The Sopranos

To be frank, the reason I've been silent all these days has been cable. My cable connection has not been restored after the hurricane. Therefore, no cable connection at home. But this has also meant I have no TV either. Supposedly we will be getting cable back by the end of next week close to the 22nd of September. *Keeping fingers crossed about that*.

Either way the point I was making is that now since there is no TV I've been watching the Sopranos right from the beginning since I've never actually watched it except for a few minutes here and there. I've just finished season 4 after a marathon viewing over the past few days. To be honest the show has lost its lustre after the end of Season 3. Season 4 just does not seem to have the same energy and fast-paced story-telling that was so compelling in the previous season. It was dour and the finale was a sad but fitting end to the season with Carmela breaking up with Tony. Though it seemed rather sudden and slightly surprising in my opinion.

What made the previous seasons so great was the understated tension between the two. They were always on the verge of blowing up at each other but just held back and then the many poignant moments where they would be staring at each other across the table or the kitchen without speaking a single word. I absolutely loved those moments. Now, with open hostility and the introduction of new wiseguys at the beginning of season 5 it just seems like we are going back to a dour, un-interesting, stereotypical portrayal of a mob (or a glorified crew as Carmine likes to say!).

I've just watched the 1st 3 episodes of season 5 and they are not doing any better at all. Although I do like the dementia that Carrado is experiencing and the introduction of Steve Buscemi as Tony B sounds interesting. It will all depend on where they will take the character. Please don't spoil it for me I will finish watching the rest of the season this weekend and then we can have a loud, begrudging discussion about the story. I seriously, hope they are going to do some good writing for the 6th and 7th seasons they have announced. If it'll be more of the same my interest will plummet very soon.