TV Series: The Sopranos Season 1 (Part 3)

The tenth episode of "The Sopranos" is important to me, because it was the first episode that I saw. I even remember where I was when I saw it. I'd just started a new job, and I was in a motel on Long Island feeling bored. My room had HBO, a channel I didn't have at home, so I took a peek. At that time in my life I watched more television series than films. I didn't become a big film fan until 2003 when I bought my first DVD player. I was watching "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Xena Warrior Princess", "Earth Final Conflict", "Nightman", "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Star Trek: Voyager"; all of them science fiction or fantasy. No gangster series. I had no interest at all in gangster stories. But then I watched the tenth episode of "The Sopranos", completely at random, and wow! I didn't know what hit me. I told all my friends about it. I became a regular viewer, although it wasn't until months later that I had a chance to see the first nine episodes. And I made sure I had HBO in my new home.

This is Artie Bucco, a childhood friend of Tony Soprano who decided not to get involved with organised crime. He's opened a restaurant called Vesuvio. Tony and his associates frequently visit the restaurant, much to the dismay of Artie's wife, because she doesn't want Vesuvio to be seen as a mob restaurant.

Bruce Cusamano was mentioned a few times in the early episodes, but now we finally see him. He's Tony's family doctor and also his next door neighbour. He's the one who referred Tony to Jennifer Melfi after his panic attacks.

By now Tony is always flirting with his psychiatrist, but she remains professional and turns him down. He's leaning back in his chair to get a better view of her legs.

And Jennifer uncrosses her legs to let him see even more. Does that mean she isn't being completely professional? Maybe. It's all a power game. She likes to lead him on so that she can show she's in charge by turning him down.

One thing we learn about Jennifer is that her office is in a medical centre. Tony is embarrassed to see his associate Silvio Dante in the corridor on his way to see a dentist.

And the psychiatrist visits a psychiatrist! Jennifer's psychiatrist is Elliot Kupferberg. She talks to him about her problems treating Tony Soprano, calling him Patient X to hide his identity. Elliot repeatedly advises her to refer Tony to another psychiatrist.

In a raid on Tony's house we briefly see Agent Harris, the leader of the FBI task force. He plays an increasingly important role as the series progresses. The Sopranos fan page claims his first name is Dwight, but I don't remember his name ever being mentioned. Maybe it's in a conversation with his colleagues? I'll pay attention this time.

I've already mentioned that Tony's mother is the only completely evil person in the series. We see an example in a flashback to Tony's youth. Tony's father says he wants to move to Las Vegas to participate in the emerging casino business. He says that it would be a legitimate business venture, and their children would prefer the climate. She replies, "I'd rather smother them with a pillow than take them to Nevada".

In case anyone wonders what the "parts" are in my reviews, they're not completely random. I'm watching the series on Blu-ray, and for me each "part" is the collection of episodes on a single disc. I don't intend to make full plot summaries of individual episodes. If you want more details, please visit the excellent web site "Sopranos Autopsy".

	Order from Amazon.com
	Order from Amazon.co.uk
	Order from Amazon.de