All Caught Up With...The Sopranos

I watched "The Sopranos" this year just as I watched "Entourage", very sporadically. I very much encourage those who have not seen the most recent eight episodes to stop reading right now, as I did not have the opportunity to watch these episodes without knowing far too much of the plotline. HUGE SPOILERS are discussed below, so only read if you have seen this season. This post evidently does not include tonight's series finale, but a review will be up as soon as I get my hands on it.

Beware, spoilers...



Each episode of "Season 6, Part 2" feels far more like a TV movie than a series episode. They all delve so deep into character backgrounds, giving us insight into the last moments of Johnny Sack, the mental deterioration of Uncle Junior, the talkative tendencies of Paulie, and most interestingly, dwelling on the fascinating and violent nature of the New York mob. The recurring appearance of FBI Agent Harris is interesting, and foreshadowing of potential trouble from the government. The staggering number of characters killed off is shocking, but the show really does feel like it is coming to a close. Christopher's death was not as dramatic or moving as I might have hoped it would be, but Tony's shutting himself off and the guest appearance of Sarah Shahi as a former flame of Christopher's was a welcome treat. Robert Iler proved his acting skills with his in-depth performance of A.J. this season. The real stars of the show are, of course, James Gandolfini and Edie Falco, who are fantastic this year. I was thrilled with the ending of the penultimate episode, and I am psyched for the series finale.

Soprano Home Movies: A-
This is a real standout episode, stunningly directed and boasting excellent performances from James Gandolfini, Steve Schirripa, Aida Turturro, and Edie Falco. Such a small cast manages spectacularly, and this is a real treat even though it follows only one major plotline.

The rest: B+

"The Sopranos" series finale airs tonight, Sunday June 10 at 9pm.