Lorraine Bracco's role in particular is a positive one: Melfi's quite consciously meant to be a moral counterpoint to Tony's gangsterism.
It's ironic, considering the obsession in the show itself of characters like Richard LaPenna, Melfi's ex-husband, towards negative portrayals of Italian-Americans.
...dot com bold typeface rhetoric. You go clickety click and get your head split. 'The hell you look like on a message board Discussing whether or not the Brother is hardcore?