The main viewing was a catch up on the Sopranos which I hope to cover before departure. As the series has progressed into its penultimate series the violent departure of Tony’s closest allies continued coupled with the disintegration of his family life. The fourth episode of the season commenced with the elimination of the New York couple caught up the war between the three rivals trying to take control of the Carmine crime family interests
The fate of Tony’s wife Carmela was much to the fore as she decided she no longer wished to cope with her son A.J ( Anthony Junior) and then embark on an affair she has previously verged at the brink, with a Priest, and two associates, the last being Furio who Tony is now having Italy scoured to bring retribution for having dared to fancy his wife. Carmela’s problem remains that of Catholic guilt and living off the proceeds of violent crime together with living with a man who has regular sex with the girls at the strip club and also attempts less clinical relationships with any woman who takes his fancy and reciprocates interest. About the only thing in favour of Tony is that he is not violent towards women, surprising given the way his mother treated him.
Son AJ continues to show all the signs of following his father and has become your average teenage scumbag, lying, cheating, make use of everyone to further his interests. This time in All Happy Families he is told to go and stay with his sister after a concert in New York City and not with his friends in a city hotel. Meadow is not enthusiastic as she is with her boyfriend so when AJ telephones to make excuse she covers for him and he and his mates get drunk and do drugs with the outcome that he wakes up with his face stuck to the carpet and his eyebrows shave off. When he uses the F word she decides to pack him off to Tony.
Having got Meadow into college she has the same ambitions for A.J who shows every indication of having no ability or interest. When his grades are below the minimum requirements for entry the parents are summoned to the Principal of the High School and he and Carmela have an instant sexual attraction so she accepts an invitation for a private lunch and later dinner.
Being Carmela she discusses her growing carnal desire with the latest priest who understandably advises against sin and suggests they talk the situation over with Tony. She cannot accept the strictures drawing attention that to her husband’s continuing infidelities in addition to his criminal activities which she feels are being sanctioned by the church.
A passionate sexual relationship develops in episode six of the season, Sentimental Education, in which the Principal leans on the Grade’s Director to fix it so that AG gets the minimum required. Understandably the Principal feels guilty about allowing his sexual passion to override his professional integrity and when Carmela begins to exert more pressure this time on helping to get AJ into a good college, he snaps and breaks off the relationship. Carmela who had briefly warned him about the implications of a relationship if Tony found out does not take the rejection well and utters a threatening warning.
Meanwhile AJ has quickly tired of being with Tony and pleads with his mother to return home. Earlier Tony has bought AJ the latest four wheel drive jeep vehicle built like a tank after hearing that a couple of kids from the High School were killed joy riding. AJ is told he can take the car out once and then it will remain in the garage with his mother holding the keys until he improves his grades. AJ’s solution is to cheat.
Tony is not coping well without a regular woman and he sends Dr Melfi a large basket of toiletries suggesting he wants to return as her patient. She discusses the development with her therapist and he suggest Tony is attempting a cleansing so as to start again. She is upset because the letter with the delivery indicates that he continues to blame her for what happened. He eventually apologies, profusely, and she takes him back as a patient where he admits his attraction to Christopher’s woman Adriana.
What I had no appreciated before is that her club is located in New York City and which perhaps explain why Tony and his crew use the office at the club to conduct meetings and other business under the misguided belief that as Adriana has no criminal previous the Feds would not be interested in her and therefore in them meeting there. It was when Tony and his crew were using the office for a private Poker game that attention of the group is focussed on what a desirable creature is Adriana. When Tony arrives one evening to use the office she is taking a snort of cocaine and invites Tony to join her. They talk and she admits she wishes he had been her father because of his kindness and understanding
Dr Melfi is pleased when Tony talks of his attraction before getting involved which she tells him is a sign of growing insight and maturity. As when Carmela discusses her situation with the priest and others she lists all the arguments against involvement but is seeking permission and approval. In Tony’s instance he subsequently makes his way to the club late evening bumping into his daughter Meadow who is there with boyfriend and other college friends who comment about her father’s commitment having said he has an office in the building (episode Irregular Around the Margins.)
