Caffeinated Clint
The acting is still amazing (Gandolfini is just so frickin’ captivating in this); the writing is still solid; and the storylines still hook. Something’s definitely not right here.
James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Robert Iler
By a show’s sixth season – granted, most shows never make it to a second – the product is usually a little worse for wear: It’s around about this time that some of the key actors leave for greener pastures (usually movie careers); the show’s creators and head writers have usually moved on too; and prominently, the storylines usually become as stale as bottom-of-the-bin bread.
“The Sopranos” has never played by the rules, though.
One of the most graphically violent shows on TV – when it first aired; it caused quote the sensation – it escaped condemnation because its use of sex, violence and language was seemingly for a reason: to paint a much more realistic world of the modern-day gangster; something we hadn’t seen since Brian De Palma’s “Scarface”, and never on TV. It didn’t hurt either that the performances of the cast, and the writing, was so top-notch even a nun would be intrigued to tune in week after week. And she probably still is… intrigued.
Tony Soprano is still one of the most engaging characters in Television – and it’ll be a sad day when his car bursts into a ball of flames. Meantime, he’s still throwing his [literal] weight around Jersey.
This time around, Tony’s caught in the middle of an emerging war between the families – with one party forlorn with a leader’s imprisonment. It seems Tony’s getting less and less popular by the minute… and it somewhat blows up in his face.
On home turf, there’s also trouble. He may have moved back in with his long-suffering wife Carmella, but his kids – now grown up – are suddenly experiencing the negative aspects [and for A.J, the pressure to live up to the name] of being the children of a mobster. Of course, still there to listen to all of his troubles is Tony’s therapist, Dr. Melfi.
The acting is still amazing (Gandolfini is just so frickin’ captivating in this); the writing is still solid; and the storylines still hook. Something’s definitely not right here.
The DVD includes select episode commentaries.
Rating : 
Reviewer : Clint Morris
