Poetic Television Review: Calling All Cars (The Sopranos, S4X11, 2002)

In Jersey's shadowed streets, a tale unfolds,
Of Tony Soprano, and the weight he holds.
A life of crime, of family and of pain,
A world where loyalty is tested, again and again.

The writers weave a narrative so fine,
Defying conventions, with a subtle design.
The episode's title, a sleight of hand,
Promises action, but delivers a quieter stand.

The Lupertazzi family's greed takes center stage,
As Tony navigates alliances, in a delicate age.
Ralph's absence amplifies the tension high,
As New York demands more, and Tony must reply.

Bobby Baccalieri's grief is on full display,
A man paralyzed by loss, in a world that's moved away.
Janice manipulates, with a mother's gentle guise,
Exploiting fear, and orchestrating compromise.

Tony's emotional unraveling is plain to see,
As he rejects therapy, and severs ties with glee.
Svetlana rejects him too, with a bluntness so rare,
Leaving Tony bruised, with an ego that's impaired.

The episode's brevity is its strength and might,
A cohesive character study, that shines with intimate light.
Every scene serves dual purposes so fine,
Developing characters, and resonating themes divine.

Framed by surreal dreams, the episode leans into the night,
With Freudian symbolism, and Lynchian descent into fright.
The Fontainebleau Hotel serves as setting and symbol so grand,
A mid-century modernist icon, where glamour clashes with inner turmoil's hand.

Tony gazes at the ocean, after his haunted dream so dark,
Underscoring his perpetual exile from peace's embark.
The Sopranos' saga is positioned within a broader cultural tapestry so fine,
Reminding us that emergencies often simmer beneath the surface divine.

Calling All Cars is neither filler nor climax so bold,
But a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling to behold.

(Note: The review in its original form can be read here.)

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