"The Sopranos" ages like fine wine

At the end of season four of HBO's mob drama "The Sopranos," Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) was kicked out of his home, his beloved uncle was slowly but surely losing his mental capacity and the tension between the New Jersey and New York mob families was at an all-time high. It was perhaps Tony's lowest moment since his mother tried to have him killed at the end of season one.\nSeason five opens with Tony attempting to secure a new love in his life (other than art dealer/goomah Valentina) by telling his longtime therapist, Dr. Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), that there are two sides to him; the business side and the personal side. Just as she fails to buy it, he's instantly preoccupied with the Class of 2004. This group of mobsters, recently released from prison after more than 15 years, is the critical axle on which season five turns.\nThis season, more than most, is filled with a glut of dramatic character arcs which leave longtime fans breathless. Christopher (Michael Imperioli) battles his addictions and insecurities throughout, and Adriana (Drea DeMatteo) rides her tragic turn as an FBI informant down the barrel of a gun. Both were finally awarded much-deserved Emmys for their work. Uncle Junior's mental problems are diagnosed, and Dominic Chianese offers some of the season's finest acting because of it. Steve Buscemi also joins the cast as Tony's cousin, Tony Blundetto, and expertly fills the void left by Joe Pantoliano's Ralph Cifaretto as the agita keeping Tony on his toes.\nA modest portion of the series' most ardent devotees criticized season five for being in more of a minor key than past installments, but these 13 episodes still play out in the same operatic fashion as all previous seasons, even if the body count and blood volume (while still quite high) don't live up to the likes of past seasons. Gandolfini and Falco's interactions are some of the most volatile in the series' history, and the vibrant soundtrack, as well as the sepia tones and dark shadows highlighted in the cinematography are as gorgeous as ever.\nSeason seven debuts on HBO in early 2006, and despite Tony's domestic family's relative level of comfort at this season's end, the volatility between the New York and New Jersey families, as well as the fallout over the disappearance of one of the series' most conflicted characters, will assure the next (and very possibly final) season starts off on a high note and doesn't let up.