The Return of The Sopranos

Tonight marked the return of The Sopranos for it’s (supposedly) final season. Though the series was once HBO’s flagship, and in my opinion the best show on television, the last couple of seasons have left many fans frustrated and longing for “the good old days”. Would this season mark a return to form or a continuation of the frustrations? Well, if the first episode was any indication, fans should brace themselves for a disappointing final run. I don’t want to give anything away (though that would be difficult since not much happened), but let’s just say it was a bit of a snooze fest.

Is The Sopranos turning into the television equivalent of the aging quarterback who hangs on a few too many years, despite failing skills, a lack of interest, and doing damage to their legacy? Should the producers have wrapped up all the stories a few years ago instead of stretching them out to the point of losing viewers’ interest? Have the ridiculously long breaks between seasons disrupted the continuity to the point that I can’t possibly care what happens at this point? Sadly it seems the answer to all three questions may be “yes”.