From guest blogger Jeremy Sachs.
“Sometimes we lie to ourselves for so long it becomes impossible to know the truth”
-(paraphrased) Vito to his firefightin-johnny cake makin hunk of manmeat
“You the man!”
-Hanger-on to AJ
These two lines of dialogue aptly represent the character arcs of both Tony and AJ and a return to form after last week’s mostly useless episode. Tony’s hypocrisy is on full display, as he first uses his supposedly transformative post-shooting experience as both a pick up line and as a justification for an extramarital romp. He also decides to sell the building housing the chicken store, despite his earlier protests that to do so would rob the neighborhood of its history and character. In these two decision, the contradictions inherent in Tony’s life have never been more clearly on display. Family is paramount, except when particular family members get in the way (see the dearly departed Adriana). Tradition is sacred, as long as the repositories of said tradition are not vying for control of the business (see the shunting aside of pre-Alzheimer’s Junior).
While these themes have been a constant throughout the series, where this episode stands out is that Tony is finally realizing the tensions between his words (to Dr. Melfi- “How can I cheat on the wife who’s taken such care of me since the shooting?”) and his deeds (his psuedo-encounter with the real estate agent). As the agent unbuttons the shirt his wife lovingly buttoned just minutes before, Tony suddenly puts a halt to the proceedings. When Tony returns home, he starts a fight with Carmela over nothing, perhaps in an effort to lessen the guilt he is feeling. Is this the beginning of a new Tony, a Tony who is capable of remorse before or during a questionable act (rather than the usual post- act regret expressed via his panic attacks), a Tony who acknowledges the lies he had told himself?
Surprisinly, the other major arc involves AJ. It’s surprising because over the course of the series, AJ has changed all the way from a fat dumb spoiled child to a thin dumb spoiled slightly older child. But after a succession of events that include-
1. his mom having to wake up him so he wont miss his planned assassination of Junior
2. his poorly thought out attempt to kill Junior fails miserably
3. his father being more upset with him for crying than for an attempted murder-
AJ agrees to intercede in a landlord dispute for a friend in the club, and the friend replies that “You the man!”. As AJ looks in the mirror shortly afterward, he realizes that he is anything but a man. He’s failed out of school, living at home, working in a dead-end job, and totally reliant on his father’s name, connections, and money to survive. The only appropriate response to such a realization- a panic attack. A hint, perhaps, that father and son are more similar than either would care to admit.
Posted by myownworstcritic 
Posted by myownworstcritic 
