Why We're Wrong About AJ | The Sopranos 

*Was Ralph Cifaretto on the road to redemption before he was killed?* *Check out the video below and you might just change your mind about Ralph:* ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0q-XJbWIGtI.html

A.J. is exactly what happens to a son whose father never had the makings of a varsity athlete.

AJ's a great character. Every time he starts to evolve, his parents sabotage it. He cares about politics? They make fun of him. He tries to join the military? They bait him into taking a job dad can get him with his money. They hate how spoiled he is while constantly spoiling him. Hating AJ is so weird to me. He's literally trying to be a good dude. Chrissy was too, but the father figure/lack of one sabotages literally everyone in this show.

When I offered AJ a ride home dat time, I was this close.

i like AJ its a bit terrifying how people let slide the most horrible acts yet everyone hates a civilian

Soprano fans disdain for AJ,s character clearly shows what a great actor Robert Iler is with his portrayal... most underrated actor on the show.

I actually sympathize with AJ and never really understood why he got so much hate. I really think it's what you said the the beginning, people see themselves as Tony when really they're Aj. I thought it was pretty big that he started taking steps to join the military and even had a plan for his life afterwards, but Tony and Carmella like many parents handicapped him after years of preaching responsibility. He was taking responsibility but it wasn't in the way they wanted, this very emblematic of many American parents. They want you to grow up and be an adult but at every turn they make sure you know you aren't an adult, that you're less than. They share no responsibility or power and expect you to magically become responsible. Oh look, we're out time! I'll be back again for my next session

That “47 years old, he was just a kid” joke gets me every time 😂😂😂😂

You missed the biggest thing. He was the only one in his family that actually had some morals. Also he did try to take accountability by going into the army. That was clear growth since he was crying from the first time he was going to go.

People really hate AJ that much? He was a child for 90% of the series and then struggled with depression as a young adult. I think he's relatable to a lot of kids who grew up around the same time, including myself. Maybe that's why I don't hate him as much, but it's not like he was a cold blooded murder like his father.

I actually liked aj he actually was a realistic character

AJ really isn't that bad in like, the first two seasons. Meadow has more bratty moments early on imo. AJ has a lot of moments where he is just quiet and polite, occasionally acting out like a normal teen.

AJ is the typical American teenager in 2022. At the time, his behavior/character was mostly limited to the wealthier suburban types. Social media has not been kind to many American youngsters. You’re too young to remember this but social media wasn’t really a thing in 2006 when they filmed the final seasons of The Sopranos. It was mostly limited to college students and not really on the writers’ radar. Once the iPhone dropped in 2007 social media rapidly took off in popular culture.

110% AJ was a product of his environment. With parents like that!

Historically, mob bosses don't successfully transfer power to their sons. Joe Bonnano's son was exiled from New York with his father and John Gotti Jr. was deemed an unimpressive leader by other families. If Tony is killed in the finale, 20-year old AJ is undoubtedly bound to a path of revenge, but many different thumbs likely went up on Tony's downfall; neither New Jersey or New York will allow AJ to ingratiate himself to them.

AJ is one of the most well constructed characters of the show, his evolution through the seasons is amazing and (sadly) realistic.

Aj reminded me of myself a LOT man. This media, our circumstances, our parents. I saw so much of myself in AJ it brought me to tears because honestly there was so much about AJ that reminded me of of my childhood and how I grew up and how those things had effected me how they did. It really moved me.

