The Sopranos - Family Values

Premier Review: Season 6

Send me your comments and opinions about the first episode and where do you see this thing going. TheSopranosFV@yahoo.com

Visitor Opinions:

3/16/06 The Sopranos are finally back and it was just excellent. The beginning with the lyrics of William S. Burroughs was brilliantly intercut with the characters. A lot of foreshadowing is going on here as well as a short description of the present situation we find the characters in after season 5. We can expect season 6 to be about death, but we don´t now yet, who, why and how will die. The picture of Carmela lying somewhere with tears in her eyes leaves room for a wide range of speculations about the meaning of the whole episode. Possibly it could have been Carmelas dream. Possibly it could be Toni dreaming. Some claim that this is how Tony actually dies and the rest will show us what went on before.

I don´t think so. I think the episode sets up a lot of plots that are going to constitute the rest of the season. The Eugene suicide is a nice subplot to setup a dilemma for Tony: Will he choose his family over his mob family? Certainly he wont kill himself, he would rather go to Florida as protected witness. Notice, that Eugene became part of the family at the same moment as Chris and so Eugenes storyline is perfectly ended.

Personally, I don´t like Vito at all, but obviusly he is becoming a big factor in the family. He will team up with Phil to get after Tony. He gained confidence and he has used the god forbid sentence. Without a doubt he will be going for the top spot. We can expect a major conflict between Chris and Johnny which will lead to tensions between Tony and Phil/Johnny.

The ending was again an example for the genius writing of Terence Winter and the whole Sopranos-Staff. Starting with a great film quote they are playing against every expectation and choose Junior to shoot Tony.

This makes sense on so many levels, that I can´t name them all. It directly contradicts Tonys believe, that you can only trust family. In Tonys case that`s totally not true, since his mother and Uncle already made an attempt on his life. Don´t forget Janice and her attempts to promote Ritchie in the organization. It wouldn´t surprise me to see her manipulate Bobby Bacale in the same direction.

Tony will survive but he will be weakened. Keep in mind that this is the first time he is seriously injured. Tony has not only to deal with his outer wound. He will also face many questions concerning his life. I am pretty certain that we will hear Tony speaking of the meaning of life and he will contemplate what the true meaning of life is. Coming to the terms with what the meaning of his life is will be the decisive motivation how Tony Soprano chooses to deal with the upcoming conflicts.

And so the ending of the episode leads us back to the beginning of the episode cause it´s one way to make sense of human existence. It doesn´t only foreshadow the theme of death for season six. When youthink about death you always think about life at the same time, which is what Tony exactly does in his session with Melfi. The baby and the grandmother symbolize the beginning and ending of life, as Melfi points out. So what will Tony do with his life? I can`t wait to see the answer... From Jan W.

3/16/06 This episode was not a big shocker in the way that Tony gets shot. The biggest shocker was that his Uncle Jun was the one who did it. It was pretty much a given that Tony had to die--or come close to it. The most logical place to make that happen so that it is a surprise is right at the beginning. I don't think he is dead yet. What a great set-up to have him perhaps watch his empire crumble in power struggles and internal rivalry and be powerless to stop anything for the first time in his life. He is going to see how little his life is actually worth when he cannot control people through fear and intimidation.

What I can't help but notice is all of the references made about heart attacks. While eating in large quantities has always been a focal point of the show, this episode seemed to go to an extreme. The $40 pieces of sushi eaten nearly every seven minutes throughout the show is only one example. Tony seems to be gaining weight and he is concerned--if only slightly. We see Vito losing weight and commenting on Tony's weight. (It was also interesting that Vito claims to be walking two miles a day, yet he still parks in the handicap stalls!) Twice, he mentioned his concern that Tony may have a "heart attack" and a "coronary." I can't tell for sure, but I even thought I saw Tony rubbing his chest after a few meals and his breathing while eating seemed more labored. Are they foreshadowing Tony's death by heart attack or are they throwing us off because there were so many references to it? Only time will tell.

The other part that I am still trying to understand is the guy speaking in the very beginning. He is talking about the Seven Souls postulated by the Ancient Egyptians. As they pan through the characters and he is mentioning the different souls, is he talking about the Characters? Or is this a a segway into what so many people seem to have heard about the season being a series of flashbacks? Or perhaps foretelling the demise of the Family as these people bale out of "the sinking ship" now that Tony's fate is questionable?

Carmella seemed to gain some acceptance with her husband's work. She even appears to be taking on her own "mobster" personality--wanting to exert influence on others. She wants to pressure the building inspector (through her connection with Tony) and I like how she showed up at Johnny Sac's house to pick up his wife in her new Porche Cayenne. After learning of the financial difficulties Sac is having, she seems to be flaunting her and Tony's prosperity. She rubs that car in a few people's faces during the episode. And Chris' offer to buy the Maserati must have been a blow in the face. What a way to piss off the Johnny and the NY guys. What a beginning! From Joseph M.

