What The Sopranos Taught Us About Mental Health

all the pills and couch sessions in the world can't stop the inevitable....

The Sopranos, America's favorite family of criminals, will be coming to a close next month. Currently, there are 2 episodes remaining, the 1st of which is scheduled to air June 3rd.

Most of the attention on the show is of course, about the crime. About the "whackings" that come nearly every week, and have been a staple in this final season. About who got "pinched" and who's going to "rat" and who's going to be a "stand up guy."

But the show began, and always has the underlying theme of mental health therapy. Indeed, the show's whole reason for existence is Tony's mental health problems, which allegedly stem from his childhood, but continue to affect his ability to be a good mobster.

And almost every week since, we have been treated to Tony and Dr Melfi in their now famous therapy sessions. Some weeks, there are "breakthroughs" and some weeks are just talk. But regardless, the next week, Tony is back "on the couch." Plus, along the way, we have seen Carmella seek therapy, both from the psych world and from her church. AJ, the son, is in therapy. Uncle Junior got sent to a mental institution for more intense, institutionalized therapy. Along the way, various cast members, like Tony's now dead nephew, Christopher, have admitted to psychological counciling and the like. Heck, even Dr Melfi has her own therapist, played by show creator David Chase.

And in every single one of those cases. Nothing works.

Tony, now about a decade into his therapy, has tried everything. Pills don't work, or have adverse reactions. He still struggles with the same things he did at the beginning. He still cheats. He still lies. He still can't control his temper. He is still a total hypocrite. All therapy has done apparantly, has allowed Tony to sharpen his skills as a criminal.

Carmella, who sought therapy to gain more intimacy in her relationship, found none of that and Tony and her are further apart than ever.

AJ's therapy lead to a suicide attempt.

Uncle Junior's therapy has lead him to the point of being little more than a vegetable that stares off into the distance.

Christopher, Tony's nephew, did the whole "12 step" therapy for drug and alchohol addiction. In the end, he was still a murdering drug addict.

And Dr Melfi is sleeping with her therapist.

So, what has David Chase shown us about the world of mental health?

He has shown us the inneffectiveness of it. And at times, the harm it can do. That sometimes screwed up people and psychopaths are just beyond "curing" with a little advice and medication. That sometimes the therapy is like "running east looking for a sunset."

Maybe the whole point of this show is that mental health does more harm than it does good. After all, what has essentially brought down each family member is the mental health industry. Maybe their lives would have fallen apart anyway, without any psychology, drug therapy or institutionalization. But for sure, their lives did fall apart once psychology started running their lives.

It will be interesting to see how it ends. Will psychology save the day? Or will we see the Sopranos and Tony's crew go down, and go down hard, like all criminals, even the "organized" ones eventually do. Like Tony reminds us semi-regularly...it's either the slammer or the grave.

****sidenote: for those who want some spoilers, real ones, that are beginning to "pan out" ...go here Link

Locked Post

Advanced Search

Watch this post

Do not email me updates for this post Email me updates for this post

Successfully updated karma reason!

Gotta remember, it's television, a program. Like a movie.

In real life some people do committ suicide during or after therapy, some people do get worse, many move on with their lives. I'd never let a television fictional show tell me how "it is" out there.

I'd be reading statistics.

Successfully updated karma reason!

i'm saying that maybe it's his theme...i'm not damning psychology myself necessarily. tho i do think some is bs.

Successfully updated karma reason!

the june 3rd episode of the show saw dr melfi come to the same realization...and she kicked tony out and ended their therapy sessions. we'll see what happens in the final episode,,,"made in america"

Successfully updated karma reason!