After watching the show about 7 times over the years my take is Aj is not a lowly, sympathetic character or even a undeveloped archetype. Aj is like his father for better or worst. Honestly, Aj has the makings to be a psychopath and a functioning criminal who manipulates his way through life. Mix in the fact he doesn't believe in God, problem for authority and has a cold disposition to death; you have the making of a Mobster. Take into account all the things he has done on the show. He displays characteristics of the other emotional, spiritually and morally damaged men that make up the mafia. -Fighting a previous friend. He earns his first "payoff" of 40$ for a shirt after getting into a physical altercation at school (prone to violence). Remember the alternative was him working for the shirt BUT he took the alternative route. His family name preceded him. -Stealing of communion wine w/friends. -Smoking weed at his Catholic Confirmation w/friend -Stealing mother's car -Breaking into school and destroying pool and trophy case w/friends -Break into school stealing answers to tests (expelled) also with an accomplice -Public display of mob affiliations, screaming at reporters on television (after father is shot) -Preparing to kill a family member (Junior Soprano) in a guarded facility.Avoiding prison because of fathers connections. -Throwing parties (score), facilitating underaged drinking -Influence of others to fight for him to maintain the cash flow (respect) of the highschool parties mainly because of his family's name. -Buying an assignment paper from a female student at school to pass of as his own. -Mother manipulates a teacher through sex to help him pass highschool -Selling boosted merchandise from Blockbusters. (score) -Doing cocaine and regular underaged drinking at nightclubs at and the Bing nightclub -Can't maintain regular employment -Attempted suicide or suicidal ideation. -Spends time in a psychiatric facility -Depression and anxiety attacks which lead to medication -Joins other young adults from the Soprano crew who host frat parties and physically assault people on a regular basis -Starts dating underaged highschool girl after turning 21yo If you take into consideration that Tony gets killed in front of him and his sister who will become a lawyer to constantly get him out of trouble, AJ is primed to walk in his fathers footsteps. He will inevitably break bad and go deeper into a spiral of violence and thrill seeking. Lastly, there is another son who essentially shared a similar upbringing and was perceived as weak by his peers, father and the untrained eye. That person would know exactly what AJ struggles with and how to empower AJ and that person is Little Carmine.

He died on da vine

Even Tony told Dr. Melfi that AJ would never make it in the mafia world.

I had more empathy for A.J. than for any other character in the show. As a matter of fact, by the end of the series, he was the ONLY character I cared about.

AJ had his moments where you felt for him but there were moments he was straight up mean. The Ouija board prank he pulled on Bobby junior right after his mom died showed how little empathy he has for others.

I am new to the show (just finished it) and I feel like the apparently unanimous hate for the character comes from the generation who actually saw the show back in the days, because at least for me (with fresh eyes , 20 years later) the character seems to be written and portrayed to make you feel sorry for him, not hate him. Sure, the guy can be selfish and kind of rude but he was always shown as being good hearted and well intended. In my opinion he was being purposefuly shown as a victim of a family that, while loving and financially supportive, was still super toxic; and as a product of an historical context that was batshit insane if you think about it.

This video made me think about the last season and it made me appreciate AJs character. He realized how messed up his situation was and it broke him but Meadow chooses to be ignorant and becomes a mafia lawyer at the end, think this disappointed Tony greatly at the end.

Jigsaw from the military school. 😂😂😂😂. I literally think of that every time I watch that episode. "here at this school we allow the students to play a game."

Crazy as this sounds, just hear me the fuck out; I always compared AJ to Paulie (“Walnuts” Gualtieri). Both were childish, both wouldn’t take responsibility, both would make references to things they had recently read or heard about. Tony berating AJ about not being able to hold down a job was similar to what Tony told Beansie about Paulie, in that he had repeatedly told Paulie to legitimise his income with an actual job otherwise he would become a target for the Feds. Also, both of them were spoiled. Referring to Ralphie, Tony rhetorically asked Paulie “Who got you those no-show jobs? And not a word of gratitude!” Whenever Tony gifted AJ with something, be it drums or a car, no gratitude was ever shown. AJ is shown to enjoy being a father figure to Blanca’s young son, Hector, who is Dominican descent. Paulie is shown to get on well with his mistress and her son, who are both also of South American descent. AJ is advised to see a therapist due to inability to cope with certain feelings. Paulie was also in therapy to learn and manage “Coping Skills” in the late 90’s.

The hatred toward him is a testament to how well the character was played.

I am empathetic to AJ. He was less in denial than Meadow and more honest overall. He was a product of his environment. He was his father’s son in many ways. He allowed himself to go along with what he saw. Which in the context of the show is almost admirable. It’s also quite realistic. A woman like Carmella is going to over correct when she’s married to a man like Tony. And a young boy is going to observe the dynamic and decide who he’s going to be. AJ chose what he perceived as the stronger character to emulate. I think again this show nailed AJ as a character study.

Agreed. I would like to add that at the start of the series AJ seemed very secure thinking his dad was legitimate. Little Carmine for instance, may well have gone to private school and been mob royalty as a kid but he clearly ran with criminals on the street as a youth. Tony , finding out about his dad as a kid also grew up in the old neighbourhood. for AJ , the nearest he got was maybe a sleep over with some mobster family friend 's kids, if that and social family events. in my mind, he was raised like Bobby from the cartoon King of the hill, if his dad had been legitimate he would have ended up in that business. he was raised a square. to my mind, he was raised 'right' but that was done under a lie of who his dad realy was. at the point of AJ figuring it out neither his parents nor Aj himself could squre that circle.