Adriana is pleased to see him and expresses the wish that she could do a line of cocaine and Tony says he is not adverse so he drives her to her family home neighbourhood when she knows someone who can supply them. There is every indication given the lateness of the hour that a physical relationship is also on the agenda, However they have a major accident and while Tony escapes without a scratch she is badly bruised on her face and neck caused by the car seat belt. However that Tony was not injured but she was, becomes the immediate cause for gossip that she had been going down to him while he was driving. Just about everyone is laughing at the concept.
By coincidence Christopher had been sent away overnight on a job for Tony and when he returns he quickly learns of what is being said and goes ballistic. He collects the injured Adriana from the hospital and then beats her up and goes looking for Tony. In truth Adriana was being nice to Tony under pressure from the Feds to find out what he and his crew were using the Club for. She had also been suffering from irritable bowel syndrome brought on by stress which had not helped with her sexual and general relations with Christopher. She had become vulnerable and open to anyone paying her nice attentions, something which Tony has capability.
When Christopher goes for Tony the crew take him to a deserted spot with the intention of whacking him however Christopher reluctantly accept the explanation. They hijack the emergency doctor when he is coming off shift in order to convince Tony further. He takes his cousin, the one training to become a professional masseur who gets the doctor to admit that the injuries were consistent with those from a car seat belt. In order to cement the understanding Tony takes Carmela, Christopher Adriana, and a couple of others out for meal at a result where other crew members including the principal gossip, a fellow captain are also having a meal by prior arrangement. The gossip comes over to greet Tony’s party and he and Christopher shake hands. However there is every indication that bridges have been burnt, the die has been cast, etc.
My immediate memory is of two other stories. Tony is increasingly irritated by the behaviour of released from prison crime boss Feech La Manna who is always dominating conversation with tales of his past exploits. Because of his improved insight and a comment by Carmela Tony has been alerted that his crew humour him because he is the boss and they are afraid of they can do. She feels this is the same of the wives towards her. This is partly why she feels isolated and hankers for a meaningful relationship.
In addition to the garden work incident Feech does a deal with Johnny Sacks, the former New York Underboss who is part of the three way fight for control of the Carmine family interests. The daughter of the Jewish doctor and gambling group member is marrying and at the wedding Feech and his crew bring a car transporter and their weapons and load up the most expensive cars in the pound. The doctor appeals to Tony to find out those responsible and if he can rescue the vehicles. When Feech is summoned he brings Tony a cut saying that he got a better deal from Johnny than Tony would have offered using his joint operation with the Russians and Sicilians.
Tony discusses the situation with his associates and decides that he will not make the same mistake as before in giving people chances and will nip the situation in the bud. His advisers suggest a different approach to whacking him. Christopher calls one day on Feech to bring a bespoke suit he had promised. They are invited to drink wine with peaches but Christopher explains that they have to take some hot large flat screen TV’s to a garage. Feech cannot resist rising to the bait and offers them the use of his own garage lock up for a fee. His Parole officer supervisor arrives having been tipped off and demands to see inside his garage. We see Feech on his way from court back to prison where presumably he will now have a further long stretch to complete his originals sentence and contemplate revenge.
The other story also concerns another of the parolee’s, Tony’s cousin. He works hard at the Chinese Laundry and at gaining his professional Masseurs certificate. His boss is impressed with his effort that he offers to set him with his own business. His wife is delighted with his rehabilitation and in the first episode the couple with their two sons are invited to use the pool at the former Family home of Tony and Carmela although he is present for the event. Their new life is short lived. Tony the cousin finds $12000 and starts to gamble heavily at night as well as working to prepare the premises owned by his former boss and now partner. When the couple row and the partner visits Tony’s anger spills over and he beats the man up thus ending the relationship. In the final scene we see him meeting with boss Tony asking if the job Tony had mentioned with the crew is still open.
