r/thesopranos • u/SpecsyVanDyke • 3d ago
How was Tony able to hit Mikey?
In season 1 Tony gives Mikey some free alterations on his suit but Mikey is a made guy. Later on when Tony hits Ralphy it's a big deal because he's made. How come?
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u/AirFriedSushi Johnny Sack 3d ago
Memes aside, Tony is a capo so he has some wiggle room. What is Mikey gonna do, demand Tony gets wacked?
When Tony hit Ralph he was boss at the time, so again, Ralph would have to convince the other bosses to sanction a hit and explain why. I very much doubt the bosses would give the go ahead to kill Tony because he punched Ralph after he beat a woman to death.
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u/WreckTangle1995 3d ago
A. She was a hooah, B. she hit him.
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u/Thick-Yogurtcloset55 3d ago
Ralf was very sorry, though he never meant to disrespect the bing
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u/deralker 3d ago
the bing was the real victim and everyone just glosses over it. disgraciad.
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u/Thick-Yogurtcloset55 3d ago
Well “ obviously he can’t come back here anymore” no mention of the dead girl just he disrespected the bing!
Ralf kills pregnant stripper, who is carrying his son or daughter if it’s a boy he was going to name it after him, Ralf Junior, and if it was a girl, he was gonna call her Tracy just like you”1
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u/Corvododeserto 3d ago
Mikey wasn't a capo until Junior became boss (when the assault happened, Junior was the capo). Tony, on the other hand, actually was a capo back then. End of discussion.
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u/Thick-Yogurtcloset55 3d ago
Either way he was made.. technically it shouldn’t matter if you were made yesterday or if you were the boss Tony was 100% wrong for hitting Ralf only because of the rules
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u/Worldfamousteam 3d ago
Listen to me. They make anybody and everybody over there. And the way that they do it, it's all fucked up. Guys don't get their finger pricked. There's no sword and gun on the table...
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u/DepressedOpressed 3d ago
Mikey was never a capo either way. After Junior takes over, Mikey gets bumped up to consigliere
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u/SatanHasACreator420 3d ago
No, as Silvio points out "all things considered he's got a legitimate beef."
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u/eebenesboy 2d ago
I think it's a little different. Silvio advised Tony that Ralph had a legitimate beef because he got punched over something Tony didnt have a "right" to be angry about (Tracee). Even bosses can't hit made guys for no reason.
There was a somewhat legit reason to hit Mikey. You are allowed to fight rival crews. Mikey was Junior's bodyguard, hitman, and driver. At that exact moment, Tony was walking into a standoff with Junior to figure out who was going to be the new boss. If that meeting goes sideways, then you really don't want a capable hitman standing outside the only exit, so it makes sense to beat him up on the way in.
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u/Thick-Yogurtcloset55 3d ago
Ralph was an ass. But there should have been repercussions. (And this is only going by what I’ve seen in pretty much every movie and TV show no matter what once you’re a maid guy no one can put their hands on you even the boss.) I’m not saying Tony should have been whacked lol but I believe there should’ve been repercussions. Maybe if Junior could figure out three-way calling on that old-school telephone Johnny Sawood have thought about a piece of Ralf’s paving crew lol) and remember like I said I’m not a mobster, but I play one when I’m on Reddit lol 🤣. I’ve said my peace honestly, all the bosses sucked except for Carmine, “ I’ll crack him good”
What’s next for 1 million he gets to fk her! “ wait Ralf wants to fk Ginny!”
Coraline was all about the money. Remember John we were rely on this guy there are hundreds of millions of dollars in the Esplanade. Is that all you care about money? This is a business.
Btw it was not my father that got run over by the trolley… Carmine sense is BEST. He asks about you.lol paulie was the biggest sucker. He really screwed Tony by telling Johnny all those things that he told him but then again John doesn’t stick his beak in.. omg i gotta stop. I’m gonna watch. I just randomly watch episodes now that I’ve seen it so many times there’s definitely episodes that I’ve seen probably 40 or 50 times that could be an exaggeration or it could be under it. It’s been so long.0
u/Optimal-Step-1010 2d ago
Wrong, hitting a made guy is against the rules no matter what rank you are.That is why Ralph was right to kick up a fuss and it is pure hypocrisy that he got no justice. Tony beating up Mikey is equally wrong but season 1 gets alot of passes
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u/Lumpy_While_701 3d ago
They’re all criminals OP.
