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Sopranos = zzzzzzzz
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Posted by: DanB

Another boring episode for this season.

Posted by: mzgig

I agree, I thought the hour would never end.

Posted by: zaknafein

Third. This and The Shield are the only two shows I'm watching right now. Talk about night and day...

Posted by: TeeSee

The first two episodes have been weak by their standards but it's still one of the best shows on TV.

Since the thread isn't marked for spoilers...

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)
I liked how Adriana gave away her friend to the cop because she flirted with Chris. lol

Posted by: Mr. Soze

quote:
Originally posted by zaknafein
Third. This and The Shield are the only two shows I'm watching right now. Talk about night and day...

Fourth. The Sopranozzzzz is massively overrated. (Emperor's New Clothes Syndrome). I watch it, but it sort of washes over me, and at the end, I just seem to feel, well that was an OK episode. It has been a long time since it has been viscerally great. Somewhere I heard/read that Chase had only planned for one season, but HBO threw tons of money based on it's original success. That explains a lot.

OTOH, virtually every episode of the Shield leaves me wowwed.

Posted by: Rob Helmerichs

The thing with the Sopranos has always been that it starts slow, then builds through the season. Unfortunately, each season it seems to build a little less...

I hope this year, it builds a little more!

Posted by: sbourgeo

At least there was a good quote from Adriana's friend Tina:

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)

"Well, I have to wear fur on the outside on account of being bare everywhere else."

Steve

Posted by: Jon J

Loved the line about Judas and the

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)
Apostle Protection Program.

;)

Posted by: Redleg

I guess I don't see what's not to like. I enjoy a show with patient writing and real character development. Season four was a long, well-crafted setup for the separation, plus likely more things for this season.

These seem like real people with real relationships. They have ups and downs, they screw up and come around and it's all consistent with the characters from season one. Tony has grown, yet struggles with the same behavior as the first season (and its repercussions - a la Dr. Melfi). Carmela has finally grown into her own person, again inevitable given how she's been portrayed. Christopher has matured. Et cetera.

The show gets knocked for dangling storylines. To me, that's almost more realistic. Not everything in life gets tied up in a bow. Not everything has closure.

I guess I don't know what people wish the show was instead. More whacking? How many times can they introduce another Richie Aprile just to knock him off?

Posted by: cpalma

I understand what you're saying, but last night was a real snoozer. How long did that camera have to stay on Tony in his room while he stared into space. That scene lasted about 5 minutes too long.

This is how they write the show. Last season every show was a clue to what was going to happen later. The problem in this day and age of "gotta have it now", it dragged and dragged. The finale was super but they were lucky if people still watched to get there. It reminds me of LOTR and how they could have chopped off about 45 minutes there at the end. I was practically screaming towards the end with the big "ring" scene!

Posted by: ClutchBrake

quote:
Originally posted by Redleg
I guess I don't see what's not to like. I enjoy a show with patient writing and real character development.

If you want to see that done right watch The Wire. The Sopranos has nothing on The Wire in terms of character development and evolving storylines.

Posted by: Rob Helmerichs

quote:
Originally posted by ClutchBrake
If you want to see that done right watch The Wire. The Sopranos has nothing on The Wire in terms of character development and evolving storylines.

Although in its first two years, Sopranos was in the same league...

It will be interesting to see what The Wire is like in its fifth year.

Posted by: ClutchBrake

quote:
Originally posted by Medieval Guy
Although in its first two years, Sopranos was in the same league...

It will be interesting to see what The Wire is like in its fifth year.

I'd rather it die than become what The Sopranos has become.

Posted by: DanB

quote:
Originally posted by Redleg
I guess I don't see what's not to like. I enjoy a show with patient writing and real character development. Season four was a long, well-crafted setup for the separation, plus likely more things for this season.

Come now. Can you actually compare Sopranos season 1/2 to season 3+??

It feels like Sopranos jumped the shark.

It's getting more like a daytime soap than a cable show about mob guys.

