SOPRANOS Season 6: Season Finally!!!.. Episode 12: "KAISHA" - Page 9

so when is a dream sequence supposed to happen? near the end, because it has been done that way before in this series?

as soon as this show starts conforming and dumbing itself down where things happen right where we think they should happen, i'll stop watching. the creators care about making a good show first, and i don't think they worry about the audience thinking too carefully about the placement of a dream sequence. a dream sequence isn't "supposed" to occur at any specific time.

i'm not always a fan of dream sequences, even in this show. i suppose i like them because they can be fun, but when they are weird for the sake of being weird, or in-your-face symbolic, i don't like them as much. this week, however, i feel was very well done. the dream was actually a story that i feel will lead somewhere. it felt like a normal episode with a twist. at first, i kept expecting the scene to switch to the people tony (anthony) was talking on the phone with, but we only see his view. combine that with the last scene with the phone and what it symbolized to his family makes this episode one of my favorites of the entire series.

CJ

Sorry, but after waiting 22 months for the show to come back it was TOO EARLY for one of these episodes IMHO. I don't expect everyone to agree and as was said earlier, this is the type of episode that will split fans right down the middle. I happen to be on the side of those who hated it, but I'm glad there are others who were able to enjoy it. Different strokes.

Is it just me or does this season look to be showing events in reverse order?

This was a good episode that provided an opportunity for Tony's family to explain where their priorities are and what they want out of their relationship with him. Carmela is concerned about money and where/when this ride ends, but she really does love her husband. It seems that the family unit is as strong as ever (even when you cnosider AJ's school issues).

Though I'm not a huge fan of the dream sequences, I acknowledge they are well-done and they accomplish the show's purpose: examining the psyche of a contemporary mob boss. I'll have to rewatch this episode again, because I couldn't pay close attention to the dream sequences.

There is some type of bright, sweeping light seen on the horizon in the windows of both of Tony's hotel rooms at the beginning and end of the episode. Natural landmark?

When Tony is speaking to his wife on the phone, the voice didn't sound like Carmela to me. (I actually thought it sounded more like Annabella Sciorra than Edie Falco.)

Tony wanted to catch the morning session with "Colonel Colona". Was he referencing Colonel Jean Colonna d' Ornano from WWII?

All in all, the first two episodes have been great and I an't wait to see where this season ends up. Looks like we'll have some good times with Paulie and Silvio next week!

I thought it was disappointing to have a dream episode so early but I think it has to be taken in context with the coma. The non-dream scenes were so strong,with excellent acting, I thought it was really powerful.

I never use that word but I actually almost got choked up.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with Sil as acting Boss, and with Gino and Ray gone,leaving 2 top spots open

As someone who normally enjoys the more "emotional" episodes of this show, I wasn't moved by this episode at all. I can't really put my finger on it, but I guess the whole time I just kept thinking how Tony will get out of it completely unscathed. If it were later in the season, I would buy it, but this early? Nah.

This episode also made me realize how crucial Tony Soprano is to the show and cast. And Kevin Finnerty (or whatever his name was) doesn't cut it.

So are there any theories as to what that whole dream was all about?

I liked the episode. I already knew the coma dream was coming so I was prepared for it and I loved it. Gandolfini dropping Tony's accent was a nice little touch to the dream as was the teddy bear flashing back to last season with the black bear.

AJ is really going to have alot coming up and I really don't think he will survive the end of the show...he has no street smarts and now flunked out of college and his promise to Tony will unravel him.

We will finally get to see his crew fight for leadership and it should be interesting to see how that plays out.

Will power be passed on while Tony is in his coma or will they unravel hanging on the hope that he awakens? If power does get passed on, how will Tony take that when he is healthy?

Will NY see this as an chance to move in and take control of the Jersey crew?

HBO is already running teasers about Tony's shooting is going to "change everything."

To steal a line from Al Swearengen

"Storm clouds gather..."

Innocent Kevin Finnerty may be the rawest look at Tony we've ever had. Ironically, it seems like him and his dad and probably AJ are the Sopranos least cut out to be gangsters.

