Rating: 
Summary: not boring like some say but not sopranos like others say
Review: okay, this season is hard to talk about (heck, they all are but earlier ones for different reasons, ie lack of befitting superlatives); no, this fourth season is heartbreaking-and not just for carmela and tony. watching the series in one fell swoop the problems are even more jarring. it's like an entire episode is missing from the set. plots begin and end without lead-ins or follow-ups. i don't know if there were production or cast problems early in the season but it sure seems like there were. christopher in rehab-never touched once, come on, that screams to be shown (cold turkey days, interacting at group, the steps). ralphie and janice-starts like a whim (not how the plotting soprano sis usually operates) ends with a whimper. meadow just moves into an apartment? with two other roommates the parents never meet?? and one of them is a guy (who, much to tony's chagrin, is not gay)??? and she's suddenly in love with a new fellow without so much as a mention?! as for all the complaining about the season being boring due to a lack of killing, this is just stupid. there's plenty of entertaining beatings and murders; as well as some inspired monologues (Colombus day and Syvetlana come to mind). the episodes' problems are that the pacing and plotting is off. it is as if they were completing the writing throughout filming of the season which is certainly not how the previous, almost operatic and finely-tuned, seasons felt. on the plus side the last two eps are up there in the pantheon and compared to other tv shows this season rates a four.
Rating: 
Summary: Another 13 Hour Masterpiece
Review: While the death count has steadily decreased in subsequent seasons, The Sopranos is not going soft, but rather evolving. In the first season, everything was put together. In number two, an emphasis was placed on Tony's business: busting out, poker games, scams, power struggles, traders, etc. In season 3, the series showed it is not prone to repetition. Instead of Ralph becoming another Richie, his ability to make money kept him alive.Now the fourth and still not the last season. Seemingly every episode ended with an uncomfortable shot of Tony and Carmela alone together, but still apart: In bed with Carmela facing away, in the kitchen with Tony leaning on the couch, in the bathroom with Carmela in the tub. And after all this, Tony bought "Whitecaps", his way of saying that he wanted to keep his family together forever. But Carmela saw it as just "a bigger version of a diamond ring." As Dean Martin sings at the end of the finale, "It's because, my girl's right here." Then the demise of Ralph, foreshadowed when Jonny Sack comments "I should have let Tony cut your head off last year." Ralph was kept around only because of money and when he hands Tony an envelope and says "At least I'm good for something," Tony can't help but agree. And when Ralph is being 'silenced' by Tony in 'Whoever Did This', Tony comments "She was a beautiful creature, what did she ever do to you?" It becomes hazy whether he is referring to Pie-O-My or Tracy when he sees her picture at the Bing. The "thousand incidents with that guy" finally catch up to Ralph. By the end of the season, Tony has a business predicament that will likely be settled somehow in season 5. Tony has conspired with Carmine to kill Jonny Sack, and negotiated with Jonny to kill Carmine. It is unclear by season's end exactly who knows what and who is being set up. The biggest gripes from viewers seemed to be the oddness of the Carmela / Furio and Janice / Bacala storylines. I think more in depth viewing will help people to understand the subtleness of season 4. And mind you a lot of season 4 storylines will likely carry over into 5. The Sopranos is ongoing, and doesn't play by the national network 'close all storylines in the finale and leave one cliffhanger' rule. My biggest beef was HBO's ruining the finale with posting online that Uncle Junior's would get a mistrial and showing in the trailer a black SUV being shot into. Of course when it aired and a black SUV pulled up, any element of shock was completely ruined. Season 4 is very deep and intriguing, and has taken me dozens of viewings to understand underlying themes, and will take many more to grasp them all and catch all the jokes (like Tony feeling like the 'Reverend Rodney King Jr.') Hopefully the DVD and its audio commentary will help. Like what was Tony's 'Italian Immigrant' dream suppose to mean?
Rating: 
Summary: Sleeper
Review: I finally managed to catch an episode of The Sopranos. I was curious as to what all the hype was about. I am truly disappointed. This has to be the most overrated, boring, contrived and otherwise lackluster television program out there. Americans need to wake up and break their addiction to television. The Sopranos simply sums this up for me. This show is just an excuse for Godfather fans to maintain their obsession with fake mobster families, rather like the West Wing is a fantasy show for depressed Clintonites. Please waste your time doing something more constructive and entertaining. Like scouring your colon.