We hate AJ for the same reason we love Tony. They are both mirrors to the audience, "Literally Me" characters. Very allegorical.

I think it's possible for A J. to be a boss or at least a street soldier. But a little bit later down the road. People say he doesn't have it in him or he's just not built for that. As we learned in Many Saints Tony also didn't have it in him. Tony was a pot smoking little trouble maker that loved classic rock. He did a little bit more then A.j at that age but a lot of their trouble making was the same. After Tony died A J. could have become a totally different person and shaped up big time... We don't know

never got the hate for AJ, he is one of my favorite characters

AJ is just Tony as a kid.

"Take what's left of your children...". Carmela's psychiatrist was right. A.J.'s father was a sociopathic criminal, prone to violence and anger. A.J. is lucky that he's not more messed up.

AJ ended up being one of my favourite characters. to me, AJ is the affected. I honestly felt the same as AJ whilst watching the show. his nihilistic view was understandable since the way his dad was is upsetting

Given HBO’s success with House of the Dragon...I would actually be interested to see a sequel about AJ Soprano.

Robert Iler would have to wait for Game of Thrones to be dethroned as the most hated kid on a tv series. Kudos to him for his work and how he gave it all while struggling in his private life

Honestly, I could totally see AJ becoming a high functioning sociopath that follows in his fathers footsteps. He's not the big, charismatic standover type that greedily takes more like his dad. But I could totally see him become a cold wheeler and dealer, possibly using a movie/TV production company as his front, giving girls the casting couch treatment and making a lot of money in streaming/internet productions.

AJ as Boss? It ain't snowing in Hell.

Next video will be: "Why Joey Peeps isn't just a nickname."

I believe Tony wasn't trying to downplay AJ's initial goal of going to Westpoint or Harvard out of malice. It wasn't Tony telling AJ can't go there, it's more "You grades are terrible, you need to smarten up first". What he said could be interpreted either way.... and AJ decided to accept defeat rather than trying to prove his father wrong.

You know when I felt sorry for him? When Blanca dumped him.

A.J. never got the chance. He was "collateral damage" & had his brains blown out when Tony did.

The onion rings were a made guy and tony wasn't, there was nothing Ajs shinebox could've done about it

Very observant CineRanter, the sacred and the propane

The american dream itself isnt a facade, the common misconception that the "american dream" will just be handed to you for being here is the facade. Also none of the older generations are ingorant to, or suprised to find that most prominent historical figures over 250 years ago were slaveholders or conquerors. That is the assumption, the older generation doesn't make the mistake of judging those historical figures like they existed in today's world. The younger generations, and those who have no concept of historical context, are the ones who are acting like it was some big secret that was covered up for so long... Usually the soft and sheltered AJs of the world with a cartoon understanding of history and reality that think like that about historical figures.

In a show with murderous psychopaths Aj’s the one who gets the hate. Funny how that works

Brah.. “Jigsaw from Military School” took me out 😂😂😂😂😂

The episode with the bear in the backyard sums up AJ for me.... "MOMMY!!!"

If he went to Military school then maybe he could, but as he turned out, he wouldn’t make it. Meadow on the other hand would probably make a better boss due to her education, and sort of feeling responsible for Tony’s death for not sitting beside him fueling the guilt and rage she would feel. In Italy there is a female boss so it isn’t too out there to think Meadow wouldn’t live up to that In her own way.

Rob Iler was one of the luckiest dudes in the show. You remember some of the gf's they gave him near the end of the series? 11/10's.

Great video, great analysis on the character. Would like to see a part two where there is a tragectory of this character post Made in America episode.

AJ reminds me of myself a few yrs ago without the money. I was spoiled in the sense that my parents didnt expect me to move out immediately after hs (mexican parents) and they didnt teach me push me to get a job or go out much so I was suddenly 20 years old without much purpose but very aware of the fucked up things in the world. Luckily, my parents never discouraged me from the stuff I was interested in so I eventually got my graphic design career going and got into writing and history.

I never hated AJ he is a product of he environment he always was given things but never really faced it.

I was rooting for the cinderblock

Here I am, laughing like a school girl in one of these chit chat rooms.

