He's awake!

Heretofore I have avoided referencing the Sopranos because I was reluctant to speculate about David Chase’s journey into Tony’s mind— I know a lot of hardcore fans have been disappointed with the coma storyline, but I actually liked it, and all of the subtext associated with it. It was also interesting to see the attendant posturing and antics from his crew (I mean, you knew Paulie Walnuts wouldn’t be able to resist some kind of caper).

I thought last night’s episode was a good way/time to bring Tony back, and I’ve actually enjoyed his “other” life as Kevin Finnerty, the salesman lost in California suburbia. The penultimate moment for me, of course, was the slap fight with the Buddhist monk—only the mind of David Chase would bring you the rich duality of anger and violence coming from someone devoted to the “middle way”!

I’ll tell you what I am absolutely over—Lorraine Bracco’s nasally Nembutal-induced drawl. I was acutely aware that she has to speak slowly and carefully to mask her natural Noo Yawk accent, and I think she thinks that this will make us think that she is NOT an ex-model, but actually a well-qualified and educated shrink. Honestly, it just makes me remember that Lorraine Bracco is not only an ex-model that got into a real-life slap fight with ex-man Harvey Keitel’s new chickie while they were embroiled in a custody and support fight over daughter Stella, but that she also showed up three sheets to the wind on the Tonight Show and talked about it at length. Weirdo! That said, it was nice to see Carmella in the hot seat, talking about the complexity of her relationship with Tony and finally acknowledging outright that she loves, loves, loves all the goodies that her husband’s profession affords her (bright white Porsche Cayenne, anyone?) and is a complicit Lady Macbeth of dynamic proportions.

Any ideas about future plotlines? Let me hear your thoughts . . .