The new season started last night...what are your thoughts on the first show?
I think If all of them end with a surprise like that, we're in for a good season.

I have really enjoyed this season so far. I was happy to see that the show returned to it's usual fare, as the "stolen identity" subplot was so frustrating to watch. I kept waiting for Tony to get a call from his wife saying she was coming to pick him up with a copy of his driver's license! Glad to see our Tony back on his feet. Last night's episode was a good one, Tony is back in charge and everybody knows it. I'm glad to see Vito get caught, he deserved it with the way he's been treating Finn for so long.

I wanted to add something about the identity subplot. I loved it. It showed so many aspects of subconscious. Tony's inner desire to have led a different life, his in ability to show who is really is in his daily life, frustration over not being allowed to get back to his family. Lastly, seeing all the folks who'd crossed over already. Very neat!

Surprising to see Adrianna not appear in Tony's other-world. Considering he was behind her "disappearance" you'd have thought she'd pop up. I was breathless when I saw her speaking with Carmela in the first episode, only to learn it was a dream. I really liked her and miss her character. Who knows, maybe Sylvio let her go....they never showed her body.

As for last night, I was surprised to see Tony beat up his own bodyguard. Although after the things that were said about Johnny Sack at Allegra's wedding, it gave Tony time to evaluate that he was heading down the same path. Poor muscular guy took a beat-down so that Tony could regain his powerhouse status. Again, a great episode in my opinion.

I think Adrianna did not appear because she is not dead. That is just a guess, I have no real reason to believe they let her go.

I knew Tony was going to kick his bodyguard's butt. But the puking, was that from pain OR his own disgust at what he had to do??? Hmmm... LOL

Great season, the best so far, in my opinion!

Anyone watch Big Love?

I think that Adrianna is still alive too, but that's just my wishful thinking.

Tony was sizing up everyone in the room because he saw how everyone reacted to Johnny Sack crying at the wedding. Funny how they disparage Johnny to each other but cover for him to others! Considering how Tony faltered at the metal detector at the church he could only assume that the same things were being said about him. His own therapist told him that others will only see what you let them see so he decided he needed to remind his crew that he was still in charge. By looking around the room he felt picking a fight with his body guard was the way to go, despite the fact that he liked the guy. Puking was probably just his subconscious getting the better of him.

I think Big Love looks like a good show but I'll get too interested and I am planning on moving to a place where there's no HBO so I don't want to start something I can't finish. I know I'll miss the Sopranos, but I'm already invested in that show.

Tony definitely thought everybody was thinking he was weak. The fall at the metal detecter, the conversation about bench pressing with his bodyguard, his surprise about the guy being able to lift his mother out of the tub (don't know his name...during the poker game)and Tony mentioned that he lost muscle mass in the hospital instead of fat. Tony was thinking everyone was stronger than him. He had to prove oit to himself and everyone else.
I'm pretty sure Adrianna is dead, but I do miss her.
One thing I don't get about the dream/coma sequences was the importance of the name Kevin Finnerty....where did that come from?
I was little disappointed in Silvio when Tony was in the hospital. I always thought he could step up and run things if needed. Not being able to make a decision and having an asthma attack isn't good for him.

It's odd to hear "The Three Bells" by the Browns twice on the show, it's a sappy pop/gospel story song from the '50s they played with Vito on the screen. I've been thinking of the significance, his presence makes it sound very creepy. I suspect he's on the lam for a while, will people actively hunt him down?
I'm sure Adrianna is gone, Silvio might do things his way once in a while but he wouldn't allow her to flee if it harmed the crew. It was telling that Tony had no qualms about taking her out, I know he can be cold and ruthless especially to snitches but I was surprised by how much.

I do not think Adrianna is dead. I am usually wrong LOL, but it's my gut feeling.

Now, IF Tony had no qualms about whacking her, I can see why. She was a traitor in his eyes, no further thing needed to know. But, honestly, he did not want to do it. He may have easily decided he had no choice (like kicking butt on the hot headed bodyguard), but he didn't like it any more than whacking Tony B. He HAD to, but hated it.

As for old Silvio, no he'd never let her go. If he did, Tony told him to do it. What I think the real scenario was then and is now, was David Chase was not sure what to do with her. He left her disappearance a mystery, in case he wanted her back. I'd not be surprised at all to see her back, or hear of her being alive, in those last 8 episodes coming next winter.

Here's to hoping for as many surprises and plot twists as possible for this final season!


A comment about the "dream" and Kevin Finnerty- I read some people saying they thought Tony was in purgatory. I am not sure if that is the same place as Limbo, but if so, I say yes. Tony was in the in-between place before crossing over. Meadow's voice brought him back, as he seemed ready to transition. I did some searching to see if the name Kevin Finnerty had any special secret meaning, but couldn't find any evidence of such. It may just be a name to reflect how average Tony wanted to be in life, as not to have all the weight of the family on him.
Chase swears the wife's voice was no one special... but I don't know. Remember the "test dream"? It made Tony accept his role in ending Tony B, maybe the coma dream had secret meanings as well. I hope so, I love secret meanings. It's why I am addicted to Lost!

*Wendy

I thought his wife's voice sounded like Charmaine Bucco - Artie's wife.
Tony is attracted to her and I think they dated back in high school.
Lots of people dislike the dream episodes, but I think they're interesting and tell a lot about the characters. It's a nice break from all the whacking, they can't have a killing spree every week.

