A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago

AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO THE FINN-CENTERED EPISODE YET: Are we all in agreement that -- episode to episode -- this season of The Sopranos is the best since the first one? Not a bad episode yet, and things are moving forward in realistic, compelling, and always entertaining ways. From the creepiness of the Fran Felstein stuff to Tony B's arc to the Little Carmine v. Johnny Sack war to Tony Siragusa's return to HBO, it's all good. All of it.

Let me take you back to David Chase's NYT interview of February 29:

HEFFERNAN: How is "The Sopranos" different from the rest of television?

CHASE: The function of an hour drama is to reassure the American people that it's O.K. to go out and buy stuff. It's all about flattering the audience, making them feel as if all the authority figures have our best interests at heart. Doctors, lawyers, psychiatrists: sure, they have their little foibles, some of them are grouchy, but by God, they care.

HEFFERNAN: So what's "The Sopranos" about?

CHASE: It's not about that.

HEFFERNAN: What, then?

CHASE: If I could tell you, I wouldn't have to do it.

I say enough here about bad television. This season is television at its absolute finest.