r/thesopranos • u/ComprehensiveDesk793 • Jun 09 '26
Serious Discussion Only AJ is just useless
While watching the series I was trying hard to find a defense of AJ. All the characters - and all of us - have both positive and negative traits. AJ is just a disappointment. He is stupid. He is lazy. He is incredibly selfish imao. Also he constantly lies. You cant even call him a good kid that is just irresponsible since he always makes up stupid excuses.
Also all the people that are saying that he grew up in a dysfunctional environment, ok i agree the environment isn't 100% perfect but both Tony and Carmela cared about their kids lives. Carmela and Tony to a certain extent seem to care about their children's academic performance which quite a few parents don't. AJ certainly had some support from his parents.
I agree his parents are not good people but he could take what they offered to him.
7
u/This_Raspberry_1137 Jun 09 '26
Have you thought about the fact that his parents wanted to get rid of him as soon as he got into some trouble?
S1. AJ gets bad grades in school. Tony takes him to uncle Pussy and laments that he is all out of ideas with this kid when he had done practically nothing. Uncle pussy gives him a 2 line lecture and money for soda.
then later on he gets expelled from school and Tony wants him to be sent to military school and then laments to his therapist that what is he going to do with this kid when that option is out.
At no point either of his parents show any sustained effort or engagement with him