Bada Bing!

I downloaded several bogus and damaged files before finally finding a low bit-rate copy of the most recent episode of The Sopranos. I think it's legal to download T.V. shows because they're broadcast for free in the first place and you're allowed to record them, to watch later or loan to friends. If anyone knows for certain, please comment!

The Sopranos was the first H.B.O. show to take an unusual profession and subvert it - the undertakers in Six Feet Under who can't deal with their own father's death, for example. Johnny Soprano died in the first episode and left the "waste management" business to his son and brother to run together. Twelve episodes later, the family was split down the middle by his manipulative widow and main characters had started to wear concrete galoshes. I'll never forget Uncle Junior crying in despair, "Cunnilingus and psychiatry have brought us to this!"



I don't know what went wrong but for the next few years the trademark plot twists began to leave me cold. I guess the domestic stories took precendence. A gang war with Johnny Sac and the Brooklyn family has seemed to be on the horizon for two season finales in a row now but, in season four, the dramatic coup instead turned out to be that Tony's wife kicked him out of their house and, in this episode, Johnny was arrested by the Feds quite out of the blue. Surprising? Yes. As satisfying as The Godfather-esque blood-letting I was expecting? Hardly.

That being said, each episode still has enough going for it in the performance and direction departments to feel like a mini-movie. Steven van Zandt makes me laugh so much as Tony's consiglieri that I miss half of what he murmurs. He had no previous acting experience but you might recognize him from his day job in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band! They've also had Joe Pantoliano and Steve Buscemi as series regulars, plus Peter Bogdonavich and Robert Loggia as guests. Talentless crap this is not.

They're filming a sixth season now. Allegedly, James Gandolfini's temper tantrums aren't helping progress or morale. In one, he punched glass and filming was halted while his hand healed, meaning most of the work-for-hire crew didn't earn wages for weeks. In the positive column, there may now be a seventh season. Either David Chase never really had a five-year plan and will keep the show going for as long as it's popular or... no, I was right the first time. But if it stays low on Meadow and A.J. content and high on Paulie and Silvio, I'll keep watching.