No kidding, that coupled with his high pitched screaming made for a very a brutal scene. But damn if he didn't have something coming.

Tonite was a perfect example of table/tone setting. The Christoper "not watching his crew" scene and the scene where Billy Batts opens his coat and says his "heart is an open book" just shows how much NJ and NY distrust each other.

And I was just waiting for someone to whack Artie...

Definitely. I think that may have been the funniest thing in the series, ever. It's not that she was an old lady, but it was fucking Lauren Bacall. Playing herself. And she said "fuck" twice.

i liked this week's episode better than last week's. some pressing issues were dealt with and there was a little bit of drama. i didn't see scenes from the next episode, but i'm hoping that aj isn't set to the side again. i'd like to see some resolve come from that situation sooner rather than later.

I have to say that I'm not digging the approach of a different story arc being highlighted every week. Focus on Vito one week, barely on the next. Focus on Artie last week, not to be seen last night. Plenty of Vito again last night but nothing that moved the arc forward. The show really seems like it's become scattershot.

I really wanted AJ to kill Junior last night. That would have been something. Although the scene where Tony picked him up at the police station was really powerful.

AJ dropping that knife was entertaining. Otherwise, though, BORING. Last night was the worst night of sunday television in like 5+ years.

Yeah, Vito pressing that biker/fireman/cook's stool.

Yeah, last night's episode was TERRIBLE.
I guess they are setting up AJ as a fucking Schnook, but jesus that was boring.

brokeback mobster? help me out on this one, there's humor here someplace

I was a little teary eyed during the Tony / AJ conforntation in the parking lot.

Like they wouldn't pat him down and find a big ass knife before allowing him in the lunchroom of a friggin' mental institution.

And like his father could just spring him from jail because of his "connections" when, as the son of a mobster, he tried to murder his mobster grandpa.

I just caught the episode and I'd have to agree that it wasn't that great. The scene with Tony and AJ outside the station was good though. I felt bad for Tony who finally realizes that his only son is a genuine retard.

i thought that this episode was great.

i thought the episode was good, as always. i havent had any problem with the season so far, not much different than previous seasons.

I'm not so sure about last night's episode. I'm totally absorbed while watching it, usually anticipating something, a sharp turn in plot, a good line, etc. At this point in the season (and the series), I think the scale has finally outgrown itself for me. There's so many character's arcs that get touched on and left behind without resolution. Maybe it's the pace right now, I'm not sure. Maybe it's the revisiting of familiar territory (Tony's bored, Chris' relapse). I know this probably all bears on upcoming plot points, but I guess I find it a bit disappointing. It wasn't a total washout by any means, we did get Carmela's increasing suspicions about Adrianna (but why now? You'd think she'd be used to this by now given the rate of disappearances around her husband) and Tony and Phil's new alliance will lead to stuff with Johnny I'm sure.

Any other thoughts on it?

They say that you become desensitized to vilolence because you witness so many violent acts on TV. (complete bullshit BTW) TV violence - yes, real violence - no.

That being said, I will never be desensitized to people shooting up whether it be on TV or in person...

I thought it was a pretty decent episode overall.

The plotline of Paulie being really fucking mean to his aunt/mom from a few episodes ago reached a new low at the fair. I mean, fuck--I'm a heartless bastard and all but that was incredibly upsetting. Which made that whole scene at the end in the nursing home really powerful.

One thing - was was up with the basement conversation flashback? Since when do they have to show the character wistfully looking into space while a flashback of a previously aired scene begins. Flashback ends. Cut back to Christopher lost in his thoughts. Lame.

i'd always wanted to see how that conversation went down, but i was pretty disappointed in that too.

I see what you mean about the set-up for that flashback scene. But I don't believe that scene referenced in the flashback ever aired before.

I'm glad they took 8 years off to get the creative juices flowing. Flashbacks? Christopher relapses? This week better be a "Very Special Episode" where someone gets molested.

their attention to detail has also gone to shit along with their writing: what was up with christophers pregnant wife drinking tony's wine?

(note: this was brought to my attention by my pregnant wife who is seriously jonesing for a glass of wine these days)

Not sure if it was before or after she knew, but pregnant women CAN HAVE some wine or beer. Better to limit it severly, but the misnomer that any alcholo kill baby is propogated by the same MADD type folks who ruin everything.

Fu -- why you post shit that make me laugh when my candidate is here? FUCKER.

The Christoper Wanders On the Nod sequence was like something you see in 70s movies -- the idyllic or drugged-out interlude. Kinda funny, but OBVIOUS filler.

i'm so excited
and i just can't hide it
i'm about to lose control
and i think i like TV.

I love you Johnny Cakes.


Strange episode. Gets points for the random killing by Vito.

Funniest moment for me was when Meadow is pouring her heart out to Tony and he has a muffin in the microwave. The timer goes off and he starts looking at the microwave wanting his muffin instead of consoling Meadow. Classic. "TALK TO YOUR MOTHER ABOUT THIS SHIT!"

Even though he wasn't in the episode I'm still waiting patiently on AJ to die horribly.