Posted by: Redleg

Is it as exciting as the first season? No. But it's still excellent, movie-quality storytelling. The show definitely is more about the characters and relationships lately than good old fashioned mob movie action. To me, that adds to the realism a little; killing is an extreme measure, and every season only a couple people get whacked. Five years of constant killing would reflect a mob business in turmoil (like in the first season when Tony rose to power), and that's not the story. Tony & Co. run a pretty smooth, stable business operation. It's "normal" in its own completely despicable way.

All that aside, if you really don't think the characters have more depth or the stories have more craft than found in a daytime soap, we'll have to agree to disagree. :)

Posted by: mrpurple

I think its simply a matter of the pot simmering before it boils overs. They are adding a lot of new characters and they need to do background.

Posted by: Rob Helmerichs

quote:
Originally posted by mrpurple
I think its simply a matter of the pot simmering before it boils overs. They are adding a lot of new characters and they need to do background.

That's my hope. The last couple of seasons, however, just simmered a bit more vigorously in the end; they never really boiled over.

This might be one of those shows that just can't sustain; the energy level was too intense and edgy to be maintained, and it slipped down into a comfort zone, which for an edgy and intense show can be the kiss of death. The problem is, Tony's tantrums have become too, well, cute isn't the word, but they're nowhere near as menacing as they were in the beginning, simply because we've gotten to know him too well. I'm not sure, at the point, that the edge can be gotten back...

Posted by: Frank_M

Not to criticize anyone, but I do think that as the audience for the Sopronos built during seasons 1 & 2, a lot of fans came to it thinking it was something it was not - an action-packed violent mob drama.

In reality, it has always been a character driven piece, about life in and out of the mob. And the stories have always unfolded slowly over the course of the seasons. I suppose it seemed more "shocking" early on, as we didn't know what to expect from various characters.

Posted by: KRS

I disagree that is was "zzzzzzzz." I checked the time at 52 minutes and cursed aloud that the show was almost over.

Posted by: gregpr

I don't see it sleeping at all.

Riveting televison, there's so many un-finished plotlines it's hard to predict where the show will go.

"Do you put 2 coats on that? Grandpa Munster is gonna be mad you stole his haircut"

Posted by: pjenkins

I thought this episode was great, I don't understand the 'zzzzz' comments either, but to each their own!

I was a bit surprised in the direction they started Tony (the cousin) towards. And Tony S's reaction is classic Tony S.

Posted by: hookbill

I couldn't disagree more with the subject line. I was riveted throughout the entire show.

I would agree that the season premier was a let down, I was hoping for something more, but I felt this episode was strong.

Posted by: Sromkie

I also was very happy with this episode and don't agree with the "zzzzzzzz" comment. Yes, last season did move slower than the first few, but it had great writing and some really surprising moments. The way the characters are written make the situations so much more realistic and I think that creates a situation in which the viewer genuinely cares about the characters.

No, this season didn't start off explosive, but it doesn't need to be all about shootings. I am much more interested in some of the current story-lines than I would be in more shootings just for the sake of having more shootings.

Posted by: markp99

I watched the ep last night. I wasn;t hoping for too much based upon recent comments...but I actually liked it. More tension than action, but still entertaining.

Posted by: scottjf8

quote:
Originally posted by DanB
Another boring episode for this season.

Thanks for ruining it for those that havn't seen it yet with the subject like that..

Posted by: Marco

What did he ruin exactly? You can't watch and form your own opinion?

Posted by: scottjf8

If you have a show on your Tivo and someone says, basically, that is sucks, are you still going to run to watch it?

Posted by: Timbeau

I was surprised when the credits popped up, I didn't realize that the hour was over. Usually that signifies a good episode because I'm so engrossed. This episode left me with that "What, it ended? Nothing happened, how can this be the end?" The episode certainly held my interest throughout, but i was left unsatisfied.

I think Frank_M's comment about this not being an action packed drama is important to keep in mind lest we all end up wanting something the show won't deliver. Still though an interesting program has to deliver more than just everyday events even if they are the everyday events of mob people.

Posted by: Timbeau

quote:
Originally posted by scottjf8
If you have a show on your Tivo and someone says, basically, that is sucks, are you still going to run to watch it?

Yes, I would still watch it. There are many diverse opinions here and many people like stuff that I think is pure junk and vice versa.

