"The Sopranos" Walk Like a Man (TV Episode 2007) Poster

(TV Series)

(2007)

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10/10
"This therapy is a jerk-off"
MaxBorg8927 May 2008
The previous episode was good, but left some fans unsatisfied with the absence of a strong plot line. That "flaw" is compensated over and over again by Walk Like a Man, which resurrects old tensions and prepares some characters for the end of the series, especially AJ.

Tony's son, you might remember, was dumped by Blanca in Chasin It, and now he spends his whole time at home doing nothing. Hating to see his kid act "like a whining b*tch", Tony tries to encourage him to do something new with his life, and even attempts to do the same with Dr. Melfi, claiming he doesn't need therapy anymore. Furthermore, old bitterness reemerges between Christopher and Paulie, as the latter's nephew robs the former's father-in-law and violent reactions ensue. An attempt to establish peace between the two leads to Chris getting really drunk for the first time in years, an event that could have bad consequences for his old AA friend JT Dolan (Tim Daly).

Two very different father-son dynamics are analyzed in the episode: on the one hand, we have Tony and AJ, who really love each other but will forever be divided by the many secrets the old man has to hide; on the other, there's Paulie, who's been a kind of a mentor for Chris, though in the rough way, and now hates to see his pupil fail to live up to expectations. Imperioli doesn't, however: in fact, he practically steals the whole show with less than five scenes, his excellent performance culminating in an affecting duet with the Emmy-nominated Daly that foreshadows the darkest of outcomes for the remaining four episodes. Brilliant and scary.
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10/10
I feel sorry for Christopher
nemanjamanoilov28 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I like this episode so much cause of the happenings between Chrissy and Paulie. Paulie screws Christopher 2 times in a row while Tony doesn't give a crap about it. They just continue to make jokes about him being sober. Christopher is so dedicated to this thing, trusts Tony about everything, which kills him eventually. That just shows what you have to be, and that you only have to watch after yourself to survive in this thing. 10/10
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8/10
Loaded With Questions, But Satisfying
loudprincess6 May 2007
Warning: Spoilers
This week's installment of The Sopranos returns to some of the relationship issues left open between Tony, Paulie, and Christopher. Carefully crafting the tension from three of the most recent episodes, we're beginning to see where this is going, as we head into the final four episodes.

Remember last week when I said something about not seeing enough of A.J.'s story lines in the past to care where it's going now? Well, scratch that. When Blanca dumped A.J. last week, there wasn't a whole lot of previous detail as to why he would be so emotionally involved with her, therefore, I wasn't too concerned with the direction of the story. This week, however, we realize that it isn't the breakup or the relationship that was so important, but how Tony directs A.J. in an attempt to cure his breakup blues.

Overall, it's a good episode, though I think/hope that this is just a warm up for the final four.
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Best episode yet
KinoCynic2 October 2021
'University' was my favourite episode up until this one. What an amazing episode.

'Walk Like a Man' has everything that makes the Sopranos legendary. On top of that, it pushes the characters and what we expect from the show, which is especially surprising and welcome this late into the series.

AJ's transition into adulthood shows all the effects of his troubled childhood. As he begins to mature, his life is spun off course by Tony carelessly trying to turn him into himself. It feels like a natural conclusion to his disturbing talk with Livia in season 2, and his cries for help in season 3. Robert Iler's acting in this episode is magnificent.

Michael Imperioli is also excellent, as always. Christopher is up there with Ralph and Richie for most disturbed character in the show, yet I felt sympathy for him in this episode. The feeling of powerlessness against bullying from his 'family' (that goes way out of line, even for the usual conversations they have), and the feeling that he's fated to live his life of destruction are directed brilliantly.

The Sopranos wouldn't be the Sopranos without violent spectacle, and this episode certainly has it. Much like 'University', it's used to provoke us into thinking about how ordinary life comes so close to abhorrent acts of violence caused by the criminal lifestyle.

Can't wait to see how the series ends.
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10/10
Is this all there is?
snoozejonc23 February 2023
Christopher and A. J. are suffering and Tony wields influence on both.

This is a powerful episode with memorable character moments.

'Walk Like A Man' is a compelling story about the key younger males in Tony's life and his contrasting attitude towards both. It's hard to go into details without spoiling, but it involves so many of the classic themes within the show's writing about nihilistic characters finding their way through an environment that pressurises them to conform to certain masculine ideals.

Characters like Christopher, A. J, Tony, Paulie, and J. T. Dolan all have some of their most memorable scenes.

The actors do fantastic work and the filmmakers bring it to life with great moments of action, character reflection, and interaction.
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9/10
The tragic tale of Christopher Moltisanti...
danieldraper_2 November 2021
Him and Jesse from Breaking Bad play very similar roles.

They have the potential to change, but in their envrioment, they never will.

