1) I’ve never watched a full episode of THE SOPRANOS, but I’ve seen tons of clips of the show on YouTube.
This isn’t an attempt at that kind of weird bragging you see sometimes, where there’s a discussion of a popular show and someone snidely says, “I’m happy to report I’ve never watched a single episode of this overhyped show.”
No, nothing like that. I have nothing against the show. Just personally, I’ve never seen a reason to give it a watch.
When the show first came out, I didn’t have access to HBO. And by the time I did, the show had reached peak pop cultural stardom and was being widely discussed everywhere, so I knew what was happening and which characters had been killed off, even without watching a single second of it. Then the show ended, and that was such a widely publicized thing, especially with how divisive the last scene is, that I couldn’t avoid spoilers.
It doesn’t really matter. I don’t have the desire to watch the show now. I’ve seen enough YT clips, and read enough about the show, to know that all of the characters are unlikeable, and pretty much all of them meet bad ends.
“How do you know that, if you haven’t watched a whole episode?”
I told you. YT clips.
I know about Paulie and his feelings of betrayal. Richie and his “Manson lamps.” Chrissy using, getting sober, and using again. Phil and his “grill cheese off the radiator” rants. Tony not having the makings of a varsity athlete.
I know if one character is sitting in a car, and another character walks up to him from just out of frame and suddenly he’s really close… The character in the car is about to get shot.
I also know if someone says, “Hey, ain’t you [fill in the name]?” and another goes, “Yeah…” Shooting is about to happen.
See? I know the show. I don’t have to sit and watch it episode by episode, season by season. I know how it ends, too, mainly because of the controversy surrounding it. Not sure why so many people debate this point: When the screen goes black, it’s because Tony gets killed. There. It’s settled.
Anyway…
What I don’t understand is, why do some guys admire Tony Soprano? He lies constantly. He screws over pretty much everyone, including his family. He’s verbally, and often physically, abusive. The best you can say about him is, he’s better than the degenerates he works to constantly keep in line. But that’s like saying, “I prefer that rotten piece of fruit to those other ones.”
What I don’t get is, I’ve heard guys say, “I really identify with Tony Soprano.”
Really? You identify with him? Which part? The constant cheating on his wife? Strangling his nephew? Killing his cousin? Which part of that makes you think, Yeah, I could see myself doing the same thing.
Look, I enjoy stories with unlikable characters. GOODFELLAS is one of my top 5 favorite movies, but I’ve never thought, Oh, yeah. That’s me right there.
Or BREAKING BAD. There actually are some likable characters on that show, but the main one, Walter White, is definitely not one of them. I mean, you can admire the way he outthinks his opponents, and the ingenious ways he gets himself out of jams.
But you’ve never identified with the character. Right?
If you have, then that’s something you might want to explore with a therapist. Same if you’ve ever found yourself identifying with Tony Soprano.
2) Saw a post somewhere. Person worked in a restaurant and complained that someone called in a family-sized order for $200 worth of food, came and picked it up, and didn’t tip them.
Folks… When did this tipping thing get so out of hand? If a person picks up an order, why would the staff expect to get tipped?
Who’s getting tipped, anyway? The person who prepared the food? The person who packed the food? Or the person who hands the bag to the customer?
Who gets the tip? Do they all split it?
I understand tipping wait staff. They’re underpaid, and you expect them to relay your order correctly to the cooks. You also expect them to check on you periodically, give you the info on specials of the day, and keep your drinks refreshed.
I understand tipping bartenders. It’s part of why they go into that field: They rely on tips.
I understand tipping delivery drivers. Again, it’s why they go into that job. They expect to get tips. And you’re tipping them because they’re driving through traffic, sometimes through really bad weather, to bring you your food. Hopefully, still hot and packed correctly. You’re tipping them for the convenience of not having to go out yourself and get it.
Tipping baristas? Eh… Not sure about this one. You’re already overpaying for the coffee by 500%. You’re supposed to kick the workers an extra buck, too?
Quick sidenote:
I briefly worked at a Target that had a Starbucks inside of it. They had a sign up that asked customers not to tip. I asked one of the workers there why they were discouraging tipping when every other Starbucks I had been to pretty much stuck a tip jar in my face. He said, “We’re not a corporate Starbucks. We’re a Target Starbucks, so we get paid a little more.”
If I go and pick up a pizza, am I expected to tip there, too? Who does the tip go to? The person who made the pizza? Or the person who hands it to me? For some reason, they give you the tip option when you pay. I never tip if I’m picking up my order.
If you’re shaking your head and saying, “You’re tipping for good service.” Okay, so where does that end? Should I tip at a fast food place? A dollar to the person who made the Egg McMuffin, and another buck for the person who hands it to me through the window? I guess I should tip the person who made the pot of coffee, too, that my fast food cup was filled from.
Maybe I should tip the auto service folks, too. The person who wrote up my service sheet, and the person who changed the oil on my car. Right? I mean… If you’re tipping everyone for good service, where do you draw the line?
Me, I draw the line at wait staff, bartenders, and food delivery folks. That’s it.
3) Watching:
DARK MATTER, an Apple TV series based on the book by Blake Crouch. I read the book about 8 or 9 years ago and it stuck with me. I enjoy stories of parallel universes and all the various plots that can come about from that premise.
I wasn’t hyped to watch the show because, although I liked the concept of the book (man is sent into a parallel universe by another version of himself, who wants to take his place) and found it competently written, it ultimately left me a bit underwhelmed. I felt like there was so much more to be explored in the story, and some things were left underdeveloped.
The series is a nice surprise. Characters are fleshed out, supporting characters are given more to do (story-wise), and there are added subplots. The first season does follow the same trajectory as the book, but there are added side trips that keep the viewer guessing, even if you’re familiar with the book.
The author is involved with creating the show and in writing some of the episodes. I wonder if he’s including stuff that was edited out of his original draft of the book, or if it’s things he didn’t have time to develop when he first wrote it. Be that as it may, it’s a welcome addition to the series, and makes me wonder which subplots will be explored in season 2.
Also three episodes into MURDERBOT, also an Apple TV series and also based on a book, although not one that I’ve read. The show is about a security robot that overrides it’s programming and gains free will, but has to keep it a secret for fear it will be destroyed. The show is quirky and funny, and the episodes are just short enough to entertain the viewer, but also whet their appetite for the next one.
That’s your Dispatch for the week.
Slade Grayson is a writer who relies on the kindness of strangers. And readers. And sometimes strange readers. You can buy his books here, or buy him a coffee here.