The Sopranos - Family Values

Junior's Review

Junior's Review
(Episode 74 - THE RIDE)

Every episode without Vito is a good episode. And "the ride" was a good one. After three disappointing episodes chapter 74 of the Sopranos was entertaining, cleverly written and perfectly directed. Still there is a certain lack of dramatic focus, because it seems like there is no major conflict carried throughout season six. And NO, Vito isn´t real conflict. It´s possible that one main plot will come up in connection with the episodes next year, but none is visible like Tony B.in season five. Judging by the nine episodes aired it´s all about the characters and their ability or disability to change.

Speaking of Tony. B. - doesn´t he foreshadow all of season six? His character was all about the attempt to change. An failed attempt. He came out of the can to start all over again. But that was only temporally. He moved in a big circle to come to the point where he started and was killed. Death is the only way out of the circle. "The ride" showed us a lot of circle movement. The camera shoots and Chris storyline as well as Paulie feature this theme so heavenly you can´t ignore it. The thing with circles is that things might look different from the other side of the circle, but that doesn´t mean you have left the circle.

Chris is back on smack. It was heartbreaking to see him at the italian feast like a poor, helpless dog on the street. It was one of the best sequences in season six. Astonishing performance by the actor, superb camera work and brilliant choice of music. I loved how Chris and T relationship was shown at the beginning of the episode. That´s a relationship I deeply care about. They really have been through so much. Chris giving in to the drugs changes everything. Chris getting married and becoming a father is another important development - maybe. Or maybe it´s just Chris desperate attempt to make some sense of his life. Get married, become a father, buy a nice house and everything´s fine. Chris is a too fucked up person for this. In the moment he speaks about the future home of his unborn child he takes a match and holds the match to the home.

Paulie finally comes to some sort of peace with his false mother. He has a bad streak in season six. Latest bad news for Paulie is that he has possibly cancer. He goes back to his mother who offers him some cookies like he is a child again. Mother and son from the beginning. Mother and son till the end.

I think Tony went over on the other side of his circle after the shooting. And now he is getting bored at the other side of the circle. Being reasonable and calm and friendly doesn´t satisfy him. The brief shoot of Julianna tells us all about the boredom and the lust for excitement. How Tony and Chris repeat several times the scene of their little adventure proves the point. Life can be so boring. Bobby is also looking for some development in his life. Pushed by Janice, who`ll for sure never change, he pretends to be a very tough guy.

Music was key in the episode and so there also the movie references. Saw and the Godfather met - kind of. A short clip from saw at the beginning. Jigsaw puts people in horrible traps to make them appreciate life, especially if they are bored. Nice. The italian fair echoed the godfather II. The money on the Saint is an irritating tradition. The most interesting connection I could see was "some came running" where the climax happens on a fair. The character driven film casted with big stars has a tragic ending with someone catching a bullet for someone else. Like it happens in godfather III. Will it happen also happen in the Sopranos? Wheel in the sky keeps on turnin...

comments are welcome to: jan@winning.com

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