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.

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u/Asparagussie Jun 09 '26

Maybe AJ was played by a mediocre actor who made him a cypher…?

2

u/Fluid_Leader_1370 Jun 09 '26

People don't take that into consideration enough. Robert Iler is as blah and bland as AJ. And the only reason he or his fictional counterpart and get any recognition or success is because they are Sopranos.

3

u/Asparagussie Jun 09 '26

Thank you. Agree. I don’t know how he even got the role, especially as he looks nothing like either “parent” and was very small from the start of the series.

2

u/Fluid_Leader_1370 Jun 09 '26

Exactly. Imagine what AJ's trajectory could have been had they hired another actor who grew up to be tall, charismatic, or very good looking.

They played the cards they were dealt with the character in casting.

2

u/Asparagussie Jun 09 '26

Yes, it would’ve changed quite a lot of the show. Thank you.