One of my favorite things about The Sopranos is its use of the four classical elements of Earth, water, fire, and air (wind). This post is dedicated to fire, so let’s dive right in: Here are 15 moments of fire that stick out to me the most on The Sopranos.Â
Season 1, Episode 1, "Pilot"
After learning that Junior Soprano was planning on whacking Pussy Malanga at Artie Bucco’s restaurant, Tony arranged to have Vesuvio burned down so the hit wouldn’t take place there. How thoughtful!
2. "At first it felt like ginger ale in my skull."
Season 1, Episode 1, "Pilot"
As Tony was grilling food in preparation for A.J.’s birthday party, he suddenly had a panic attack and passed out. Perhaps it was from all that mesquite. It makes the sausage taste peculiar!
3. "Oh my god!" Livia is quite the fireball.
Season 1, Episode 2, "46 Long"
Livia got so distracted from spying on the dark-skinned postal worker across the street that she forgot about her mushrooms cooking in the kitchen.Â
4. "Fear of fire. Good deterrent to keep out of hell."
Season 1, Episode 5, "College"
5. "You leave my gas burner on. I almost lit a cigarette and died!"
S2, E1, "Guy Walks Into a Psychiatrist's Office"
In the season two premiere, Adriana was irritated with Christopher for leaving her gas burner on. She almost lit a cigarette and died! By her own words, “Why you can’t use a lighter to cook your shit is beyond me.”
S2, E9, "From Where to Eternity"
After Christopher briefly crossed over to the other side, Paulie was determined to convince Christopher that he wasn’t actually in hell while his heart stopped. Instead, it was purgatory! Hell is hot and full of fire. That’s never been disputed by anybody!Â
7. A Sopranos Firebomb
S3, E2, "Proshai, Livushka"
Quite a fiery opening to the episode where Livia Soprano dies, huh?
8. "No fires...Tony doesn't want any fires."
S3, E2, "Proshai, Livushka"
Dr. Jennifer Melfi described Tony and Gloria’s whirlwind romance as “amour fou,” the French term for crazy love. While I don’t know if it was love, lust, infatuation, or maybe some hybrid of the three, there’s no doubt that sparks flew. Of course, the tragic result was Gloria being burnt past the point of repair.
In Whoever Did This, Lois called Tony with the heartbreaking news that there was a fire at the stables. Specifically, “They lost some horses. We did everything we could, but she had to be destroyed.” Just that word “destroyed” being used in that context always rubs me the wrong way, which I’m sure is intentional.
In Marco Polo, Tony introduced himself to Dr. Russ Fegoli, the diplomat (and rumored father of Paulie Walnuts). He didn’t seem to be too amused with Tony’s sense of humor, but what can ya do?
12. This was an EGGS-tremely fiery situation.
For goodness sake, could somebody send out a mass notification warning folks to not mess around with cooking eggs while in the presence of Tony Soprano? It hardly ever ends well.
In Season 6, Vito saw Jim in action rescuing a child while working as a volunteer firefighter. Thankfully, nobody was hurt.
According to Benny Fazio, criminal mastermind, it sounded “like a real weenie roast.” Phil and his goomah sure got knocked back on their keisters from this fire.
15. Anthony Soprano Jr. on Fire
Finally, what was it that Tony Soprano said about that Nissan triple safety philosophy? Flammable when mixed with A.J. Soprano? While I’m here, I might as well throw in the little tidbit about A.J getting FIRED from Blockbuster.