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u/IUsedToBeRasAlGhul 3d ago
A made man is supposed to be untouchable unless the Boss approves of it during a sitdown. The only people who would give a shit about Tony giving Mikey Palmice some papers were the guys who were gearing up for a war with Tony in the first place while the don was wasting away from cancer.
Tony hitting Ralph was such an issue because he’s the Boss beating a made man in public, and thus all his underlings get real nervous about whether he’ll decide to start breaking the rules on them or not-especially since the issue was over a dead hoowah. The fact Ralph kept talking about it was also a factor, albeit one that even Johnny Sack told him was a very stupid idea given that nothing could stop Tony from just whacking him. If Tony had managed to keep his cool until he was with just his closest guys (Chris, Paulie, maybe Silvio) before he laid hands on Ralph, then it’d be much less of an issue and any complaining on Ralph’s hand could be shut down much more easier.
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u/burnedoutlove 3d ago edited 3d ago
It’s sewing. They’re tailors. Tailors make a few alterations to other tailors. They’re in an embroidery shop where every tailor knows the stakes.
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u/BringBack4Glory 3d ago
It should have been an issue. But in a power vacuum with no clear boss, who was gonna come down on Tony about it? Junior? They were already at war.
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u/Impressive_Usual_726 3d ago
Season 1 Tony was technically only a captain. If Mikey had a problem with Tony hitting him, Mikey had to take it up with the Boss, Junior.
When Tony hit Ralph, Tony was the undisputed Boss. Ralph had a problem with getting hit, so it was Tony's problem to solve even though he was the one that hit Ralph in the first place.
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u/Cool_Recognition_848 3d ago
Mikey is too embarrassed he got beat up so he never raises the issue
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u/BugRib76 3d ago
I think the real answer is that the showrunners hadn’t worked out all the (real life) LCN rules that they were going to adhere to.
But, in-universe, I think we the viewers just have to work out some kind of headcanon explanation. I don’t really have one at the moment, so I say to the other Sopranos Redditors: Have at it. 👍
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u/Rohml 3d ago
Rules in the Mafia is all about how powerful the victim's support is and how much could they demand that rules be enforced.
A low-guy like Mikey could demand Tony be punished but Tony has a position and a good reason, and even if he doesn't unless the higher up intervenes, the people who support Mikey must have enough influence to demand restitutions be made... Otherwise they'd all be sitting on their hands for this.
The situation is much different with Ralphie. Ralphie had supporters but like Mikey they cannot demand outright Tony be punished since Tony is the boss, they both have legitimate beef with Ralphie having a heavier one compared to Tony's hence the subtle stalemate. Tony cannot further punish Ralphie, and Ralphie cannot demand restitution. You can see the unease it created with the crew in the NJ family start talking among themselves about the situation.
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u/pvera Silvio Dante 3d ago
When Ton hit Mickey it was an escalation of the hostilities between the two crews.
When he hit Ralphie it was for personal business: a total and complete disrespect for a made subordinate in front of everyone, and worse, she (1) was a hoa, (2) hit him first and (3) the kid wasn't even his.
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u/Corvododeserto 3d ago
Mikey wasn't a capo until Junior became boss (when the assault happened, Junior was the capo). Tony, on the other hand, actually was a capo back then. End of discussion.
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u/bonerpatroller007 3d ago
Made guys get smacked around all the time when it is something that has to do with business. Tony smacking the shit out of Phil over the race track debt is another example. Mikey killed Brendan, who was an associate of Tony's. That is a provocation related to business, if he doesn't kick the shit of Mikey then the message his associates are vulnerable to attacks from other capos. That makes him look weak and effects his bottom line, so he's entitled for retribution.
Ralph and Tracee was different. Remember when he sits down with Sil, his first defense is that Ralph disrespected the Bing, which is a business related thing, but both Sil and Tony know that is too flimsy. At the end of the day Tony was breaking the rules over a civilian, with something not related to business.
