10 Skippable ‘Sopranos’ Episodes to Cut During Rewatch

Acclaimed by the Writers Guild of America as the most superbly written TV series ever, The Sopranos offers top-notch entertainment on the small screen. Each character manages to stir your emotions, even though the plots, although seemingly distant from everyday life, are captivating. A significant portion of praise should go to series creator David Chase, as well as a talented group of writers such as Terence Winter, Mitchell Burgess, and Matthew Weiner.

Though every episode in this series is impressive, some don’t significantly contribute to the main storylines. If you’re short on time, it’s perfectly fine to bypass these during a rewatch. After all, with 86 episodes, watching them all can be quite time-consuming. Feel free to watch only the next 10 episodes, but remember, you’re not missing out if you don’t watch every single one. In fact, focusing on these chapters will give you a better grasp of the dealings between the DiMeo and Lupertazzi crime families.

Here are 10 Sopranos episodes that don’t move the story forward and can be skipped on a rewatch.

10
“In Camelot”

Season 5, Episode 5

At Aunt Concetta’s funeral, Tony runs into Fran Felstein, an old friend of his father Johnny Boy. Instead of rushing off, he decides to spend some time with her. In return, she shares many stories about Johnny Boy, such as the tale of him giving her a dog that Livia had initially refused and how Junior had a crush on her.

Daddy’s True Love

In Camelot offers some background information about Johnny Boy Soprano, however, he’s not a crucial figure in the HBO drama, so it’s not overly important. Furthermore, Livivia has already passed away by this point, making her introduction as the woman vying for Johnny Boy’s affection less significant. Moreover, it only minimally explores the key storylines of the season, such as Tony Blundetto’s release from prison and the escalating conflicts between the DiMeo and Lupertazzi crime families.

9
“Commendatori”

Season 2, Episode 4

In the beginning of Season 2, Tony, accompanied by Christopher and Paulie Gualtieri, journeys to Naples for a meeting with a Camorra family. There, he arranges for the transportation of stolen high-end vehicles from the United States to Italy as part of a new business venture. Despite his initial skepticism due to her leadership position, Tony is taken aback when he learns that the head of this organization is a woman named Annalisa Zucca. However, his attraction proves stronger than his doubts, and he finds himself trying to win her favor with flirtatious gestures.

More of a Vacation

Beyond offering a fresh setting and reinforcing the Italian roots of our beloved mob characters, there’s not much else that significantly contributes to the plot. The car deal struck here doesn’t resurface later in the series. Neither Tony nor Zucca engage in a romantic relationship as well. The most substantial element from “Commendatori” is that Tony brings the Italian gangster, Furio, back to America with him. However, further details about how Tony obtained Furio are discussed in subsequent episodes.

8
“A Hit Is a Hit”

Season 1, Episode 10

In essence, ‘A Hit is a Hit’ revolves around the world of music.”

“Moreover, Hesh Rabkin, a member of the DiMeo crime family, has a conflict with rapper Massive Genius over royalties and sampling rights. The latter alleges that Rabkin profited from the work of a deceased black singer, while Rabkin counters by accusing the former of using unauthorized beats.”

“Furthermore, Adriana shows an inclination towards launching a music career and believes Massive Genius could assist her in this endeavor.

Fading Music

1. The conflict between Hesh and Genius never bears fruit, as it’s followed by the threat of a lawsuit but no resolution is ever shared with fans. Regrettably, we never see the skillful Bokeem Woodbine, portraying the rapper mogul, again.

2. In addition, the show presents an unconvincing scenario when Genius, who’s associated with gangs, opts for a courtroom battle instead of resorting to street tactics. Moreover, Adriana fails to fully commit to her music career aspirations.

