TV shouldn't be able to do this

I'm sure many will concur with my assertion that this is perhaps some of the finest television ever to be made (alongside The West Wing and Holby City). However, such is the tension being created by those clever writers, directors, actors... I'm finding the climactic collection of episodes almost unbearable to watch.

Apologies for those who aren't familiar with the characters, but there aren't enough blogobytes available for me to bring everyone up to speed thus far.

Safe to say head of the family, Tony Soprano is approaching paranoia/gambling addiction/guilt/ad lack of therapy-fuelled explosion and I really have no idea if anyone is safe.

Every scene has me holding my breath as we wait to see who will make it to the end credits... Paulie seems to be a dead man walking; Hesh has already paid a high price for embarrassing the boss, but may have to make the ultimate sacrifice; Chris is approaching maximum irritation; while Sil's quiff could also be for the literal chop.

It's a taken-for-granted given that DVDs come with an age-appropriate certification rating, but I'm thinking maybe there should be some sort of blodd-pressure meter on the side as well.

If Tony does indeed meltdown, and I keel over, let it be known that I - or those I leave behind - will sue.