[SOP] Isabella

TV Programme: The Sopranos
Season: 1
Episode: 12
Date I watched this episode: 21/03/2009
Time since I last watched this programme: 2 days.

This episode, which focussed on some pretty deep psychology, was every bit as good as the pilot episode for closely weaving that psychology with reality. I was seriously impressed with the way in which the writers dealt with the current situation with the characters, and this programme has gone up in my estimations if only based on this one episode.

Much of the first half of the episode was showing the different sides to Tony's depression. It's great that they managed to show this in such full force and depth, as this is the kind of thing that would be treated in other programmes with a single montage lasting a couple of minutes. The Sopranos has a bit more creative license due to its reliance on psychology to make the story work.

It's a very complex relationship between Tony and Livia, and while she seemed genuinely upset, she was also her usual manipulative self. I think Tony realised here how much he needs her, and perhaps he needs to do things differently if only for his own sanity. This twist at the end, i.e. the non-existence of Isabella, is a device that's been done before but The Sopranos executed it very well. Livia and Junior also had a bit of a rollercoaster this episode, as they avoided the issue of Tony and only hinted at various things.

I'm not sure how Tony survived to be honest. Those two guys must just have been a really bad shot to begin with. Also I don't know what Christopher is up to with them. It might be genuine concern/paranoia, or maybe he has plans against the psychiatrist office...

The FBI have offered Tony immunity which should be very tempting and may well cause a rift between Tony and Carmella. Strangely, they have been thrust into a similar situation as Livia and Johnny were in all those years ago, the opportunity to start a new life, but circumstances must dictate otherwise.

This was a great episode. Next up is the season finale, which I'm sure you'll gather I've been progressing towards in the run-up to a finale day. So I have high hopes for that, and I'll definitely be writing about that very soon.