Structure

With the 12 or 13 episode HBO series you sometimes have a three act structure and I'm trying to figure out which one of the plots this season is the driver.

The Vito homosexuality-to-New Hampshire plot is clearly a reflecting subplot, so obviously now if you agree with my previous argument that the theme of this season is "The Different Man" and the cost to Tony of all that. The Tony/Carmela stuff seems settling in, and A.J.'s story is more reflective stuff, and the big arc about the decline of the Mafia families at the turn of the century. There's the overarching story of whether Tony will ever find some sort of redemption, but that's not a hard season plot, it's the "A" theme but not the "A" plot.

Gangster movies are all ultimately about the drive to power and attendant battles. Even The Godfather, which many have called a family saga or a capitalism metaphor, each of the movies had a specific central plot that drove the action, even if Francis Coppola was able to hide or enshadow those plots with his artistry. For example, in the first and most brilliant Godfather movie, the main plot is not Michael's rise to power; that's a result of the main plot, which is a brutal battle for influence between the Barzini and the Corleone families.

Taking that this type of "A" plot is central to a compelling organized crime story, then the real plot of this season has to do with Tony's continued rise to power in the organization. Which would make the first turning point, back in Ep. 5: "Mr. & Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request...", when Tony agrees to do the favor of hitting a rival mob boss for Johnny Sack, nicely played at Johnny's daughter's wedding.

Now that the hit's been done, the repercussions have to be assembling in the background, getting ready to blowback in some future episode.

I'm starting to wonder if Tony may make a play for NYC, to be boss of both that and his NJ mob. It would be perfect mob movie grammar ("Top of the world, ma!") for this to be where the series is going. The idea Tony might have of himself as a newly enlightened king.

Just a thought.

Because when you look around the backroom at the Bada Bing, or Johnny's men, you wonder who is left who can lead? Sylvio goes asthmatic at the chance, Pauley is a petty crook, A.J. doesn't have his father's cunning and Meadow is going straight. Everyone else, even Carmella, is too far along or dumb to do it. The most natural heir, Christopher, does have a deep understanding of the code, after all he gave up his fiance for the outlaw society, but he continually reveals himself as a numbskull.

The only other guy on the show who seems like any kind of rival to Tony as mob boss is Phil, played so well by classic character actor Frank Vincent. If Phil ever decides to step up from acting boss while Johnny's in jail, or something comes to a head and Tony has to defend himself by getting aggressive, I could see those two crossing swords.

Of course, I could be dead wrong on all counts. Part of the beauty, and occasional frustration of the show is that creator David Chase usually takes it some place you weren't expecting.

Hey, maybe Vito will even live.