The Underrated Scene Sopranos Fans Are Obsessed With
HBO has proven itself a hotbed for must-see television shows, ranging from "Game of Thrones" to "Euphoria." However, to this day, few can hold a candle to David Chase's "The Sopranos," which ran from 1999 to 2007 and amassed six total seasons by the time it ended. Week in and week out, audiences would tune in to see what kind of bind — be it personal or professional — Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) would find himself in next or what kind of progress he and his psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), would make during their sessions.
To put it simply, "The Sopranos" didn't become such a standout success by accident. Rather, it reached the heights that it did thanks to viewers latching onto one or more of its various elements. Some enjoyed the performances that the likes of Edie Falco and Michael Imperioli, among others, delivered during their time on the series, while others stuck around to see where the overarching crime narrative would go next. On the other hand, many still revere "The Sopranos" for specific moments that remain cemented in their memory, never to go away.
Speaking of unforgettable "Sopranos" moments, here's one that sticks out to fans all these years later that some may even consider underrated compared to the others.
This exchange between Phil and Vito had fans cracking up
"Mayham," the third episode of "The Sopranos" Season 6, features an after-dinner conversation between the boss of the Lupertazzi crime family, Phil Leotardo (Frank Vincent), and Vito Spatafore (Joseph R. Gannascoli). Phil recalls the death of his brother, Billy (Chris Caldovino), at the hands of Tony Blundetto (Steve Buscemi), referring to him as an "animal." He also tells Vito that he'll never forget what Blundetto did, only for both men to fall silent for a few moments before admitting that they ironically forgot what they were even talking about.
According to a now-deleted Reddit user, not only was the way this all played out hilarious, but it's arguably one of the most underrated moments in "Sopranos" history. Judging by the numerous comments beneath the original post, more than a few fans couldn't help but agree. "Great scene. One of the best," wrote kvnbkr98, and FPFP66 wonders if the showrunners intended for the scene to play out like this or if Vincent and Gannascoli legitimately lost their train of thought simultaneously. Los_Wieslos also noted that Phil was loaded with funny lines throughout the series.
At the same time, there's a strong sense of sadness in this scene too. Not long after this episode, Phil calls for Vito's murder after learning of his homosexuality, which makes looking back on their once chummy relationship all the more heartbreaking. Therefore, without any additional context, this is a pretty fun scene, but taking into account where Phil and Vito's story goes from there, its light-hearted nature dissipates in short order.