Re: The Radical Change in Dr. Melfi via Last Episodes Sessio

21
from this point of view one could probably say, that after all she is a bit woman with a bourgeoise life.when she met carmella at the supermarket she seemed to be *very* excited, while carmella was looking the worst of all her scenes during the time of tony being in hospital, probably carmella was shown so bad to point out how excited melfi was.
melfi might be a little hooked on the action she is getting from tony.

</p>

Re: The Radical Change in Dr. Melfi via Last Episodes Sessio

22
<blockquote>Quote:<hr>The fact is that she's an enabler.<hr></blockquote>

I agree.

Melfi is attracted to the alpha male. Her ex was not an alpha, she knows Tony is. He is probably the only dangerous alpha male she has the opportunity to interact with. She may be a professional M.D., but she is still human. She has internally masked her attraction to Tony with a false sense of duty to treat him.

</p>

Re: The Radical Change in Dr. Melfi via Last Episodes Sessio

23
But is it a "false" duty if she really believes, even if she can't articulate why, that there's something worthwhile, some spark of real goodness in him, some buried "inner Finnerty" that she might, just might be able to help him find? The sexual attraction and the circus side show attraction of Tony as alpha male gangster is what we've focussed on. But Melfi's attraction is grounded in much more than that, IMO. There is genuine, admitted maternal compassion/countertransference towards him, most clearly evident in season 2.

Then there's what Tony presents himself. He suffers from depression and panic attacks and compulsive food and sexual appetities, and, for all his "success", is not a fundamentally contented person. He entered the church his grandfather helped build in utter awe and has twice dreamt of himself as that same grandfather -- a decent, hard-working stone mason born around the turn of the century to what he imagines was a loving mother. His dream imagery features him fleeing and "cutting ties" with a "mob", following Artie's lead, being taught to value sex with his wife and eschew the intrusion of "horze hooves" from outside. He dreams of "test driving" total character metamorphosis, of catching Carmela's eye in a rear view mirror that features a hanging rosary and crucifix, of "God" telling him to kill the gangster part of himself, of trying to kill and silence his conscience but being unable. His NDE was entirely about having lived a life that was fraudulent to who he believes himself to be, at his core.

He gets sloppy sentimental over ducks and murdered horses and smothered little dogs and dogs that were given away under false pretenses. He swerves reflexively and uncommonly violently to avoid running over a racoon. He was the only man in his milieu that was truly revolted and emotionally affected by what Ralph did to a pitiful stripper. He is haunted in his dreams and subconscious by some of those he's killed, those like Pu$$y and Philly Parisi.

In addition to other evidence, all these things suggest a capacity for loving attachments, a grossly displaced but pronounced value for life, and a deeply repressed but persistent ambition to be a different, better, and more moral person than he's been to this point. And those factors, many of which Melfi is privy to, suggest there are indeed "two Tonys". Melfi thinks she can help him liberate the "good" one, and I believe that is enough to justify her continuing treatment of him over the years (although it certainly doesn't justify counsel that she should reasonably forsee he might corrupt for some illegal or immoral end).

</p>

Re: The Radical Change in Dr. Melfi via Last Episodes Sessio

24
<blockquote>Quote:<hr>I've always taken more note of Melfi's wardrobe than any other character's, partly because she's the character I most identify with on the show <hr></blockquote>

Fly, I just knew it. I knew there was a sensuality about you that came out everytime you wrote.

I hope that wasn't embarrassing--It's a compliment...<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/embarassed.gif ALT=":o">

</p>

Re: The Radical Change in Dr. Melfi via Last Episodes Sessio

26
<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"> I love The Sopranos!! Not only has it stimulated such great conversation on these boards, but some of the characters we've got here <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/tongue.gif ALT=":p"> <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/tongue.gif ALT=":p">

Another reason to love this show!!!!!! <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin">

</p>

Re: The Radical Change in Dr. Melfi via Last Episodes Sessio

27
The plot thickens. Dr. Melfi tries to get Tony
to talk about his unconscious, when she asks him:
"What about dreams?" which if Tony was capable
of delving into his therapy sessions honestly,
would have been a perfect opportunity to discuss
what he experienced with the Kevin Finnerty
identity mix-up during his coma.

Instead, Tony dismisses all of Melfi's cues to go
deeper into his conflicted life-style and career
as a mafia boss. She tries to remind him that
he dropped out of Seton Hall after only 1 1/2
semesters in relation to his reaction to A.J.'s
job at Blockbuster, after also dropping out as:
"the first stop on the shitbird express."

I seem to remember that Carmela also dropped
out of Montclair State, but unlike Tony with A.J.,
she put all of her vicarious ambition into making
sure that Meadow achieved academic and professional success.

It appears that all of the characters are going through
regrets at their being part of the Mob, instead of
having chosen to follow their own identities in how
they make their money or lead their lives.

Monadax

</p>

Re: The Radical Change in Dr. Melfi via Last Episodes Sessio

28
<blockquote>Quote:<hr>Melfi has accepted his money all of this time, even as other Doctor's refused Sopranos blood money. She must know where that money comes from. She must know that Tony sits with her for an hour, and then leaves to order a man murdered.<hr></blockquote>

I don't think other doctors refused to treat Tony out of moral principle -- I think they were afraid. Melfi continues to treat him because he's her patient. There's nothing in the psychiatrist's code, as far as I know, that says a doctor can't treat a patient who's not up to her moral standards.

</p>

Re: The Radical Change in Dr. Melfi via Last Episodes Sessio

29
Just for clarity, it was the psychiatrist that saw Carmela once and advised her to leave Tony, the old man that Melfi referred - that was the Doctor that refused to charge Carm for the session because he wouldnt take blood money.

Along the lines of
"i'm not charging you for this session because i wont take blood money - and neither should you"

The one or more doctors aside from Melfi that refused to treat Tony did so because they were afraid to take him on, knowing who he was.

Even though he referred to himself as Mr. "Spears" <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin">

</p>
Post Reply

Return to “Episode 6.05: Mr. and Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request”