I thought tonight's episode was slightly not as good as last week's. Just by a bit. It wasn't as thrilling or heart pounding as last week's, but it opened and closed a lot of doors, and it was kind of anticlimactic in a way. But that's the thing I admired most about it, was that it was anticlimactic. I was talking to someone about The Sopranos, and they say they watch it for the shock value. But The Sopranos isn't about that. It is very realistic (from what reputed mobsters have said, along with F.B.I. specialists) and kind of like a splice of life. I admired it being kind of anti-climatic, because life isn't a soap opera. The bad guys don't always lose, and the good guys don't always win. Every detail isn't sewn up in a neat little package. A lot of people were ed the big war between The New Jersey Family and the New York Family didn't happen, but in reality, how often do those happen between modern organized crime families? Not really often, since the 1940s. I knew ever since Tony B. (Steve Buscemi) killed Philly Leotardo's brother, that one of the two was going to go. In tonight's episode when I found out Phil was a captain (a made guy who runs his own crew; a step up from being made), I knew Tony B. would die. W a captain from another and more powerful family would be the LAST mistake Tony Soprano would ever make. I thought it was very smart of Tony to kill Tony B. It was quick, painless, and Tony B. didn't have time to think about what was going on. I thought what Silvio told Tony was 110% right about the upcoming war with Johnny Sack having nothing to do with Tony's love for Tony B., but problem with authority (his problem with Johnny Sack ordering him around; commanding). Also what Dr. Melfi said to Tony was true, that his feelings for Tony B. don't spawn from love, but guilt and regret for Tony B. doing 20 years and not him. Tony B. was the best way to put any chance of a war to rest. Even though Johnny Sack was ed Tony killed Tony B., what is he going to do? Kill Tony B. again? No, the dispute will be solved involving money, not shed. Exactly what Tony Soprano can handle. And Phil Leotardo's ed off. So, who cares? He'll get over it. As for the ending of this episode, when Johnny Sack and Tony Soprano were discussing how to handle the situation above in the previous paragraph (well more then a paragraph, I just didn't really feel like dividing it), when those guys started to approach Johnny Sack's house, I thought for sure Johnny Sack set up an ambush for Tony Soprano to get clipped, but then when Tony Soprano dropped his gun while running, I realized it was the F.B.I. Watching Tony run was hysterical though. I also thought the attack on Benny by Phil Leotardo (which later resulted in Benny unconscious in a hospital bed) made me kind of nervous to watch, but not anything as near as nervous as I was when Phil Leotardo had a "chat" with Christopher's mother, or when Carmela asked Christopher, "How's Adriana?" I thought the episode didn't contain as much entertainment as it did subliminal messages. The major message that comes to mind is the story behind Paulie's painting of Tony turned Napolean with Pie-O-My (the horse). When Tony stares at it in the garbage, he has a revelation (which later ends up in Tony B.'s fall, and a settled score with Johnny Sack). The revelation is he is a general, or leader. He leads his people, with a gold plated sword (in this case fear, intimidation, or a gun). He is the boss. He is a general, or a leader. It is his job to protect his people, and make hard decisions. That kind of seems like it will be a major plot point in Season 6. This episode opened many doors for next season; Johnny Sack and most of the Brooklyn crime family indicted with many charges including numerous homicides over the span of 18 years. Also, the feeling of not being appreciated from Paulie, which may lead to him to work with Johnny Sack again, or even ... Little Carmine. Also, what is to happen with Meadow's engagement, or Tony's fear of his son A.J. being gay since he yearns to be an event planner (I don't think there is anything gay about being an event planner, but look how much Tony Soprano's view on life is screwed up.) It may be leaked that Vito is gay, and Raymond Curto has been working with the F.B.I. since Season 3. Will Silvio push Tony too far? Will Christopher be able to deal with losing Adriana? Will Uncle Junior finally jump the train to the afterlife? Nobody knows but the writers of the show. In closing I give the tonight's episode an A+. I thought it was EXCEPTIONAL! I especially liked the nice little touch the Van Morrison song had, and it is my 7th favorite episode of all time. I hope the final season is as good. Written by Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess and David Chase; Directed by John Patterson. My Rating: 10/10
Review of All Due Respect
