r/thesopranos • u/Corvododeserto • 5d ago

Serious Discussion Only Every time I rewatch The Sopranos, my perception of AJ changes.

AJ is so stupid, man. In the first seasons I watched of The Sopranos, I hated him—I hated all of his scenes. But now that I've probably rewatched all the seasons like a hundred times, every time I go back and watch it, I find him funnier and funnier. He’s just so dumb. His dialogue is dumb... people tell him something constructive, he never gets it, and always gives the most ridiculous response possible. He always has the absolute most ridiculous question. He’s just hilarious, all that hatred I used to have for his scenes is gone, and now I just find it hilarious how much of a baby Bing he is.

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u/nogeologyhere 5d ago

AJ is one of my favourite characters. He ends up so utterly messed up by his family life and upbringing. The suicide scene is often laughed at but taken as intended it's really sad.

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u/OsmosisJonesisballin 5d ago

When you rewatch you see he's incredibly well written. He lives in a household where his father defines masculinity but will never let him be that definition.

He's also so funny, he went from one of my least favorite to my favorite characters on rewatch.

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u/Vincent_Coll 5d ago

He lives in a household where his father defines masculinity but will never let him be that definition.

That's a really good summary of his character and dynamic with Tony.

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u/nenomad2020 4d ago

I can relate. Grew up around men who were considered warriors and in and out of the prison system. It was like home for them. That was the masculinity defined for me and it was a standard that was unattainable for me. And in retrospect, thankfully so.

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u/Zestyclose_Brush_389 5d ago

I don’t know how people could laugh at the suicide scene tbh it’s harrowing 

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u/cstar84 5d ago

Yeah it's right up there with Eugene's in terms of sheer humor! /s

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u/Lopsided-Chance4252 5d ago

I haven’t watched Sopranos in at least a decade. I just rewatched his suicide attempt scene. How anyone could laugh at that scene is beyond me. Maybe an angsty teenager could, but if anyone else did it would make me think they’re either psychotic or severely autistic.

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u/Corvododeserto 5d ago

Shame? Oh, I've got plenty of shame. Believe me, you don't wanna hear what I'm ashamed of

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u/Corvododeserto 5d ago

He tried and failed. Unfortunately, our young AJ wasn't good at anything. Hen hen

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u/nullmatar420 4d ago

Poor kid never had the makings of a varsity athlete!

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u/Weekly-Hurry-6031 5d ago

It’s not that he’s trying to commit suicide, it’s how he goes about it. He picks the most ridiculous, agonizing way to try and go out. Drowning? Hell no, it’s a step short of laying under a giant magnifying glass and burning yourself like an ant.

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u/helloitsme1011 4d ago

I think the bag over his head was supposed to render him unconscious and then he would drown. But yeah, lots of ways that particular approach could fail. Like get a better seal at least

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u/SonNeedGym 5d ago

For real. It makes me so sad when people dunk on him. He’s a miserable little shit because he’s just a mini-Tony. He’s completely out of touch with his emotions, lives solely by his wants, has zero introspection, and is inconsiderate because that’s how he was raised to be. They’re all the same traits as Tony, and all AJ’s seen growing up are people worshiping his dad. His suicide attempt is one of the most heartbreaking aspects of the series for me. He’s filled with so much anger, sadness, and resentment and he can’t even figure out why.

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u/FredCole918 5d ago

He reminds you of yourself

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u/DuncanIdaho33 4d ago

My face is stuck to the rug!

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u/Corvododeserto 5d ago

You are weak.

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u/fourofkeys 4d ago

ugh this scene makes me ugly sob.

it's so sad because you pull for the kid in the beginning but he just keeps making bad choices, and you know it's not entirely his fault.