The Many Saints of Newark 2021

In 1967, a youthful Tony Soprano embarks on a journey with Dickie Moltisanti to warmly welcome home Dickie’s father, the storied “Hollywood Dick” Moltisani, and his new Italian wife, Giuseppina. As they arrive at their destination, Dickie is accompanied by his own entourage of associates, including Harold McBrayer, a black individual with ties to the city’s African American community. The atmosphere is palpably charged as tensions simmer beneath the surface, fueled by the simmering anger and frustration that permeates Newark in the wake of police brutality towards a black taxi driver.

Meanwhile, Johnny Soprano and his brother Junior find themselves entangled in a series of unfortunate events at a local carnival, where they are ultimately arrested. As Tony watches from a distance, the consequences of their actions unfold, culminating in Johnny’s four-year stint behind bars. The fallout is far-reaching, as Giuseppina’s tumultuous relationship with Hollywood Dick reaches a boiling point, prompting a violent confrontation that ultimately claims his life. In a stunning turn of events, Dickie disposes of his father’s body by transporting it to his drainage supply building, where he sets the scene ablaze in an effort to make it appear as though the structure was ravaged during the riots.

In a separate thread, Tony finds himself suspended from elementary school for operating a gambling operation, a decision that reflects his early inclinations towards organized crime. Harold McBrayer, meanwhile, faces a murder warrant and decides to relocate to North Carolina, where he is gifted $500 by Dickie as part of their cordial relationship.

Four years later, Johnny’s release from prison sparks a celebratory gathering among the Soprano clan, including Tony, who is visibly perturbed when his infant son Christopher cries upon seeing him. An elderly woman at the party offers a poignant observation about some children being born with an innate understanding of the world beyond their own. This cryptic remark seems to hold significance as Harold McBrayer returns from North Carolina and begins building his own criminal empire in Newark, fueled by a desire for retribution against the DiMeo crime family.

As Giuseppina’s tumultuous relationship with Dickie reaches its breaking point, she turns to Harold for solace, leading to an illicit affair. This betrayal sparks a chain reaction of violence as Harold steals protection money from the DiMeos and kills one of their own, prompting Dickie and his crew to interrogate and execute one of Harold’s associates, Cyril. In retaliation for Cyril’s death, Harold unleashes a hail of gunfire upon the DiMeos, resulting in the tragic demise of Buddha, a pivotal figure within the Soprano family hierarchy.

As Tony’s academic dishonesty is exposed, his mother Livia (character) is approached by their school guidance counselor with a stunning revelation: Tony possesses an extraordinary cognitive profile, characterized by a high Stanford-Binet IQ and dominant leadership traits according to the Myers-Briggs personality assessment. The counselor shares a poignant anecdote about Tony sharing a cherished memory of his mother reading him a book about Sutter’s Mill, which she had hugged him during - a moment he deemed one of his most treasured experiences. Livia’s attempts at showing affection are met with resistance from her son, who becomes increasingly frustrated when she reveals her doctor’s suggestion to prescribe antidepressants.

Meanwhile, Dickie Moltisanti (character) is seen struggling to come to terms with the complexities of his own relationships. At a somber wake, Tony asks for Dickie’s help in obtaining Elavil for his mother, only to be met with hesitation. The ensuing awkwardness is amplified when Junior slips and falls on the steps, prompting an uncontrollable fit of laughter from Dickie that infuriates the young man.

As Giuseppina rekindles a connection with Dickie, she confesses to having had an illicit affair with Harold. Her words are met with unbridled rage as Dickie drowns her in the sea, his actions driven by a toxic cocktail of jealousy and betrayal. Sally’s advice for Dickie to distance himself from Tony is ignored, but Silvio eventually convinces him to reconcile with his troubled friend.

However, before Dickie can make amends, he falls victim to a ruthless attack - shot in the head from behind by an unknown assailant, acting on orders from none other than Junior Soprano. As the news of Dickie’s tragic demise sinks in, Tony is left staring at the lifeless body of his friend, grappling with the cruel twists of fate and the devastating consequences of the choices made by those around him.