Astounding in so many ways.
First of all, makes Sopranos, a pioneer in the "new drama" that transformed the very nature of episodic TV, look like a Saturday morning kids show.
The core idea of a man who fixes everyone else's problems but cannot fix his own .. brilliant.
Acting, direction and writing, brilliant.
Interesting also is that Elliot Gould was not in this one at all, not even for a walkon. Gould is excellent but he has played the same one-dimensional character for literally decades. Somehow the absence of Gould elevates an already great episode, and allows the core cast to shine.
Took the writers just over one full season to get us comfortable enough with these people ... to really make us wince when it all comes apart.
First of all, makes Sopranos, a pioneer in the "new drama" that transformed the very nature of episodic TV, look like a Saturday morning kids show.
The core idea of a man who fixes everyone else's problems but cannot fix his own .. brilliant.
Acting, direction and writing, brilliant.
Interesting also is that Elliot Gould was not in this one at all, not even for a walkon. Gould is excellent but he has played the same one-dimensional character for literally decades. Somehow the absence of Gould elevates an already great episode, and allows the core cast to shine.
Took the writers just over one full season to get us comfortable enough with these people ... to really make us wince when it all comes apart.