Down Neck
- Episode aired Feb 21, 1999
- TV-MA
- 52m
Anthony has disciplinary problems at school, prompting Tony to recount memories of his childhood with Dr. Melfi.Anthony has disciplinary problems at school, prompting Tony to recount memories of his childhood with Dr. Melfi.Anthony has disciplinary problems at school, prompting Tony to recount memories of his childhood with Dr. Melfi.
- Young Tony
- (as Bobby Borriello)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe title refers to a Newark, New Jersey neighborhood known as The Ironbound. It is also referred to as "Down Neck" because of how the Passaic River curves around it looking somewhat like a neck.
- GoofsIn the flashback to Tony's youth where he sees his father beat up a man, young Tony is carrying a black-and-white composition book with a UPC barcode on the front. The flashback is set in the mid-1960s, but UPC barcodes were not introduced until 1974.
- Quotes
Dr. Jennifer Melfi: Genetic predispositions are only that: predispositions. It's not a destiny written in stone. People have choices.
Tony Soprano: She finally offers an opinion!
Dr. Jennifer Melfi: You think that everything that happens is preordained? You don't think that human beings possess free will?
Tony Soprano: How come I'm not making freakin' pots in Peru? You're born to this shit. You are what you are.
Dr. Jennifer Melfi: Within that, there is a range of choices. This is America!
Tony Soprano: Right... America.
- ConnectionsFeatures The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)
This intriguing set-up leads to some particularly sharp writing as the characters and the viewers alike are obliged to ponder the whole idea of free will versus things that may be "preordained". Tony doesn't exactly want his son to end up just like him, knowing that the kid has potential (although the idea that Anthony Jr. Might have ADD is floated a lot throughout this story). Tony is always quick to point out the straight-arrow life that his daughter Meadow is living, as evidence that the circumstances of the parent don't have to dictate what happens with their offspring. Tony admits that sometimes he wonders what might have happened if he hadn't followed his fathers' path in life.
The main asset of 'Down Neck' is some great flashback material, with Bobby Boriello ("Man on the Moon") as the young version of Tony. The casting is right on point, with familiar faces like Rocco Sisto ("Innocent Blood") cast as a younger Uncle Junior, and Laila Robins ("Planes, Trains and Automobiles") cast as a formidable younger vision of Livia. Here we see that Tony's dad did tend to show some preferential treatment to his sister Janice. With the dad a rather fabled figure up to this point, it's nice to see him as a flesh and blood character for the first time.
The father and son scenes are the best in 'Down Neck'. When you get right down to it, you see that Tony *is* a basically good father who wants the best for his children. In fact, the ending moments with Tony and Anthony Jr. Bonding (while Jefferson Airplanes' "White Rabbit" plays on the soundtrack) end the proceedings on a very pleasant note.
Eight out of 10.
- Hey_Sweden
- Apr 3, 2021
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Filming locations
- Green Hill Retirement Home, West Orange, New Jersey, USA(Green grove Retirement Home)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime52 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
- 1.78 : 1