The Sopranos: Week 4 Autopsy

Tony's inner battle with betrayal continues this week with Hesh, a long time friend of the family - especially Tony's dad. A definite pattern is being displayed as Tony has now had an issue with a person close to him in every episode: Bobby, Christopher, Paulie and now Hesh. With the exception of Christopher, Chase has tried to make us feel like Tony was going to take each of the other offenders out. The important thing to note is that each of the three characters actually thought Tony might whack them. I think two things are going on here. One is that Chase wants you to feel what it's like to be in the mob - that someone you've known your entire life could flip on you in a second. Second is that even though we get to see these mobsters behind their facades at home and they are "humanized" - they are still killers and will do whatever they have to in order to survive. I originally thought Tony would end up in jail at the end of this season, but I'm starting to think he may just retire like Little Carmine. There has been some foreshadowing to this sprinkled throughout the first 4 episodes. Carmela is fed up with everything especially the fear of being left like Ginny Sack with nothing, Johnny Sack dying in jail, the conversation with Bobby about how mobsters go out (in prison or in a box) - clearly he's thinking about it. The one thing I didn't really get last night, and I like my favorite shows to stay on-track, way they facilitated Tony killing Hesh. I really don't ever remember Tony gambling much in past seasons. Sure, they went to casinos and had card games - but I don't remember him borrowing large sums of money or betting huge dollars on a horse race. If they only trumped up his gambling to have a reason to be mad at Hesh, I think they could have come up with a better story line. It seemed out of character to me to start portraying Tony as a big stakes gambler when they never alluded to it in the past. Now that Hesh has been paid off - we'll see where they take the gambling story. Also brought back into play in this episode was the trouble at home with Carmela. Since they reunited there really hasn't been any serious problems but he went after her hard last night - attacking her money, her house and her business acumen. "I'm sorry" hardly makes up for everything he dumped on her for not allowing him to gamble her earnings away. I have to say, I have no idea where the story will take us next week. Tony has been dropping hints like crazy that he doesn't trust his own guys, they aren't making him much money and he feels contempt towards all of them but Sil. I like the way they furthered the story line between Tony and Phil - bringing Veto's kid into the mix and the money his mother wants. One more log got added to the fire for their inevitable showdown.