This episode stands out as one of the best in the series. The themes in this episode are religion, good vs. evil, the afterlife, and hypocrisy. We see Carmela put her faith that a prayer will save Christopher, and later reveals she believes her prayer brought him back from death. Christopher, believing he was in Hell, tells Paulie about his experience and tells him that he was told he will go back one day. Paulie sees a psychic, and when he is taken aback by the accuracy of the psychics readings of Paulie's past hits, he freaks out, goes to his pastor, and lets him know he will no longer financially supporting the church. This is while the pastor is trying to assure him that the psychic is wrong and practicing a form of witchcraft. We see the pastor is happy reassuring Paulie he will be OK even though he is a murderer, just to keep the funds coming. Paulie also reveals he is positive that Christopher went to hell, because of science. Science! Tony, telling Dr. Melfi that he believes only cruel and wicked people, the worst of the worst, go to hell, later in the episode decides to replace Furio because he wants to be the one that takes revenge against Matthew Belevaqua, which is done in the most cruel way possible, and then enjoys a steak at an Irish Bar, where Cristopher said Hell is. Finally, the biggest hypocrisy of all, is when Tony comes home from what Carmela knows was a murder, and instead of being upset, she is turned on. This is the duality of man.
7 Reviews
Three o'clock
MaxBorg894 April 2008
That The Sopranos was more complex than the usual gangster story was clear right off the bat, and its will to explore new, unseen territories for the genre emerged clearly in Season 1, Episode 8, where Christopher (Michael Imperioli) engaged in a dream-based conversation with a guy he'd killed in the pilot. Few people, however, expected an episode like From Where to Eternity, written by Imperioli: a soulful (pun not intended) meditation on the afterlife, blood-riddled climax apart.
The aftermath of the previous episode's shootout sees Christopher struggle for his life, while all those around him swear revenge on who did it: Sean Gismonte died during the assault, but Matt Bevilaqua (Lillo Brancato) is still at large, which angers Chrissy' mom beyond imagination. "When you find him, I want him to suffer." she tells Silvio. "You hear me, Sil? I want that motherf*cker in agony!" The answer? "Don't worry, we'll do the best we can." And oddly enough, that cold comment gets the audience's sympathy, perhaps because Chris has evolved into one of the show's most likable characters, despite his occasional bouts of psychotic rage. On a quieter front, meanwhile, Carmela asks Tony to get a vasectomy, since she is tired of hearing of mobsters whose mistresses give birth to illegitimate children. The boss is naturally angered by the proposition, but doesn't give it much thought as he wants to avenge his nephew and enlists Pussy to help him.
A huge fan of old-school gangster flicks (as shown by his characterization of Christopher), Imperioli provides a clever reinterpretation of the classic revenge theme, using his opportunity in the writer's chair to fuse bloodshed and spirituality in a perfect package of great television. Chris's discussion with Tony and Paulie about the possible out-of-body experience he had while in a coma is one of the serial's most poignant scenes, especially when Paulie tries to comfort his young friend by saying he didn't see Hell, but Purgatory - before jokingly adding he will probably have to spend 6,000 years in that place. Considering the overall darkness of the series, that moment also has an eerily foreboding quality, as confirmed by the grim sequence where Matt receives his comeuppance. Don't let the apparently consolatory epilogue fool you: few shows analyze evil in its purest form with an eye as uncompromising as that of The Sopranos.
The aftermath of the previous episode's shootout sees Christopher struggle for his life, while all those around him swear revenge on who did it: Sean Gismonte died during the assault, but Matt Bevilaqua (Lillo Brancato) is still at large, which angers Chrissy' mom beyond imagination. "When you find him, I want him to suffer." she tells Silvio. "You hear me, Sil? I want that motherf*cker in agony!" The answer? "Don't worry, we'll do the best we can." And oddly enough, that cold comment gets the audience's sympathy, perhaps because Chris has evolved into one of the show's most likable characters, despite his occasional bouts of psychotic rage. On a quieter front, meanwhile, Carmela asks Tony to get a vasectomy, since she is tired of hearing of mobsters whose mistresses give birth to illegitimate children. The boss is naturally angered by the proposition, but doesn't give it much thought as he wants to avenge his nephew and enlists Pussy to help him.
