Janice and the individualism theme. Janice too plays out the individualism theme. She's probably the most striking example because, frankly, she isn't much of a real person at all. She's constantly groping for a new religion to define who she is (in just the past season, she's been Hindu and born-again Christian). She never takes responsibility for her decisions. She's constantly asking Tony for money, and calling him to bail her out when she's in over her head - such as, say, when she's shot her boyfriend dead on the kitchen floor, or put herself in the crosshairs of the Russian mafia. Consequently, she's the most pathetic and irritating character in the series, and we're regularly waiting, hoping, for her to get knocked off.
The pending turf war. Paulie Walnuts is talking. He's dishing all that's going on within the Soprano family to Johnny Sack. Tony at this point is unsure where the leak's coming from, but notes that "It's costing me fucking money." Johnny Sack, meanwhile, is openly dissing Ralphie, still pissed about the joke Ralphie told about the "90 pound mole taken off" his wife's ass. Previews for next week indicate we'll soon see the first shots fired.
Uncle Junior's trial. The first Soprano on trial in 16 years. Uncle Junior could get life if convicted. He's still bitching about his legal bills. He's going to get even angrier when he learns that his nephew hung him out to dry on the parking garage in Newark, that's set to skyrocket in value once the surrounding waterfront is developed.
Furio. All the wives - most notably Carmela - continue to fawn over Furio. Carmela and Furio share yet another moment or two, this time over cookies and coffee. I suspect the writers are going to continue to tease us here, but that the act we'd all love to see will never actually happen.
Great lines:
"I wanna' talk about this new movement you're spearheading. No pun intended."
--Ralphie, attempting to intimidate a Native American activist.
"He was gay, Gary Cooper?"
--Christopher, in one of his few lines of the night, completely misinterpreting the point about role models that Tony's trying to make.
"...and this is my graduate TA..."
"I can see that."
--Ralphie, admiring the Native American activist/college professor's assistant, and hearing the abbreviation for "teaching assistant" as "T & A."
Article comments
1 - Ryan Olson
Great Lines: You missed one by Janice's Psychiatrist. I'm afraid I'll have to paraphrase now...
"You're just going to have to sit him down, and with the grace and compassion you're so famous for, tell him that it is over."
Ha!
2 - K.A. Hughes RA
A little early with this comment but I'm interested in what others might think anyway.
End of Season 5 - Does Tony "Find God" and enter Witness Protection or does he get knocked off by someone. In either case the show definitely ends with little hope of a sequel (Which is what Chase has said all along).
Any takers?
3 - Jackson Raegen
What I really thought was neat was the parallel that Chase drew between Carmella and Tony. If you watch carefully, you see how Carmella is treated by the other wives like Tony is with his crew. She gets a certain assumed status by virtue of her marriage (i.e. she is driven to and from the lunch, Silvio's wife stands up for her to the priest, she decides who will help out at the Bacala residence). It was subtle, but fun to watch.
4 - Tony Da Greek
Da whole t'ing is so racis'...I hates youse bigotistic bassads!
5 - Tony Da Greek
Da whole t'ing is so racis'...I hates youse bigotistic bassids!
6 - Tony Da Greek
Da whole t'ing is so racis'...I hates youse bigotistic bassids!
7 - Tony Da Greek
Da whole t'ing is so racis'...I hates youse bigotistic bassids!
8 - Tony Da Greek
Da whole t'ing is so racis'...I hates youse bigotistic bassids!
9 - Tony Da Greek
Da whole t'ing is so racis'...I hates youse bigotistic bassids!
10 - Tony Da Greek
Da whole t'ing is so racis'...I hates youse bigotistic bassids!
11 - Tony Da Greek
Da whole t'ing is so racis'...I hates youse bigotistic bassids!
12 - Tony
Sorry...I hit da button too many times...I never was good at mat'.
13 - ShoEZ
To the writers: thank you for this critical analysis. As a common viewer of the series, I often notice double meanings and subtleties that I cannot quite verbally define. Redaing your reviews help me to make sense of all the "extra" information and themes that seem to be cleverly hidden with most great works of art particularly, in this case, the Sopranos. Thanks and please keep up the good work.
14 - Luis E. Vargas
It would've certainly been a great twist in the story if Furio finally confessed his love to Carmella. I'm sure some excellent sub-stories could have originated from a confession like that. Moreover, it would've been great if Carmella just for a moment consented to fall on Furio's arms and for one time experience what her Tony does almost every week.
15 - John Taylor
The writer of this article is a closed-minded, opinionated, blanket-statement-throwing pinhead. Open your mind! One small example -- Janice isn't the most irritating character to EVERYONE by a long shot! Your personal issues continually creep into your writing. Why do you assume we're all waiting for her to get knocked off? You reveal more about yourself and your troubled thinking than you realize!
16 - Bobby Bracca
Who is this "Radley" person anyway? We'd ALL like to see "the act" take place between Furio and Carmela? Speak for yourself, pal! Yeeeeeeesh...
17 - joe
Hmmm. I think someone has a different take on your libertarian rant ;):