Keep in mind that when the woman from the restaurant reminds Tony/Kevin how much he loves his wife, it's actually Tony telling himself that. He is a soft and sentimental guy by nature, and the conflict between his circumstances and his nature is what this show has been about since S4. It's why I watch, anyway.

The Alzheimer's in his dream is Tony "trying on" in his psyche the brain damage from the shooting. I agree, he's much "softer" in his "other dream life" than as a mob head.

I thought the acting by Edie Falco was unbelievably good, when she's at Tony's bedside, reminiscing about the "old days" and telling him she loves him, etc.

NY will try to move on NJ, and someone from Tony's mob family will certainly challenge Sil. AJ is in way over his head, no matter what he tries, I'm afraid. The longer Tony's coma is, the uglier the infighting will get, I'd imagine.

Interesting to see how "grown up" Meadow is, in her interactions with the doctors, and not kowtowing to them, as Carmela was much more prone to do.

Thought it was a good episode, lots of character moments for the cast. Paulie is hilarious as always. The "Next time on" looked like we have some great stuff to look forward to.

When the local newspaper reviewer did her article on the season she had seen the first 4 episodes and predicted lots of people would be up in arms about this episode. She also said the next ep would be viewed as shakey as well

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

but by ep 4 you begin to really see what Chase is up to.

I totally agree with Brent M. It was too early for one of these dream sequence type episodes. They take over a year off from a season, and before we can even get back into the swing of things, the show gets sidetracked with dream sequence stuff that is just plain bada-boring.

My prediction(and this is only a prediction as I've read no spoilers or know nothing beyond what we saw tonight) is that Tony will stay laid up next episode and possibly even into the 4th episode, but sometime in there he will make a turn for the better. Then he'll spend episode 5 recovering at home leaving the final 7 episodes to get back to his normal routine. I don't see any way that David Chase can keep the character out of commission any more than half the season.

"He is a soft and sentimental guy by nature, and the conflict between his circumstances and his nature is what this show has been about since S4"

One of my favorite scenes from the entire show was in season 5.

Hes disconnected from his wife and family theres turmoil in his business,so where does he find a moment of true peace?

In a stable with a goat and horse (I love the look on his face when the goat runs in)

A drink in a dream... $4
A nights stay at a hotel... $100

Getting pimp slapped by a Monk... PRICELESS!

I may be crazy, but was that light on the horizon the Costa Mesa fires that were being shown on TV. They seem to bring them up twice, once on TV and once with the bartender.

Maybe a fire burning far away means something in Melfi speak...

Bright light, heaven, fires hell. Hotel, purgatory Tony unable to make the phone call at the end to get him out of there shows he cannot yet or is not ready to. There was much symbolism including Tony (the bear) out of order.

I have to agree with Christ here. When is a good time for a "dream sequence"? I hate to go with the cliche counter-argument here, but the whole series is not about shootings and violence. I have a feeling if there was no coma dream sequence, but no violence or killings and just family drama at home with Tony, there'd still be complaints.

Unlike the episode "The Test Dream", which I loved, this was not one long sustained sequence. it was intercut with what was happening in reality. I loved how the chopper shining the light on him was the doctors working on him.

I found that for all the horrible things he's done, I really felt bad for the family and I want to see Tony pull through.

I love watching it week to week, but a season of this show really needs to be seen as a whole to appreciate the arcs Chase writes.

I thought this as well. Or even sounded a little like Adriana at times. Didn't see either name in the closing credits, though.

I thought this at first as well, but the more I heard it, it just seemed it was Edie Falco changing her voice a bit. Perhaps to sound younger? Obviously the dream sequence was set back several years since the kids were much younger.

Okay. I've read this entire thread, and I've got to bring up something that hasn't been mentioned (which means I'm probably off the mark):

Has anyone noticed how "Kubrick-ian" the new season has been so far?

Allow me to elaborate. The final shot of Tony's face during the premiere instantly reminded me of Jack Nicholson at the end of "The Shining."