Rating: 
Summary: Good show but can be better.
Review: I did enjoy the fourth season of the Sopranos. However, this season was very slow and boring at times. Here are a few of my problems with this season: 1. Very bad move killing off Ralphie. Ralph Ciferatto is one of the most interesting characters on the show. He has really been developed over the third and fourth season. Joe Pantoliano plays him brilliantly. You never know what to expect from Ralphie; charm, a sharp wit, an inappropriate insult, a strange sexual deviance, or completely crazy move of killing an innocent woman. This is what makes him so interesting. Getting rid of him robs the viewers of one of the best parts of the show. 2. Many story lines started, developed, then disappeared from the radar. Meadow was about to go to Europe in defiance of her parents. This story was building for a few episodes. Then the writers just dropped it and she was back registering for classes. No transition or resolution. 3. Along the disappearing stories, the biggest omission of all by the writers this season, had the best potential for greatness. Remember that great episode in the third season when Paulie and Chris tried to kill the Russian in the woods? He got away, although injured, and it was hinted that he stole their car. What happened to this story? Would have been great if he had resurfaced somewhere in the fourth season hell bent on revenge. He was suppossed to be a commmando. Great potential here missed. 4. Which brings me to my last suggestion. The season was boring at times because there was a lack of suspense and conflict. How about introducing a new character or two? Or maybe a war with another family? Something to unite or divide the whole clan would have added more suspense and interest.
Rating:
Summary: The Sopranos Season 4 - A brilliantly compelling season!
Review: Where the first season covered Tony's relationship with his mother and that relationship causing him to see a therapist; the second season went more along the lines of him as a brother; the third season was based on Tony and Carmela as parents and of course, this fourth season was highly focused on their marriage, all coming to an incredible head in the final episode. I've heard several people say that the third and fourth seasons weren't as strong and as "biting" as the first two seasons, I couldn't disagree more. This fourth season is an extremely intense season and is just as dramatically compelling and enthralling as the previous three. Very few dramatic series can even compare to The Sopranos where it entertains on all levels, from gripping drama to dead pan humorous moments. Combining the continued elements of extraordinary writing, superior direction and exceptional acting all make this fourth season another resounding success in the Sopranos series and a long wait until March of 2004 for the fifth season to kicks in. Episode synopsises: For all Debts Public and Private - A slowing economy has even effected even Tony's "thing" and Carmela is worried about the family's long term financial security and wishes to acquire some "traditional" investments; Tony gives Christopher a "gift" that he never would've expected; Junior is fretting over his upcoming trial and Adriana makes a dangerous new friend. No-Show - With Paulie behind bars, Christopher gets acting captain stripes and his crew isn't too happy about it and Paulie starts to feel betrayed, bringing his loyalty to question; Meadow decides that she wants to take a year off of school and go to Europe, much to her parents chagrin; Adriana ends her relationship with Danielle only to find herself in a much more dangerous relationship. Christopher - Junior's trial becomes the first trial for the family in sixteen years; upcoming protests against Columbus day by Native Americans has put a hair in Silvio's "breakfast" causing some interesting results; Bobby loses his wife and Janice starts to make her moves and Paulie's loose lips are causing major troubles for Tony with Johnny Sack. The Weight - A terrible remark about Johnny's wife "gets" back to him and he goes on a bloodthirsty quest for revenge which in the end brings both he and Ralph to the brink; Carmela and Furio begin to develop a more than interesting relationship and she and Tony continue to argue over their financial future. Pie O My - Ralph buys a race horse and invites Tony to the track and he suddenly finds a relationship similar to that which he had with the ducks in the first season and Adrianna becomes even more paranoid about her new friends when Christopher and the rest of the family starts using her club to conduct business. Everybody Hurts - Artie and Tony's relationship takes a new swing when Artie borrows money from Tony and the deal goes sour; Tony informs Christopher of his plan for the new