[SOP] I Dream Of Jeannie Cusamano

TV Programme: Ultimate Force
Season: 1
Episode: 13
Date I watched this episode: 22/03/2009
Time since I last watched this programme: 1 day

Well, my relationship with this show has been something of a love/hate relationship. First episode, I loved it, then I started to get fed up with it to the point where I didn't think I was going to bother continuing, then I started to really enjoy it, and then finally this season finale absolutely blew me away. What an episode, in terms of a climax, in terms of acting brilliance, in terms of the atmosphere and feeling.

The episode kicked off with a short sequence involving the murder of Jimmy. This was not really in-keeping with the rest of the episode, but it made a good start, and put a smile back on Tony's face. Which is a good thing because the depression seen in the last episode was not sustainable. The sequence itself was cool - Christopher was so relaxed, as if he was really going on a night out with Jimmy.

The "actual" start to the episode where Livia wanders up to the house, was brilliant too. This reminded me of some Smallville episodes, and in particular [SMV] "Covenant", where someone wanders up to a house completely out-of-character and this creates a shock which really grabs you. Or just in general in a season finale, they often start with something pretty unusual happening. I still don't know if Livia was putting it on or not, but her smile at the end of the episode was deliciously evil and amazingly directed.

I counted about 5 different story threads which met their climax or a significant development in this episode. The thing with Livia I've just mentioned is the first. Then there's the fire at Vesuvio's, the FBI inditements, Tony finding out Junior tried to kill him, and Father Phil's relationship with Carmella. I couldn't have wished for more drama and emotion.

Jennifer Melfi was FANTASTIC in this episode. The relationship between Tony and Jennifer entered a whole new level here, where she revealed what she really thought because Tony's "life is in danger", and he persuaded her to leave the country. The way she took to all this was so believable and I'll be interested to see where this is taken next season.

Carmella and Tony seem to be back to normal after their earlier problems. The sympathy that she gives him over his problems is quite heart-warming. Perhaps it is because she has had a chance to bury her demons with Father Phil, and now realises that Tony is her everything.

The idea of a storm brewing is quite cliche (not that it's a bad thing, as [TWW] "Two Cathedrals" my favourite episode of all time shows) but it was well-done here; the actual end to the episode was soft and reflective rather than a cliffhanger, which I think is very true to the style of this programme.

I think a couple of things were wrong about this episode. One of them was the fact that the FBI arrests happened so suddenly. It would have been nice if we'd have seen a build-up to these arrests taking place. Secondly, the thing with the fire at Vesuvio's was pretty much superfluous, as nothing really came of that, although it is a story that is not likely to resurface again now.

There was plenty of teasing for the future. Tony is now the defacto leader of the New Jersey Mob, much to Junior's disapproval. There will have to be trials, and many splits in loyalty in the early part of next season; a revolt is hinted at when the others find out that Tony was seeing a shrink. Also there will be some strong developments with Livia and Jennifer in the early part of the season. So I'm looking forward to that!!

This was a great finale and this programme has gone up in my estimations as a result. I will look forward to season 2, though that may be a long way off yet...