The 10 Most Infamous Acts Committed by Janice Soprano on The Sopranos

Summary

Janice Soprano was a despicable character who would go to desperate lengths to get what she wanted, even if it meant risking someone's life.

Janice's self-centered nature and thirst for easy money led her to betray those close to her, despite occasionally showing concern for her family. Notably, her actions played a significant part in Tony Soprano's downfall. However, it cannot be denied that Janice's inclusion in the show added to its success, as her character was both unforgettable and distinct.

Janice Soprano, though not the worst character on The Sopranos, consistently exhibited despicable behavior. As a cunning scammer always seeking the easy way out, she had no qualms about stooping to the lowest of lows, even if it meant endangering someone's life. It must be acknowledged that not everything she did on the show was unequivocally wicked. Unlike Livia, she did display some level of concern for her family. However, Janice's primary focus was always self-preservation.

Portrayed brilliantly by Aida Turturro, Janice Soprano demonstrated that one does not need to be a hardened gangster to be an inherently awful person. Although she may not be deemed directly responsible for Tony's downfall, her presence undoubtedly played a role. Furthermore, her actions throughout the series serve as yet another testament to why The Sopranos' unparalleled success cannot be replicated.

10. Flip-Flopping On Meadow's Punishment

In Janice's initial appearance, she advises Tony and Carmela to be lenient with Meadow after finding her intoxicated at a party. One of The Sopranos' most memorable Janice quotes is "For every 20 wrongs a child does, ignore 19." However, Janice's hypocrisy becomes evident when she immediately changes her stance upon discovering that Meadow threw a party at Livia's house, where Janice was staying, resulting in significant damage. Not only does she demand a harsher punishment for Meadow, but she also criticizes Tony and Carmela's parenting methods.

Although this moment does not showcase Janice at her worst, it effectively establishes her character. Initially, Janice tries to portray herself as a relatable aunt who understands the younger generation. However, when she realizes that Meadow's actions directly affect her, she easily switches allegiance and expresses her anger without restraint. Janice's inclusion in the series contributes to The Sopranos' ability to avoid a decline in quality during its second season.

9. Forcing Tony To Pay Her $3,000 To Tell Him Ralph Cifaretto's Secrets

Anytime the opportunity presented itself, Janice Soprano always pursued the path of easy money. This was evident when Tony approached her inquiring about the authenticity of Ralph Cifaretto's former mistress's claims regarding his masochistic fetishes. Being intimately familiar with Ralph as his ex-lover, Janice was well aware that the allegations were true. However, she skillfully transformed Tony's inquisition into a bargaining session. Janice agreed to confirm the claims, but only if Tony paid the appropriate price for this valuable information. While Janice's actions in this particular instance may not be considered despicable, her tendency to turn a straightforward question into a lucrative opportunity was consistent with her character.

8. Pursuing Ralph Cifaretto While He Was Dating Rosalie Aprile

Janice had a strong attraction to mafiosos, whether they were already in a relationship or not. Despite Ralph being involved with the widowed Rosalie Aprile, who had tragically lost her husband Jackie Aprile to stomach cancer years ago, Janice showed no hesitation when it came to pursuing him. Eventually, Janice realized her mistake and decided to end her relationship with Ralph. However, it wouldn't have been appropriate to pursue another man who was dating someone like Rosalie, who had already suffered so much. Considering what happened to Jackie Jr., it would have been even more frowned upon.

7. Attacking Another Parent At A Soccer Game

6. Abandoning Tony To Deal With Their Mother

Janice's attempt to fulfill the role of a mother figure for her stepchildren deserves recognition. However, her inadequacy in this role was evidently clear. While enthusiastically supporting her stepdaughter at a soccer game, Janice's temper escalated to the point where she physically assaulted another parent. This incident garnered significant media attention, casting an unwanted spotlight on both Janice and the Dimeo family. Although Janice's intentions were well-meaning, her decision to act in such a manner was undoubtedly unwise, considering her association with organized crime and the likelihood that law enforcement would seize any opportunity to dismantle the mafia.

