The Sopranos (TV Series) The Fleshy Part of the Thigh (2006) User Reviews

Paulie steals the show!

[danieldraper_ · 9/10 · 19 August 2021]

Fantastic pacing in this episode, espeically the ending. That scene that cuts from Tony appreciating the beauty of nature, to Jason getting his knee caps smashed in, was absolutely stunning.

Paulie was the star of the show for me in this one; showcasing his range of emotions from his tragic story.

I wonder what the pastor and Schwinn represented, as well as Bobby shooting the rapper, but it makes for great televison.

How long will Tony's optimistic outlook on life last? Who knows, but I'm ready to power on, and enjoy televsion at its finest.

The Fleshy Part of the Thigh (#6.4)

[ComedyFan2010 · 8/10 · 25 March 2014]

After recovering some time in the hospital Tony gets out but he doesn't feel like he always did and he is also behaving a bit different like letting go of the money issue. Paulie finds out that his aunt that was a nun is actually his mother and turns away from the woman who he thought was his mother. And Bobby gets money from a rapper for shooting him in the ass for fame.

Well it looks like we are going into Tony changing his personality story, although I hope it won't be too religious.

Feel really bad for Paulie's mother as Tony said if she took care of him he is his mother, this is all that matters. Hope for her to be treated well later.

And the rapper story was pretty funny.

Aunt Dottie

[johannes-781-663101 · 9/10 · 26 November 2020]

I just watched an old episode of E.R. and happened to notice that Paulies real mother appeared in a hospital bed in a uncannily similar scene. Just wanted to say that.

A new look on life?

[MaxBorg89 · 10/10 · 20 May 2008]

After three emotionally dense episodes, this is usually when the creative team behind the show take it a bit easier and allow the characters to "relax" a little. No, sir: The Fleshy Part of the Thigh moves forward at a breathless pace, as if Tony's coma had never occurred.

Of course, it did, in fact the New Jersey boss sends most of the episode at the hospital, chatting to fellow patients (most notably Hal Holbrook) about life and all things connected to it. As he prepares to come home, he learns a part of his business isn't going that well and there's nothing to do about it since Johnny Sack is indirectly involved. Also in for bad news is Paulie who, after receiving a literal kick in the balls in the previous show, gets a metaphorical one when he discovers his dying aunt Dottie, a devout noun, is actually his mother and the woman he thought was his mom is his real aunt. Disgusted and enraged by the revelation, he vows never to speak to "Ma" again, taking it out on Tony instead.

Although he has been dealt with on a deeper level in other episodes as well, this is the closest the writers have come to fully rendering the complexity of Paulie's personality: his inner conflict is the final step in setting him apart from the trite "smiling hit-man" cliché and Sirico is excellent, letting every last hint of humanity in his character emerge to great effect.

That said, his misadventure is the only huge event of the episode besides Tony's return home at the end. Maybe The Fleshy Part of the Thigh is a "calmer" show: the real trouble will start in the next couple of episodes.

Like the Flinstones?

[snoozejonc · 10/10 · 3 February 2023]

Tony recovers from his coma, whilst Paulie has some distressing news.

This is a classic episode with some character defining moments.

The best compliment I can give 'The Fleshy Part of the Thigh' is that the writers manage to layer the plot with some fascinating themes and put it across in a fairly simplified way, whilst entertaining at the same time.

Since the show began, numerous episodes have made reference to our existence within the workings of the universe. There have been various perspectives on life, death and human connections by characters who are psychologists, religious figures and the likes of Livia Soprano, portrayed as incredibly negative and pessimistic. This episode offers another perspective and it has an interesting impact on Tony's dealings with certain people. The first 3 episodes of season 6 in particular laid the foundation for this with Tony's weird existential journey and he is now at an interesting point in his character arc.

Contrasting Tony is the existential crisis that Paulie finds himself in throughout the story. It cleverly shows a more narrow minded perspective, full of bitterness and self-obsession that could never comprehend anything outside its own black and white little world.

The guest characters are particularly good, with my favourite being the evangelical minister who was most likely inspired by the prominent Christian fundamentalists in the US at the time of writing.

James Gandolfini is brilliant and supported well by Tony Serico and others.

