Sopranos Wrap Up: Test Dream

When I looked at my clock on my cell phone and realized it was about 9:45 I soon realized that almost the entire hour of the show would be a lengthy dream of Tony Soprano. His trippy dreams have been a staple in the series for almost it's entire run and allows some very interesting visuals. Who can forget the famous fish dream during the episode where they whacked Uncle Pussy? It is still quite possibly one of the best shows they ever did. (Hmm..Maybe that would be a good topic one day).

Now let us get this straight I always thought doing something like the Sopranos did last week with dream world would be a good idea for a series. It allows writers to bring back famous faces from beyond the grave and have some real fun. However given the fact that the fifth season is winding down it wasn't the time, and in a show where the seasons are only 13 episodes long might not be the place to squander time in terms of moving along the series narrative.

Now most dramas are on the networks who usually have 22 a season, so if you want to do something like this in the X-Files (they actually did a few times) or even the West Wing (not that I watched more than 30 seconds of that show in my life) then that's cool. Shows like that a concept such as this might work better since you almost have time to kill to spread out interesting storylines to fill the time of a longer season and likely longer run.

If you are going to go ahead and do something as daring as last weeks show one shouldn't tease or cheat the viewer in the process. Is there any reason that why shouldn't get to see Tony B's botched shooting on Phil? It sounded pretty cool, but we will never know. There is no reason to not show that. Also if you are going to bring back Ralphie (love Ralph or hate him it's no denying that Joey Pant's ability to steal scene after scene has been sorely missed this season)and Big Pussy at least give them more than a blink your eye and miss them cameo. Ralph had one line, and wasn't even totally in the shot. Pussy turns around and looks at Tony. It wasn't till after the show that Liza made me realize Richie returned too. Some how I missed his rise from the grave. Wouldn't it have made more sense to have Pussy dispense advice about whacking people you love than a random coach? What a cheat, although John Heard (even though only hard core fans even remember his character) returning was a kick.

Okay so the point of the dream is that Tony must whack Tony B? Well anyone that has seen the cast list for season 6 knows it will at the very least take Tony a long time to maul over the situation. On top of that if Artie doesn't die soon then the dream really makes no sense at all. I don't really see Artie dying at all nor do I want him to. But knowing David Chase he will likely give him cancer.

The problem with the Soparanos is the same that hampered the X-files in later years. Too many different writers and directors. The tone of the show and style can shift from week to week, and with so much story to dive into one wonders why the show had to take that route last week. Not mention storylines are dropped like horse poop. Leave impressionistic imagery for film students, and random unexplained role switching (Heard in place of Finn's dad) for crappy David Lynch movies.

I am not going to say it. However many people who know what a fan I am of the show said to me in the immortal words of the comic book guy: "WORST EPISODE EVER!"