3/15/06 One very interesting thing i heard on the Tony Kornhieser show (radio show local to Wash DC of ESPN's PTI host) was that tony getting shot might put him into a coma, and then he would dream-state us back to the past year or so and bring us up to date on the interesting plot injections that we only saw glimpses of in this first episode for example: Tony's sisters baby, and when they even thought to plan a family. last time we saw them, they were always arguing about raising his kids the mention of Pauly about the year that past for some topic, which i do not remember at this time the time spent with Tony and Carm and how they have become a happy couple again the year of Jonny Sack's encarceration and how Phil started running things out of NY two words - AJ and others. As i said, i found that idea to be very interesting, and would interest those who may have lost a little, or alot, of interest in the show since it has been gone for such a long time. From Patrick L.

3/15/06 I am reading a lot of speculation on various site's on the net that this episode was a "prequel" ending with Tony's death, and that the remaining episodes will detail the events that led up to this during the previous year. However, I don't think this is the case. I think the producers are smart enough to know that if fans figured out that Tony was dead, what would be the point of watching the show? My opinion is that we will see episode 2 begin one of two ways. Either we will see paramedics scrambling around Tony reviving him for transport to the hospital. Or, we will see it begin with Tony's crew and family standing around his hospital bed while he is recovering. Junior is pretty much a finished product and will have to be committed as he is a danger to himself and to others. While Tony is recuperating, this will lead to a power struggle and some shake-ups within the family. Also, it's going to be interesting to see who the FBI picks for their next "rat" now that Eugene has committed suicide. Obviously, they will make someone an offer they can't refuse so it will be interesting to see who it is. From John R. T.

3/14/06 If you watched closely, Tony got shot in the upper abdomen, under the rib cage. This isn't the proverbial gut-shot. I think he'll come out spleenless and in the hospital but ready to make money for HBO for a few more shows. Let's see... From Keith & Karen.

3/14/06 EXCELLENT EPISODE, BUT OF COURSE THERE ARE ALWAYS THINGS THAT BRING PAUSE AND CAUSE FOR CONCERN. EUGENE BECOMING A RAT WAS KINDA VAGUE TO ME. CARMELLA COMING TO TERMS AS A "MOB WIFE" BRINGS VERY LITTLE SYMPATHY TO ME FOR HER CHARACTER, PLUS ALL THAT SUSHI JUST BROUGHT THE WHOLE ATTITUDE CHANGE TO CLARITY. AJ TRULY LOOKS LIKE A SELF INDULGENT DORK AND ONE JUST HOPES THAT SOMEBODY KICKS HIS REAR IN AN UPCOMING EPISODE. JOHNNY SAC NEEDS TO BE LET OUT OF PRISON SOON SO THAT PHILLY LEPTARDO CAN BE PUT IN CHECK. PAULIE WALNUTS CHARACTER IS GOING TO NEED A LITTLE MEAT TO IT AS WELL. BUT ALL IN ALL, THE SCENARIO'S WILL BE ENDLESS AND THATS WHAT I WANT FROM THIS FINE SERIES. From Unknown.

3/14/06 I'm going out on a limb with this... Tony comes up with some story that some unknown man came in and shot him. Uncle June's eggs are so scrambled he won't be able to tell the authorities anything to help the investigation. There is no way Tony will dime out Uncle June. Carmella will be the top snitch in the end. She is setting her husband up for the kill, in the end she will live in her 600K dream home with all the loot. From Jimi.

3/13/06 Was tired. I fought off sleep to see the first night of the Sopranos and then I got so excited I forgot I was almost asleep an hour before. I loved it. With a few exceptions. I don't like AJ this year. I didn't like working so hard to follow so many story lines and I'm glad uncle shot Tony because nothing else would have made a dent in the day to day stuff of the mob,. Johnny Sac is still as dangerous as always and his wife, though she looks more toned down, is a baby who needs a good slap. Carmella has gotten a bit shallow and the guy hanging from the rope needed to be more explanatory about why he was do depressed. If 2 million didn't make him happy, nothing could. I want Chris to grieve more and Carmella to make more rice pie. She's over the top with the mercenary revenge. Not nice. Uncle Jooon needs a straight jacket, he justifies Tony's sorrow about his family hating him. I want the psychology of Tony's insanity to be clear. Love it love it love it From Nonnie.

3/13/06 Like the true bully that the "Sopranos" is, it left you alone for two years and then just when you felt safe, it slapped you across the mouth.....Not hard enough to knock you out, but something much more effective....just hard enough for you to taste the bitterness of your own blood..Leave you wondering whats next.For that they are going to make us wait a week. From Robert R.

3/13/06 Tony is dead! The next 9 episodes are flash backs or future events, stuff Tony thinks about as he's dieing in uncle's floor. From Steve.

