Livia Soprano
Livia Soprano | |
---|---|
Giovanni "Johnny" Soprano (deceased) | |
Children | Janice Soprano Tony Soprano Barbara Soprano Giglione |
Livia Soprano (
In 2016, Rolling Stone ranked her #3 of their "40 Greatest TV Villains of All Time".[3]
Character biography
Livia Pollio was born in
Cagey,
Years later on season one of the show, Livia causes problems for Tony as revenge for putting her in a retirement home, Green Grove, and putting her house up for sale. This results in Tony almost being killed on two occasions. Tony narrowly avoids two hitmen after
It is later discovered that the
In season two, Livia's daughter Janice returns to New Jersey. She takes up residence in Livia's home and convinces Tony not to sell the house and instead let her take care of Livia. Livia is cautious of Janice's sudden concern for her well-being and correctly guesses that Janice has ulterior motives. While Tony and Carmela avoid all contact with Livia, her grandchildren Meadow and A.J. still visit her, unaware of past events. Livia grows paranoid and more difficult when AJ inadvertently reveals to her that Janice and Tony were discussing possible "do not resuscitate" options for her. When Janice is forced to flee the state, Tony gives Livia a stolen plane ticket so she can stay with her sister. However, before she is set to leave, she is detained at the airport.
Tony hires a home assistant to look after Livia at the beginning of season three. Livia dies soon after from another stroke. After her death, Janice discovers that Livia kept many of Tony's old childhood artifacts while only keeping some of Barbara's and none of Janice's. Livia appears as a younger woman in several flashbacks afterward, as well as being frequently referenced, with Tony still far from resolving his feelings towards her.
For season three, a storyline was planned where Livia would be called to testify against her son in court, giving evidence on stolen airline tickets she had received from him, but Marchand died on June 18, 2000, before it could be filmed.[5] Existing footage and computer-generated imagery was used to create a final scene between Tony and Livia in the season three episode "Proshai, Livushka" before the character, too, died. The cost was approximately $250,000.[6]
During the sixth-season episode "
Character origins
David Chase based Livia on his own mother, Norma Chase. He described his mother as paranoid, abusive, sharp-tongued and dismissive of her son's career achievements. Many of Livia's memorable lines such as "Poor you," "Daughters are better at taking care of their mothers than sons," and "Another toothpick" are direct quotations of Norma Chase.[2] Like Tony Soprano, David Chase spent years in psychotherapy addressing the consequences of her mothering.[2]
Chase has also spoken highly of the 1934 novel I, Claudius, calling it one of his favorite works of fiction.[7] While Chase has stopped short of drawing a direct connection, claiming he used the name of an aunt, many have compared the Machiavellian Livia Soprano to Claudius' grandmother, Livia Drusilla.[8] These suspicious tend to find confirmation in the maiden name Chase selected for Livia—Pollio, one shared by Gaius Asinius Pollio, who makes a decisive appearance in I, Claudius.[9]
References
- )
- ^ ISBN 978-1-933821-18-4.
- ^ Collins, Sean T. (February 9, 2016). "40 Greatest TV Villains of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- ^ "The Sopranos - Livia Soprano".
- ^ "'The Sopranos' 20th Anniversary Look Back: Part II". deadline.com. January 10, 2019.
- Gannett Company. February 28, 2001. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
- ^ "David Chase's 6 favorite books". The Week. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ^ Sources:
- Shales, Tom (2000-01-16). "David Chase, Bracing for the Hit". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- Lacob, Jace (2012-03-27). "PBS' 'I, Claudius' Still Captivates With its Taut Drama". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- Beckerman, Jim. "Tony Soprano's mom, Livia, may have been inspired by another famous Livia". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- MAGAZINE, DISCLAIMER (2018-03-02). "I, Claudius: An Epic That Changed Television". Medium. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- James, Caryn (1999-03-25). "Addicted to a Mob Family Potion". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- "I, Claudius: Greatest Show Ever Made?". The Bubble. 2018-01-17. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- Shales, Tom (2000-01-16). "David Chase, Bracing for the Hit". Washington Post.
- ^ "Livia Soprano played by Nancy Marchand on The Sopranos - Official Website for the HBO Series | HBO.com". HBO. Retrieved 2023-09-20.