

Just got around to listening to this episode. Great episode. However you guys got one thing wrong, Tony never finds out about Mefli's rape. The episode ends with her breaking down and him asking her if there's anything she wants to tell him. The last shot is a close up shot of her saying the word "No." The subject is never brought up again. I just rewatched this episode so it's fresh on the mind. Anyway you're doing great work, keep it up!

Bogey Zero

Hey Colin, after finally listening to this (after not realizing it was posted for month lol) I’m loving the conversation, I wonder if you’ve seen this video of Matthew Weiner giving his incredibly interesting insight into the sopranos finale <a href="https://youtu.be/-CmWuiifwDw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/-CmWuiifwDw</a>

Kenneth thomas

I wish I had the time to do that, because that would be the epitome of a passion project. Thanks for listening!

Colin Moriarty

I'm still catching up. Just listened to this one in the Car. Gotta be my favorite episode yet. And man can I not wait for the Mad Men episode. I would listen to you guys do a a whole series just on Mad Men.

Cody Cieslikowski

True.

Colin Moriarty

AJ sucks but his suicide attempt scene when tony jumps in the pool after him gets me every time! 😭

Sean Thompson

I don't even remember the granular details at this point. Perhaps it's time for a rewatch?

Colin Moriarty

Actually by the time the final scene happens the war the New York is over. Earlier in the episode Tony has a sit down with the top guys from Phil's family where they give him permission to take out Phil. They realized Phil was never gonna do a compromise and it was becoming very bad for business on both sides.

Joe Bellotta

Very well put.

Colin Moriarty

No spoilers, but that ending, as controversial as it has become, is I think one of the best ways they could have ended the series - if you take the time to look back on everything, it makes sense, and feels like the culmination of a season about endings, and of Tony's journey as a whole, as startling as it is.

Josh Tellam

Well, because you take the good and you take the bad.

Colin Moriarty

Family Ties???? Why not toss in the Facts of life?

Joey Finelli

Thank you for joining us here, and for your support! I appreciate you. <3

Colin Moriarty

Sorry you feel that way! : FWIW, I listen to every episode of KnockBack front-to-back, and I really didn't ruin anything of substance. That one's all about the journey; the ending is irrelevant. Don't give up on it because of me!

Colin Moriarty

New Patreon here! Love your content especially you and your bro's show. Loved this episode since Sopranos is my favorite show ever! My top one's would be Sopranos, The Wire, Breaking Bad and Boardwalk Empire. Also if you get a chance watch Billions on Showtime with Paul Giamatti and Damien Lewis. Such a fantastic show with great writing and acting! Keep up the great content.

Joe Bellotta

Colin - you are killing me! I did have plans to watch Mad Men...but you talked about it nearly as much as the Sopranos with no spoiler warnings. Still love the shows, but geez...I think you killed that one for me brother :(

Donald Koehne

Thank you for listening, and for your kindness and support. Glad everything is resonating with you!

Colin Moriarty

Dudes thank you so much for tackling the Sopranos in depth! I haven’t listened yet but couldn’t wait to post this because The Sopranos is my favorite show of all time and as a huge fan of all things CLS this is like my dream podcast episode. Colin I just wanna say too, you’ve been killing it on all fronts lately my man! That fireside chats about the prequels was a 10/10 listen, side quest has been polished and interesting, and you and dagan are obviously really hitting your stride with knockback (and that’s coming from someone born in 1995 so I can’t always relate to the episodes as well as some). Keep up the great work my friend, I got nothing but love and respect for you (and Dagan, Erin, and Lola of course). Also I just took my first job out of college (UMass Amherst w/ a degree in landscape architecture) so I will be moving out to Orange County for my first job and hope to up my patron pledge if I can afford the crazy rent out there lol. Cheers!!

Anthony Gemma

Sorry dude! FWIW, you should watch The Sopranos.

Colin Moriarty

Indeed. But he always seemed to be the cleanest of the bunch, so not a huge surprise.

Colin Moriarty

That's very cool! Thanks for listening.

Colin Moriarty

Right, right, right.

Colin Moriarty

It's worth watching, front-to-back.

Colin Moriarty

It’s always a little sad when the weeks knockback episode is something you’ve never had any experience with :( but I understand that not everything will be in my wheelhouse, and I look forward to the many more episodes to come, keep it up Colin and Dagan!!

Andy Jenereaux

Man I enjoyed the hell out of this episode. It reminded me that it’s been far too long since I watched The Sopranos, yet the moment you guys mentioned a character or event, it crystallized in my head as if I watched it yesterday, 100% clear. Also Layne Staley’s death hit me hard too; with Cobain, Weiland and Cornell gone too, Eddie Vedder is really the last of the old grunge superstars who is still with us.

Marc Boggio

Awesome episode guys, some of my family actually worked on a production level on the show, so I remember being on set for visits and staying up late at night when I was younger to watch. It was such an important and special show to me personally in my life, thanks for shining some more light on it all these years later!

Leo Maniscalchi

P.S. Twin Peaks The Returned best season of TV all time, total masterpiece.

David Kramme

Hey Colin the Melfi rape, she knows if she tells Tony she was raped (said she was in a car accident) he would "crush him, the rapist, like a bug", at thier next session you can see her struggle with telling/not telling him and the epidode ends with her staying silent about it, but you're right as she struggles he gets really upset ans one of the only times it looks like he's got any empathy for someone other than himself.

David Kramme

Never seen this show. Now I feel that i have to.

Marius Skarsem Pedersen

Meta. Perfect word for it.

Colin Moriarty

The Twin Peaks return was SO Twin Peaks. It is pretty freaking incredible. It reached this level of.... meta, I have never seen before.

Michael Ferrari

I humbly recommend that you listen to this AFTER you watch, though that's entirely up to you. =)

Colin Moriarty

What a huge loss.

Colin Moriarty

I love that Dagan really goes in on that scene in this podcast.

Colin Moriarty

The Sopranos is my favourite television drama of all time. RIP James Gandolfini.

Ross Arbour

Looking forward to listening to this on my drive. I never watched it, and this may change my mind to give it a watch.

Chris B

RIP indeed.

Colin Moriarty

Will be listening to this tonight. RIP James Gandolfini.

John Bury

I've been watching it recently, I gotta say... It doesn't hold up very well.

I still say it has one of the best endings ever! About to give this a listen.

Michael Ferrari