I didn't care at all for tonight's episode. One of my least favorites in the show's history, right up there with the Columbus Day episode and the one with the creepy JFK/Papa Soprano's girlfriend. The episode was too preachy (New Age Hollywood Buddhist preachy), and riddled with stereotypes. I didn't see who wrote it, but it wouldn't have surprised me if Imperioli wrote it, because the last episode that had characters talking according to stereotype (HMO person, the rappers, the easy target creationist, the "enlightened" scientist who acted as the "voice" for the episode), was the Columbus Day one that he scripted.
Has Oliver Stone or Scorsese gotten to David Chase's ear? The valoration of an old Ojibwe saying reeks of pretentious and desperate anti-Western Civilization identification. What's next, a close up of an eskimo shedding a tear when Tony kills someone in the next couple of episodes? Why not an episode thematically built around a phrase from one of John Locke's works, or Friedrich Hayek's, or Roger Bacon's, you know, authors/philosophers whose views of the world have been validated time and time again--instead of this sanctimonious Rouseau-ian valoration of the "noble savage"? Ah, because the Zinnchomskys of the world would call you a fascist if you did that.
He had many funny lines. How about his advice to Jason ("Effen Momma's Boy) Barone? - "There's allot to things to take into account. Do you even know what JA-EBITDA is (A-mor-tiz-ation).
Paulie let Tony know who his father was in a colorful way ("That C*** Suck*r GI named Russ). He told his mom (aunt) that she is the "goose with the golden eggs". He mentioned he got her the massage chair from "Sharpers Image" and that he paid 2 grand for the flat screen TV for "a woman I don't even know".
Did you catch "Nurse Bruce" inform Carmella she had a phone call?
I thought the message Schwinn (Hal Holbrook) preached (dichotomy does not exist) was brought out visually by Chase at the end of the episode, with panoramic views of the wind passing through the trees crossing between good and evil.
Look for more about Johnny Sack and the two Muslims next week.
One of my least favorite episodes also.
Way to preachy. I don't tune in to Sopranos to be
lectured to by lib writers.
I'm a newcomer to the Soprano soap - since last fall watching the last season before it went off the air - so I am not familiar with all the past episodes. You point out a theme developed around Hayek...Certainly the economic essence of the families would not be appreciated by Hayek...this proto-capitalistic bunch seek to control sectors of the economy much like the guilds did in the middle ages. Far easier to delve into mysticism and the angst of the post modern world and its effects on these primitive creatures.
I appreciate (at least so far) the intricacies of plot of the show...it captures the tragico-comedic flair of the gangster genre and it's just plain fun watching some really fine actors doing their stuff.
So far, this season does not contain the magic of the past IMO. I admire the chutzpa of the writers inserting the born again minister and his interactions with Tony mentioning Colson...that was intriguing. it was as respectful as it can get on HBO. I agree with the "rapper" bit - that was so awful and pandering to what? an expanded audience? And the enlightened scientist---I got that differently from you. He seemed to be talking gibberish most of the time...and was juxtaposed to the pastor's born again rap. I guess Tony is supposed to be the intermediary between the 2 xtremes...LOL.
You have to wonder what is happening with the writing staff. Trying to appeal to everybody it appears.