chain of command but he's unaware of Christopher's ever increasing drug problem and Tony finds out what happened to Gloria which enrages him. Watching Too Much Television - Paulie is out of jail and he's holding a few grudges; Carmela's cousin Brian gives Tony some real estate advice that will continue to have repercussions throughout the rest of the season and Carmela and Furio continue to suppress their feelings for one another. Mergers & Acquisitions - Ralph introduces his new girlfriend Valentina to Tony and she's offers to introduce him to a painter and then some, leading Tony to find out more about Ralph than he wanted to know; Furio goes home to Italy to bury his father and reevaluate his life and Carmela finds a new source of income, right in her own back yard. Whoever Did This - Junior comes up with a new defense strategy and Svetlana makes a return as his caregiver; Ralph's son suffers a tragedy causing him to make a fatal decision over his horse which brings about a heated argument between him and Tony where Ralph "loses" his head... The Strong, Silent Type - Carmela begins to offer Furio decorating tips; Christopher's heroine addiction has tragic results for Adrianna's pooch causing everybody to have a hilarious interdiction for him. Call all Cars - This is another one of those ethereal episodes where Tony's dreams pervade the episode; Tony has a sit down that doesn't go well with Carmine and Johnny over the real estate venture; Johnny continues to erode Paulie's loyalty; Tony sees Carmine's son in hopes of working out their problems and Tony is coming close to quitting the therapy. Eloise - Tony is continuing to haggle with Carmine and Johnny over the Esplanade profit loss/real estate scam; Carmela and Furio's relationship comes to a head and Furio comes very close to an "ultimate" decision with Tony; everybody starts to question Paulie's loyalty and Meadow invites her parents to her apartment for dinner and an interesting conversation ensues. Whitecaps - In this extraordinarily dramatic season finale; Carmela is suffering a broken heart; Tony attempts to keep the family together by buying a beachfront home which almost brings Carmela out of her doldrums until a fateful phone call from one of Tony's former girlfriends; everybody is loosing money on the Esplanade deal and Johnny makes a power play; and the Sopranos' marriage comes to a head, leaving everybody in great "anticipation" waiting until March of 2004 to see where this goes... {ssintrepid} Episode list: For all Debts Public and Private
No-Show
Christopher
The Weight
Pie O My
Everybody Hurts
Watching Too Much Television
Mergers & Acquisitions
Whoever Did This
The Strong, Silent Type
Call all Cars
Eloise
Whitecaps Special Features: - 4 Audio Commentaries with writers Terence Winter, Michael Imperioli, Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess and series creator David Chase
- Episodic previews and recaps
- Recaps of seasons 1, 2 and 3
- Cast/Crew biographies
Rating:
Summary: Everybody had a hard year....
Review: Riddled with subplots that explored loss and sudden tragedy, the just-out-on-DVD "The Sopranos: Season Four" appeared on HBO 16 long months after a hugely popular third season and almost immediately underwhelmed a lot of viewers. Season four started out slow, and found its characters blanketed under a haze of post-9/11 anxiety, but finished as one of the better volumes in this vivid, violent soap opera about New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano and his strangely compelling families. And, anyway, the show's generally slow pace has always been one of the qualities that makes it so rich. Unlike most network programs, "The Sopranos" never seems to be in any hurry to reach a conclusion, the episodes play out like chapters of a novel, and when something big or dramatic happens, the twists are much more shocking and effective. Despite its sullen pace, and a not-too-convincing flirtation between Carmella and sensitive thug Furio, "Season Four" was still full of completely satisfying moments: the slow descent of Tony's sidekick Christopher into heroin addiction, and the hilarious intervention that helped pull him out of it; the sad demise of Tony's mistress Gloria, his racehorse Pie-O-My and his psychotic cohort Ralphie (who checked out in one of the series' best and grisliest episodes); and the raw season-capping split between Tony and Carmella. TV series on video are basically review-proof. Hardly anyone is going to buy or rent a series unless they know and like it. But in a steadily growing DVD market that's suddenly crammed with box-sets of TV shows barely worth remembering (much less shelling out 30-100 bucks for) it's good to see a show, like "The Sopranos," that's actually worth preserving.
Rating:
Summary: This is a great series...
