LOTSA BADA-BANG FOR YOUR BUCK IN 'SOPRANOS'.

Byline: David Kronke TV Critic

LONG-SUFFERING FANS of ``The Sopranos'' are rewarded for their patience tonight with a sixth- (and final, sort of) season premiere that seems to start out as business as usual, but winds up with a shocking finale. Or two.

After nearly two years, one of television's finest series returns for a final season, albeit one that will be split into two parts - 12 episodes this year, and the final eight coming sometime in early 2007.

Its first four episodes suggest it has been worth the wait, although they sort of hit the reset button at their conclusion, offering the promise of more richly startling story lines once they're done.

Initially, tonight's episode feels like many premieres of seasons past, one fulfilling much necessary housekeeping business to remind us of how season five concluded: Tony (James Gandolfini) and Carmela (Edie Falco) reconciled, with her assuming a more dominant role in their relationship and still curious as to why Adriana (who appears briefly) disappeared. (She got offed, in one of the series' most controversial episodes, after boyfriend Christopher - played by Michael Imperioli - discovered she was talking to the feds.) Johnny ``Sack'' (Vincent Curatola) is seething while awaiting trial. The feds' efforts to irrevocably corner Tony continue to falter.

Soon, though, there's an unexpected explosion of violence, followed by Tony's efforts to bring reconciliation between rival gangs under control. Finally, two more shocking moments, including the already-publicized shooting of a major character. What gives that scene so much power is the desperate, gasping efforts of said character to get help.

In the other episodes made available for review, Tony's subconscious considers his own mortality in a series of anxiety-dream sequences in which he swaps identities with someone named Kevin Finnerty (say it sloppily and you hear ``Infinity'' - get it?) and is stranded at a remote salesman's convention - from the windows of his sterile hotel, airport beacon lights dot the horizon ominously, and, somehow, he finds himself the target of some angry, violent Buddhists.

These passages teeter precariously between artistic brilliance and obviousness. David Chase's creation somehow seems vexed by the fact that it's still television, and is determined to transcend to ``art,'' when, in fact, it achieved that status long ago.

We dare not say more, except to observe that Falco already has more than assembled her work for Emmy consideration, and that everyone is opportunistically considering clipping everyone else.

Put it this way: I started watching the first of the four episodes late one night, expecting to watch a couple and pick up the rest the next day. But I didn't get to bed until 4 a.m.

David Kronke, [phone]

david.kronke(at)dailynews.com

THE SOPRANOS - Four stars

What: Sixth (and final) season premiere of the landmark mob drama.

Where: HBO.

When: 9 tonight; also midnight Tuesdays, 9 p.m. Wednesdays, 10 p.m. Fridays and 10:30 p.m. Saturdays.

In a nutshell: If you think you want to get out, they pull you in yet again.

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Photo:

(color) Tony (James Gandolfini) has plenty on his mind in the sixth season of ``The Sopranos,'' premiering at 9 tonight on HBO.