Season 2 review:
Meh. A big theme in the season is that life is pointless. This is an accurate theme to describe this season: pointless. It reiterates too many storylines from season 1. Pussy being traitor, Christopher's existentialism and sense of place, Lucia being a bitch, Junior and Tony fighting for power. Big things happen like Christopher getting shot ultimately becomes nothing. Dude has a chance to actually reflect and literally disappears for half the season after. Dog shit writing. Things happen to the characters and nothing indicates a change or attempt to change. And while you can say "eh they're shitty people" this makes the show have zero conflict. So far in both seasons there's someone trying to usurp Tony's power. The whole Richie thing wasn't that interesting. Compare with the Wire and each characters conflict. Many, by the end of season 2, question why they're in this from Dee all the way down to the guys on the docks and even the cops. A major problem with Soprano's is that it has a main character. Thus, we know nothing major will happen to him. He's basically bullet proof by the plot so storylines like Richie feel pointless. Most every episode in this season besides a few felt like filler. Of the storylines only the FBI, Carmela, the therapist and a few others have any sense of weight and meaning. Carmela is the most developed character by far and at this point the most captivating. Interesting characters like AJ and Meadow and their relationship with Tony are barely capitalized on and they rarely show up in the show despite being called The Soprano's.
Mediocre sophomore season. I rate it a C.
Best episode: Funhouse