A huge fan of old-school gangster flicks (as shown by his characterization of Christopher), Imperioli provides a clever reinterpretation of the classic revenge theme, using his opportunity in the writer's chair to fuse bloodshed and spirituality in a perfect package of great television. Chris's discussion with Tony and Paulie about the possible out-of-body experience he had while in a coma is one of the serial's most poignant scenes, especially when Paulie tries to comfort his young friend by saying he didn't see Hell, but Purgatory - before jokingly adding he will probably have to spend 6,000 years in that place. Considering the overall darkness of the series, that moment also has an eerily foreboding quality, as confirmed by the grim sequence where Matt receives his comeuppance. Don't let the apparently consolatory epilogue fool you: few shows analyze evil in its purest form with an eye as uncompromising as that of The Sopranos.
From Where to Eternity (#2.9)
ComedyFan20109 March 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Everyone worries about Chris. He ends up being clinically dead for a minute but than is stabilized. He talks to Tony and Paulie on how he got to see the hell where his father is and that he will be going there. Tony and Pussy end up executing the guy who is left from the couple that wanted to kill Chris.
A good episode in it's exploration of good and evil. What the characters in the show do is in no way good, and yet they, like Tony don't believe they deserve going to hell. And we in a way think so too as we like them as characters. But then, if it is not them who deserves to go to hell: people who kill for money and torture people, then who would it be then? A great scene was the séance as well. Although this one brought a bit more of the comedic relief.
A good episode in it's exploration of good and evil. What the characters in the show do is in no way good, and yet they, like Tony don't believe they deserve going to hell. And we in a way think so too as we like them as characters. But then, if it is not them who deserves to go to hell: people who kill for money and torture people, then who would it be then? A great scene was the séance as well. Although this one brought a bit more of the comedic relief.
The only time Carm was really happy was when Tony gave her expensive gifts, and even then it only lasted for a few minutes
Neptune1658 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The 3 o'clock thing... on one hand, there's the Chekhov's gun theory: if they took time to include this scene, it needs to serve a purpose somehow. On the other hand, Chase never refrained from showing the mundane and absurd moments in life, not everything has to have a deep meaning. I never connected the dots until now that Paulie is throwing the chair at the ghosts! Makes it all the much better now, calling them queers and chucking the chair. This show is just so good. Notice one small detail from Bevilaqua's execution. Tony pops him first with one close to the chest/heart area. Almost definitely fatal. Then he looks at Pussy, expecting from him to shoot next. But we can see that Pussy waits just about 5-10 secs tops, before pulling the trigger. Left me wondering.... As if he wanted to make sure the kid died from the first bullet, and that he would be shooting a dead corpse, killed from Tony's gun. Maybe somehow in his twisted two-sided rat-scheme he thought that if tried for that act, he would face lighter charges. I think Jennifer chose that moment to try to reach Tony because Tony is in a really vulnerable and emotional state and its one of the rare times when she thinks she might be able to reach him.
The heat would've been the first thing you noticed
snoozejonc11 March 2022
Christopher fights for his life in hospital whilst the 'family' search for Matt.
This is a compelling and dramatic episode with some darkly humorous moments.
Several characters have a strong focus, particularly around their belief systems. All scenes involving Carmela are written very intriguingly as we see her religious conviction exists alongside her hypocrisy. Edie Falco gives one of the strongest performances of the episode.
Paulie Walnuts' character is expanded in a number of ways. His spiritual side is hilariously portrayed in several scenes, along with some gentle and sensitive moments. Tony Serico is on top form in some of the character's most entertaining scenes in the show.
I won't say anything else about the plot not to spoil, but it's safe to say that it has a number of very gripping moments. Personally I don't think it works quite as well on a rewatch as some other episodes when you know what's coming
Drea DiMatteo, James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli, and Vincent Pastore are give strong performances, particularly DiMatteo.
The production values are excellent. As always the storytelling is done with great visuals and sound.
This is a compelling and dramatic episode with some darkly humorous moments.
Several characters have a strong focus, particularly around their belief systems. All scenes involving Carmela are written very intriguingly as we see her religious conviction exists alongside her hypocrisy. Edie Falco gives one of the strongest performances of the episode.