Review: Season Four is as riveting and dramatic as the previous three. I cheered when Ralph got "what was coming" to him. Can't wait for Janice to get hers. The characters only get fuller, richer, and more interesting. Carmella is simply brilliant - her frustration, sense of betrayal, and finally her courage are brilliantly acted and directed. We've been touched by Tony's soft spot for animals (duscks, horses, and dogs) and appalled at his own brute beastiness when it come to people. The other characters are also developed nicely: Bobby, Junior, Silvio, Adriana, A.J., and Paulie become fully three-dimensional in this series. Their quirkiness, frailties, and sensitivities are very funny and/or maddening. The series continues to grow more involved, engaging and fun.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece of Television History
Review: I am quite picky to what I watch on TV expecially with all the garbage thats on these days. Lately I have began watching the Soprano Series, currently on Season 3 but have been watching it quite quickly. The writing is brilliant, the acting is one of the best ever to be seen on TV. So convincing that it seems like you're right there watching the real people in action. All the actors in this show are extremely talented protraying the characters. I don't think anything can replace a series like this. Too bad HBO is not in Canada and Soprano's is no longer on Canadian Television, that I have to rely on DVDs. Pure Art!!
Rating:
Summary: This is a great series...
Review: Season Four is as riveting and dramatic as the previous three. I cheered when Ralph got "what was coming" to him. Can't wait for Janice to get hers. The characters only get fuller, richer, and more interesting. Carmella is simply brilliant - her frustration, sense of betrayal, and finally her courage are brilliantly acted and directed. We've been touched by Tony's soft spot for animals (duscks, horses, and dogs) and appalled at his own brute beastiness when it come to people. The other characters are also developed nicely: Bobby, Junior, Silvio, Adriana, A.J., and Paulie become fully three-dimensional in this series. Their quirkiness, frailties, and sensitivities are very funny and/or maddening. The series continues to grow more involved, engaging and fun.
Rating:
Summary: Stop after the first three seasons!
Review: In the fourth season, this show starts to get repetitive. REALLY repetitive. Every few episides a new family member will either turn and start working for the Feds, or will become disenchanted and threaten to betray Tony. Tony can't control his temper. Get it? No? Then, we will have to watch him lose his temper every few minutes to prove it. Did I mention it gets repetitive? Tony threatens his own marriage, which he clearly values, my cheating on his wife every chance he gets. The same stupid neurotic type each time. Because -- they're like his mother. Get it? No. Then, we'll repeat it until you're sick of it. Tony is a hypocrite, screwing a partner's girlfriend while beating another associate for dating one of Tony's old girlfriends -- even after Tony gives his blessing. Because Tony can't control his temper. It's been a few minutes since the last pathetic rage, we needed to be reminded. Tony can't control his temper. Remember? Carmella, who I used to love, has become positively dippy and pathetic. She's gone from silly little school girl crushes on the family priest, a wall-paper hanger and now the driver, Furio. Christopher, whose heroin addiction was barely tolerable as a plot device, is now going into rehab -- because there might be one more laugh that hasn't been mined out of mob guys trying to do therapy. Tired, tired, tired. Has anyone else noticed that The Sopranos borrows it's structure from the Lion King, which borrowed it from Hamlet? The Prince, whose father has been slain, broods around the castle as his father's brother plots against him. Junior is Scar. This show was GREAT for three seasons. Plots used to have a satisfying arc, but in the 4th season, they start and stop with no rhyme or reason. It seems like they just try to repeat whatever worked in the first three seasons until you're sick of it. If it is funny to see a Mob Guy get offended and exact bloody revenge because of some stupid little joke, why not repeat this plot device over and over? They're all supposed to be tough, but they're REALLY thin-skinned, get it? No? Then, we'll just keep repeating the gag until you're sick of it. And Ralph is just Richie Aprile. EVERYTHING repeats until you're sick of everybody. Tony, after cheating on his wife with his partner's girlfriend, killing a guy, beating another for no good reason, sits in his psychiatrist's office and cries about how crappy world has become. What a pathetic dousche bag he has become. Somebody, please wack this guy before he emotes again! What, you're not sick everybody yet? Well then....
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