It would seem that the New Jersey mob of 'The Sopranos' has a lot in common with the Roman Empire under Octavius: their government is largely influenced by a woman named Livia and they are run by a dictatorship, but within the republican principles of 'checking the pulse' of the subjects -to name only two. This would be the first time the show explored the political idea of Tony/Junior as Octavius/Augustus or the Mafia as the Roman Empire (after touching on it a few episodes ago) and it wouldn't be the last.
Moving from ancient history to Greek mythology, the story also tackles Tony's Oedipal complex in relation to maternal figure Dr Melfi. His dreams of her change from matriarchal nightmares to sexual fantasies in which she opens the shower door, nude, inviting him in as she would her office. Now he looks to her for the guidance his mother Livia can not give him, the companionship his wife Carmela can't and the sex his comare Irina won't allow him anymore. It's a tough load for Melfi, the psychiatrist who admittedly leads a sheltered life.
After his posthumous rejection, we come to know Tony the animal lover a little better when he muses to Heche of his disregard for human relationships, how he would rather 'just f*ck' without the '100 questions and the guilt' like his Jewish friend's horses. Here, he envies them while the ducks in his pool were just great pals. This facet of his complicated character, who surprisingly never raises his voice for the duration, will be further explored later in the series.
On the family dynamic of the first season, it would seem the circle is complete, as this episode explores the fraternity of the mob when Tony stands up for his 'brother' Heche in the face of 'father' Don Corrado. He argues with his brother, vents frustration at him, gives him scolding looks but in the end we know Tony is not a totally selfish man, handing a wad of his earnings over to Heche. The sorority will also be brought into the limelight in later seasons. Tony also has male problems of a more physical nature when the Prozac threatens his libido, harking back to the dream he had in the pilot where a pelican (or 'duck') stole his penis, which, as Heche would say: "no man can go without." Or mobster, for that matter.
Moving from ancient history to Greek mythology, the story also tackles Tony's Oedipal complex in relation to maternal figure Dr Melfi. His dreams of her change from matriarchal nightmares to sexual fantasies in which she opens the shower door, nude, inviting him in as she would her office. Now he looks to her for the guidance his mother Livia can not give him, the companionship his wife Carmela can't and the sex his comare Irina won't allow him anymore. It's a tough load for Melfi, the psychiatrist who admittedly leads a sheltered life.
After his posthumous rejection, we come to know Tony the animal lover a little better when he muses to Heche of his disregard for human relationships, how he would rather 'just f*ck' without the '100 questions and the guilt' like his Jewish friend's horses. Here, he envies them while the ducks in his pool were just great pals. This facet of his complicated character, who surprisingly never raises his voice for the duration, will be further explored later in the series.
On the family dynamic of the first season, it would seem the circle is complete, as this episode explores the fraternity of the mob when Tony stands up for his 'brother' Heche in the face of 'father' Don Corrado. He argues with his brother, vents frustration at him, gives him scolding looks but in the end we know Tony is not a totally selfish man, handing a wad of his earnings over to Heche. The sorority will also be brought into the limelight in later seasons. Tony also has male problems of a more physical nature when the Prozac threatens his libido, harking back to the dream he had in the pilot where a pelican (or 'duck') stole his penis, which, as Heche would say: "no man can go without." Or mobster, for that matter.