Paulie Walnuts' character is expanded in a number of ways. His spiritual side is hilariously portrayed in several scenes, along with some gentle and sensitive moments. Tony Serico is on top form in some of the character's most entertaining scenes in the show.
I won't say anything else about the plot not to spoil, but it's safe to say that it has a number of very gripping moments. Personally I don't think it works quite as well on a rewatch as some other episodes when you know what's coming
Drea DiMatteo, James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli, and Vincent Pastore are give strong performances, particularly DiMatteo.
The production values are excellent. As always the storytelling is done with great visuals and sound.
The religious beliefs of Paulie Walnuts
AlsExGal3 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This episode has lots going on in it, but I am going to focus on just one aspect - Paulie Walnuts' interesting version of religion.
Christopher awakes from his coma and says that he has been in hell, met his father there, and that he is going there when his time comes. And he has a message from beyond the grave for both Tony and Paulie with no further explanation - 3 o'clock.
We don't see Tony giving this matter any further thought. Throughout the series Tony is a practical guy, all about the earthly and what he can touch and see, seemingly just paying lip service to religion to humor Carmela. But Paulie - he has a bit of the peasant in him. He is very superstitious. He starts waking from nightmares - at 3AM.
His girlfriend tells him to go see a medium. He does that, and the guy the psychic was talking to before he gets to Paulie smacks of a "cold reading" - The psychic mentions vague details and causes the "mark" to reveal specifics that the psychic then plays off of to look realistic. After that the medium appears to see all of the people Paulie killed and gives details he could not have otherwise known. Unless your remember Paulie's girlfriend told him to go there and could have furnished the details and be working a con with the medium.
But any potential scam doesn't work out as Paulie gets scared, thinks the medium is legit, and storms out. He then goes to his priest and gives a hilarious speech where he indicates he will no longer be donating to the church since it has "left me unprotected". He apparently sees religion as a supernatural protection racket, and by his observation it has been "slacking off". This theme of fearful superstition is a recurring one for Paulie, but he missed one little detail - three o'clock can be a position as well as a time. And you'll need to watch four more seasons to get what I mean by that.
Christopher awakes from his coma and says that he has been in hell, met his father there, and that he is going there when his time comes. And he has a message from beyond the grave for both Tony and Paulie with no further explanation - 3 o'clock.
We don't see Tony giving this matter any further thought. Throughout the series Tony is a practical guy, all about the earthly and what he can touch and see, seemingly just paying lip service to religion to humor Carmela. But Paulie - he has a bit of the peasant in him. He is very superstitious. He starts waking from nightmares - at 3AM.
His girlfriend tells him to go see a medium. He does that, and the guy the psychic was talking to before he gets to Paulie smacks of a "cold reading" - The psychic mentions vague details and causes the "mark" to reveal specifics that the psychic then plays off of to look realistic. After that the medium appears to see all of the people Paulie killed and gives details he could not have otherwise known. Unless your remember Paulie's girlfriend told him to go there and could have furnished the details and be working a con with the medium.
But any potential scam doesn't work out as Paulie gets scared, thinks the medium is legit, and storms out. He then goes to his priest and gives a hilarious speech where he indicates he will no longer be donating to the church since it has "left me unprotected". He apparently sees religion as a supernatural protection racket, and by his observation it has been "slacking off". This theme of fearful superstition is a recurring one for Paulie, but he missed one little detail - three o'clock can be a position as well as a time. And you'll need to watch four more seasons to get what I mean by that.
Character Development at its finest and great TV
jamesthedocs7 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Through the aftermath of Chris' attempted wack, there is tension between Tony and Carmella and a belief in the afterlife through Moltisanti's near death experience. Brilliant Episode as it reminds me of 'I See You' from Breaking Bad after Hank kills the twins, but this episode is even better than that, proving how good this show really is, must've been great TV in 2000. Great acting from all characters, Especially Adrianna, Tony and Carmella. The main meaning of this episode is whether each character in the crime business believes what they did was ethical or not. This was shown through Chris' view of hell and Dr Melphys questioning of what Tony has done in his past was right or wrong. 10/10.
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