'The Sopranos' still surprises

PASADENA, Calif. — As "The Sopranos" begins its sixth and final season (Sunday, 10 p.m., HBO), one question hangs over this story of mobster Tony Soprano — why does he keep going to see a psychiatrist?

After all, it's not like Tony (James Gandolfini) seems so much more well-adjusted now than he was when he started seeing Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco).

"Well, we're trying to depict real psychotherapy. Of course he gets nothing out of it," said David Chase, the creator/executive producer writer of "The Sopranos."

With Chase, you can never be quite sure if he's giving you a straight answer or pulling your leg. But in this case, he insisted he wasn't kidding. "I sort of meant what I said."

Bracco, after taking mock umbrage at the question ("I'll see you after this session," she told the critic who asked), came to her character's defense. "He's not having panic attacks anymore," she pointed out.

And Chase's attitude about Tony's psychotherapy says something about the characters in the mob drama.

"I don't know that people really grow — that you can see a growth in people," he said. "But I think he feels that she has made an effect in his life, that there are things in him that are somewhat different.

"She helped him through a tremendous thing with his mother. I think that, probably in the back of his mind, even though he would not like to admit it, is still playing."

Yeah, it's not easy when your mother tries to have you killed. And Chase's comment about how that "is still playing," as it turns out, is a big hint about what happens in Sunday's episode.

I won't give it away — or HBO will have me whacked — but there's a shocking turn of events that will catch even longtime fans of "The Sopranos" off guard. And all is not what it seems at times in upcoming episodes. (This sixth season of "The Sopranos" will be split — 12 episodes begin airing Sunday; the final eight won't be seen until January 2007.)

For those of you who've forgotten what happened when Season 5 ended — way back in June 2004! — Season 6 picks up about a year and a half after those events and builds upon them. Tony and Carmela (Edie Falco) are back together; Johnnie Sack (Vincent Curatola) got arrested by the feds (he's in prison awaiting trial); Christopher's (Michael Imperioli) fiancee, Adriana (Drea de Matteo), had been whacked; and Tony had whacked Tony Blundetto (Steve Buscemi).

Again, not to give anything away, but what you saw happen really happened. (Despite a lot of rumors and the fact that de Matteo does appear — briefly — in Sunday's episode, Adriana is totally and completely dead.)

What fans can count on is more of the same when it comes to "The Sopranos." More amazing writing and acting as well as lots more violence and blood. And surprises.

One thing you can count on — Tony will keep going to see Dr. Melfi.

"I think he enjoys going to this attractive woman once a week and talking," Chase said. "And she doesn't really interrupt him that much."

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E-mail: pierce@desnews.com