Tony's mental health suffers when friends and family make reappearances in his life.
This is a great first episode that sets the scene perfectly for what is to come in the second series.
I like that there has been an appropriate time jump between the first and second series, plus the establishing exam scene and Sinatra montage are wonderfully entertaining ways to kick it off.
The big story points relate to Janice and Big Puss, along with Dr Melfi's attitude towards Tony. These are the issues that seem to be pushing up Tony's stress levels and they are presented by great visual storytelling and entertaining dialogue.
There is one particularly good scene where Tony drives around various dilapidated areas of New Jersey that links well to his mental anxieties. I like the way he is filmed during the barbeque scene listening to the guys banter together. Plus James Gandolfini's acting and body language when he starts to suss the motives behind his sister's arrival is brilliant.
I think most families unfortunately have a Janice, or even several members who are either sickeningly pretentious or circle like vultures when they sense death is on the horizon for elderly relatives. This is clever character work by the writers as it provides a plausible antagonist who viewers would side with Tony against. Aida Turturro plays her in a wonderfully entertaining way and makes a big first impression.
Themes such as the 'regularness' and monotonous aspects of life are also put across well in scenes involving Christopher and Tony.