If 9/11 was good for one thing in television it was reminding us that our world and the world of the Sopranos were one and the same. A film of unreality which glossed over the first three seasons was burnt off with the acidic lyrics of 'World Destruction' as Tony picked up his paper without any apparent surveillance or idling cars as in the previous seasons. For a season opener, this is probably the most typical of them all. The absence of the side-view mirror shot of the twin towers in the opening titles aside, little appears to have changed in the intervening year or so since we last parted ways.
Money, as evidenced by the title, is the main theme of the episode. The dotcom bubble which characterised the pre-9/11 arc of the program has burst and Tony has to bust the heads of Carlo Gervasi, 'Ally boy' Barese, Ray Curto and Ralph Cifaretto to get things running right in a purportedly recession-proof industry like theirs. Carmela wants to know what will happen to her should anything befall her husband after noticing Angie Bonpensiero hocking samples in the supermarket, but he assures her she will be 'taken care of'. Junior needs cash to cover his legal costs but boss Tony refuses to change their arrangement which benefits him disproportionately, despite using Junior's case as an argument in the aforementioned sit-down.
As for indebtedness, Chrissy now feels like he owes Tony his loyalty more than ever, after his Uncle gave him the whereabouts of the cop who supposedly killed his father Dickie years ago. Legend has it that Papa Moltisanti was carrying a crib for his newborn son when he was gunned down on their front lawn. Really, it was TV dinner trays. Tonight Lt Barry Haydu is celebrating his retirement across the road, but Tony cannot quite be sure which one he is at first. Not that it matters. Christopher's faith in Tony and appetite for vengeance will allow him to kill the most likely innocent man at his home in cold blood. Any doubt he may have had of the man's guilt is dissuaded by his sociopathic sensibilities and desire to please Tony, who "wants {him} dead anyway". His demotion to driving duties will prove to be temporary, and Bobby Bacala's promotion to Acting Capo, a trend that will continue.
David Chase has stated that when he penned this episode, he knew how the show would end. This is very clear when viewing the series for a second time and listening to Tony's ponderings on his fate in Melfi's office. Getting whacked or a hundred to life are the only options he sees on the horizon. Unless he starts to channel his commands through blood like Chrissy. And we know how that turned out... But from here on out, the show would progress with greater urgency and a newfound sense of direction. And a don would not don shorts for another season or so.
Money, as evidenced by the title, is the main theme of the episode. The dotcom bubble which characterised the pre-9/11 arc of the program has burst and Tony has to bust the heads of Carlo Gervasi, 'Ally boy' Barese, Ray Curto and Ralph Cifaretto to get things running right in a purportedly recession-proof industry like theirs. Carmela wants to know what will happen to her should anything befall her husband after noticing Angie Bonpensiero hocking samples in the supermarket, but he assures her she will be 'taken care of'. Junior needs cash to cover his legal costs but boss Tony refuses to change their arrangement which benefits him disproportionately, despite using Junior's case as an argument in the aforementioned sit-down.
As for indebtedness, Chrissy now feels like he owes Tony his loyalty more than ever, after his Uncle gave him the whereabouts of the cop who supposedly killed his father Dickie years ago. Legend has it that Papa Moltisanti was carrying a crib for his newborn son when he was gunned down on their front lawn. Really, it was TV dinner trays. Tonight Lt Barry Haydu is celebrating his retirement across the road, but Tony cannot quite be sure which one he is at first. Not that it matters. Christopher's faith in Tony and appetite for vengeance will allow him to kill the most likely innocent man at his home in cold blood. Any doubt he may have had of the man's guilt is dissuaded by his sociopathic sensibilities and desire to please Tony, who "wants {him} dead anyway". His demotion to driving duties will prove to be temporary, and Bobby Bacala's promotion to Acting Capo, a trend that will continue.
David Chase has stated that when he penned this episode, he knew how the show would end. This is very clear when viewing the series for a second time and listening to Tony's ponderings on his fate in Melfi's office. Getting whacked or a hundred to life are the only options he sees on the horizon. Unless he starts to channel his commands through blood like Chrissy. And we know how that turned out... But from here on out, the show would progress with greater urgency and a newfound sense of direction. And a don would not don shorts for another season or so.