Past Episodes
Pilot
46 Long
Denial, Acceptance, Anger
This is kind of an important episode in the series, and yet I forgot most of what happened. I watched it for the first time earlier this year so this is particularly odd. I honestly think I accidentally skipped over some of the episode, because some of the scenes seem brand new to me. (Or I was half-asleep and managed to somehow pick up the major things happening)
First, let's talk about Tony and his mother, Livia. It's a shame that Nancy Merchand's health starting declining after the first season and she basically became a non-entity in the storylines. The idea of Tony's mother lived on, but the character of Livia itself was barely present after the first season and then of course, she passed away between the second and third seasons. I would have loved to see what they did with her character.
Tony has his fair share of problems with his mother, but in his mind, she's his mother. He can complain all he wants, but she gave birth to him, raised him, and molded him as an adult. He just cannot accept that his mother would try to have him murdered. He's more infatuated with the image of his mother than Liva herself. She's basically worthless as a human being, and Tony's continued interactions with her is likely due to an internal sense of obligation.
Dr. Mefli broaches the topic that possibly Livia may have had something to do with his attempted "carjacking." Mefli wants to be more aggressive with Tony, because if she isn't able to get to the root of the problem, he could just keep denying his mother's insistence on destroying Tony - both figuratively and literally. And that could lead to his death. Melfi is sort of a moral guide on this show so she does her best to "save his life" which she sees as convincing Tony that his problems - at least immediate ones - are the fault of his mother.
Tony reacts violently, threatening Melfi and in the scene, you can see James Gandolfini's spit fly into her face. It's a well-acted scene - I have some problems with this show, but it's never the acting. Only thanks to an FBI intervention in a misguided attempt to get him to testify does he find out that his mother was responsible. Undeniable proof.
Also a prominent storyline that ties nicely in with Livia's betrayal of her son is Artie Bucco finding out that Tony burned down Vesuvio's (I think that's how you spell it). In this case, Livia's "dementia" works against her, because Tony uses it in his argument for why he wouldn't. Of course, Artie doesn't buy it, but he refuses to call the cops and when he goes to tell his wife, his wife is so pleased with the way the restaurant is shaping up that he can't work up the nerve to ruin her mood and honestly make his life more difficult.
This is the kind of thing The Sopranos did often. Showed a supposedly moral character have a line that they are willing to cross to make their life easier. Everyone has a price. Artie's price is the ability to run a restaurant that he wants to. Because honestly, I don't think calling the police would help his business a whole lot. They go to this well often throughout the series, though I think this is the most effective. It's mostly extremely effective just because of the stakes and it again tied in with the Liva storyline in the most organic and natural way possible - something The Sopranos doesn't do very well in my opinion. (To clarify, The Sopranos nails down its characters, but its plot is contrived quite a bit.)
Meanwhile, with the news that Junior DID put out a hit on Tony confirmed, it's time to enact revenge. First, they figure the likely assassin will be someone that Junior can trust - Chucky. Well, Chucky meets his death early in the episode - in broad daylight by the dock. Then they nab Mikey as well when he is on his morning jog. Mikey's sprint towards the woods reminded me of Pine Barrens. Wonder if that sequence in any way motivated Pine Barrens or if the Sopranos writers are just fascinated with killing in the woods.
Junior is asked if he is not really the mob boss. That he was just a fall guy and that Tony was really the boss. This was basically true, but Junior's dignity and pride would not allow him to give Tony credit. Reminds me of Walter White's pride actually.
In an episode with so much happening, I find it hilarious so much screen time is given to showing how much of an enormous asshole that Father Phil is. What's funny is that his advice is usually spot-on and nobody follows that advice due to an unwillingness to change. It was funny when Carmela just had enough of his shit. There was a good point though in that Father Phil has a price as well. He gets to smooch off food and wine and watches movies he wants to watch in huge houses and convince himself he's only doing it because he wants to change Tony. Even though he knows full well Tony's not changing.
This finale is a lot better on re-watch I have to say. For one, it concludes many of the major and minor storylines. In an episode where Tony becomes the official mob boss, wipes out the entire section that opposed him (and the rest were arrested), and Tony finally comes clean about seeing a psychiatrist, they managed to do two major character studies in Father Phil and Artie Bucco, two essentially side characters. They did it in a way that fit into the larger narrative and helped moved the more essential storylines forward too.
Deaths
Jimmy Altieri - The "rat" who was much worse at being a rat than Big Pussy - also less interesting.
Chuckie Signore - To my surprise he was in three episodes, but he gets killed personally Tony (which I can't imagine would happen in a hypothetical real world given Tony's status) on his own boat. Likely Tony's hitman if Tony didn't strike first.
Mikey Palmice - I was a fan of Mikey and am sorry to see him go.
Quotes
"You smell like Paco Rabonne crawled up your ass and died." - Chris on how Jimmy smells for the Russian girls.
"Hey my mother never went after my basket" - Basket meaning penis of course
"I'll take care of my uncle and I'll take care of Mikey P, but inside, I'll know" - Tony
"Yes, I'm humbled that you would take my word." - Tony hilariously says. It's a good point that Melfi fears for her life and yet is willing to take Tony at his word
"Pussy, Booty, I don't know his last name." - Melfi with a collection of words she will likely never repeat in her life
"I didn't burn down your restaurant. I swear to God on my mother" - Artie doesn't know how little this swearing means. Might as well swear to the shirt he's wearing.
"I want to fuck Angie Dickinson, see who gets lucky first?" - Junior to the FBI agent
"Someday soon, you'll have families of your own and you'll remember the little moments - like this that were good." - Tony in a touching last scene
Playlist
1. The Lion's Roar - First Aid Kit
2. Hip Hop is Dead - Nas ft. will.i.am
3. Dreams Old Men Dream - Cold War Kids
4. Hell of a Life - Kanye West
5. Fly - Sugar Ray
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