The Sopranos last night was a bit of a letdown from the three preceding it; no mistake, it was better than half of season 5 and all of season 4, but something felt a bit off.
For one, it was simply too melodramatic. I loved seeing Paulie turn into a being of pure evil rage, but the mother plotline was mostly unbelievable. I know where they’re going with it – family lets you down, and the Family lets you down too – but that doesn’t mean I have to like it right now.
(The Barone kid plotline has a similar “family betrays” feel to it, and mostly just bored me).
The worst moment was easily “Take Your Son to the Trash Route Day.” A little much, non?
Enough great stuff to compensate and then some, though. Loved Hal Holbrook, even if his character seemed more What the #$*! Do We Know? than actual physicist. The contrast between him and the psycho-Christians worked for me, if only because I’m glad to see fundies openly mocked in the current cultural atmosphere (by the way? Fuck McCain). Last scene was beautiful, even if a little obviously symbolic.
Also worked, despite obvious symbolism: the dinosaur book, giving Christopher another fine chance to be a laugh-out-loud dumbass.
The Bobby and the Rapper subplot was a fine one-off, but it needs to end here.
Mostly, I really enjoyed the implication that Tony’s coma experience is giving him a new outlook on life and morality et cetera et al. His next scene with Melfi is going to be awesome.
And “One of These Days”? Best end-credits music choice ever.