Is ‘Lilyhammer’ Secretly a Sequel to ‘The Sopranos’?

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For over two decades since its debut, “The Sopranos” continues to captivate audiences with its gritty and thought-provoking portrayal of camaraderie in the criminal world, intricate emotional entanglements, and the fluid nature of good and evil. Despite being an exceptional series, it didn’t provide answers to some lingering questions, with Tony Soprano’s fate being the most puzzling.

David Chase and The Sopranos” docuseries.

A significant query arises concerning the whereabouts of Valery, a key character from the show’s highly praised episode “Pine Barrens.” Following his narrow escape from Paulie and Christopher, he mysteriously vanished without a trace. Additionally, there is uncertainty surrounding Silvio Dante, Tony’s trusted counselor on the series, played by Steven Van Zandt.

Without a doubt, Silvio, following closely behind Paulie in popularity among the show’s characters, was known for his level-headedness and avoidance of unnecessary conflicts. Regrettably, he was wounded outside the Bada Bing during the Lupertazzi-DiMeo war, slipping into a coma. The series never clarified whether Silvio survived or not, leaving us speculating about the Netflix gangster series, Lilyhammer.

In ‘Lilyhammer,’ Steven Van Zandt Is a Turncoat Hiding in Norway

In the show “Lilyhammer,” Steven Van Zandt plays Frank Tagliano, a former high-ranking member of an American Mafia family who betrayed his boss by testifying against him. This action was necessary because Aldo Delucci, now the head of the family, had ordered a hit on Frank after assuming power.

Even though he’s under the Witness Protection Program, Frank feels deep-seated apprehensions, understanding that those who refer to “our thing” are never completely secure. Consequently, he asks for a move to Norway, hoping to find allies among a few locals he trusts. He also adopts a new persona as Norwegian-American immigrant Giovanni “Johnny” Henriksen. Nevertheless, he continues to struggle in circumstances that unfairly set him up for a life of illicit activities. Gradually, Frank/Johnny becomes entangled in the web of dubious gangs and romantic entanglements, with a captivating woman constantly tempting his conscience.

The series was marketed as the initial Netflix original program, which partially justifies its role in shaping the binge-watching trend that’s common today. Despite residing in Lillehammer, Norway, the gangster drama is named Lilyhammer, a title given due to his dog Lily who was killed in the first episode during an assassination attempt on the gangster. The name also reflects how Americans typically pronounce the town’s name.

The Netflix series “Lilyhammer” was warmly received by both viewers and reviewers, with each season earning a “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Through it, Frankie Valli (Zandt), who hadn’t acted in anything substantial prior to “The Sopranos,” demonstrated that his stardom wasn’t a fluke. He possessed the skill to manage a production of such magnitude independently.

The series often uses indirect storytelling methods, yet it’s filled with stunning snowy visuals that keep you captivated. You don’t need to be familiar with other stories to appreciate it, but viewers of the highly praised HBO show will recognize similarities between Zandt’s character Frank Tagliano and Silvio Dante. Could this be a hidden continuation?

‘Lilyhammer’ Kinda Picks Up Where ‘The Sopranos’ Left Off

Initially, let’s consider that Silvio survived and Tony perished. Under these circumstances, the DiMeo crime family would have a new leader. It’s plausible that this individual could be the one who orchestrated Tony’s demise. After all, such events are not uncommon in the Cosa Nostra, dating back from the era of Salvatore Maranzano to Paul Castellano. The pattern of the boss being gunned down has recurred frequently throughout history.

It’s clear why the new boss prefers not to involve Tony’s past associates, leading him to arrange for Silvio to meet an unfortunate end. However, being the shrewd individual he is, Silvio chooses to cooperate with the authorities and enters witness protection. He’s always been a respectable figure, but informing against one’s enemies isn’t necessarily a negative act, particularly when they’re responsible for the death of one of your closest friends.

Silvio, having been around for quite some time, is well aware that betrayers rarely escape consequences. A vivid example of this was shown in Season 1’s “College” episode where Tony met such an individual and ended up strangling him to death. Given the danger he now faces, the ex-consigliere decides it’s best to leave America behind. He settles in Norway and begins a new existence under the name Giovanni “Johnny” Henriksen. Just as planned!

In the series Lilyhammer, it’s apparent that the character Frank/Johnny displays similar traits and habits as Silvio. Instead of laying low, he actively seeks opportunities to assert himself, such as bribing Norwegian officials or starting a nightclub called The Flamingo. Given his background in managing the Bada Bing! on The Sopranos, it seems that he yearns for his old lifestyle and finds it difficult to idle away. To stay productive, he decides to engage in a venture he’s well-versed in – setting up a business.

Beyond that, it’s worth mentioning that Johnny shares a fondness for gangster movies, much like Silvio. In the series, The Sopranos, Silvio delivers side-splitting impressions from The Godfather: Part III, and in Lilyhammer, there’s a touching scene where he connects with an autistic boy through a conversation about Angels with Dirty Faces – it’s sure to melt your heart. On top of this, his character consistently showcases his comedic talents unintentionally: observe him as he attempts to familiarize Norwegians with American Christmas traditions.

Clearly the same guy.

The “Unofficial Sequel” Is a Common Way to Capitalize on a Popular Movie or TV Show’s Popularity

Lilyhammer feels like a fitting continuation, yet it leans more towards being an “unofficial sequel” or “extended tribute.” The way Deadwood’s acting style blends Johnny and Silvio can make them seem indistinguishable, but this might be because he isn’t as adept at portraying diverse characters, a trait often associated with character actors. He falls into the category of “actors who play similar roles across different productions,” having not undergone formal acting training for an extended period. The recurring character traits can be partly attributed to Netflix’s desire to cash in on The Sopranos’ success, as HBO would never approve a sequel and delegate it to a competitor.

In Hollywood, you’ll find many unofficial sequels such as “Titanic II” and “Jaws: The Cruel One,” but if you go back 34 years, you’ll see something similar in the gangster genre. A film named “My Blue Heaven” was released in 1990, adapted from Nicholas Pileggi’s book “Wiseguy.” This movie focuses on the life of Henry Hill post-Witness Protection Program. Although it’s not linked to Martin Scorsese’s work, its themes resonate with his. In this film, Hill is given a new name, “Vincent ‘Vinnie’ Antonelli.” Interestingly, Nora Ephron, Pileggi’s wife, wrote the screenplay for “My Blue Heaven,” while Martin Scorsese and Nicholas Pileggi collaborated on the script for “Goodfellas.

Currently, there are two types of fans when it comes to “Sopranos”: those who yearn for a comeback and those content with its final resolution. Fans of gritty underworld culture would find “Lilyhammer” engaging, but a sequel could be an exciting prospect. After all, many legendary TV series have delved into this pattern. For instance, fans of “Dexter” weren’t pleased with the show’s ending, but “Dexter: New Blood” addressed that issue. Similarly, the universe of the DiMeo crime family, as seen in the prequel film “The Many Saints of Newark”, could benefit from further exploration. Here’s hoping it happens!

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2025-01-13 00:35