Maybe it's me...I don't know....

I'm no Sopranos expert. I have the first 3 seasons on VHS, and watched 'em all a second time. I haven't gotten around to picking up last season yet.

The casting, acting, and dialogue is great throughout. But I gotta say that I enjoyed the earlier episodes more.

It seems to me -- and this is where I could be wrong -- that in the earlier episodes, the threads of the plots took two forms: While there were the "on going" story lines, which didn't get resolved from week to week, each episode seemed to also have at least one plot thread which was dealt with from beginning to end, kind of like a story within the story.

I'm thinking specifically, for example, of the plot with the Orthodox Jews and the divorce, or Hesh and the rap star, or Meadow's visit to the college when Tony whacks the rat.

It seems that the current episodes are all on-going stories, and no plot thread ever goes from start to finish within one episode.

I also think the first 3 years contained more light moments. Uncle Junior was always ripping wise cracks. The whole mood of the episodes are heavier and sullen. Tony is angry. There is more conflict between some of the characters. They've killed off "friends" and weaved some tangled webs. Kinda Godfather 3-ish.

Yeah i miss the little episodes within episodes thing

You hit it right on the head MaryCas. The deeper you get into the show and the people, the more there is to it. It is alot more tangled.
When it started out they were fresh. The little things you learned about each person were new and you didn't have any history to base things on.

It is true, things are no longer settled by the end of the show and as we have said in the past. There are many loose ends out there. With new people coming in and all, you have to wonder if they all will be tied up. Unless the new people help in them.