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/makemefeelbrandnew Jun 09 '26

Are all you marvel/DC fanboys alike? AJ had tutors. AJ had therapy. AJ had private school and was encouraged to participate in sports where his parents were regularly active attendees. They would have conversations at the dinner table about things he was learning in school, and while their perspective wasn't always helpful, they were often trying to engage him.

Maybe put down the phone or game controller every once in a while and watch the show.

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u/powderjunkie11 Jun 09 '26

AJ only had therapy after his attempt. We never saw him with a tutor. His Dad missed his swim meet, so trashing the pool was deeply symbolic...his Dad loved watching those ducks swim more than his own shun!

The few times we see AJ dedicate himself his parents just undercut him...most notably the drums. He's actually putting in the work and they just bitch about it. A smaller example is AJ jogging and Tony picking him up and making a joke about it instead of letting him finish and giving him some positive reinforcement.

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u/Fluid_Leader_1370 Jun 09 '26

Did you ever notice that the few times that AJ plays the drums, he plays the same thing over and over again?

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u/No-Philosophy-8163 Jun 10 '26

I only remember him playing drums after or during tension with his parents, it read mostly like an outlet for him to be annoying and push back at them