... wedged between the story arcs of seasons 1-3 and seasons 5-6. Some of that may have been the long delay between seasons three and four, and some of it may have been the show trying to find itself in the wake of September 11 since the setting is in such close proximity to the tragedy. In true Sopranos style, however, Season Four went out with a bang.
Everything that's been simmering in the Soprano marriage for four seasons comes out in this one. Carmela's resentment of Tony's cheating and her loneliness. Tony's resentment of Carmela's materialism. This is excellent acting by James Gandolfini and Edie Falco. And when you are so busy processing the raw emotions of the disintegration of a marriage that you don't notice the director is even there, that is a sure sign of said director's success. And just because you are grown - Meadow - or almost grown - AJ - doesn't mean that your parents splitting up doesn't shake you to the core, eliminating something that you thought you could count on. That is realistically stressed here.
But even this episode has its light side. Tony Soprano wants out of a real estate deal and you think you are just going to keep his deposit? And threaten him with legal action? Seriously? Apparently Tony did go to college for a semester and a half - or maybe he just really understands what makes people tick - because he obviously does understand psychology.
Everything that's been simmering in the Soprano marriage for four seasons comes out in this one. Carmela's resentment of Tony's cheating and her loneliness. Tony's resentment of Carmela's materialism. This is excellent acting by James Gandolfini and Edie Falco. And when you are so busy processing the raw emotions of the disintegration of a marriage that you don't notice the director is even there, that is a sure sign of said director's success. And just because you are grown - Meadow - or almost grown - AJ - doesn't mean that your parents splitting up doesn't shake you to the core, eliminating something that you thought you could count on. That is realistically stressed here.
But even this episode has its light side. Tony Soprano wants out of a real estate deal and you think you are just going to keep his deposit? And threaten him with legal action? Seriously? Apparently Tony did go to college for a semester and a half - or maybe he just really understands what makes people tick - because he obviously does understand psychology.