Posted by: Timbeau

quote:
Originally posted by Redleg

I guess I don't know what people wish the show was instead. More whacking? How many times can they introduce another Richie Aprile just to knock him off?

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)
I think this is exactly what they are doing with Tony S's cousin. ??

Posted by: mishagray

quote:
Originally posted by scottjf8
If you have a show on your Tivo and someone says, basically, that is sucks, are you still going to run to watch it?

Jesus, you guys are critical! The episode was not filled with high tension action. Nobody's head was removed. (Is that a spoiler...?).

I did think that the first episode was stronger than this, but it could have just been that this is STILL one of the best damn things on TV.

A Soprano's episode at its worst is still better than most of the other stuff I record on my Tivo. And better than about 90% of the stuff on TV.

Posted by: Redleg

quote:
Originally posted by Timbeau
Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)
I think this is exactly what they are doing with Tony S's cousin. ??

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)
I'm afraid you're right, but I hope not. I think. There's certainly something dark looming there, issues from the past. Did Tony B somehow take the fall for Tony? Or did Tony set him up to save himself, unknown to Tony B? Or is it all more subtle than that, a jealousy/guilt thing that's bound to escalate? I'm looking forward to this storyline.

Posted by: Marco

quote:
Originally posted by scottjf8
If you have a show on your Tivo and someone says, basically, that is sucks, are you still going to run to watch it?

Sure. What the Eff do you people know? :D

Seriously ... if it's some new show, or something I've grown tired of, quite possibly not. But if it's a fixture in the Top Ten of my Season Pass list for years, I'm definitely still watching. In this case, even if one experiences suckage, there are plot points to keep up with.

Posted by: Bananfish

UNMARKED SPOILER ALERT!!!

REPEAT, UNMARKED SPOILER ALERT!!!

I don't need a bunch of whackings, but I do like when there are underhanded things going on that at least *potentially* have explosive consequences. E.g., Tony's mother and Junior betraying Tony. Paulie informing Johnny Sack about Ralphie's joke. Tony and Johnny Sack plotting to kill Carmine. The politician dating Tony's ex-goomba. Those things keep a viewer's tension and interest.

There just haven't been that many elements of that kind yet this season. Tony pursuing Melfi and setting up a regular job for Tony B. just don't get my blood roiling. I mean, there's been one killing and one other death already this season and they didn't build a single moment of dramatic tension up to either of them.

That said, I still have high hopes for the season ... there's a fight for control of Carmine's beat brewing and you don't bring in Buscemi unless you've got some big things planned for him.

bananfish

Posted by: midas

Any time there's an episode when Pauly gets picked at is a good episode. He's so ripe for making fodder of and his reactions are priceless.

Oh, and Adriana in the black underware! Seemed like a good show to me.

Posted by: Steveknj

I agree, the first two eps were snoozers, but, I think the potential is there for some great eps coming down the pike:

Battle for control of Carmine's family between his son and Sack
Tony B trying to stay straight (while tempted not to)
Carmela and Tony's divorce
Paulie and Chris turf battle
Chris trying to stay sober
Adriana finally either cracking or quitting being an informant.
Tony's pursuit of Melfi

And THOSE story lines exists after just the first two weeks!! Not going to spoil, but the bumper for next week looks like it could be potentially explosive.

Posted by: ybrew

I just watched this episode last night.

Not the best sopranos episode ever, but I still give it 2 thumbs up.

I really don't care for Tony's cousin too much - but I don't like the character he's playing yet. Hopefully that'll change.

Still, I'm glad I didn't listen to the folks here. Great episode!

Posted by: Hoffer

I must have thought it was OK. I was surprised that it was already over when the ending credits started rolling.

Posted by: dslunceford

quote:
Originally posted by Bananfish

There just haven't been that many elements of that kind yet this season.
bananfish

We're only two episode's in! Waddaya expect?

Posted by: zyzzx

My two main goals for this season are to see Tony D (Buscemi) raising hell in the family and Adriana snitch to the women in the family about the feds to raise more hell in the family. Oh, and I'd also like to see Christopher fall off the wagon to stir up more trouble in the family.

Give me lots of turmoil! :D