The fate of Tony’s wife Carmela was much to the fore as she decided she no longer wished to cope with her son A.J ( Anthony Junior) and then embark on an affair she has previously verged at the brink, with a Priest, and two associates, the last being Furio who Tony is now having Italy scoured to bring retribution for having dared to fancy his wife. Carmela’s problem remains that of Catholic guilt and living off the proceeds of violent crime together with living with a man who has regular sex with the girls at the strip club and also attempts less clinical relationships with any woman who takes his fancy and reciprocates interest. About the only thing in favour of Tony is that he is not violent towards women, surprising given the way his mother treated him.
Son AJ continues to show all the signs of following his father and has become your average teenage scumbag, lying, cheating, make use of everyone to further his interests. This time in All Happy Families he is told to go and stay with his sister after a concert in New York City and not with his friends in a city hotel. Meadow is not enthusiastic as she is with her boyfriend so when AJ telephones to make excuse she covers for him and he and his mates get drunk and do drugs with the outcome that he wakes up with his face stuck to the carpet and his eyebrows shave off. When he uses the F word she decides to pack him off to Tony.
Having got Meadow into college she has the same ambitions for A.J who shows every indication of having no ability or interest. When his grades are below the minimum requirements for entry the parents are summoned to the Principal of the High School and he and Carmela have an instant sexual attraction so she accepts an invitation for a private lunch and later dinner.
Being Carmela she discusses her growing carnal desire with the latest priest who understandably advises against sin and suggests they talk the situation over with Tony. She cannot accept the strictures drawing attention that to her husband’s continuing infidelities in addition to his criminal activities which she feels are being sanctioned by the church.
A passionate sexual relationship develops in episode six of the season, Sentimental Education, in which the Principal leans on the Grade’s Director to fix it so that AG gets the minimum required. Understandably the Principal feels guilty about allowing his sexual passion to override his professional integrity and when Carmela begins to exert more pressure this time on helping to get AJ into a good college, he snaps and breaks off the relationship. Carmela who had briefly warned him about the implications of a relationship if Tony found out does not take the rejection well and utters a threatening warning.
Meanwhile AJ has quickly tired of being with Tony and pleads with his mother to return home. Earlier Tony has bought AJ the latest four wheel drive jeep vehicle built like a tank after hearing that a couple of kids from the High School were killed joy riding. AJ is told he can take the car out once and then it will remain in the garage with his mother holding the keys until he improves his grades. AJ’s solution is to cheat.
Tony is not coping well without a regular woman and he sends Dr Melfi a large basket of toiletries suggesting he wants to return as her patient. She discusses the development with her therapist and he suggest Tony is attempting a cleansing so as to start again. She is upset because the letter with the delivery indicates that he continues to blame her for what happened. He eventually apologies, profusely, and she takes him back as a patient where he admits his attraction to Christopher’s woman Adriana.
What I had no appreciated before is that her club is located in New York City and which perhaps explain why Tony and his crew use the office at the club to conduct meetings and other business under the misguided belief that as Adriana has no criminal previous the Feds would not be interested in her and therefore in them meeting there. It was when Tony and his crew were using the office for a private Poker game that attention of the group is focussed on what a desirable creature is Adriana. When Tony arrives one evening to use the office she is taking a snort of cocaine and invites Tony to join her. They talk and she admits she wishes he had been her father because of his kindness and understanding
Dr Melfi is pleased when Tony talks of his attraction before getting involved which she tells him is a sign of growing insight and maturity. As when Carmela discusses her situation with the priest and others she lists all the arguments against involvement but is seeking permission and approval. In Tony’s instance he subsequently makes his way to the club late evening bumping into his daughter Meadow who is there with boyfriend and other college friends who comment about her father’s commitment having said he has an office in the building (episode Irregular Around the Margins.)
