'Nobody Knows Anything' is a great return to form after a bit of a lull in quality. As the title suggests, this episode is full of secrecy and false fronts, specifically with regard to Detective Makazian and Pussy Bonpensiero, whose storylines overlap and interlock in a cleverly written and satisfying way. With Tony losing two dear friends by the end of this episode (albeit in different ways), his paranoia of course begins to spiral as he realises the control and power that we have seen him crave so desperately is slipping through his fingers, leading directly to the events of the following episode, 'Isabella'. Of course, he does manage to figure Jimmy Altieri as being the rat, although the joy that comes from this realisation as well as the relief that is was not Pussy (well, as far as he knows at this point...) of course does not take away from the fact that one of his best friends and top workers has disappeared with no trace whatsoever. The two-faced characters of The Sopranos are of course not just limited to the damaged men in and around mafia dealings - as we see more so than ever before in this episode, Livia is more than capable of spinning a few tales, even is Carmela is somewhat able to see through her. Having already seen her massive impact on Junior's judgement, we know for sure that Livia's claim of being nothing more than a shut-in with no power is completely false, despite the fact she really looks and acts the part. When Carmela tells her that Tony would "rather die than see (her) hurt", one could undeniably imagine this statement as being something of a catalyst for her infanticidal obsessions that reach a head in 'Isabella'.
With his best friend inexplicably gone and Junior gearing up for his murder, we know that Tony is in for a rough ride as the series prepares to deliver its climax. James Gandolfini's performance in this episode (particularly in the magnificent scene in Satriale's where Tony reveals that Jimmy is the informant) adds so much to this feeling of impending doom as you can almost see his blood boiling through every scene. It is certainly no coincidence that the final line of the episode, "It's brewin'", is delivered directly before a cross fade to Tony standing by the bridge where Makazian jumped. Now that's poetic.
With his best friend inexplicably gone and Junior gearing up for his murder, we know that Tony is in for a rough ride as the series prepares to deliver its climax. James Gandolfini's performance in this episode (particularly in the magnificent scene in Satriale's where Tony reveals that Jimmy is the informant) adds so much to this feeling of impending doom as you can almost see his blood boiling through every scene. It is certainly no coincidence that the final line of the episode, "It's brewin'", is delivered directly before a cross fade to Tony standing by the bridge where Makazian jumped. Now that's poetic.