(I say "potential" only because the most recent theorizing, AJ whacking Junior, turned out to be a near hit)

Alright, Phil. Some smooth operator, this guy, huh?

I think he's overplaying the dead brother card a bit much; after all, he DID get justice. AND with a bonus. Tony Uncle Al was like a brother to Tony Uncle Johnny, so I don't see how you can get much more restitution out of Soprano than for him to whack his own cousin. Yet Phil is STILL harboring a grudge (or APPEARING to harbor a grudge). So, let's say, for argument's sake, that his wrath is genuine. The question is why. The answer I'm going with: he didn't get a chance to torture Blundetto and along the way pump some information out of him before putting him down.

Let's face it, folks. Leotardo's got ambitions.

I think he's trying to take over BOTH NY and NJ, and what better time to do it than now?

First off, NY is ripe due to its Don chain smoking behind bars. This would explain why Phil's broadcasting his total lack of respect towards Johnny (sobbing at the wedding, my ass!). This guy's maneuvering BIG TIME.

Meanwhile, across the Hudson, lots and lots of chaos in the Garden State. I think Tony, gunshot or not, is and has been in a truly vulnerable/unsteady position lately. He's lost TWO captains, Ray Curto and most recently Vito. Top that off with the final exit of Eugene, who I'm guessing is an undercaptain, but a key figure all the same. With Junior in the cuckoo's nest, he no longer has his "lightning rod." He eliminated Rusty which plays, I think, more in Phil's hands than John's in the long haul (indeed, wouldn't surprise me if Phil convinced John to give the order).

Getting back to Vito, again more melodrama. Like Phil really is all that TRAUMATIZED that his cousin's husband is gay. (Cue Carmela soundbyte: oh PUH-LEEEEEZE!) I take you back to what, in hindsight, was a very key moment this season. The after-dinner heart-to-heart between Phil and Vito. Remember Vito thinking aloud that he should think twice about kicking up to Carmela. Phil's "shock" was a bit suspicious to me even then, and now I understand why: at that point, before the leather hit the fan, Phil may have seen a possible, key ally in Vito. But now that Vito blew it (no pun intended), Phil has no other option than to work toward eliminating him permanently; either way, Tony still loses a very important captain.

Also, another curious moment this season was the near whacking of Hesh's son-in-law by Phil's crew. Of course, their excuse was that they didn't really know Hesh but I'm not buying that either. That old man, by all logic and circumstances, should have come away with more than just an injured schnozz, which is why I think they knew who he was. Tony, as we all knew, ended up giving Phil less than a slap on the wrist (to Chris's dismay). Chris may have been on to something when he saw it as an act of capitulation because I'll bet that's EXACTLY how Phil read it.

Just a theory, folks, just a theory...