The genius of Chase in using metaphors was in the last episode with Butchie walking in Little Italy talking to Phil, only to realize he stepped into Chinatown. It showed how much the influence of the Italian Mafia had shrunk, and it’s as if they were too caught up in their own thing to even realize it.
In so many directions at once. I commented on the previous thread that The Sopranos will be studied in film schools for at least the next century. I'm someone who has read most of Shakespeare, and I found Chase's character studies riveting.