The Wisdom of the Sopranos Part 40 (Season 4 Episode 2 No Show)

So far I agree with my earlier assessment that after Season 3 The Sopranos takes a huge dip in quality.  It's just not the same show.  I've been trying to put my finger on it but I think it's the growing cast.  Too many new characters.  What was once a strong ensemble cast is expanding with people that we really don't care about.  You develop a tentative relationship to the characters on a show. When too many new people are introduced it starts to dilute the story lines.  It also causes further detachment of any empathy you might feel towards the characters.

Aside from the lesson of not introducing too many new characters to a winning show is what wisdom can be learned from this episode of the Sopranos? 

Careful when making derogatory comments that you don't want to get back to the subject when you are in a room full of people.  Someone will repeat what you said. Even if you trust everyone because someone will think it's funny and of no consequence to repeat. 

Sometimes actions have to weighed not by the immediate results but as part of a big picture.  For example, what seems like a small thing might, in the big scheme of things might be ultimately harmful.

If a person seems to be waffling on their opinions about something it's not always that they are fickle. They might be trying to work out how they feel, or what they believe, about it.

You can undermine someone in such a way that the person you are trying to get back at knows it's you but you can still claim innocence.  But, the message is still heard.  You just have to be prepared for the consequences. It's a gamble. 

Carmela and Tony are discussing Meadow's attitude about going back to school. She has been angry all summer.  Carmela told Tony that it is she that Meadow blames.  Why do we think that is?  I think Carmela realizes while Tony's level of involvement in that thing of theirs is part of who he is, it's inescapable.  However, Carmela has had a choice all this time.  She could have either not entered this marriage or at some point after the marriage could have left Tony.  By staying she is being submissive to Tony.  No matter how strong Carmela appears to be she's really dependent on Tony.  Meadow is a young woman trying to learn what it means to be a woman and can't really look to her mother for how to be a strong, independent woman.