News > TW RECAP: The Sopranos 4-8-07
April 9, 2007
Well, so begins the beginning of the end. And, so far, so good. Without giving away any "spoilers," I can say the season started out with one of the better written episodes of the last three seasons. The writers managed to do what they're paid to do--balance a show about a violent mob boss with metaphysical and philosophical questions and meditations on growing old. So, good job.
Spoilers ahead.
K, so first off, AJ is starting to get on my nerves. I mean, he's been getting the collective "Soprano" fans' nerves since day one. He's a twat, that's his role. But they gave the punk an insanely hot Dominican girlfriend, which is maddening, and then they insinuate that he gets regular sex with said girlfriend (there's a scene in the middle of the episode where the two are embracing in AJ's parents' bed and he's like "Remind me to clean the sheets before my mom and dad get home." Ewwww). If all it took for Vito to get killed was being spotted with a guy with nipple clamps, AJ should have a head pumped full of lead two seasons ago. Sure, it'd be on some cliched "Godfather" rip off move, but he's a bitch and people will understand (if not cheer) his death.
Moving on...the episode mostly took place at Bobby and Janice's lake home, where the two of them and Tony and Carm celebrate Tony's 47th birthday. The episode burns about 10 minutes of footage on the four of them attempting to act like normal middle aged people. There's a scene where Tony and Bobby discuss the fact that Bobby's never popped his "killing someone" cherry, which Tony uncharacteristically (but genuinely) counts as a blessing.
Things continue moving slowly for a while (which obviously had me hitting the morphine button...did I mention I'm writing this from the hospital? Naw just kidding) but during a game of Monopoly (which follows after a rousingly embarrassing round of Carmella singing Karaoke), Tony starts berating his sister Janice and makes fun of the fact that she's a slut. To counter, Janice brings up a funny story about how Tony's dad was so pissed off at some lady he was giving a ride to that he pulled out his gun and shot her...straight through her beehive hairdo.
Tony's a bit pissed and starts singing his own version of the golden oldie "Under The Boardwalk," with his lyrics telling the exploits of his sister servicing dudes . This prompts Bobby to warn Tony to watch it...Tony keeps singing his song, which prompts Bobby to kick Tony's fat ass.
Bobby totally destroys Tony for most of their fight, pausing briefly when he realizes how stupid he's being, but then regaining his rage and returning to the brouhaha. Tony for all intents and purposes gets knocked the fuck out, bloody as hell. Oops!
At like 4 AM Tony wakes up, stumbles into Jancie and Bobby's room and...no, doesn't whack his sister and brother in law. He blurts out "You won fair and square" and stumbles back to bed.
The next day Tony's bruised like my mom on St. Patty's day and in a bad mood but he and Bobby have business a bit north of where they're at with some sheisty Canadians. Apparently these two dick head french canadians want to sell Tony expired canadian meds for resale in the states. Tony wants a lower price and after a bit of chit chatting it turns out one of the Canadians needs some dick head guy whacked up in Canada town, or something.
Tony gets his "ate the canary" grin of course and says he thinks he can be of help, which of course leads to a scene where Bobby goes up to Canada and whacks the guy...he first shoots the dude, who is struggling, then goes up close and pops him through the brain, aka the murder cherry. Yikes, Tony ruins another good man.
Now what's interesting is that Bobby's act of defending his wife, in the olden days of Omerta, would've been applauded. And Tony and his henchmen are always belly aching about how they miss the good old days. But obviously Tony is as prone as the next man to take advantage of his situation. So, like I said, the episode worked on many levels, had a great plot-line that actually moved the entire "Sopranos" story-line along (not like that ep. last season where Christopher spent the whole time stealing gift bags from Ben Kingsley but then ended up not stealing gift bags).
Next week's episode looks like it'll suck, so I'll just take comfort in this one.
