This is a returning weekly feature. I cover each individual episode going from the beginning. I've already covered Season 1 and will post a weekly post on the second season every Sunday.
Past Episodes
Season 1
With the first episode of season two, I have realized how great these posts are for me to fully enjoy The Sopranos. Not only does this show get better on multiple viewings, but it allows me to grasp every plot point and where it's headed. That's something I'd argue that's near impossible to do the first time.
This season begins with my very favorite music montage on The Sopranos up to the point where I'm at (Season 5) and I don't think it will be beat. Set to "This Was a Very Good Year" by Frank Sinatra, they pretty much set up the series long conflicts, ones that won't really even be truly addressed this season. Everything is going good. The men are spending money on wealthy excesses that they don't need. Chris is doing drugs and trying to get elevated in the business without really doing the work. It also does a nice job updating us for the future season by showing Junior in jail, Livia in the hospital, and Dr. Melfi holding therapy sessions in a hotel.
It also ends it on a sad note as Tony cheats on his wife, makes sure he doesn't smell like he cheated, and then gets into bed. Carmela turns in bed, sees Tony, and then turns back around. Then Tony turns around too seeing Carmela almost change her position because she saw Tony. It was a good way to show that their marriage isn't really going good even if it appears good on the surface. Then of course the immediate conclusion is when Tony is eating leftovers and Carmela checks the mail. They sit in silence not communicating. It's a very understated way to show the Sopranos' marriage is not working, but neither will do anything about it.
Then the shuffling for the season storylines begin. Big Pussy comes by the house to make good with Tony. He has a flimsy excuse for leaving although he appears to convince Tony. I didn't notice this for the first time somehow, but Tony is not truly convinced, but he's lying to himself. At the barbecue later, he looks at Big Pussy with a look that could only mean he knows he ratted. This explains how Big Pussy is slowly phased out of the main operations. Oddly enough, they don't yet reveal that Big Pussy will spend the rest of this season talking with the feds, but I think Tony's silent stare was supposed to say all that we needed to know. (Although it could be argued Chase wanted us to know Tony wasn't buying Big Pussy's story, but the question of him ratting was still in doubt)
The fallout from last season is seen in this episode. Tony told Dr. Melfi to leave and naturally when Tony tells her she can come back, she doesn't take it so well. He then sees her in person which she really doesn't take very well. They needed to slowly integrate her back into Tony's life in order to keep the character consistent. But still this part of the story is a bit of a drag, because it was just a matter of time before she came back. But so far, so good, it's the next few episodes that are repetitive.
How dumb is Philly Parisi? He's just chatting away talking shit about Tony willy nilly. By the way I loved how Gigi walks out of the car, grabs a suitcase, and then gets picked up by Philly. They did cut it a little close, but frankly the sight gag of that was worth it. But anyway, the takeaway from this scene is that Tony makes sure that people aren't going to be talking shit about him. He also lies to Dr. Melfi when he swears no one is dying because of her.
Livia Soprano is in a hospital and really taking advantage of appearing weak. She easily manipulates Meadow by playing the victim of her showdown with Tony. It's really too bad Nancy Merchand died before the end of her run on the show was supposed to come.
And the introduction of the most hated character in a show about mobsters, Janice. She appears innocent enough at first. But it becomes clear really early on - earlier than I remember - that she just comes to get money and the house from Livia. She is the one character I don't really think they even tried for the audience to sympathize with.
Lastly, we are introduced to bumbling morons, Matt and Sean. They are incompetent fools who worship the ground Tony walks on and are way too desperate to get in Tony's inner circle. The problem is they have no patience and are idiots. Here they beat the shit out of a poor guy for being helpful to a customer (and not so helpful for the business). That's kind of out of line. Anyway, it's clear from that scene and the later one in a club with Christopher and Adriana that they are both stupid and eager to be involved. That's not a great combination. Their deaths were inevitable. The fact that they were unlikable pricks certainly made their impending doom enjoyable.
Fun fact: The actor who plays Matt was Lillo Brancato. He's famous for playing the lead opposite Robert Deniro in A Bronx Tale. "The saddest thing in life is wasted talent" turned out to be prophetic. He was convicted of armed burglary in 2005 to 10 years in prison. The other guy who plays Sean, Chris Tardio, has led a decent if unimpressive career with 43 credits including a part in Analyze That, a sequel to Analyze This which was referenced in this episode. Weird how that worked out.
This episode was written by Jason Cahill, which isn't a name you should know or anything, but his career is strange. He wrote three episodes for ER, one episode for NYPD Blue, and four episodes of a show called Profiler (ran for four seasons) before becoming a Sopranos writer. He wrote two episodes in the first season and one episode this season and then didn't write anything for five years. He wrote a single episode of unsuccessful TV show called Surface, disappeared for three years, and then wrote two episodes of Fringe. He hasn't written anything since.
The episode is directed by Allen Coulter, who you should know. He directed "College," which is considered one of the best episodes in the Sopranos series. This is his third directorial effort for the show and he does a pretty good job. I have to give him a lot of credit for the opening music montage because no words are said and the scenes flow pretty seamlessly from scene to scene.
This was a shorter episode at 49 minutes, but honestly I kind of like how some of the episodes are fit to what's necessary and not. An extra 10 minutes of useless crap would have been excessive. This episode has only vital scenes and sets up the season and the rest of the series well. This was a very good premiere episode.
Deaths
Philly Parisi, for having a big mouth
Quotes (Low on quotes today)
"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in" - Always appreciate Silvio imitating Pacino in The Godfather
"Dad, how do you stay so hip?" - Hilarious line by Meadow when Tony says not to bring any grunge from Seattle
"I watch the news. I know who you are. I saw Analyze This." - Tony attempts a new psychiatrist
"I hate you, you fucking pig, get off of me."
"You fucking whore" - the loving relationship of Chris and Adriana
"I swear to Jesus Christ nobody got killed because of you." - That's not exactly true Tony
Grade - A-
Playlist (First three are from this episode - good episode soundtrack wise)
1. "It was a Very Good Year" - Frank Sinatra
2. "Smoke on the Water" - Deep Purple
3. "Time is on My Side" - Irma Thomas
4. "Bavarian #1 (Say You Will)" - Miike Snow
5. "Dreams" - Fleetwood Mac
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