Strong dialouge, beautiful acting. Terrance Winter is one of the greatest.
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10/10
He's ostracized
cuddlesatusc14 February 2021
The final 9 are depressing as it can be and "Walk Like a Man" doesn't nudge away from that. The hour examines the manliness of the characters Christopher and AJ. Through Chris, he sees himself as being "ostrified." Another highly rentable episode and a hopeful ending yet shortcoming(considering next episode) for Christopher
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10/10
Father-son relationship #16 #17
snnasser27 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Yes, that is right, I am referring to the previous episode and this one too. This show is remarkably written and although not many people liked the previous episode ( myself included ) I decided upon reading one of the reviews not to rate it until moving a bit further. I can now say that the symbolism of this season is outstanding! Let me try to break it down from my own perspective.

1)in e16, we saw Tony's gambling problem, if we look back to the past seasons ( can't exactly remember which ) we hear Tony saying " I don't know what my dad thought of me " and before that, there was a flashback scene where his father (who did not give him a lot of guidance) explicitly advised him against gambling. Looking at Tony going against his father's advice, got him into the gambling problem with all the immature egos of realization that came with it.

2) In this episode, we see AJ's problem and the way his father directed him, which if well-written should be the first sign of AJ's turning point in the mafia world. His way of looking up to his father will return as it was lost in this season.

As for everything else in this episode, we see Tony's understanding that the depression (along with addiction) is fully inherited and there's nothing that would change that which will result in him ending up the sessions with Dr. Melfi and accepting it as it is. I should however point out that Dr. Melfi has been amazingly accurate with her medical knowledge and should have understood that and addressed him.

Since the Cleaver, Tony's awareness of how Chris blames him and resents him may have seemed unjustified but is proven in this episode when he was talking about Ad with his sponsor.

Lastly, I want to address Chris's perception of his friends that they are not real friends, this has actually been pointed out previously when one of the crew members borrowed money from Vito knowing that he will be dead soon and when all of the crew heard the news one of them said " I wish I borrowed money from him". That shows what they are to one another.
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9/10
Pretty sad episode
Neptune16525 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
When Chris looks around the bar and sees everyone laughing at him he realizes he's burnt all his bridges and doesn't have a friend in the world left. If paulie had made a joke about meadow failing at life and having to work at the bing, tony would've had him killed that day. But paulie makes the same joke about Chris's daughter and everyone laughs. It's a pretty sad end for Christopher (basically the end because he dies immediately in the next episode). Even though Chris was also a bad person, it really is sad to watch him realize that the mafia lifestyle has left him with no real friends. Chris shooting JT was one of those genuinely shocking moments. The final season really rammed home what scumbags these guys are, you feel sorry for them one moment, and then the show reminds you who these guys are. This episode just proves that Chris made a terrible mistake by not going with Ade into witness protection and turning her into Tony. He got the only person who genuinely loved him killed. And for what?! For a bunch of scumbags like Tony and Paulie who don't give a care about him. Poor Chrissy def had a very tragic story but hey at least he got his arc. The final scene of this episode was great and contains serious Freemason symbolism. Chris tried to repair the broken tree. Then stumbles through illuminated pillars with what seems like sun symbolism on the house windows. Also the music "in ancient times, to a place so far away."
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10/10
One of the best in the series
caidenhillier11 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Much like Join the Club, Walk Like a Man has some of the best moments in this series. Mainly a Christopher centric episode and very important. We see just how distraught he has become with Tony and how there relationship has fallen apart. Tony realizes that Christoper despises him and confesses to Melfi how disappointed he is. A truly sad moment because throughout this series Tony has done so much to show that he did at one point care for Christopher. Whether it was back in Season 2 where he killed Matthew B for shooting Christopher or somewhat helping Christopher recover from his drug addiction. Even im The Rude we see the bound these two characters have with each other and when the steal from a liquor robbery and have a fun night out with each other. Despite that Christopher and Tony fail to reconnect over that moment showing that their relationship will never be the same. The moments where Paulie jokes about Chrissys daughter was one of the saddest moments in the series as christopher looks around and see that the people he has spent his entire life with have never actually cared for him. Despite Christopher being an awful person there is without a doubt some sympathy the audience has for him. This episode displays that perfectly.
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9/10
Is this all there is ?
azamzr-986386 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Watching chrisi downfall is sad, depressed and not fun at all ! After all these years with his crew Tony and all the others, is this all there is for him ? Not fitting in with them ? He lost the way or they lost him ? Who knows.

Am sad also because Tony didn't handle him well He should have taken him with his arms wide open for him, isn't he his boy ? Didn't he love him like a son, chrisi gave him his soul brought money to the table and stood by his side all the way and through it all ! Idk who to blame on this cuz chrisi had his faults too.

At the end idk where all this is going down for chrisi but after shooting the guy I don't think it's good.
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7/10
Walk Like a Man (#6.17)
ComedyFan201030 March 2014
Warning: Spoilers
AJ is depressed after the break up with Blanca and even has some suicidal thoughts that Meadow reports to her parents. He ends up going to a psychologist who prescribes him anti depressants. Chris is dealing with his addictions and has trouble with Paulie and he ends up drinking again.

A pretty sad episode. Most things happening don't seem to be very important to the main plot but it seems that it is one of the last quiet episodes before the finale starts. Really wondering what will happen with Chris now. And it is also interesting to see the development of AJ and where it will lead him.
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