The Sopranos is a rarity among the greatest television shows of all time, as it retained a remarkable level of consistency throughout. While even excellent shows like The Wire and Breaking Bad had seasons that were considered to be weaker, The Sopranos kept heightening its tension as it moved forward, reaching a critical apex within its later installments. The death of Adriana (Drea de Matteo) in the episode "Long Term Parking" was a devastating moment that proved just how dark David Chase was willing to go, but The Sopranos delivered its most shocking death ever in the series' penultimate episode, "The Blue Comet."
The final half of The Sopranos Season 6 sees Tony (James Gandolfini) facing off with his most lethal enemy yet in Phil Leotardo (Frank Vincent), who is determined to hunt down and execute every member of his family. Although Tony has shown an ability to negotiate with and intimidate his enemies in the past, Phil cannot be bought or bargained with, as he sees violence as the only means of bringing their feud to a close. In a shocking turn of events, Tony's brother-in-law, Robert Baccalieri Jr. (Steve Schirripa), is executed in a surprise attack, which forces the Sopranos to go on the defensive. Bobby's death was completely unexpected and devastating, creating a genuine level of suspense regarding who would survive until the end of the series.
Bobby's Death Signaled the Endgame of 'The Sopranos' Close
The final season of The Sopranos features many shocking deaths, yet Bobby's demise is one that couldn't have been anticipated based on foreshadowing. As sad as it was to see Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli) get smothered to death by Tony, it was established that his addiction issues were too extreme for him to ever realistically be considered as the next heir to the family; even Adriana's execution in the previous season was one that was easy to see coming, as her fate was sealed the moment she became an informant. Bobby was one of the few characters in The Sopranos who had seemingly been protected, as Tony shows an increased level of consciousness when it comes to members of his own family. Although Tony and his sister, Janice (Aida Turturro), frequently get into disputes with one another, he respects the fact that Bobby has treated her with respect and helped to raise their children.
Bobby's importance in the series had grown, as he had proven himself to be one of the most loyal members of Tony's inner circle. Initially, Bobby was often lampooned for his more docile nature, but he eventually becomes a captain in the fourth season and is increasingly given more pressing assignments. Despite the fact that he and Tony get into a brawl in the episode "Sopranos Home Movies," both men recognize that they should treat each other with respect. The fact that someone as important as Bobby could be gunned down without any pretense signified that Tony had lost control of the conflict with Phil, and that drastic means would need to be taken in order to get justice for the murder of his brother-in-law.
Bobby's death is carried out in a very brutal way, as it is rare to see an execution in the middle of a public forum without any formal threats between the gangs. Despite the fact that Bobby has proven to be just as dangerous as the other members of Tony's family, it's hard not to think of him as somewhat childlike in "The Blue Comet"; he dies while looking for model trains in a store, which has been a regular hobby of his. Although there are many connections that The Sopranos shares with The Godfather, the death of Bobby is best compared to the execution of Sonny Corleone (James Caan) in Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 masterpiece, as it is the inciting incident within a much more volatile conflict.
Related 'The Sopranos' Would Be Nothing Without This This 29-Year-Old Underrated Steve Buscemi Movie
Steve Buscemi directed a wild amount of 'The Sopranos' episodes.
Posts 1 "The Blue Comet" Is One of the Most Powerful Episodes of 'The Sopranos'
"The Blue Comet" signified that Tony's inner circle was vulnerable, and that the status quo he had so closely maintained was in danger of being compromised. The entire season deals with imagery involving death, including Tony's near-death experience in "Members Only," as well as AJ's (Robert Iller) attempted suicide in "The Second Coming," which indicates that there is no assumption of safety for any of the characters. What's most devastating is that Tony becomes so concerned about protecting the other members of his family that he is barely given time to grieve; the episode's final moments, in which Tony wields a shotgun that was given to him by Bobby while sitting outside a safehouse, are among the show's most emotionally devastating instances of grief and trauma.
"The Blue Comet" is also one of the most kinetic episodes of The Sopranos, as, while some episodes would end with a shocking twist, Bobby's death actually comes in the middle of the story. Tony is put under even more pressure when there is an attempt made on Silvio (Steven Van Zandt), who only barely eludes death when he is shot several times. Tony is at his most vulnerable when he is forced to break the news to Carmela (Edie Falco) and admit that he doesn't have a plan for what to do next. Tony and Carmela's relationship had improved significantly since their argument at the end of Season 4, and the events of "Members Only" certainly draw them closer together; however, this means that Carmela has once again put her trust in Tony, which she may end up regretting.
"The Blue Comet" does everything that a great penultimate episode should do, as it suggests that the narrative could go in unexpected directions while paying off many of the recurring tensions that had been emerging. Even though The Sopranos is known for eliciting sympathy for some truly despicable characters, it's hard not to feel sadness when viewing the brutal manner in which Bobby meets his end.
The Sopranos TV-MA Crime Drama 13 9.9/10 Release Date 1999 - 2007-00-00
Powered by Expand Collapse