Between both kids, I see Meadow ending up as the boss. Which would be a nice callback to Annalisa being the boss of Zucca family Tony and crew met in Italy. Not to mention, While AJ is supposed to be a mirror of Tony, if Tony grew up in the 2000s. Meadow shares simialrities to Ton too. She is more accepting of the lifestyle later. Becomign a mafia lawyer, she is very intelligent(remember Tony was a smart kid growing up, but not makings of a varsity athlete) and very driven. Not to mention she is in denial abot things, again traits Tony has. Both kids share traits of T, but between thw two of them the one who will likely end up fully in this life is Meadow.

Aj and Chrissy was the most relatable characters in my opinion

First watch: AJ is the worst kid ever! After multiple watches: damn…. he was just misunderstood

Great Vid, its made me think the last episode where they are all sat at the diner at the end. AJ comments on what Tony said, about appreciating the good times. Maybe that is suggesting something. Like AJ is more on the ball than it seems, has more in common with his father than seems, a suggestion that he gets it now and is ready to take on the role as head of the family.

Chaps too.....

Absurd notion that AJ would be able to do anything in the criminal world

They should have used a different actor and made AJ a tough guy someone like the actor who played Tony's temporary body guard, who eventually would take Tony's place. Then we would still be watching the Sopranos.

As frustrating as he was to watch sometimes, acting out and generally being a spoiled, entitled brat, I ultimately felt sorry for him and the situation he as born into. One does not choose their parents nor choose to be brought into the world.

Can you explore the line "Makings of a varsity athlete" ? We all love it as a meme, but I think there is some deeper meaning with it. What were the circumstances around when Junior would say it? Was it more of a metaphor for mob life? Did Junior and Johnny Soprano say it as a code when Tony was younger, and he never understood what it was really about?

Very well explained. I've thought a lot about these things that you put so well into words.

Didn’t he almost drown in 5 feet of water?

If AJ went into the mob, the first low-tier guy he encountered would kill him in ten minutes, like you would kill a mouse.

As much as I hate AJ and the scene where they play Mario kart cuz it's nothing like real Mario kart, it is incredibly fascinating how AJ and Tony soprano are carbon copies of each other they have so many similarities that it is amazing once you look for them

Loving your analysis! Really adds something to my recent rewatching of the series!

It's amazing how many layers we have on this show

Look, My theory is that he gets into the film industry and doesn't fall into the darkness of organiszed crime. He learned from his mistake with Corrado.

Excellent analysis. IMO the whole "Mafia Family life" thing of this show is there to show dichotomy of life in extreme circumstances (that is why the show is so loved and popular - it is a family show). Carmela is religious but yet she is content to live off the spoils of crime and carnage and look the other way at Tony's sexual exploits. Tony wants a AJ to be a "good man". But what is a good man in the eyes of a gangster? It is like I always mused - how would a "Bring your Son and Daughter to Work" day look like in a gang or in a brothel.....At the center of their life there is a lie, a crack, a chasm. Their standing in life is based on blood and suffering they have caused to others. What kind of values they can instill in their children? Tony is an emotional, spiritual and a human wreck and an arrested development case. What possibly can he teach his children? He is like a walking representation of all 7 deadly sins.

"jigsaw from the military school" lmfaooo thats all i could think abt during that part

When Tony snatches his ass up, it is one of favorite moments in the show.

I remember when the episode titles of the final 9 leaked, many of them were correct. The finale was initially titled “A Place for the Son” before being changed to “Made in America.” Of course it could have been disinformation to throw fans off. Makes you wonder if there was a scene or idea involving AJ that got cut

David Chase got it half right when he said "A.J. is the typical teenage kid?" He was a spoiled rotten son of a gangster. That isn't so typical.

Very nicely put.

As good as the writers were, they were terrible when it came to AJ’d dialogue. The actor shined when they gave him real material - particularly after Tony bails him out of a possible attempted murder. The scene where he says he did it cause Tony’s favorite scene in the Godfather is when Michael avenges Don Vito’s attempted assassination… that was heartbreaking. It’s my dad’s favorite Godfather scene too. I totally relate to him there.

At first I thought absolutely no way. Ain’t no way. But instead of sitting there crying wearing his dad’s brains, he may have snapped out of being a total pusscake and decided he wanted to act like a man. And if anyone had a reason to go on a rampage it’d be that kid after that mess.

Jigsaw from the military school nails It made me laugh lol.

AJ is the most realistic character in the whole show!

AJ did make me mad but i love his character. Hes one of the few characters who doesnt do evil shit and actually has a moral compass but people hate him anyway and love these criminal psychopaths

He never had the makings of a varsity athlete.

