Wellington
BAAAALLLINNN'
I guess we have different views of the character. I don't think he's intended to be conventionally sociopathic- his caring about the guy's rib joint closing and his relationship with Claire I think both steer away from. Power-hungry narcissist? Yes. Sociopath? Maybe but my thought is no (unless sociopathy is on a spectrum like autism disorders, I haven't delved into that psychological area too much).
Very good point that I'd mostly overlooked. The tangential storytelling in Season 2 was definitely weaker and some things required a bit more suspension of disbelief. I think my love of the grandiose allowed me to be kind of blinded to some of the weaknesses just because the stakes kept getting raised.
The Brewers, rib joints, Huey Lewis and the News. It's just like ez described, there are plenty of examples.He is definitely a sociopath. The relationship with the wife is self-serving and (according to my wife) sociopaths often develop deep emotional relationships to things others would have a surface level give-a-fuck about (the rib joint).