3/13/06 MY WHOLE FAMILY WATCHES IT AND I'VE GOT TO SAY WE LOVED IT. MY TEENAGE BOYS JUST KNEW TONY WAS DEAD I TOLD THEM THAT APPARENTLY UNCLE JUNIOR REALLY DOESN'T LIKE ARTY SHORE (SINCE HE CAME DOWN AND SHOT HIM) AND WAS NOT AWARE THAT HE HURT HIS NEPHEW. I REALLY ENJOYED SEEING ADIRAN AGAIN, IT'S A SHAME NO ONE WILL TELL CARMELA WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO HER. THE BEST IS YET TO COME. I CAN'T WAIT. From DARLING G.

3/13/06 I couldn't believe the ending of the first episode. I mean, Tony gets shot by Junior? Outrageous. As much as I feel bad that Carmella has had to put up with a rocky marriage, look as this braud...you can come back to the house but I want $600K. What?! Way to grow some balls Carmella! Yeah, I agree about Anthony...he's turning into this freak. I wonder why they won't use this season to have him try to become a part of what his family is...like a mobster in training. I'm sure there would be some great story lines with that scenario. I can't stand Janice, but I guess she has to be there. I think Phil is gonna try to run the roost in New York, which sucks because Johnny Sack and Tony were working on better relations. The hanging scene...weird, but really he was screwed either way. If he stayed, his wife would have left him, he would have been pursued even further by the feds...if he left...Tony would have him killed. Awful situation. He should have taken the money and ran without his wife and kids. Obviously the wife was only concerned with money in the first place...she wasn't mad about the life they had, she was mad about not getting her condo in Florida. Golddiggers. I do agree though, too many scenes to follow along to... it felt like it went so fast. From Ashley H.

3/13/06 What a great episode! I was mesmerized. Finally, the writers have made it so complicated that there are a dozen possibilities that can play out. My theory…..This was really the next to last episode. The upcoming episodes will be the explanation of when and how Janice had a baby, when and how the FBI recruited other mob members, more info on the Soprano kids and Carmella, and maybe Adrianna’s death will surface and on and on. On the very last episode we will learn if Tony will live or die. But even if my theory isn’t possible, this episode was outstanding! From Mary Ann M.

3/13/06 I love the first episode. It gave you just enough, but not to much. There are so many ways for this show to go and lots of episodes left. This could open up a small power vacukme while Tony is in the Hospital. Phil could decide he has the upper hand and get out of line. One other viewer brought it up that this is the last episode. We could go back and see what happened the last two years. I just hope they dont kill Tony off. I dont want some typical moral message ending that he had to die because of the life he lived. I coudnt have been happier that they killed Ade. Not becuse i didnt like her but that Christopheris " A Soldier", and anything else would not feel right. So far the only gripe i have on the show is the Carmella leaving story line. Little far fetched, she would never be allowed to leave would make Tony appear weak and vulnerable. One story line no one has floated is the Russian guy reapearing. They never found the car, and Tony seemed like he had no interest in making the Russians angry. Cant wait for the next episode. Dont like that there was no trailer though. From Dan.

3/13/06 I watch the Sopranos religiously and I couldn't be more disappointed. Tony Soprano is the greatest character in television history (sorry Colonial Klink). Where were the goomahs? the indulgence? the mood swings? the stunted adolescence? Instead, we have him eating sushi with his shriveled up bitch of a wife and getting shot by his senile uncle? Not since Michael was emasculated in GFIII has such an injustice been committed to such a great character. If Season One had introduced us to the Tony Soprano we saw last night, the Sopranos would have had a shorter run than Herman's Head.

Did the demise of Ponticorvo make any sense? He's working with the FBI, but still carries out a hit. What does he need Tony's blessing for any ways? He's a rat! Can't he just go into the program? And what kind of schmuck hangs himself days after inheriting $2 mill?

Not enough Paulie. His malevolence is always a source of humor and entertainment. Chris is too serious. The show needs his comic relief. Did we see any of Tony's associates crack a smile or do anything fun?

So I guess the actor who portrays Vito lost some weight, but couldn't they just throw him in a fat suit, like they used to do with Bobby Bacala. Or at the very least, don't give him any lines. I've taken shits with more charisma.

Shouldn't AJ be morphing into a less functional version of Jackie Aprille, a feeble minded mobster wannabe destined for tragedy? The mobster connection got him play and respect in Season Five. But instead of building on that storyline, they've freakafied him.

When did Angie Bumpansero get pretty? This women once married Big Pussy! Wasn't she passing out supermarket meatballs a couple seasons ago? Now she looks like a pampered doctor's wife. I'm sure running a bodyshop would have that effect on a middle aged woman.

Don't get me started on Carmela. But does it make sense that her husband basically earns a living by controlling government officials and some ham-and-egger building inspector is going to force her to rebuild her spec house?

There were a few bright spots. Johnnie Sac's economic butt raping, Meadow's cameltoe (and lack of dialog), Phil's pragmatism, but overall I am very concerned about the direction they have taken this once great series. From Bob W.

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