It started with a bang: Uncle Junior popping Tony in a fit of dementia. But most of the fireworks in this brilliant sixth season of The Sopranos have been more emotional than visceral, a psychologically riveting study of the corruption (of soul and spirit) that taints anyone within whacking distance.
That long list includes poor Gene, the hit man who hanged himself; hapless Artie Bucco, whose restaurant and psyche are in tatters; jailed Johnny Sack, whose daughter's wedding ended in his tearful public humiliation and loss of esteem; and Tony's delinquent son A.J., who can't live up to anyone's expectations and whose attempted revenge hit on Junior was truly pathetic (the kid can't even vomit like a man).
"It's not in your nature," Tony told A.J. in one of the season's many wrenching scenes of anguish and regret.
Not that there hasn't been comic rel
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Here's what you want to know: Was it worth the wait? Was it ever!
The Sopranos (Sundays, 9 pm/ET, HBO) already breaks every rule in the TV book, with its intoxicating blend of family intrigue, psychological character study, dark humor and raw violence. So why shouldn’t it test our patience and loyalty by putting nearly two years between seasons?
By the explosive end of the first hour, you’ll have forgotten how much time has passed between chapters, and you’ll be counting the minutes until the next episode. Just like old times.
The return of The Sopranos is one of the major TV events of any year, and how great to be buzzing again about Tony and Carmela, Uncle Junior and Christopher, Paulie and Silvio — and even a slimmed-down, amped-up version of the formerly obese
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