I filed that tidbit in a dark corner of my brain (where it would have remained until I purchase the DVD), but I re-watched the episode at a friend's house last Friday. There was a cut from the action to the quiet of Melfi's office, and my friend Mark called the shot "very Stanley Kubrick," at which point I recalled the final shot. Our theory seemed solid when we realized Tony was watching "Paths of Glory" at one point.

In episode two, during the dream-coma, Tony introduces himself as Anthony Soprano while his ID shows Kevin Finnerty. The photo on the ID is not Tony, but the guy in the picture does bare a passing resemblance. This reminded me of "The Shining," where the "ghost" bartender informs Jack Torrance "you've always been here." (I could point to Adrianna's "ghostly" appearance in Carmela's dream in the premiere as well).

I'd be willing to write all this off as some sort of strange coincidence if it weren't for the two Buddhist monks, which INSTANTLY reminded me of the two little dead girls Jack's son encounters in the Overlook's hallways ("The Shining" again). I half-expected the hotel elevators to start oozing blood! The teddy bear on the chair reminded me of the guy dressed in the dog costume (yet another "Shining" moment). If a woman turns up dead in a bathtub at ANY point this season...

On a different note, has anyone noticed that the voice of "Kevin Finnerty's" wife belonged to Annabella Sciorra?

Sounded like Charmaine Bucco which would fit in nicely with how his life could have been.

Personally, I think Tony's wife in the dream sequence is Charmaine.

Tony and Charmaine had a thing together for a summer long before either of them were ever married. In another dream sequence Tony was dreaming of having sex with Charmaine. Not only that but there's just no way that Carmela would marry a patio furniture salesman. Tony knows how materialistic Carmela is so I can't see him dreaming of a straight life with Carmela in it as well.

Tony was mentioning how good Charmaine looked after she broke up with Artie. I think it's possible that he's been carrying a torch for her all this time. Moreover, with the hard line that Charmaine takes with Artie wanting to go into business with Tony I think it's possible that years ago she cut it off between the two of them because she wasn't comfortable with being the girlfriend of Johnny Soprano's son. It is possible that Tony only ended up with Carmela because Charmaine wasn't available to him. I don't think it's a coincidence that Carmela brought up Charmaine when she was having her conversation with him. She mentioned something about Charmaine 'dragging him under by the hair'. Perhaps that has a double meaning, that Charmaine nearly dragged him out of the life years ago.

Including a descent down seven flights of a red staircase indicating the seven circles of hell. Brilliant stuff with the symbolism.

I agree that Edie really knocked it out of the park in this episode.

And Sheila Kelley still looks yummy.

Rob

My wife and I joke the show should end with Tony waking up in a regular home. He goes to work as a manager of a car dealership. And all of the crew (Silvio, Paulie,etc) are salesmen under him. I know its a bit cliched. But, it would be a funny way to end the show.

Now that would be hilarious.

I havent kept up with the show, now that the vastly superior Deadwood is on but do Meadow and A.J. know what Tony does...do they know everything ?

Has that ever been established ?

What was up with the 'new' sister? I don't remember ever seeing her before, did I just miss the one episode that they mentioned her?

I thought the same thing Dwight. Especially since they showed the "other" sister on the phone in the first episode this season, and she was the actress I remember in that role. I don't think there's a third sister. Maybe it's a casting problem.

The other sister has always been there, but she hasn't had a big role. I think they switched actresses after the first season.

I'm thinking Tony/Kevin not being able to find his way home symbolizes Tony not being able to awaken from the coma. It'll be interesting to see if/when Tony/Kevin finally makes it home is when Tony will come out of the coma.

I had heard talk on the radio that part of the reason for these dream sequences was to give some of the other actors a chance to step up and get some exposure. I don't mind that to a degree, but Gandolfini has to be the central focus of the show. He's just too good and the show is not the same without him. Last night's episode was a nice mix of Gandolfini's dream and the other characters getting a chance to step in. The power-play episode(s) should be interesting.

I have both saved on my DVR. I'm going to recheck the scenes and credits.

I know Tony had a second sister, but the actress used in the role for "Join The Club" looked different.

BTW, IMDB has episode titles for the first 10 episodes.