Visually it does a great job of the storytelling and conveys various themes such as how everyone and everything connects through shots of trees, people, and objects. You also feel more relevance in some of the imagery used in earlier episodes now like 'Pine Barrens' and 'Long Term Parking'.

Most underrated episode on TV

[julianfaciano · 10/10 · 30 September 2023]

For me, this is Ozymandias level.

The Fleshy Part of the Thigh After waking up from his coma, Tony's condition begins to improve and he is eventually discharged. His outlook on life appears to have changed somewhat as he lets small slights pass by that he would have earlier reacted violently toward. His first order of business after getting out is dealing with Barone Sanitation, the company he ostensibly is a consultant for. The owner has died, and his son has attempted to sell the company without Tony's approval. The buyer, however, is connected with Johnny Sack, making pulling out of the deal problematic. Paulie, meanwhile, goes to the deathbed of his aunt only to be shocked by her confession that she is actually his mother. The news that she and her sister lied about his parentage comes as a tremendous blow to him, and he does not take the news well.

A sure Emmy winner

[Jaybird248 · 22 March 2006]

This was possibly the best Sopranos episode ever ... the effects on all the family (biological and Mafia) from what happened to Tony, plus the deja vu sequence, were startling and gripping.

Every one in the cast did brilliant work, but there was one standout among standouts. That's Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano. Edie is a sure Emmy nominee for this show, and probably a sure winner.

Also notable. The kid who plays A.J. (he's not such a kid anymore) who finally got a chance to stretch his dramatic talents. Plus it was good to see Ron Liebman on screen again, playing a doctor. He's been a favorite of mine since "Norma Rae." And he doesn't get as much exposure as he deserves.

What an incredible show!

Sopranos Review - Episode 69 - The Fleshy Part of the Thigh

[MichaelMargetis · 8/10 · 26 April 2006]

One of the more philosophical Soprano episodes, 'The Fleshy Part of the Thigh' has it's weaknesses but is consistently entertaining through-out the entire episode. James Gandolfini did a magnificent acting performance in this episode, but the real props go to guest star Hal Halbrook who hit it out of the park as Tony's neighbor in the hospital who seemed to have the best advice about life. Janice's old 'have you heard the great news, he is risen' boyfriend with narcolepsy returned with a creepy bible group leader to visit Tony because they were in the hospital protesting the firing of a nurse who refused to hand out birth-control pills because of his Christian beliefs. I liked the Bobby story line in the episode, and thought when he shot the rapper in the ass was absolutely hysterical! The rapper got on my nerves, and I really didn't like the whole Tony is enlightened now thing, like letting that SOB who took his money slide. This wasn't an outstanding episode, but it was consistent to the quality you expect of The Sopranos. My Rating: 8/10

WHAT I RANKED OTHER EPISODES THIS SEASON (to get a feel where I came from)

Episode 66: 'Members Only' 8.5 / 10 Episode 67: 'Join the Club' 7.5 / 10 Episode 68: 'Mayham' 9 / 10

I don't care if you're in deer valley or death valley I want 4.. And if you ever mention this to Borko

[Neptune165 · 7/10 · 21 July 2022]

One of my favorite characters is Paulie's "mom" (who we learn is actually his aunt). My mom and I both agree that she raised him as a loving presence and it makes my heart flutter when she gets off the bus and says, "Paulie! I won $20. Great episode. Interestingly, the amount of money Paulie demands from Jason is exactly the amount Green Grove costs, as they say in this episode ($4000 a month, I think). It might imply that Paulie was going to pay her Green Grove fees after all, but later episodes seem to contradict that idea. Perhaps the amount was subconscious on Paulie's part. At the end of the episode when Tony says life is a gift, Janice already knows that it's BS. This episode IMO epitomizes the brilliance of The Sopranos. When Paulie finds out who his real birth mother is he's angry, sad, confused. All natural reactions. And when he sees how Jason's mother comes to plead to Tony not to hurt her son, Paulie starts crying. He sees the love and protection of a mother and wishes he had that from his real mother. Your heart breaks for Paulie in this episode. But just when you want to route for Paulie, the producers of the show bluntly remind us what Paulie is-a stone cold, murdering gangster. Paulie beats up Jason and extorts money from him!