Why HBO is Worth Paying For
I've long been a fan of The Sopranos, but
last night's episode was one of the most remarkable pieces of writing I've ever seen on television. In the show, Tony lies in a coma after having been shot by Uncle Junior, who's suffering from dementia. While in the coma, he sees himself as a man with a different identity and a different life—he's a salesman—who loses his wallet and briefcase while on a trip to a convention, and without any money or identification, he can't find his way home again, but is stuck in an endless procession of red tape, bureaucrats, and generic hotel rooms.... Limbo, you might call it, portrayed in the mindless banality of a business trip which won't end.
I'm not doing the show justice, but trust me: It was a powerful and painful way to dramatize the plight of a man lying in a hospital bed, with a breathing tube shoved down his throat and a gaping bullet wound in his stomach. The episode wasn't easy to watch—it really was unsettling—and I'm sure some Sopranos viewers will lament the lack of violence and Mafia intrigue. I found it brilliant.