6. Abandoning Tony To Deal With Their Mother

Out of all the wrongdoings Janice ever committed, this was by far the most comprehensible. Living with Livia Soprano was an arduous task as she relentlessly sought opportunities to make everyone's lives miserable. Being the eldest in the family, Janice was the one who dared to confront Livia. However, her decision to leave home at the very first opportunity left Tony to face their mother on his own. Considering Tony's mental health challenges, being left alone with Livia undoubtedly caused some damage, explaining why Tony openly admitted to never forgiving Janice for abandoning him in such a manner.

5. Showing Her Racism During An Anger Management Session

4. Abandoning Her First-Born Child

Janice displayed some bias, although she wasn't the most extreme racist character on The Sopranos. In an anger management session, she initially seemed understanding of the struggles faced by the black community, mentioning her participation in the Civil Rights movement when she was younger. However, her stance quickly changed when she began complaining about black individuals driving SUVs and listening to rap music. When a black woman at the session responded, Janice retorted with the phrase "If the shoe fits." Throughout her outburst, Janice acknowledged the bigotry within her family's background and attempted to distance herself from it. Nevertheless, it became apparent that she hadn't strayed too far from her family's beliefs.

Off-screen, a deeper exploration of Janice as a character reveals that her early marriage and subsequent divorce resulted in her being denied custody of her troubled son, Harpo. This suggests that Janice may have done something to portray herself as an unfit mother in court. Shockingly, Janice never even mentions Harpo, who the show has confirmed to be homeless and struggling with personal issues. It is possible that Janice lost all hope after being denied custody, but her complete silence about her son's existence speaks volumes about her shortcomings as a mother. In one of The Sopranos' most amusing scenes, Tony deliberately stirs up this sensitive topic, shedding light on how much Harpo's well-being still weighs heavily on Janice's mind.

3. Stealing Her Mother's Maid's Wooden Leg

Janice's insatiable greed eventually led to dire consequences. One noteworthy incident that exemplified her unscrupulous behavior (no pun intended) occurred when she purposely stole Svetlana's prosthetic wooden leg as retribution for Livia giving her former maid her collection of vintage records, which Janice viewed as a potential goldmine. Refusing to relinquish the leg, Janice found herself targeted by the Russian mafia, who resorted to assaulting her. This created a major dilemma for Tony as he had to decide whether to engage in a full-blown war with the mafia to avenge Janice or risk appearing feeble. Despite her lack of foresight, Janice's avarice nearly sparked a conflict that had the potential to claim numerous lives.

2. Using Bobby Bacalieri's Children To Move Into Their Lives

Janice becomes infatuated with Bobby Bacalieri in season 4 after witnessing his deep love for his late wife. In a disturbing turn of events, she manipulates Bobby's children by using a Ouija board prank orchestrated by AJ. Janice goes online to convince the kids that they are being watched by Satan, causing them extreme fear. Shockingly, her plan succeeds as Bobby reaches out to Janice for support in calming his terrified children. This ultimately leads to Bobby and Janice getting married. It's important to note that despite Janice's genuine efforts to be a good stepmother, her actions of terrorizing the children in order to replace their deceased mother are inexcusable.

1. Convincing Richie Aprile To Kill Tony

Janice's primary desire was to secure financial stability and personal safety, which led her to aspire to marry a prominent member of the family. Observing the seemingly content relationship between Tony and Carmela, Janice viewed Richie as her ticket to a comfortable life. The combination of two of The Sopranos' most disliked characters was bound to cause chaos, regardless of their genuine affection for one another. In her pursuit of becoming the spouse of the family's leader, Janice skillfully manipulated Richie into plotting the murder of her own brother.

If the plan had been successful, Janice's act of indirectly killing Tony would have been perceived as an extraordinary act of betrayal within the realm of The Sopranos. However, this outcome was ultimately avoided, as Janice took matters into her own hands and eliminated Richie before he could carry out the assassination. While this event stands out as one of the most shocking moments in The Sopranos, it is crucial to highlight that it was far from the most reprehensible action committed by Janice. This serves as a testament to the remarkable levels of disdain associated with both her and Richie.