While The Sopranos cannot be equalled by any other show IMO, I think you may have a point. Each episode now is simply a story in its own. Things are left at loose ends now and we come back to it when we have forgotten all about it and simply don't care anymore. Season 4 has been very guilty of this in particular. Season one had none of this. For example, the first four shows of the first season had an ongoing storyline, and then, after a brief break for the fantastic "College" episode, it was back on track. This is why Season one is, overall, my favourite series, and why season four is, while still being amazingly fantastic, simply not on a par with its three predecessors.

Mick