Mob Wives Season 2: Mafia Wars Redux

The moment I fell in love with Mob Wives occurred early in its first season when Renee, hot under the collar over something said, let loose “you want to play Mafia Wars? I win!” to the delight of Karen. Even though I’ve long since pledged my allegiance to Drita D’avanzo, it was a moment that was not only hilarious in execution (as are most things Renee says) but very telling in terms of the show itself. More than just about any other “wives” show, Mob Wives is about authenticity and having been through some stuff before making it to the other side; you can’t really pull any typical reality TV stunt queen moves on Mob Wives because the entire lifestyle and mafia subculture doesn’t take too kindly to those that talk that talk but can’t walk that walk. All the strategic social moves and peacocking in the world can’t mask someone lacking in that all-too-important reality TV element: “realness”.

The Queen Stunt Queen of All Stunt Queens, Karen Gravano, managed to exhibit why she’s earned that title (from me) in tonight’s episode of Mob Wives, as she had another “let’s talk things out NO JUST KIDDING LET’S PUNCH EACH OTHER IN PUBLIC” moment that ended up making her look really, really bad. This time, the unlucky soul forced to endure her incoherent ramblings was Carla. After the two hadn’t talked all summer, you’d think there’d be a certain awkwardness and uncertainty to their conversation, but Karen led off talking about how much she didn’t like Carla, got onto her for defending her friend Drita, and challenged her to get up in the middle of a restaurant. Oh, and at the end, Karen told her she liked her and made her do shots.

…

Watching Karen expand her plumage in attempt to intimidate someone always makes me think that I missed a chunk of the show. Instead of giving facts and effectively arguing why she didn’t like Drita, she set her volume to foghorn and broke out a string of lies, classless insults, and hypocritical “girl, don’t you pay attention” rants (Carla’s the devil for arguing for her friend, but Ramona acting like a 13 year old wannabe gang banger and fighting your fight for you is totally okay?) that made me feel alternately confused, entertained, and frustrated. Did she have a little too much liquor and that clouded her recollection of what she said 10 minutes ago? Does she mentally check out and pop back in at random times, yelling just to yell and mug for the cameras? I’ll be damned if I know, but I just find Karen to be extremely ridiculous and, more importantly, disingenuous. If you want to beat somebody down, don’t smokescreen it as a “sit down” and then jump on them the first chance you get; it makes you look like even more of a punk, especially when the other person isn’t falling into the trap.

This is Mob Wives. Step your game up.

Whereas Karen was trying her best to get a reaction out of Carla through a barrel of foolishness about arch enemies (listen from 10:55-13:06) and war lingo, Renee and Big Ang were dealing with real life issues at home. I’ve always had a soft spot for Renee and immediately took to Big Ang, arguably the most down-to-earth cast member, so seeing them struggle with their sons (both named AJ) made me feel that much more for them. It scratches at a lot of fears that women in the mob have about their offspring picking up the same lifestyle/behavioral habits as the men in their family and added a little pathos to an episode propped up by social dynamics and delusion. Of course, both had their fair share of light moments, with Big Ang’s confirmation of her insecure new boo that just completed a 28 year bid, but beneath all the talk about “papi-ranians” and jokes about robbing candy stores lies a lot of rawness and hurt. Renee’s already dealing with girls texting Junior and power issues that came from letting Junior back into her life, so AJ’s acting out is the last thing she needs at the moment, especially with her recent medical scare and continued bout with depression.

The thing that separates Mob Wives from other shows is that it typically packs a kernel of real life in the middle of the yelling matches and brings up fairly interesting discussion topics. Just how much impact does being around the wiseguys have on a child? Are the aggressive tendencies found in mafia life inherent in the individual? There’s not a single answer to what makes someone pursue a life like that; you can look no further than Karen and Ramona for evidence of that. While Karen was immersed in the life from the time she could read, Ramona was shielded from it until much older, though she ended up having children with a man that later got involved in the life (and was arrested due to her affiliated boyfriend). It could be something like Renee mentioned about AJ getting popped and lugging around a job killing criminal record or it could be a multitude of other issues that draw people to the mob (money, power, glamorous image, upbringing in it, no familial connections, etc.), but seeing two guys teetering on the edge between career criminal and directionless youth brings another sense of complexity to an already underestimated show.

It’s all too telling to juxtapose Karen’s drama/obsession with Drita with Big Ang and Renee having to deal with real issues involving the future of their children. Karen may have grown up in the life, but Big Ang and Renee have the most experience in it and know what it can do to people who get too deep. Mob Wives has always had a push-pull relationship with the life, as the ladies respect/love those involved and at the same time don’t want to encourage people to join in due to how dangerous it is. From the sounds of it, Mob Wives may be amping up the danger in the coming weeks due to the rising annoyance between Karen/Ramona and Carla/Drita and the fact that each of the four has unfinished business. Expect a lot of finger pointing, backbiting, and other Mob Wives-style tomfoolery, but I doubt anything will be resolved by the time the season finale airs in March. I guess sometimes reality is a little too subjective.

Thoughts, Quotes, & Observations:
-“The bouncers were stabbed; they’d just go to the hospital.”
-“You’re giving me hot flashes.”
-“So I’m going to try to be less bossy but still the boss.”
-“Well, hopefully it’d be a bank, not a candy store.”
-“That’s what I’m into, flocking.”
-“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph – pick up the f-ing crumbs!”
-“You know what? You’re fired.”
-“Square up what, Karen, with your alligator arms?”
-Renee’s face right before she said “oh my god, I wasn’t prepared for that one” to Karen at their first meeting was just the best.
-I thought Drita did a really good Big Ang impression.
–Check out some old school pictures of Big Ang.
-Also, a musical tribute to Big Ang titled “She Likes Wise Guys” was released.
-Renee talks depression, entitlement, and abusive relationships.
-Ramona on the break-up of Heidi Klum and Seal.
-Renee’s father was indicted on extortion charges.
-Here’s an interview where Drita addresses the roof top altercation and if she thinks she was set up. Apparently this isn’t the first time Karen and Ramona have ganged up on someone.
-Next week on Mob Wives: More back and forth between both “camps” and Ramona gets caught talking trash about Renee. Good luck with that, girl.