After watching the last few episodes of ‘The Sopranos,’ it seems apparent to me that the writers are taking the somewhat predictable course of showing that the people involved are victims of their environment, and when otherwise not pushed fall into predictable patterns previously mapped out.
This is too bad as, at the start of the season, indication was given that the unpredictable and upbeat ending of Tony and immediate family getting out of Jersey and ‘the life’ might happen.
After the last two episodes, this is clearly not what is happening. A look at what has happened to Anthony Jr. is full of clues to the end of things in the manner of a Greek tragedy, where the gods will for something to happen to the protagonist, no matter what he does to avoid it. The devilish glee during the sulfuric acid treatment, coupled with the inaction of the bicycle incident, and now the swimming pool difficulty shows a magnification of all the worst traits of father passing to son. Even the deep depression is just an extension of Tony’s reflective remorse on more than one occasion.
Tony, meanwhile, is reverting to earlier behavior patterns, seeming to lose access mentally to the benefits of his psychiatric journey. The over the top stance he took with Meadow’s heckler shows he won’t be renouncing the old ways anytime soon.
The antagonists which have been, for awhile, concerned with their own demons, now seem to have new focus on what it is they do best! Witness the immobile stance on the asbestos dump by New York. The lunacy of the new boss of the New York family is blooming, and will soon bear the usual fruit. Somebody is gonna get whacked!
After years of change, every little and big thing is going to stay the same, with a violent and possibly deadly outcome. Growth and change was just too much to hope for.
[tags]Sopranos, mafia, HBO Series[/tags]