Obviously it’s just a TV show, but AJs problems are 💯 on Tony. When your father isn’t in your day to day life, but gives you all you want to make up for his absence that’s the kind of child you will get. Boys need their dads to show them how to be men. Carmella was essentially a single mom raising both kids. Tony def supported his family, but gave no help on the raising front. It was summed up best when Bobby was late because he was putting Dominicas car seat in, and said to Tony “You remember how that is” and Tony responds I didn’t do any of that shit. Sad!

Unlike AJ, I was a hardworking middle class teenager who paid his way through university. However I also empathize with his disdain for patriarchal dogmatic society, which stresses tradition and authority over critical thinking & individual expression/freedom. Hypocrisy and lies from family members definitely had an adverse effect on my psyche!

The video actually went by very quickly. We see glimpses of AJ enjoying the power of being a boss when his friends are burning the foot of a college kid who welched on a bet . He even laughs at the boy when they see him on crutches. But a lil while later, when the same boys attack a black guy for running into his their car door with a bicycle, AJ breaks down because it reminds him of Blanca, or because the guy was an immigrant, like the Italians. Either way, it affected his psyche, and he gets depressed again. His friends are sons of Tony's crew, and they automatically place AJ as the alpha and are poised to take the roles of the next generation of the New Jersey crew, so it could be likely. AJ botched an attempt to get revenge on Uncle Junior for shooting Tony. So the lifestyle is in AJ. He is already working for Lil Carmine's film company to get experience for running a club/bar possibly even Da Bing! With Tony dead, Carmella would lose control of AJ. And AJ would most likely continue on this path and one day assume the reigns of the Jersey family. Seeing his father murdered would either drive him to get revenge or crush him totally.

It was a missed opportunity when AJ didn't go to the Military School.

This was deep man, one of ur best videos because of the insight into the younger generations struggle. Well done

I sympathize with AJ. saw a lot of myself in his character

What fascinated me is that when AJ finally saw something he wanted that his parents couldn't - and wouldn't have - gotten for him, in Blanca and even her son Hector, we see him improve. He was good with Hector. He was kind to Blanca, he really loved her. He wanted that relationship to work and he was willing to put in the effort. I think the fact that this is the first time he'd really invested himself in something and it ultimately failed due to no clear action or mistake of his own, that in fact Blanca couldn't even explain to him what had gone wrong, it's devastating to him. There's really a lot going on under the surface there. Moreover, he couldn't reconcile his life and place with the world with how his father made his money. Meadow reached a kind of cognitive dissonance inspired peace, but AJ never could. He couldn't express that easily, so he channeled it into worrying about everything that is wrong in the world. His parents continually infantilized him. They did so with Meadow in a way as well (remember how angry they were when she wanted to go to Barcelona and try out life on her own terms?) but she was academically successful and had traits that Carmella and Tony wanted to cultivate; Carmella in part because she wanted to live vicariously through her daughter. AJ didn't have those same traits and wasn't a vehicle for one of his parent's self-satisfaction. Most of what was wrong with him came from choices Tony and Carmella made. Tony's death might ironically turn out to be the best thing that could happen to him, since he would have to learn to deal with things that Tony would typically take care of.

I definitely feel like AJ, especially in the right before college stage when I learned about how wicked this world is.. then suffered with extreme existentialism and nihilism knowing this world is going to crumble and nothing really matters. Man I felt that deep

Not his fault...Tony spoilt him with gifts and Carmella just Mummied him

i could see meadow being a boss instead of AJ only because of the scene in the kitchen with tony saying he can see his features on her

Solid vid Ranter. Thanks

The actual "boss" of New Jersey (Sam DeCavalcante) had a son who was gay, got a Ph.D. in English, and taught in my high school. He (the son) just passed away a few years ago. Sam spent some time in prison but ultimately retired happily to Florida. The Sopranos greatly exaggerates the violence (but not the crookedness) of the mob for dramatic effect.

I want to see a sequel series revolving around Carmine Jr, Meadow, Patrick Parisi, & AJ.

I been saying this for awhile, there should be a sequel series where meadow gets diagnosed with ms like she has in real life and while going to the hospital with her during treatments he visits silvio still in a coma and he wakes up and after realizing they cant afford meadows dr bills now that tony is dead he finally decides to step up and be a man to take care of his sister and family and silvio mentors him from the shadows without any1 knowing he woke up .

I have seen this sort of shit a lot in my life. I appreciate the analysis man!!!!

the best thing about your one-liners is they come out of nowhere. like long john silver, who killed billy leotardo, who was just a kid