Topic > Analyzing the first episode of The Sopranos

Perhaps a theme of the first episode of The Sopranos is the idea that even people who do bad things and kill others suffer from stress and love their family just like anyone else. This is especially emphasized by the periodic scenes with the psychiatrist and the number of times depression is mentioned. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay I imagine the tone of this show is dark comedy. Therefore, I would visually create a dark atmosphere with soft lighting and an overall gray tone. I would also like to make sure that the actors' performances are not too dramatic or touching and I would like to emphasize physical comedy, such as the scene where Chris and Big Pussy struggle to put Emil's body in a dumpster and end up leaning it against the wall. side. Additionally, the choice of sound and music has a huge effect on the tone. I would ensure that the accompanying soundtrack is light and not too emotional to ensure that the comedic aspect of the potentially dark show is not lost on viewers. Since I found the scene, as written, so funny, I decided to analyze the one described above where Chris and Big Pussy try to get rid of Emil. In the show itself, I was underwhelmed by the physical humor of trying to throw the body in the dumpster. It's realistic that the body doesn't get thrown very high, but I imagined it flying higher, which, for some reason, seems more fun to me. As if they could almost have let the body in. Given the situation, however, it seems a little ridiculous that they're even trying, which is probably the actual humor intended. I found it a shame that they cut out all the other mess with the body (although I noticed that throughout the show they made a lot of cuts to keep the action and story tight). Aside from that, Chris's actor does a good job of appearing very proud and determined (with his "sleeps with the fishes" quote) and Big Pussy sufficiently exasperated. This is emphasized by Big Pussy's heavy breathing. I also found that the line change at the end of the scene shifted the power dynamic a bit. While the script made it seem like Big Pussy felt Chris was beneath him and unworthy of hearing an answer ("Tell you?"), the show ("Why are you asking?") is much less condescending. In terms of camera work, I love the way the wide shots establish how tall the trash can is. Additionally, the cut to a falling body shot when Big Pussy explains that there are differences between the current situation and that of The Godfather emphasizes the ridiculousness and humor in their pathetic situation. In this regard, the camerawork allows the full extent of the comedy shown by the actors to be clearly evident to the spectators. If I were to tell anyone else how to keep the show consistent, I would start by keeping the overall humorous tone. . As I suspected before even watching the episode, having a lighthearted soundtrack is key to keeping this dark series comedic. Furthermore, the large contrasts between well-lit shots and dark, shadowy ones – in scenes of “normal” family fun versus murder scenes, for example – are also key to underlining the dichotomy in the characters' lives. In terms of performance, the show also relies on Tommy successfully performing a depressive and anxious role, covered by an often false, almost distracted kind of happiness, which serves as a self-proclaimed "sad clown" facade. Carmela, meanwhile, is supposed to seethe with pain, sorrow and even anger as she looks at her family - her husband.