Adriana is pleased to see him and expresses the wish that she could do a line of cocaine and Tony says he is not adverse so he drives her to her family home neighbourhood when she knows someone who can supply them. There is every indication given the lateness of the hour that a physical relationship is also on the agenda, However they have a major accident and while Tony escapes without a scratch she is badly bruised on her face and neck caused by the car seat belt. However that Tony was not injured but she was, becomes the immediate cause for gossip that she had been going down to him while he was driving. Just about everyone is laughing at the concept.
By coincidence Christopher had been sent away overnight on a job for Tony and when he returns he quickly learns of what is being said and goes ballistic. He collects the injured Adriana from the hospital and then beats her up and goes looking for Tony. In truth Adriana was being nice to Tony under pressure from the Feds to find out what he and his crew were using the Club for. She had also been suffering from irritable bowel syndrome brought on by stress which had not helped with her sexual and general relations with Christopher. She had become vulnerable and open to anyone paying her nice attentions, something which Tony has capability.
When Christopher goes for Tony the crew take him to a deserted spot with the intention of whacking him however Christopher reluctantly accept the explanation. They hijack the emergency doctor when he is coming off shift in order to convince Tony further. He takes his cousin, the one training to become a professional masseur who gets the doctor to admit that the injuries were consistent with those from a car seat belt. In order to cement the understanding Tony takes Carmela, Christopher Adriana, and a couple of others out for meal at a result where other crew members including the principal gossip, a fellow captain are also having a meal by prior arrangement. The gossip comes over to greet Tony’s party and he and Christopher shake hands. However there is every indication that bridges have been burnt, the die has been cast, etc.
My immediate memory is of two other stories. Tony is increasingly irritated by the behaviour of released from prison crime boss Feech La Manna who is always dominating conversation with tales of his past exploits. Because of his improved insight and a comment by Carmela Tony has been alerted that his crew humour him because he is the boss and they are afraid of they can do. She feels this is the same of the wives towards her. This is partly why she feels isolated and hankers for a meaningful relationship.
In addition to the garden work incident Feech does a deal with Johnny Sacks, the former New York Underboss who is part of the three way fight for control of the Carmine family interests. The daughter of the Jewish doctor and gambling group member is marrying and at the wedding Feech and his crew bring a car transporter and their weapons and load up the most expensive cars in the pound. The doctor appeals to Tony to find out those responsible and if he can rescue the vehicles. When Feech is summoned he brings Tony a cut saying that he got a better deal from Johnny than Tony would have offered using his joint operation with the Russians and Sicilians.
Tony discusses the situation with his associates and decides that he will not make the same mistake as before in giving people chances and will nip the situation in the bud. His advisers suggest a different approach to whacking him. Christopher calls one day on Feech to bring a bespoke suit he had promised. They are invited to drink wine with peaches but Christopher explains that they have to take some hot large flat screen TV’s to a garage. Feech cannot resist rising to the bait and offers them the use of his own garage lock up for a fee. His Parole officer supervisor arrives having been tipped off and demands to see inside his garage. We see Feech on his way from court back to prison where presumably he will now have a further long stretch to complete his originals sentence and contemplate revenge.
The other story also concerns another of the parolee’s, Tony’s cousin. He works hard at the Chinese Laundry and at gaining his professional Masseurs certificate. His boss is impressed with his effort that he offers to set him with his own business. His wife is delighted with his rehabilitation and in the first episode the couple with their two sons are invited to use the pool at the former Family home of Tony and Carmela although he is present for the event. Their new life is short lived. Tony the cousin finds $12000 and starts to gamble heavily at night as well as working to prepare the premises owned by his former boss and now partner. When the couple row and the partner visits Tony’s anger spills over and he beats the man up thus ending the relationship. In the final scene we see him meeting with boss Tony asking if the job Tony had mentioned with the crew is still open.
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