Dogmatic

Sopranos Series 6 Episode 7

Good old Artie Bucco! Easily one of my fave characters on the Sopranos and in this week’s episode, ‘Luxury Lounge’ he gets to shine! It’s as if Sopranos creator David Chase (and did you see his cameo in this week’s episode?) is giving many of the show’s characters a chance to bask in the center-stage spotlight. We’ve had the Paulie Wallnuts episode when he found out he is the bastard son of a now deceased nun. Silvio Dante got his share of center-stage when he became temporary leader of the crew. And Vito Spatafore shined on last week when he was finally outed and made a run for it. But the ongoing homosexual storyline barely got a look-in tonight making way briefly for ‘Mayor of Munchkinland’ Rusty Millio’s eventual whacking at the hands of the Naples imports.

But - with all this character showcasing, isn’t this all chewing up valuable airtime? We’re down to the last few episodes folks and only a handful to come next year. Didn’t the California scenes with Christopher and special guest Ben Kingsley just drag on for far too long? Although, it was damn funny seeing Christopher fall off-the-wagon at the sighting of a set of California titties. (Who can blame him tho!) “Fuckn A! Those are some amazing tits!” In the greater scheme of things - whatever that might be and wherever the Sopranos ultimately ends up… what will Chris’ Hollywood dreams have to do with it all? Is this all the calm before the inevitable shit-storm?

There are so many dangling storylines waiting to be tied up once and for all - the ultimate fate of Uncle Junior has barely received mention. And just what form of ‘mob-justice’ will befall the gay Vito Spatafore let alone the underlying terrorist angle with the Arabs which continues on.