Death is just around the corner, and judging from this episode's events, it will be quite nasty too: starting on a bleak note and ending on an even bleaker one, Amour Fou lays down the road for the no doubt affecting, tragic finale with relentless strength.
Having been hit in the face with a steak at the hands of Gloria, Tony decides to end it with her, and has Patsy Parisi tell the insane woman what awaits her, should she decide to stalk the big guy or his family. The bad day gets even worse when Jackie Jr., upon hearing his father and Tony got made after robbing a card game, decides to pull off a similar stunt, only to run into Furio and Christopher, who recognize him and ask for his head. Tony agrees that the boy has run his course, but waits for Ralphie's say on the matter.
Essentially the first half of a two-parter, Amour Fou is, like all other season closers, not afraid to get its hands dirty: while Jackie's fate was pretty clear from the start, the treatment Gloria receives comes off as cruel even by Sopranos standards. The human drama that takes place should be involving enough even for those who don't like the show (because of the violence, the swearing or whatever reason there might be), a fact acknowledged by Tony's angry reaction to a spiteful remark made by Chris: "You may not love me, but you will respect me!". That sentence is aimed at the program's detractors as much as it is at Chrissy. Personally, I love it.
Having been hit in the face with a steak at the hands of Gloria, Tony decides to end it with her, and has Patsy Parisi tell the insane woman what awaits her, should she decide to stalk the big guy or his family. The bad day gets even worse when Jackie Jr., upon hearing his father and Tony got made after robbing a card game, decides to pull off a similar stunt, only to run into Furio and Christopher, who recognize him and ask for his head. Tony agrees that the boy has run his course, but waits for Ralphie's say on the matter.
Essentially the first half of a two-parter, Amour Fou is, like all other season closers, not afraid to get its hands dirty: while Jackie's fate was pretty clear from the start, the treatment Gloria receives comes off as cruel even by Sopranos standards. The human drama that takes place should be involving enough even for those who don't like the show (because of the violence, the swearing or whatever reason there might be), a fact acknowledged by Tony's angry reaction to a spiteful remark made by Chris: "You may not love me, but you will respect me!". That sentence is aimed at the program's detractors as much as it is at Chrissy. Personally, I love it.