Dead end?

Yet the beauty of the episode is that all this dark foreboding unfolds during one of the series8217; quietest, most sombre hours yet. By Sopranos8217; standards, this episode is practically a coffee klatsch. Much of it is set during a lazy weekend at a picturesque lake house; subplots gradually fall away until only four people remain: Tony, Carmela, his slithering sister, Janice, and her oafish husband, Bobby Bacala.

On the show, nature has served as a metaphor for Tony8217;s smothered humanity. He began with ducks in the pool behind his house, and now he8217;s come full circle. He8217;s like a black hole, dragging souls into the darkness with him. Hour two has the tone of a chess master getting his pawns in place. Better watch out, Tony. It feels like checkmate is coming.