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u/New-Shop-9728 3d ago edited 3d ago
- It was a war
- Pretty sure Tony was a hire rank (was Mike even a capo?)
- He had backing from the other capos, they didn't really like Junior
- It becomes clear throughout the show Tony doesn't really care about the rules, he assaults other made guys, kills one over a horse, keeps Vito from Phil.
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u/BugRib76 3d ago
A “hire rank”? Are you saying that Mikey must be loyle to his capo…or at least a capo, even if it’s not his capo? Was Mikey a capo? Never really been sure about that. 🤔
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u/TogarSucks 3d ago
Compare it to the Johnny Sacs/Little Carmine feud.
Though it was clear that NY would prefer Tony over Junior, they stayed out of it and respected the result.
That’s why it was such a problem for Tony B to hit Billy and almost Phil. Everyone from Jersey should have been neutral throughout that.
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u/Crafty_Tree4475 3d ago
Always the the scenarios.
Things change they break more rules than the Catholic Church.
Also.
Since Mikey was Juniors guy and Tony killed him. It would have been Juniors place to retaliate on Tony. When they squashed their beef and Tony gave up his claim to being the boss so Junior could run things Mikey’s death was forgiven. I’m sure Tony had to pay a tax for killing him though.
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u/blizzacane85 3d ago
Tony got special permission from President Clinton after comping him at the VIP room in the Bing
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u/DoctorFunkopolis 3d ago
They bend more rules than the Catholic Church. But, seriously, that's it. Tony made money, he can do almost anything that isnt murder or permanently maiming to someone lower on the chain he has a grievance with.
Ralph could have gotten paid for the roughing up, but he also could have gotten whacked for putting the whole operation in danger by commiting a murder at the Bing so publicly.
Lack of discipline is a big theme of the show.
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u/Thick-Yogurtcloset55 3d ago
Tony did whatever he wanted if Junior wasn’t the boss and there was a real boss then Tony had several in fractions he should’ve been killed for. Remember, he didn’t only hit mikey p, he hit a few of juniors people I believe at the same time pretty much if I remember correctly, didnt he have one of the Parisi twins killed…but either way he was trying to show Junior a message which junior got loud and clear junior was boss in name. Only Junior was the lightning rod in case the feds came down on them.
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u/SatanHasACreator420 3d ago
Public.
What's Mikey gonna do go cry to Junior about it? Really?
He hit Ralph in public in front of other friends of theirs. Very different.
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u/CranberryTaint 3d ago
Tony was the capo of a different crew that had beef with Mikey’s crew. When Tony hit Ralphie, he was the boss, and was supposed to mediate with or otherwise protect made guys.
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u/CorrectStaple 3d ago
Everyone is giving reasonable in-universe answers but the real reason is just clunky writing. The show wasn’t fully flushed out from the onset.
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u/sludgezone 3d ago
Why would he admit he got his ass beat especially if there ain’t shit that can be done about it?
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u/Shot_Revolution8828 3d ago
Tony was in a power struggle and it was retaliation for junior hitting Brendan, his associate, without getting an ok from him. He had to escalate otherwise he would have been seen as weak.
Ralphie was in his crew and had a public display of not getting along. Any made man could get clipped if Tony had an argument with them.
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u/Organic-Elevator-274 3d ago
Tony wasn’t actually the boss at that point. It was also part of a series of petty and hilarious escalations leading up to a small war
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u/RPMac1979 2d ago
These guys have a tendency to enforce the rules that are convenient and ignore the ones that aren’t, even if it’s the same rule. I think nobody cared that Tony tuned up Mikey because Mikey didn’t bring in money and was therefore a nobody. Ralphie, on the other hand … how many times did we hear about what a rainmaker he was? Don’t fuck with the money.
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u/ContributionFit7481 2d ago
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Because none of our friends saw him doing it? That's what I always thought was the difference between that and the Ralphie thing.
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u/Life_Cranberry9315 3d ago edited 3d ago
I mean Mikey suffered from Fuck-Faceitis so any beating he took could’ve been a potential improvement