The Sopranos: 10 Most Disturbing Episodes
6. Army Of One
The mafia is a family business, and most of the central characters come from a lineage of mobsters. A key arc of season three is the fall of Jackie Jr, the lunkheaded son of former boss Jackie Aprile. Jackie Sr wanted more than anything to keep his son out of the mob, and it dawns on us just why: he’s absolutely not cut out for it.
Jackie Jr attempts to emulate one of Tony’s old stunts by robbing a high stakes poker game, hoping to make his bones through sheer moxy. When it turns lethal, Jackie goes into hiding in the projects, and ultimately his erstwhile stepfather Ralphie makes the call - he has to go.
Jackie’s hardly the most likeable character, but his story proves just how little loyalty there is in this world. His father was a captain of industry, but he’s long dead. Now, a simple phonecall will leave him shot dead, face down in the snow far from home.
He’s all but forgotten following this. Jackie Jr becomes a nuisance, and goes from a charge Tony swore to protect to another inconvenience taken care of with a bullet.