I've always enjoyed character development (I'm a big Lost fan too) but the Kevin Finnerty sub-plot was starting to wear thin for me. Okay, we get it, he lost his briefcase and ended up with another man's. Maybe his life would have been better if he married someone else and sold air conditioners for a living. But even Kevin Finnerty had his problems and for some reason Kevin Finnerty wanted to be Tony Soprano, even if for only a few weeks.

I did become more interested when the spiritual things would pop up - like the light shining in the distance and the "family reunion" at the house. Other than that I just wanted Tony back. Tony will always have struggles of faith and conscience, that's what makes him such a complex man. He has an unpleasant job that affords him a good life, even if it means having to look over his shoulder to have it. I foresee AJ becoming like his dad just because he seems to have the right temperament, while Meadow will live the life he yearns for, a good job that comes from working hard to earn it.

I note that Tony beat up his driver because of advice from his therapist.
She told him to "act as if you're not vulnerable".

I loved the subplot myself. I was disappointed when it ended, but knew it had to.

I love that Tony took Melfi's advice. He stood there and sized up all the men in the room, and he knew the big bodyguard was the only one for sure that would fight back.

I also thought it was Artie's wife's voice the entire time. But, Chase swears it was "no one you know". Whatever, sure, OK!

I rewatched the last episode last night and I'm wondering what everyon'e opinion is on something. Vito made sure he had his gun with him when he went to the motel and called Silvio. Is it to use on himself or to come out blazing if Tony and crew come looking for him?
How do you think it will go down?

Maybe he is in hiding so that the crew doesn't know where to find him, it's a thought. But in light of another suicide in the group it seemed he brought it to use on himself. He made it a point to tell Sylvio to call him on his cell perhaps in an effort to use the time away from home to decide if he really wanted to end his life. Maybe he doesn't want his wife and kids to have to see him at this stage? Or maybe he doesn't want his wife to have to clean up after him if he does off himself.

I thought that Vito went to the motel to wait and see if the news of his homosexuality, and being at a gay bar, leaked out, and, if it did, then he'd blow his brains out. He doesn't want anyone to know where he is, that's why he's using his cell phone. I think he's trying to avoid facing his family and may want to spare them the experience of finding him if that happens.

I just love this season. The recurring themes of family betrayal and identity are wonderfully intriguing. They are tapping some basic existential and psychological issues in a very creative way.
It's not just Tony who may be questioning his identity, even Paulie Walnuts is no longer sure who he is since finding out that the person he believed was his mother is really his aunt (another family betrayal). And Meadow's likely in for a surprise about her boyfriend's identity too. And Carmela finally admitted her own amorality when she confessed to Dr Melfi that she always knew about Tony's lifestyle, and apparently doesn't mind ("There are worse criminals than my husband"). Do we really know who we are? Who others really are? Are we really very different from what we pretend to be? I find this stuff fascinating.

And the acting, all around, has really been superb. It's always good, but this season it's truly great.

Some interesting thoughts, chelseabelle.
You mean Meadow's boyfriend Finn? Do you think he's hiding something about his identity??

I think I used the wrong word idler, I didn't mean "identity" in referring to Finn. I think I really meant "character".

I don't think Finn wants to marry Meadow. I think he's engaged to her because he wants some protection from Vito, since he also knows that Vito's gay. Being engaged to Tony's daughter gives him some security. But, he was supposed to be buying an engagement ring for Meadow from his graduation money, and I don't see any ring on Meadow's finger. I don't think Finn really wants to be any part of this family. So, he is engaging in a pretense right now.

It was Vito who whacked Meadow's other boyfriend, and, if Tony (or Meadow) finds out that Finn's proposal wasn't sincere, Finn's days may be numbered. When Vito rubbed Finn's arm in the hospital corridor, he reminded Finn he wasn't safe from him. Depending on what happens next, he might not be safe from Meadow or Tony either.

Tony would probably like to see Meadow married, and in a nice, secure, bland, lifestyle not connected to the mob at all, producing his grandchildren. But Meadow's already dragged Finn into the mob scene by getting him the job at the construction site so he could be around her that summer, and then he saw Vito in a gay sex act.

In his comatose dream, Tony was in California (where Finn lives), and his identity was confused with that of a man named FINNerty. And it was Meadow who called him back from going through that door to the Finnerty family reunion (and death). I'm not sure what that all meant, but I think that, at some point soon, Tony will fully realize that the only thing ahead of him is either death or life in prison. It may be that when he understands the full effect of his lifestyle on his children (including whatever happens with Meadow and Finn), that he will do something quite dramatic to alter his life.

I like your tie in with Tony's dream and Finn. Sounds good!

But, as for Vito, no I have another thought. One thing, I think Vito knows Finn is gay OR is using an implied rape threat to scare him quiet. I don't think Finn wanted to marry Meadow out of protection, and I really do not think Finn and Meadow are ready to marry at all.
Vito whacked the other guy because he was a danger to their entire organization. He was useless and irresponsible. I don't think it had anything to do with Meadow, and I think Finn's safe even if they call of their engagement.

But, we'll see...

Some interesting thoughts here.
Finn's weak and can't make decisions, that really infuriated Meadow who likes strong men like her father. To alleviate Meadow, in his confusion he proposed to her and she was too overwhelmed to know better. When she didn't believe him when Finn said Vito approached him shows how self centred she is.
It looks like Finn is safe from Vito now that other people will find out his secret.