One of the few times Melfi's gotten really animated (outside of when Tony's physically threatened her) is when last season he accused her of judging him. "I've never judged your sex life!" Well, why the hell not? He's a grown man with two kids "sticking [his] dick into anything with a pulse," as Carmela puts it, including an obsessive Mercedes dealer who might have caused serious trouble had Tony not been in a position to threaten her with death.

Out of all the shrinks portrayed on the Sopranos, Dr. Kobler isn't the hardest one to buy as a character. Dr. Krakower is. You remember Dr. Krakower? Carmela goes to see him in Season Three, after marital therapy turns out to be a bust. Dr. Krakower hasnt adopted the cant typical of his profession; for him, the point isn't feeling good about yourself, feeling carefree--it's being a responsible adult. (He's also the character that comes closest to expressing Chase's views on Tony et al. Myles Kantor has the goods on this.) The dimunitive shrink tells Carmela to leave her criminal husband. Crying, she responds, "so, you're saying I should define my boundaries better, not internalize as much?"

Krakower: You're not listening. What did I say?

Dr. Krakower: Many patients want to be excused for their current predicament because of events that occurred in their childhood. That's what psychiatry has become in America. Visit any shopping mall or ethnic pride parade to witness the results.

On top of that, Krakower refuses her money. And Slate's Shrinks think Dr. Kobler is unbelievable?