7
“Join the Club”

Season 6, Episode 2

In “The Sopranos,” I, Tony Soprano, find myself immersed in a series of peculiar dreams, but none are more trivial than the one portrayed in the episode “Join the Club.” As the story unfolds, everyone around me is holding their breath, praying for my recovery after being shot by Junior. While in a coma, I have an unusual dream where I transform into an optics salesman in another life. This fantasy takes up a significant portion of the episode and includes surreal moments such as myself engaging in combat with monks and receiving dinner invitations from strangers.

Weird Dreams

This episode appears to be merely a deviation from the usual storyline, focusing on Tony’s activities outside his gang-related life. It’s intriguing, yet somewhat jarring given our current concerns about Tony’s recovery. Could this be a situation where the main character meets an untimely end before the series concludes? The show doesn’t offer a definitive answer, so there’s no need to speculate or worry excessively.

6
“Mr. Ruggerio’s Neighborhood”

Season 3, Episode 1

After years of monitoring phone calls without finding any evidence, the FBI decides to secretly install a listening device on a lamp in Tony’s basement. This location is chosen because the mobster often goes there to discuss business with his associates, and the FBI believes that the conversations can be overheard despite the noise from the air conditioning units.

Mission Impossible

In the heart of the storyline, the FBI’s focus is on monitoring Tony’s residence and eventually planting a bug within it. Yet, it seems fruitless since Tony Soprano, in my opinion, stands as one of the shrewdest fictional mobsters ever portrayed. They never manage to gather any incriminating evidence against him. To make matters worse, Meadow, unaware, later removes the lamp, making their efforts even more futile. This situation leaves me pondering: why did they install a listening device on a movable lamp?

5
“Down Neck”

Season 1, Episode 7

Tony receives a phone call from school, interrupting an argument with a construction site foreman. It turns out that A.J. is in trouble once more – he and some friends had taken sacramental wine and showed up intoxicated during gym class. Later on, the mobster confides his concerns about A.J.’s future to Dr. Melfi. His mind also drifts back to memories of his tumultuous childhood.

Bad Father, Bad Son

The history of TV shows has shown that episodes with numerous flashbacks often turn out to be more uneventful than thought-provoking, and this appears to be the case here. While we get a glimpse into Tony’s past, it doesn’t seem to make much difference. Despite witnessing his father’s criminal activities as a child, Tony continues his life of crime, never showing any intent to improve. A.J., on the other hand, maintains his stubbornness throughout the series.

4
“D-Girl”

Season 2, Episode 7

Christopher yearns for a career in Hollywood, so he arranges to meet Amy, who’s engaged to his cousin Greg. Since she works with Jon Fraveau, Christopher believes this could be the ideal chance to make an entry. Meanwhile, they plan for Big Pussy to hide a recording device during A.J’s confirmation ceremony.

Hollywood Dreams

In Season 2, the primary narratives revolve around Richie Aprile’s insurgency and Big Pussy’s treachery. However, the episode titled “D-Girl” doesn’t significantly contribute to these storylines. Instead, the major emphasis is on Christopher’s foray into Hollywood, which quickly fades when he acknowledges his lack of aptitude as a filmmaker. The only substantial element from the episode is Pussy’s wire, but its revelation doesn’t add much weight to the later discovery since viewers were already aware that Big Pussy was an informant.

3
“Everybody Hurts”

Season 4, Episode 6

In “Everybody Hurts,” several minor occurrences take place, but they are exactly that—minor. Tony grapples with guilt following Gloria Trillo’s suicide and AJ’s friends express growing interest in his family affairs. Meanwhile, Artie finds himself embroiled in a dispute with Jean Philippe, who requested a $50,000 bridge loan from him to finalize a deal to distribute Armagnac in the U.S., but failed to return the money as promised.

Artie Trying To Act Tough

In the series, Artie’s side story provides a good dose of humor, particularly when he rehearses before a mirror prior to collecting and during the actual collection scenes. However, despite receiving significant attention, his storyline seems detached from this season’s primary themes such as Tony’s troubled marriage and Ralph’s reckless behavior. Seeing Artie getting beaten by someone who owes him is quite distressing, given that he isn’t in the wrong in this situation.