The Sopranos (TV Series) Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood (2001) User Reviews

Tie your shoes and have a bite of braciole

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 13 June 2022]

The FBI begin a deeper surveillance operation into Tony's life.

This is an entertaining way to set the scene for the third series.

Mr Ruggerio's Neighbourhood shows us Tony's life from the perspective of the FBI and does this in a quite humorous and entertaining way. I love how it portrays the relatable personalities of agents and the voyeurism that goes along with watching people.

The mix of Peter Gunn/Police is excellent and these sequences are brilliantly edited for a strong build up to the great punchline involving Tony's basement.

Appropriately, the ongoing Sopranos theme of the "regularness" of life comes out in the ironic scenes of boring conversation and mundane life captured by the implanted wire.

I enjoyed the banter between Tony's crew at the Bing, with James Gandolfini, Tony Serico, and Stephen Van Zandt on top form.

I was frankly surprised this episode I absolutely loved it

[Neptune165 · 8/10 · 10 July 2022]

Not only is Tony a complete narcissist, but the real reason he didn't want Patsy talking about his brother is he didn't want him figuring out who killed him. Also in the episode was Tony singing Steely Dan's Dirty Work. I could watch that part for hours. I think it was more a matter of Tony somewhat ham-handedly, and in a way that doesn't strike me as though it would be particularly effective, trying to get Patsy to cease to fixate on the killing of his brother because of the fact that they are responsible for it. Patsy have his first scene at the season 2 finale? He came walking by holding Tony's suit while Tony, Pussy, Furio, and Sil were having dinner. It's important for you to understand that Silvio is the Consigliere of the family, promoted to that position by Tony when he became the Street Boss after Junior's incarceration. The Consigliere is an extremely high position usually given to someone who is strong at giving advice upon the rules of the mob and this person is often considered to be wise in dealing with decision-making. The Consigliere is usually at all sit-down meetings to help the Boss solve any problems and to weigh in when needed. Generally, in the family hierarchy, the Consigliere is often viewed at the rank of #3 in the family in terms of power after the Boss and Underboss (and just above the Capos...though all made men are beholden to the same rules); however, there are gray areas and other things that can distort the hierarchy of power in the modern mob. In some families, the Consigliere has even more power than the Underboss, as they usually have the daily ear of the boss more than the Underboss might have. So Silvio, though he has a comical expression on his face (it's his trademark), is a wise mobster who is really respected amongst all the made men and soldiers.

Exhilarating start of new season

[MaxBorg89 · 10/10 · 21 April 2008]

The Sopranos does have some funny moments, that's undisputed. Most of the time, though, those moments are a brief intermission in an otherwise endless stream of darkness. Not so in the premiere of Season Three, which is probably the single most amusing episode of the show.

Starting where the previous season's finale ended (the execution of Pussy Bonpensiero), Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood sees the FBI nowhere closer to apprehending Tony. One option would be to make Livia testify, but that idea is quickly rejected. At this point, the only way out is to install a bug in the Sopranos' home. Of course, in order to pull that off, they will need a long enough time-frame in which the house is completely empty, with Carmela playing tennis, the housekeeper having lunch with her husband, Meadow studying at Columbia and A.J. doing whatever the hell he does all day. As for Tony, he might be in bigger trouble with Patsy Parisi (Dan Grimaldi) than the feds, since the former is (rightly) convinced the boss had something to do with the whacking of his twin brother.

Even that possible hint of brutality, however, climaxes into a disturbingly funny scene, so grotesque it almost distracts from the main story, which represents a refreshing departure from the show's traditional format: rather than an old-school gangster flick, this episode is a caper à la Ocean's Eleven, the Bureau's operation channeling the lighter spirit of intelligent crime comedies ("Entering the sausage factory" one guy says of Tony's house). Just don't get used to it: starting with Episode 2, it's back to bloody business as usual, so enjoy the fun while it lasts.

Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood (#3.1)

[ComedyFan2010 · 8/10 · 10 March 2014]

Back to the Sopranos. At the beginning of this season we mainly see FBI dealing with the loss of Pussy and trying to figure out how to spy on Tony and the rest now. They decide to wire his house, but this takes some time to do. Besides, they have a new member who still holds some grudges as Tony got his twin brother killed.

A pretty light and amusing start for the new season. Nothing against it, had some good laughs. FBI and Tony interactions were pretty good, just as them observing the tennis games where super hot Adriana seems to be taking over the new female coach.

And now bring some more and crazy stories for the new season!

Great self contained episode

[hewlett61 · 9/10 · 29 April 2021]

You can never have seen any other episode of the Sopranos and totally enjoy this one. It is less serious than most, but that is not detrimental. It is like a mini Scorsese movie, but actually meatier on plot than some of his early "classics". The plot revolves around the FBI attempting to bug Tony's house. There is no moments of confusion about what is going on due to never seeing previous episodes, and it wraps up neatly with clear indications it will be relevant in future episodes. Plus it has the GENIUS mash up of Peter Gunn and the Police Every Breath You Take, which as it is playing, fits the action on screen like a glove. Would rate it 10, but got to reserve that number for the best of the best. (Episode also does not have a Dr. Melfi scene, which is always a plus)

An exciting premiere!

[and_mikkelsen · 9/10 · 3 April 2024]

This episode was an exciting beginning to season three! It was creative, surprisingly well made and really had me on edge a couple of times!

With the outcome of season two, the FBI has lost their information and must now take different measures to gather information on The Sopranos!

This was a nice to show that there are tighting their grip and that things could chamge in the future! Tony is smart, but the big question is if he is gonna be smart forever!

The other storyline was great too and ties back to the season two! It is never completely resolved in the episode, but it is clear that something will happen at some point!

Filler

[frenchpatrick · 8/10 · 28 January 2020]

Not much happens this episode, and what does happen, sadly isn't that interesting and could be summed up with one or two scenes in a different episode

Pissing in the wind

[ctomvelu-1 · 7/10 · 28 July 2008]

A comic episode. The FBI decides to bug "the sausage factory," otherwise known as the Soprano homestead. This proves difficult, with people coming in and out at all times of the day and night. Tony meanwhile must deal with Patsy, who knows Tony killed Patsy's brother. Soon enough, Patsy is standing in Tony's backyard, with a pistol aimed squarely at Tony's head, who is inside and highly visible through a window. The FBI boys are just yards away, in a panic over what to do. The episode with Artie pointing a rifle at Tony was dark and serious, while this episode is played strictly for laughs (although there is that one moment when you're not sure what's going to happen with Patsy). It's a Keystone Kops delight. To add to the merriment, Carm takes Adriana with her to tennis lessons, only to find her hunky instructor is leaving and a female instructor with eyes only for Adriana is taking over. Plus Tony's water heater blows up. Can't this guy ever catch a break?

Important...but not so important!

[bertdwobble · 6/10 · 15 September 2021]

Honestly, this episode, in my opinion, could have been written into another episode. Or just be shorter, but that would be weird.

Basically, I think it's the weakest episode in the whole series. Far too much going on with the wiring of the house, far less going on than other episodes about the Wise Guys themselves and all the guff that goes with that.

Still good, but yeah, weakest ep!